Patents by Inventor Nam Hawn Chou

Nam Hawn Chou 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: 11881581
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of making core-shell and yolk-shell nanoparticles, and to electrodes comprising the same. The core-shell and yolk-shell nanoparticles and electrodes comprising them are suitable for use in electrochemical cells, such as fluoride shuttle batteries. The shell may protect the metal core from oxidation, including in an electrochemical cell. In some embodiments, an electrochemically active structure includes a dimensionally changeable active material forming a particle that expands or contracts upon reaction with or release of fluoride ions. One or more particles are at least partially surrounded with a fluoride-conducting encapsulant and optionally one or more voids are formed between the active material and the encapsulant using sacrificial layers or selective etching. When the electrochemically active structures are used in secondary batteries, the presence of voids can accommodate dimensional changes of the active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Nam Hawn Chou, Kaoru Omichi, Ryan McKenney, Qingmin Xu, Christopher Brooks, Simon C. Jones, Isabelle M. Darolles, Hongjin Tan
  • Patent number: 11749797
    Abstract: A fluoride shuttle (F-shuttle) battery and nanostructures of copper based cathode materials in the fluoride shuttle battery. The F-shuttle batteries include a liquid electrolyte, which allows the F-shuttle batteries to operate under room temperature. The minimum thickness of copper layer within the copper nanostructures is no more than 20 nm. The thickness of copper layer within the copper nanostructures is controlled and reduced to ensure the energy densities of F-shuttle batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Qingmin Xu, Christopher J. Brooks, Ryan Mckenney, Nam Hawn Chou, Kaoru Omichi, Simon C. Jones, Thomas F. Miller, III, Stephen A. Munoz
  • Publication number: 20230135901
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to fluoride ion batteries and structures of metal based electrode materials for various fluoride ion batteries. The structures of the metal based electrode materials comprise one or more shells or interfaces, enabling the electrodes to operate at room temperature with a liquid electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Qingmin XU, Christopher J. BROOKS, Kaoru OMICHI, Ryan K. MCKENNEY, Simon JONES, Victoria DAVIS, Stephen MUNOZ, Jeongmin KIM, Keith BILLINGS, Thomas MILLER, III, Robert H. GRUBBS, William WOLF, Nam Hawn CHOU
  • Patent number: 11581582
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to fluoride ion batteries and structures of metal based electrode materials for various fluoride ion batteries. The structures of the metal based electrode materials comprise one or more shells or interfaces, enabling the electrodes to operate at room temperature with a liquid electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Qingmin Xu, Christopher J. Brooks, Kaoru Omichi, Ryan K. McKenney, Simon Jones, Victoria Davis, Stephen Munoz, Jeongmin Kim, Keith Billings, Thomas Miller, III, Robert H. Grubbs, William Wolf, Nam Hawn Chou
  • Publication number: 20220093918
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of making core-shell and yolk-shell nanoparticles, and to electrodes comprising the same. The core-shell and yolk-shell nanoparticles and electrodes comprising them are suitable for use in electrochemical cells, such as fluoride shuttle batteries. The shell may protect the metal core from oxidation, including in an electrochemical cell. In some embodiments, an electrochemically active structure includes a dimensionally changeable active material forming a particle that expands or contracts upon reaction with or release of fluoride ions. One or more particles are at least partially surrounded with a fluoride-conducting encapsulant and optionally one or more voids are formed between the active material and the encapsulant using sacrificial layers or selective etching. When the electrochemically active structures are used in secondary batteries, the presence of voids can accommodate dimensional changes of the active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Nam Hawn CHOU, Kaoru OMICHI, Ryan MCKENNEY, Qingmin XU, Christopher BROOKS, Simon C. JONES, Isabelle M. DAROLLES, Hongjin TAN
  • Patent number: 11251420
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of making core-shell and yolk-shell nanoparticles, and to electrodes comprising the same. The core-shell and yolk-shell nanoparticles and electrodes comprising them are suitable for use in electrochemical cells, such as fluoride shuttle batteries. The shell may protect the metal core from oxidation, including in an electrochemical cell. In some embodiments, an electrochemically active structure includes a dimensionally changeable active material forming a particle that expands or contracts upon reaction with or release of fluoride ions. One or more particles are at least partially surrounded with a fluoride-conducting encapsulant and optionally one or more voids are formed between the active material and the encapsulant using sacrificial layers or selective etching. When the electrochemically active structures are used in secondary batteries, the presence of voids can accommodate dimensional changes of the active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Nam Hawn Chou, Kaoru Omichi, Ryan McKenney, Qingmin Xu, Christopher Brooks, Simon C. Jones, Isabelle M. Darolles, Hongjin Tan
