Patents by Inventor LAURA MURDOCK

LAURA MURDOCK has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11884787
    Abstract: A novel process for making PBI films starting from gel PBI membranes polymerized and casted in the PPA process wherein acid-imbibed gel PBIs are neutralized in a series of water baths and undergo controlled drying in association with a substrate material, yielding a PBI film without the use of organic solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
    Inventors: Laura A. Murdock, Lihui Wang, Fei Huang, Brian C. Benicewicz
  • Patent number: 11799112
    Abstract: Disclosed are redox flow battery membranes, redox flow batteries incorporating the membranes, and methods of forming the membranes. The membranes include a polybenzimidazole gel membrane that is capable of incorporating a high liquid content without loss of structure that is formed according to a process that includes in situ hydrolysis of a polyphosphoric acid solvent. The membranes are imbibed with a redox flow battery supporting electrolyte such as sulfuric acid and can operate at very high ionic conductivities of about 100 mS/cm or greater. Redox flow batteries incorporating the PBI-based membranes can operate at high current densities of about 100 mA/cm2 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Brian C. Benicewicz, Laura Murdock, Lihui Wang, Fei Huang, Andrew Pingitore
  • Publication number: 20230323550
    Abstract: Described herein are proton exchange membrane style electrolyzers, and methods of making same, with a polybenzimidazole (PBI) or sulfonated polybenzimidazole (s-PBI) membrane and metal catalysts on the anode and cathode, which enables both acid independent membrane resistance and lower membrane resistance with higher operating temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: BENJAMIN MEEKINS, SIRIVATCH SHIMPALEE, LAURA A. MURDOCK, KRIS LIKIT-ANURAK, BRIAN C. BENICEWICZ
  • Patent number: 11777124
    Abstract: The current disclosure teaches one to achieve PBI membranes with high ionic conductivity and low mechanical creep for the first time. This is in contrast to previous teachings of PBI membrane fabrication methods, which yield PBIs with either high ionic conductivity and high mechanical creep or low ionic conductivity and low mechanical creep. The membranes produced according to the disclosed process provide doped membranes for applications in fuel cells and electrolysis devices such as electrochemical separation devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Laura A. Murdock, Fei Huang, Brian C. Benicewicz
  • Publication number: 20220367897
    Abstract: Disclosed are redox flow battery membranes, redox flow batteries incorporating the membranes, and methods of forming the membranes. The membranes include a polybenzimidazole gel membrane that is capable of incorporating a high liquid content without loss of structure that is formed according to a process that includes in situ hydrolysis of a polyphosphoric acid solvent. The membranes are imbibed with a redox flow battery supporting electrolyte such as sulfuric acid and can operate at very high ionic conductivities of about 100 mS/cm or greater. Redox flow batteries incorporating the PBI-based membranes can operate at high current densities of about 100 mA/cm2 or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: BRIAN C. BENICEWICZ, LAURA MURDOCK, LIHUI WANG, FEI HUANG, ANDREW PINGITORE
  • Patent number: 11482721
    Abstract: Disclosed are redox flow battery membranes, redox flow batteries incorporating the membranes, and methods of forming the membranes. The membranes include a densified polybenzimidazole gel membrane that is capable of incorporating a high liquid content without loss of structure that is formed according to a process that includes in situ hydrolysis of a polyphosphoric acid solvent followed by densification of the gel membrane. The densified membranes are then imbibed with a redox flow battery supporting electrolyte such as sulfuric acid and can operate at very high ionic conductivities of about 50 mS/cm or greater and with low permeability of redox couple ions, e.g. vanadium ions, of about 10?7 cm2/s or less. Redox flow batteries incorporating the membranes can operate at current densities of about 50 mA/cm2 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Brian C. Benicewicz, Laura Murdock, Lihui Wang, Fei Huang, Andrew Pingitore
  • Patent number: 11302948
