Patents by Inventor Leroy Cronin

Leroy Cronin 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: 11851773
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of manufacturing a semiconductor structure comprising an (001) oriented zincblende structure group III-nitride layer, such as GaN. The layer is formed on a 3C-SiC layer on a silicon substrate. A nucleation layer is formed, recrystallized and then the zincblende structure group III-nitride layer is formed by MOVPE at temperature T3 in the range 750-1000° C., to a thickness of at least 0.5?. There is also disclosed a corresponding semiconductor structure comprising a zincblende structure group III-nitride layer which, when characterized by XRD, shows that the substantial majority, or all, of the layer is formed of zincblende structure group III-nitride in preference to wurtzite structure group III-nitride. The present invention provides methods for producing hydrogen using a mediator that is capable of reversibly donating and accepting four or more electrons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: The University Court of the University of Glasgow
    Inventors: Leroy Cronin, Mark Symes, Jia-Jia Chen
  • Publication number: 20230183868
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of manufacturing a semiconductor structure comprising an (001) oriented zincblende structure group III-nitride layer, such as GaN. The layer is formed on a 3C-SiC layer on a silicon substrate. A nucleation layer is formed, recrystallized and then the zincblende structure group III-nitride layer is formed by MOVPE at temperature T3 in the range 750-1000° C., to a thickness of at least 0.5?. There is also disclosed a corresponding semiconductor structure comprising a zincblende structure group III-nitride layer which, when characterized by XRD, shows that the substantial majority, or all, of the layer is formed of zincblende structure group III-nitride in preference to wurtzite structure group III-nitride. The present invention provides methods for producing hydrogen using a mediator that is capable of reversibly donating and accepting four or more electrons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Leroy Cronin, Mark Symes, Jia-Jia Chen
  • Publication number: 20230173450
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for controlling an automated chemistry platform using synthetic procedures written in natural language. The method uses natural language processing (NLP) techniques to interpret a synthetic procedure written in natural scientific language and extracts a machine-readable instruction set comprising the distinct operations necessary for carrying out the synthesis on an automated chemical synthesis platform. The method optionall also includes the step of executing the machine-readable instruction set on an automated chemical synthesis platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Leroy CRONIN, Hessam MEHR, Matthew CRAVEN, Artem LEONOV
  • Publication number: 20230149882
    Abstract: Provided is a fluid handling device having multiple flow pathways through the device. The device has a fluid directing manifold comprising an array of interconnected multi-directional valves, and a plurality of ports in fluid connection with the array. The device also has a controller to set the position of the multi-directional valves. The manifold is configured to provide at least two independent flow paths between a pair of ports within the manifold. Also provided is a method of using the device, and an automated chemical synthesis platform comprising the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventor: Leroy CRONIN
  • Publication number: 20230129380
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for estimating the molecular complexity of a sample, for example to determine whether biotic or synthetic components are present in the sample. The method comprises the steps of (a) performing one of MS/MS, NMR or IR on a sample; (b) determining the unique peaks in the resulting spectrum; and (c) calculating the molecular assembly index of the sample based on the number of unique peaks in the spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventor: Leroy Cronin
  • Patent number: 11572629
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for producing hydrogen using a mediator that is capable of reversibly donating and accepting four or more electrons. A method of the invention comprises the steps of reducing a mediator by four or more electrons to yield a reduced mediator, and oxidising a reduced mediator to yield a mediator, and reducing protons to yield hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: The University Court of the University of Glasgow
    Inventors: Leroy Cronin, Mark Symes, Jia-Jia Chen
  • Publication number: 20220389414
    Abstract: Molecular computer techniques for solving a computational problem using an array of reaction sites, for example, droplets, are disclosed. The problem may be represented as a Hamiltonian in terms of problem variables and problem parameters. The reaction sites may have a physicochemical property mapping to discrete site states corresponding to possible values of the problem variables. In a purely molecular approach, the reaction sites have intra-site and inter-site couplings enforced thereon representing the problem parameters, and the array is allowed to evolve, subjected to the enforced couplings, to a final configuration conveying a solution to the problem. In a hybrid classical-molecular approach, an iterative procedure may be performed that involves feeding read-out site states into a digital computer, determining, based on the problem parameters, perturbations to be applied to the states, and allowing the array to evolve under the perturbations to a final configuration conveying a solution to the problem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Alan ASPURU-GUZIK, Si Yue GUO, Tony Chang-Chi WU, Pascal Thomas FRIEDERICH, Randall Howard GOLDSMITH, Leroy CRONIN, Abhishek SHARMA, Yudong CAO, Nathan C. GIANNESCHI, Christopher James FORMAN
