Patents by Inventor Qingmei Chen
Qingmei Chen 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: 10774431Abstract: An anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprises vinylbenzyl-Rs and a substituted ethene. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. The total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rs groups is greater than 15% of the total weight of the membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2017Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Syed Dawar Sajjad, Qingmei Chen
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Patent number: 10647652Abstract: A process for the production of organic acids having at least three carbon atoms comprises the steps of forming an amount of carbon monoxide and reacting the amount of carbon monoxide with an amount of an unsaturated hydrocarbon. The reaction is preferably carried out in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst, a strong acid, and a phosphine. In some embodiments, the unsaturated hydrocarbon is one of acetylene and methylacetylene, and the organic acid is one of acrylic acid and methyl acrylic acid. The reacting step is preferably performed with carbon monoxide produced from carbon dioxide.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zheng Richard Ni, Qingmei Chen, Brian A. Rosen
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Publication number: 20200030787Abstract: An anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprises vinylbenzyl-Rs vinylbenzyl-Rx and styrene-Rt. Rs is a positively charged amine or phosphine group. The total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rs groups is greater than 15% of the total weight of the membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Syed Dawar Sajjad, Qingmei Chen, Zengcai Liu
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Publication number: 20190135726Abstract: A process for the production of organic acids having at least three carbon atoms comprises the steps of forming an amount of carbon monoxide and reacting the amount of carbon monoxide with an amount of an unsaturated hydrocarbon. The reaction is preferably carried out in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst, a strong acid, and a phosphine. In some embodiments, the unsaturated hydrocarbon is one of acetylene and methylacetylene, and the organic acid is one of acrylic acid and methyl acrylic acid. The reacting step is preferably performed with carbon monoxide produced from carbon dioxide.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zheng Richard Ni, Qingmei Chen, Brian A. Rosen
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Publication number: 20180171495Abstract: An anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprises vinylbenzyl-Rs and a substituted ethene. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. The total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rs groups is greater than 15% of the total weight of the membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2017Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Syed Dawar Sajjad, Qingmei Chen
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Publication number: 20180057439Abstract: A process for the production of organic acids having at least three carbon atoms comprises the steps of forming an amount of carbon monoxide and reacting the amount of carbon monoxide with an amount of an unsaturated hydrocarbon. The reaction is preferably carried out in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst, a strong acid, and a phosphine. In some embodiments, the unsaturated hydrocarbon is one of acetylene and methylacetylene, and the organic acid is one of acrylic acid and methyl acrylic acid. The reacting step is preferably performed with carbon monoxide produced from carbon dioxide.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2017Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zheng Richard Ni, Qingmei Chen, Brian A. Rosen
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Patent number: 9849450Abstract: An anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprises a terpolymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and vinylbenzyl-Rx. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting Cl, OH and a reaction product between an OH or Cl and a species other than a simple amine or a cyclic amine. The total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rx groups is greater than 0.3% of the total weight of the membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2017Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Syed Dawar Sajjad, Yan Gao, Zengcai Liu, Qingmei Chen
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Patent number: 9790161Abstract: A process for the production of organic acids having at least three carbon atoms comprises the steps of forming an amount of carbon monoxide and reacting the amount of carbon monoxide with an amount of an unsaturated hydrocarbon. The reaction is preferably carried out in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst, a strong acid, and a phosphine. In some embodiments, the unsaturated hydrocarbon is one of acetylene and methylacetylene, and the organic acid is one of acrylic acid and methyl acrylic acid. The reacting step is preferably performed with carbon monoxide produced from carbon dioxide.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zheng Richard Ni, Qingmei Chen, Brian A. Rosen