    Abstract: Disclosed are redox flow battery membranes, redox flow batteries incorporating the membranes, and methods of forming the membranes. The membranes include a polybenzimidazole gel membrane that is capable of incorporating a high liquid content without loss of structure that is formed according to a process that includes in situ hydrolysis of a polyphosphoric acid solvent. The membranes are imbibed with a redox flow battery supporting electrolyte such as sulfuric acid and can operate at very high ionic conductivities of about 100 mS/cm or greater. Redox flow batteries incorporating the PBI-based membranes can operate at high current densities of about 100 mA/cm2 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Brian C. Benicewicz, Laura Murdock, Lihui Wang, Fei Huang, Andrew Pingitore
  • Publication number: 20220064391
    Abstract: A novel process for making PBI films starting from gel PBI membranes polymerized and casted in the PPA process wherein acid-imbibed gel PBIs are neutralized in a series of water baths and undergo controlled drying in association with a substrate material, yielding a PBI film without the use of organic solvents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: LAURA A. MURDOCK, LIHUI WANG, FEI HUANG, BRIAN C. BENICEWICZ
  • Patent number: 11180621
    Abstract: A novel process for making PBI films starting from gel PBI membranes polymerized and casted in the PPA process wherein acid-imbibed gel PBIs are neutralized in a series of water baths and undergo controlled drying in association with a substrate material, yielding a PBI film without the use of organic solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Laura A. Murdock, Fei Huang, Lihui Wang, Brian C. Benicewicz
  • Publication number: 20210280883
    Abstract: The current disclosure teaches one to achieve PBI membranes with high ionic conductivity and low mechanical creep for the first time. This is in contrast to previous teachings of PBI membrane fabrication methods, which yield PBIs with either high ionic conductivity and high mechanical creep or low ionic conductivity and low mechanical creep. The membranes produced according to the disclosed process provide doped membranes for applications in fuel cells and electrolysis devices such as electrochemical separation devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Laura A. Murdock, Fei Huang, Brian C. Benicewicz
  • Publication number: 20200087473
    Abstract: A novel process for making PBI films starting from gel PBI membranes polymerized and casted in the PPA process wherein acid-imbibed gel PBIs are neutralized in a series of water baths and undergo controlled drying in association with a substrate material, yielding a PBI film without the use of organic solvents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Laura A. Murdock, Fei Huang, Lihui Wang, Brian C. Benicewicz
  • Publication number: 20200091539
    Abstract: Disclosed are redox flow battery membranes, redox flow batteries incorporating the membranes, and methods of forming the membranes. The membranes include a densified polybenzimidazole gel membrane that is capable of incorporating a high liquid content without loss of structure that is formed according to a process that includes in situ hydrolysis of a polyphosphoric acid solvent followed by densification of the gel membrane. The densified membranes are then imbibed with a redox flow battery supporting electrolyte such as sulfuric acid and can operate at very high ionic conductivities of about 50 mS/cm or greater and with low permeability of redox couple ions, e.g. vanadium ions, of about 10?7 cm2/s or less. Redox flow batteries incorporating the membranes can operate at current densities of about 50 mA/cm2 or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: BRIAN C. BENICEWICZ, LAURA MURDOCK, LIHUI WANG, FEI HUANG, ANDREW PINGITORE
  • Publication number: 20200091536
    Abstract: Disclosed are redox flow battery membranes, redox flow batteries incorporating the membranes, and methods of forming the membranes. The membranes include a polybenzimidazole gel membrane that is capable of incorporating a high liquid content without loss of structure that is formed according to a process that includes in situ hydrolysis of a polyphosphoric acid solvent. The membranes are imbibed with a redox flow battery supporting electrolyte such as sulfuric acid and can operate at very high ionic conductivities of about 100 mS/cm or greater. Redox flow batteries incorporating the PBI-based membranes can operate at high current densities of about 100 mA/cm2 or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: BRIAN C. BENICEWICZ, LAURA MURDOCK, LIHUI WANG, FEI HUANG, ANDREW PINGITORE