Patents by Inventor Nathan S. Lewis

Nathan S. Lewis 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: 11377747
    Abstract: A solar fuels generator includes an anolyte and a catholyte in contact with a separator. The separator is configured such that the pH of the anolyte and the pH of the catholyte are each held at a steady state pH level during operation of the solar fuels generator. The steady state pH level of the anolyte is different from the steady state pH level of the catholyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Chengxiang Xiang, Xinghao Zhou, Ke Sun, Ryan J. Jones, Nathan S. Lewis
  • Patent number: 11349039
    Abstract: A photoelectrode, methods of making and using, including systems for water-splitting are provided. The photoelectrode can be a semiconducting material having a photocatalyst such as nickel or nickel-molybdenum coated on the material. The photoelectrode includes an elongated axially integrated wire having at least two different wire compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Shu Hu
  • Publication number: 20200378016
    Abstract: A solar fuels generator includes an anolyte and a catholyte in contact with a separator. The separator is configured such that the pH of the anolyte and the pH of the catholyte are each held at a steady state pH level during operation of the solar fuels generator. The steady state pH level of the anolyte is different from the steady state pH level of the catholyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Chengxiang Xiang, Xinghao Zhou, Ke Sun, Ryan J. Jones, Nathan S. Lewis
  • Patent number: 10787749
    Abstract: A solar fuels generator includes an anolyte and a catholyte in contact with a separator. The separator is configured such that the pH of the anolyte and the pH of the catholyte are each held at a steady state pH level during operation of the solar fuels generator. The steady state pH level of the anolyte is different from the steady state pH level of the catholyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Chengxiang Xiang, Xinghao Zhou, Ke Sun, Ryan J. Jones, Nathan S. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20200188898
    Abstract: Disclosed are stable, active non-precious metal oxide catalysts, such as transition metal antimonates (TMAs), for electrochemical reactions in harsh media conditions, such as the chlorine evolution reaction (CER). A disclosed electrocatalyst includes a metal oxide film containing a crystalline transition metal antimonite (TMA). The crystalline TMA may include NiSb2Ox, CoSb2Ox, or MnSb2Ox. The metal oxide film may be formed on a conductive substrate, for example, a substrate including an antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) film, using an annealing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Ivan A. Moreno-Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20190334048
    Abstract: Increasing the power conversion efficiency of silicon (Si) photovoltaics is a key enabler for continued reductions in the cost of solar electricity. Disclosed herein is a multi-junction photovoltaic cell that does not utilize a conventional interconnection layer and instead places a wide bandgap oxide conductor, for example, a metal oxide such as TiO2, between a top light absorption layer having a relatively large bandgap and a bottom light absorption layer having a relatively small bandgap. The advantageous omission of a conventional interconnection layer between the two subcells is enabled by low contact resistivity between the top and bottom light absorbing layers provided by the wide bandgap oxide conductor. The absence of the conventional interconnect between the subcells significantly reduces both optical losses and processing steps. The disclosed photovoltaic cell may thus enable low-cost, high-efficiency multi-junction devices through less complex manufacturing processes and lower material costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Stefan Omelchenko, Sisir Yalamanchili, Nathan S. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20190264338
    Abstract: A solar fuels generation system includes a first reactor that contains a first solution in which a charge carrier is reduced to a reduced charge carrier. The system also includes a second reactor that contains a second solution in which the reduced charge carrier reduces protons so as to generate hydrogen gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Christoph D. Karp, Alec S. Ho, Xinghao Zhou, Chengxiang Xiang, Nathan S. Lewis
  • Patent number: 10344387
    Abstract: The solar fuels generator includes an ionically conductive separator between a gaseous first phase and a second phase. A photoanode uses one or more components of the first phase to generate cations during operation of the solar fuels generator. A cation conduit is positioned provides a pathway along which the cations travel from the photoanode to the separator. The separator conducts the cations. A second solid cation conduit conducts the cations from the separator to a photocathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Joshua M. Spurgeon
  • Patent number: 10242806
    Abstract: The solar fuels generator includes an ionically conductive separator between a gaseous first phase and a second phase. A photoanode uses one or more components of the first phase to generate cations during operation of the solar fuels generator. A cation conduit is positioned provides a pathway along which the cations travel from the photoanode to the separator. The separator conducts the cations. A second solid cation conduit conducts the cations from the separator to a photocathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Joshua M. Spurgeon, William C. West, Chengxiang Xiang
