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).
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Patent number: 11881581Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 3, 2021Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Nam Hawn Chou, Kaoru Omichi, Ryan McKenney, Qingmin Xu, Christopher Brooks, Simon C. Jones, Isabelle M. Darolles, Hongjin Tan
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Patent number: 11749797Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 18, 2019Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Qingmin Xu, Christopher J. Brooks, Ryan Mckenney, Nam Hawn Chou, Kaoru Omichi, Simon C. Jones, Thomas F. Miller, III, Stephen A. Munoz
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Publication number: 20230135901Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 11581582Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 4, 2019Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20220093918Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventors: Nam Hawn CHOU, Kaoru OMICHI, Ryan MCKENNEY, Qingmin XU, Christopher BROOKS, Simon C. JONES, Isabelle M. DAROLLES, Hongjin TAN
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Patent number: 11251420Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 15, 2017Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Nam Hawn Chou, Kaoru Omichi, Ryan McKenney, Qingmin Xu, Christopher Brooks, Simon C. Jones, Isabelle M. Darolles, Hongjin Tan
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Publication number: 20220037652Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Nam Hawn CHOU, Kaoru OMICHI, Ryan MCKENNEY, Qingmin XU, Christopher BROOKS, Simon C. JONES, Isabelle M. DAROLLES, Hongjin TAN
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Publication number: 20210367274Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Inventors: Nam Hawn Chou, Kaoru Omichi, Ryan McKenney, Qingmin Xu, Christopher Brooks, Simon C. Jones, Isabelle M. Darolles, Hongjin Tan
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Patent number: 11177512Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 20, 2018Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Nam Hawn Chou, Kaoru Omichi, Ryan McKenney, Qingmin Xu, Christopher Brooks, Simon C. Jones, Isabelle M. Darolles, Hongjin Tan
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Patent number: 11053598Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 9, 2018Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Nam Hawn Chou
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Patent number: 10933471Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Avetik Harutyunyan, Rahul Rao, Nam Hawn Chou
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Patent number: 10675681Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 1, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Nam Hawn Chou, Ryan McKenney, Christopher Brooks
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Patent number: 10626021Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 31, 2017Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Nam Hawn Chou, Ryan McKenney
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Publication number: 20190372111Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Qingmin XU, Christopher J. Brooks, Ryan Mckenney, Nam Hawn Chou, Kaoru Omichi, Simon C. Jones, Thomas F. Miller, III, Stephen A. Munoz
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Publication number: 20190232375Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Avetik Harutyunyan, Rahul Rao, Nam Hawn Chou
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Patent number: 10195668Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 9, 2015Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Avetik Harutyunyan, Rahul Rao, Nam Hawn Chou
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Publication number: 20180301764Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Nam Hawn CHOU, Kaoru OMICHI, Ryan MCKENNEY, Qingmin XU, Christopher BROOKS, Simon C. JONES, Isabelle M. DAROLLES, Hongjin TAN
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Publication number: 20180282173Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Nam Hawn CHOU, Ryan MCKENNEY
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Publication number: 20180230611Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2018Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventor: Nam Hawn CHOU
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Publication number: 20180214945Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2018Publication date: August 2, 2018Inventors: Nam Hawn CHOU, Ryan McKenney, Christopher Brooks