  • Publication number: 20220037652
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of making core-shell and yolk-shell nanoparticles, and to electrodes comprising the same. The core-shell and yolk-shell nanoparticles and electrodes comprising them are suitable for use in electrochemical cells, such as fluoride shuttle batteries. The shell may protect the metal core from oxidation, including in an electrochemical cell. In some embodiments, an electrochemically active structure includes a dimensionally changeable active material forming a particle that expands or contracts upon reaction with or release of fluoride ions. One or more particles are at least partially surrounded with a fluoride-conducting encapsulant and optionally one or more voids are formed between the active material and the encapsulant using sacrificial layers or selective etching. When the electrochemically active structures are used in secondary batteries, the presence of voids can accommodate dimensional changes of the active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Nam Hawn CHOU, Kaoru OMICHI, Ryan MCKENNEY, Qingmin XU, Christopher BROOKS, Simon C. JONES, Isabelle M. DAROLLES, Hongjin TAN
  • Publication number: 20210367274
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of making core-shell and yolk-shell nanoparticles, and to electrodes comprising the same. The core-shell and yolk-shell nanoparticles and electrodes comprising them are suitable for use in electrochemical cells, such as fluoride shuttle batteries. The shell may protect the metal core from oxidation, including in an electrochemical cell. In some embodiments, an electrochemically active structure includes a dimensionally changeable active material forming a particle that expands or contracts upon reaction with or release of fluoride ions. One or more particles are at least partially surrounded with a fluoride-conducting encapsulant and optionally one or more voids are formed between the active material and the encapsulant using sacrificial layers or selective etching. The fluoride-conducting encapsulant may comprise one or more metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Nam Hawn Chou, Kaoru Omichi, Ryan McKenney, Qingmin Xu, Christopher Brooks, Simon C. Jones, Isabelle M. Darolles, Hongjin Tan
  • Patent number: 11177512
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of making core-shell and yolk-shell nanoparticles, and to electrodes comprising the same. The core-shell and yolk-shell nanoparticles and electrodes comprising them are suitable for use in electrochemical cells, such as fluoride shuttle batteries. The shell may protect the metal core from oxidation, including in an electrochemical cell. In some embodiments, an electrochemically active structure includes a dimensionally changeable active material forming a particle that expands or contracts upon reaction with or release of fluoride ions. One or more particles are at least partially surrounded with a fluoride-conducting encapsulant and optionally one or more voids are formed between the active material and the encapsulant using sacrificial layers or selective etching. The fluoride-conducting encapsulant may comprise one or more metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Nam Hawn Chou, Kaoru Omichi, Ryan McKenney, Qingmin Xu, Christopher Brooks, Simon C. Jones, Isabelle M. Darolles, Hongjin Tan
  • Patent number: 11053598
    Abstract: An electrode material which may be used in an electrochemical cell used to convert carbon dioxide into useful products, such as synthetic fuel. The electrode material may comprise nano-sized core-shell catalyst (i.e., core-shell nanoparticles, or CSNs) having a catalytic core component encompassed by one or more outer shells, wherein at least one of the outer shells has a mesoporous structure. Electrochemical cells, electrochemical cell electrodes, and methods of making CSNs are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nam Hawn Chou
  • Patent number: 10933471
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods for producing a single-walled carbon nanotube in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor. The methods comprise contacting liquid catalyst droplets and a carbon source in the reactor, and forming a single walled carbon nanotube at the surface of the liquid catalyst droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Avetik Harutyunyan, Rahul Rao, Nam Hawn Chou
  • Patent number: 10675681
    Abstract: Multifunctional core@shell nanoparticles (CSNs) useful in electrochemical cells, particularly for use as an electrocatalyst material. The multifunctional CSNs comprise a catalytic core component encompassed by one or more outer shells. Also included are electrochemical cell electrodes and electrochemical cells that electrochemically convert carbon dioxide to, for example, useful fuels (e.g., synthetic fuels) or other products, and which comprise multifunctional CSNs, and methods for making the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nam Hawn Chou, Ryan McKenney, Christopher Brooks