  • Publication number: 20190013426
    Abstract: A photoelectrode, methods of making and using, including systems for water-splitting are provided. The photoelectrode can be a semiconducting material having a photocatalyst such as nickel or nickel-molybdenum coated on the material. The photoelectrode includes an elongated axially integrated wire having at least two different wire compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Shu Hu
  • Patent number: 10090425
    Abstract: A photoelectrode, methods of making and using, including systems for water-splitting are provided. The photoelectrode can be a semiconducting material having a photocatalyst such as nickel or nickel-molybdenum coated on the material. The photoelectrode includes an elongated axially integrated wire having at least two different wire compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Shu Hu
  • Publication number: 20180269003
    Abstract: The solar fuels generator includes an ionically conductive separator between a gaseous first phase and a second phase. A photoanode uses one or more components of the first phase to generate cations during operation of the solar fuels generator. A cation conduit is positioned provides a pathway along which the cations travel from the photoanode to the separator. The separator conducts the cations. A second solid cation conduit conducts the cations from the separator to a photocathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Joshua M. Spurgeon, William C. West, Chengxiang Xiang
  • Publication number: 20180251903
    Abstract: A solar fuels generator includes an anolyte and a catholyte in contact with a separator. The separator is configured such that the pH of the anolyte and the pH of the catholyte are each held at a steady state pH level during operation of the solar fuels generator. The steady state pH level of the anolyte is different from the steady state pH level of the catholyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Chengxiang Xiang, Xinghao Zhou, Ke Sun, Ryan J. Jones, Nathan S. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20180219115
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to photovoltaic and photo-electrosynthetic cells, devices, methods of making and using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Shane Ardo, Matthew Shaner, Robert Coridan, Nicholas C. Strandwitz, James R. McKone, Katherine Fountaine, Harry A. Atwater, Nathan S. Lewis
  • Patent number: 10026560
    Abstract: The solar fuels generator includes an ionically conductive separator between a gaseous first phase and a second phase. A photoanode uses one or more components of the first phase to generate cations during operation of the solar fuels generator. A cation conduit is positioned provides a pathway along which the cations travel from the photoanode to the separator. The separator conducts the cations. A second solid cation conduit conducts the cations from the separator to a photocathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Joshua M. Sprugeon, William C. West, Chengxiang Xiang
  • Patent number: 9976220
    Abstract: A photoanode includes a passivation layer on a light absorber. The passivation layer is more resistant to corrosion than the light absorber. The photoanode includes a surface modifying layer that is location on the passivation layer such that the passivation layer is between the light absorber and the surface modifying layer. The surface modifying layer reduces a resistance of the passivation layer to conduction of holes out of the passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Shu Hu, Nathan S. Lewis
  • Patent number: 9947816
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to photovoltaic and photoelectrosynthetic cells, devices, methods of making and using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Shane Ardo, Matthew Shaner, Robert Coridan, Nicholas C. Strandwitz, James R. McKone, Katherine Fountaine, Harry A. Atwater, Nathan S. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20170037523
    Abstract: The solar fuels generator includes an ionically conductive separator between a gaseous first phase and a second phase. A photoanode uses one or more components of the first phase to generate cations during operation of the solar fuels generator. A cation conduit is positioned provides a pathway along which the cations travel from the photoanode to the separator. The separator conducts the cations. A second solid cation conduit conducts the cations from the separator to a photocathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Joshua M. Spurgeon
  • Patent number: 9553223
    Abstract: A method of aligning microwires includes modifying the microwires so they are more responsive to a magnetic field. The method also includes using a magnetic field so as to magnetically align the microwires. The method can further include capturing the microwires in a solid support structure that retains the longitudinal alignment of the microwires when the magnetic field is not applied to the microwires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Joseph A. Beardslee, Nathan S. Lewis, Bryce Sadtler
  • Patent number: 9545612
    Abstract: The disclosure provides conductive membranes for water splitting and solar fuel generation. The membranes comprise an embedded semiconductive/photoactive material and an oxygen or hydrogen evolution catalyst. Also provided are chassis and cassettes containing the membranes for use in fuel generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, William C. West