  • Publication number: 20220036252
    Abstract: The invention provides a chemical computer having a matrix, an input device and an analytical device. The matrix is a plurality of interconnected reaction spaces holding a reaction mixture; the input device is provided to independently address each of a plurality of reaction spaces within the matrix; and the analytical device has a sensor to analyse a reaction characteristic of a reaction mixture in one or more reaction spaces. Also provides are methods for using the chemical computer, and the use of the chemical computer as a logic gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventor: Leroy CRONIN
  • Publication number: 20210233620
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method to generate a predictive model for a reaction set, which reaction set is the sum of the reaction outcomes for a plurality of chemical inputs. Also provided is a system for generating a predictive model for a reaction set, which system may be used in the method. The system comprises a synthesiser for conducting reactions, which synthesiser is an automated synthesiser, an analytical unit for monitoring reactions performed by the synthesiser, and a control unit suitably programmed with a machine learning algorithm, for analysing analytical data from the analytical unit, and for controlling the synthesiser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventor: Leroy CRONIN
  • Publication number: 20210032762
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for producing hydrogen using a mediator that is capable of reversibly donating and accepting four or more electrons. A method of the invention comprises the steps of reducing a mediator by four or more electrons to yield a reduced mediator, and oxidising a reduced mediator to yield a mediator, and reducing protons to yield hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Leroy Cronin, Mark Symes, Jia-Jia Chen
  • Publication number: 20210031162
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for performing reactions, where the system comprises a plurality of synthesisers that are in communication via a communal reporting platform. A synthesiser is programmed for the automated synthesis of one or more chemical or biological reactions, and the synthesiser comprises a reaction vessel which is supplied by a reagent delivery system, an analytical system for analysing a reaction, and a controller for managing the reagent delivery system and the analytical system, and for communication with the reporting platform. Also provided are methods for performing a plurality or reactions using the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventor: Leroy Cronin
  • Publication number: 20200335181
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for digitising a method of synthesis. The method includes the steps of identifying a method of synthesis for a target product; (ii) establishing a process sequence for that method, which process sequence is a collection of chemical and/or physical steps within the method of synthesis; and subsequently (iii) translating the process sequence to a digital model of the method of synthesis, which digital model comprises a digital description of the chemical and/or physical steps within the method of synthesis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventor: Leroy CRONIN
  • Publication number: 20200298227
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus comprising a reactionware and an analytical device for analysing a reaction, the analytical device comprising at least a plurality of reaction sensors and the analytical device is configured for placement of a plurality of sensors in the reaction space of the reactionware, and optionally the reaction headspace of the reactionware, and the reactionware is a reaction flask having one or more necks, and the analytical device is held in a neck of the reaction flask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Leroy Cronin, Laurence Ede, Stephen Coles, Mark Warne, Richard Laming
  • Patent number: 10604852
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for producing hydrogen and oxygen, comprising the steps of: (i) oxidising a mediator at a working electrode to yield an oxidised mediator, and reducing protons at a counter electrode to yield hydrogen; and (ii) reducing an oxidised mediator at a working electrode to yield a mediator, and oxidising water at a counter electrode to yield oxygen, wherein the oxygen generation step is performed non-simultaneously to the hydrogen generation step, and the oxidised mediator of step (i) is used as the oxidised mediator of step (ii), or the mediator of step (ii) is used as the mediator of step (i), and the mediator has a reversible redox wave lying between the onset of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
    Inventors: Leroy Cronin, Mark Symes
  • Patent number: 9962677