  • Patent number: 10626021
    Abstract: Methods for preparing solid metal oxide nanoparticles via controlled oxidation comprising preparing a plurality of metal nanoparticles, contacting the plurality of metal nanoparticles with an aqueous agent to provide metal oxide nanoparticles having a desired particle size, and removing the resulting metal oxide nanoparticles from the aqueous agent. Aspects of the present disclosure also relate to solid metal oxide nanoparticles obtained by this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nam Hawn Chou, Ryan McKenney
  • Publication number: 20190372111
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fluoride shuttle battery and nanostructures of copper based cathode materials in the fluoride shuttle battery. The F-shuttle batteries of present disclosure comprise a liquid electrolyte, which allows the F-shuttle batteries to operate under room temperature. The minimum thickness of copper layer within the copper nanostructures is no more than 20 nm. The thickness of copper layer within the copper nanostructures is controlled and reduced to ensure the energy densities of F-shuttle batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Qingmin XU, Christopher J. Brooks, Ryan Mckenney, Nam Hawn Chou, Kaoru Omichi, Simon C. Jones, Thomas F. Miller, III, Stephen A. Munoz
  • Publication number: 20190232375
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods for producing a single-walled carbon nanotube in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor. The methods comprise contacting liquid catalyst droplets and a carbon source in the reactor, and forming a single walled carbon nanotube at the surface of the liquid catalyst droplets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Avetik Harutyunyan, Rahul Rao, Nam Hawn Chou
  • Patent number: 10195668
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods for producing a single-walled carbon nanotube in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor. The methods comprise contacting liquid catalyst droplets and a carbon source in the reactor, and forming a single walled carbon nanotube at the surface of the liquid catalyst droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Avetik Harutyunyan, Rahul Rao, Nam Hawn Chou
  • Publication number: 20180301764
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of making core-shell and yolk-shell nanoparticles, and to electrodes comprising the same. The core-shell and yolk-shell nanoparticles and electrodes comprising them are suitable for use in electrochemical cells, such as fluoride shuttle batteries. The shell may protect the metal core from oxidation, including in an electrochemical cell. In some embodiments, an electrochemically active structure includes a dimensionally changeable active material forming a particle that expands or contracts upon reaction with or release of fluoride ions. One or more particles are at least partially surrounded with a fluoride-conducting encapsulant and optionally one or more voids are formed between the active material and the encapsulant using sacrificial layers or selective etching. The fluoride-conducting encapsulant may comprise one or more metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Nam Hawn CHOU, Kaoru OMICHI, Ryan MCKENNEY, Qingmin XU, Christopher BROOKS, Simon C. JONES, Isabelle M. DAROLLES, Hongjin TAN
  • Publication number: 20180282173
    Abstract: Methods for preparing solid metal oxide nanoparticles via controlled oxidation comprising preparing a plurality of metal nanoparticles, contacting the plurality of metal nanoparticles with an aqueous agent to provide metal oxide nanoparticles having a desired particle size, and removing the resulting metal oxide nanoparticles from the aqueous agent. Aspects of the present disclosure also relate to solid metal oxide nanoparticles obtained by this method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Nam Hawn CHOU, Ryan MCKENNEY
  • Publication number: 20180230611
    Abstract: An electrode material which may be used in an electrochemical cell used to convert carbon dioxide into useful products, such as synthetic fuel. The electrode material may comprise nano-sized core-shell catalyst (i.e., core-shell nanoparticles, or CSNs) having a catalytic core component encompassed by one or more outer shells, wherein at least one of the outer shells has a mesoporous structure. Electrochemical cells, electrochemical cell electrodes, and methods of making CSNs are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventor: Nam Hawn CHOU
  • Publication number: 20180214945
    Abstract: Multifunctional core@shell nanoparticles (CSNs) useful in electrochemical cells, particularly for use as an electrocatalyst material. The multifunctional CSNs comprise a catalytic core component encompassed by one or more outer shells. Also included are electrochemical cell electrodes and electrochemical cells that electrochemically convert carbon dioxide to, for example, useful fuels (e.g., synthetic fuels) or other products, and which comprise multifunctional CSNs, and methods for making the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Nam Hawn CHOU, Ryan McKenney, Christopher Brooks