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a compound or a product having one or more characteristics that meet or exceed a user specification, the process comprising the step of selecting a first combination of chemical inputs, optionally together with physical inputs, and supplying those inputs to a reaction space, thereby to generate a first product; analyzing one or more characteristics of the product generated; comparing the one or more characteristics against a user specification; using a genetic algorithm selecting a second combination of chemical inputs, optionally together with physical inputs, wherein the second combination differs from the first combination, and supplying those inputs to the reaction space, thereby to generate a second product; analyzing one or more characteristics of the second product generated; comparing the one or more characteristics generated against the user specification; repeating the selecting and analyzing steps for further individual combinations of chemical and/or p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: The University Court of the University of Glasgow
    Inventor: Leroy Cronin
  • Patent number: 9922713
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic device, such as a flash memory device and/or a write-once-read-once memory device, where the device has a polyoxometallate that is capable of providing and/or accepting one or more electrons. The polyoxometallate may have a Wells-Dawson structure and the polyoxometallate may comprise a cage and optionally one or more guests. Also provided is a method of using the memory device, the method comprising the step of providing to or accepting from the polyoxometalate one or more electrons to provide a polyoxometalate in a reduced or oxidized state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: The University Court of the University of Glasgow
    Inventors: Leroy Cronin, Asen Asenov
  • Publication number: 20170354946
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a compound or a product having one or more characteristics that meet or exceed a user specification, the process comprising the step of selecting a first combination of chemical inputs, optionally together with physical inputs, and supplying those inputs to a reaction space, thereby to generate a first product; analysing one or more characteristics of the product generated; comparing the one or more characteristics against a user specification; using a genetic algorithm selecting a second combination of chemical inputs, optionally together with physical inputs, wherein the second combination differs from the first combination, and supplying those inputs to the reaction space, thereby to generate a second product; analysing one or more characteristics of the second product generated; comparing the one or more characteristics generated against the user specification; repeating the selecting and analysing steps for further individual combinations of chemical and/or p
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventor: Leroy CRONIN
  • Publication number: 20170297913
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the generation of hydrogen, where the method comprises the step of reducing a mediator, such as a polyoxometallate, at a working electrode to yield a reduced mediator and generating oxygen at a counter electrode; and contacting the reduced mediator with a catalyst, such as a Pt, Rh, Pd, Mo or Ni containing catalyst, thereby to oxidise the reduced mediator to yield hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Leroy Cronin, Mark Symes, Greig Chisholm, Benjamin Rausch
  • Patent number: 9757706
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a compound or a product having one or more characteristics that meet or exceed a user specification, the process comprising the step of selecting a first combination of chemical inputs, optionally together with physical inputs, and supplying those inputs to a reaction space, thereby to generate a first product; analyzing one or more characteristics of the product generated; comparing the one or more characteristics against a user specification; using a genetic algorithm selecting a second combination of chemical inputs, optionally together with physical inputs, wherein the second combination differs from the first combination, and supplying those inputs to the reaction space, thereby to generate a second product; analyzing one or more characteristics of the second product generated; comparing the one or more characteristics generated against the user specification; repeating the selecting and analyzing steps for further individual combinations of chemical and/or p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: The University Court of The University of Glasgow
    Inventor: Leroy Cronin
  • Patent number: 9643152
    Abstract: Provided are methods for preparing and using reaction vessels obtained or obtainable by 3D-printing methods, including a method for preparing a product compound, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a reaction vessel that is obtained by a 3-D printing method, wherein the reaction vessel has a reaction space; (ii) providing one or more reagents, optionally together with a catalyst or a solvent, for use in the synthesis of the product compound; and (iii) permitting the one or more reagents to react in the reaction space, optionally in the presence of the catalyst and the solvent, in the reaction vessel, thereby to form the product compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: The University Court of the University of Glasgow
    Inventor: Leroy Cronin