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Publication number: 20170128930Abstract: An anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprises a terpolymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and vinylbenzyl-Rx. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting Cl, OH and a reaction product between an OH or Cl and a species other than a simple amine or a cyclic amine. The total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rx groups is greater than 0.3% of the total weight of the membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2017Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Syed Dawar Sajjad, Yan Gao, Zengcai Liu, Qingmei Chen
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Patent number: 9580824Abstract: An ion conducting polymeric composition mixture comprises a copolymer of styrene and vinylbenzyl-Rs. Rs is selected from the group consisting of imidazoliums, pyridiniums, pyrazoliums, pyrrolidiniums, pyrroliums, pyrimidiums, piperidiniums, indoliums, and triaziniums. The composition contains 10%-90% by weight of vinylbenzyl-Rs. The composition can further comprise a polyolefin comprising substituted polyolefins, a polymer comprising cyclic amine groups, a polymer comprising at least one of a phenylene group and a phenyl group, a polyamide, and/or the reaction product of a constituent having two carbon-carbon double bonds. The composition can be in the form of a membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2016Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Qingmei Chen, Zengcai Liu, Robert Kutz
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Patent number: 9481939Abstract: An electrochemical device converts carbon dioxide to a reaction product. The device includes an anode and a cathode, each comprising a quantity of catalyst. The anode and cathode each has reactant introduced thereto. A polymer electrolyte membrane is interposed between the anode and the cathode. At least a portion of the cathode catalyst is directly exposed to gaseous carbon dioxide during electrolysis. The average current density at the membrane is at least 20 mA/cm2, measured as the area of the cathode gas diffusion layer that is covered by catalyst, and CO selectivity is at least 50% at a cell potential of 3.0 V. In some embodiments, the polymer electrolyte membrane comprises a polymer in which a constituent monomer is (p-vinylbenzyl)-R, where R is selected from the group consisting of imidazoliums, pyridiniums and phosphoniums. In some embodiments, the polymer electrolyte membrane is a Helper Membrane comprising a polymer containing an imidazolium ligand, a pyridinium ligand, or a phosphonium ligand.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Qingmei Chen, Zengcai Liu, Robert Kutz
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Publication number: 20160251766Abstract: An ion conducting polymeric composition mixture comprises a copolymer of styrene and vinylbenzyl-Rs. Rs is selected from the group consisting of imidazoliums, pyridiniums, pyrazoliums, pyrrolidiniums, pyrroliums, pyrimidiums, piperidiniums, indoliums, and triaziniums. The composition contains 10%-90% by weight of vinylbenzyl-Rs. The composition can further comprise a polyolefin comprising substituted polyolefins, a polymer comprising cyclic amine groups, a polymer comprising at least one of a phenylene group and a phenyl group, a polyamide, and/or the reaction product of a constituent having two carbon-carbon double bonds. The composition can be in the form of a membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2016Publication date: September 1, 2016Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Qingmei Chen, Zengcai Liu, Robert Kutz
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Publication number: 20160207866Abstract: A process for the production of organic acids having at least three carbon atoms comprises the steps of forming an amount of carbon monoxide and reacting the amount of carbon monoxide with an amount of an unsaturated hydrocarbon. The reaction is preferably carried out in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst, a strong acid, and a phosphine. In some embodiments, the unsaturated hydrocarbon is one of acetylene and methylacetylene, and the organic acid is one of acrylic acid and methyl acrylic acid. The reacting step is preferably performed with carbon monoxide produced from carbon dioxide.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2015Publication date: July 21, 2016Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zheng Richard Ni, Qingmei Chen, Brian A. Rosen
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Patent number: 9370773Abstract: An ion conducting polymeric composition mixture comprises a copolymer of styrene and vinylbenzyl-Rs. Rs is selected from the group consisting of imidazoliums and pyridiniums. The composition contains 10%-90% by weight of vinylbenzyl-Rs. The composition can further comprise a polyolefin comprising substituted polyolefins, a polymer comprising cyclic amine groups, a polymer comprising at least one of a phenylene group and a phenyl group, a polyamide, and/or the reaction product of a constituent having two carbon-carbon double bonds. The composition can be in the form of a membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2015Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Masel, Qingmei Chen, Zengcai Liu, Robert Kutz
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Publication number: 20160107154Abstract: An ion conducting polymeric composition mixture comprises a copolymer of styrene and vinylbenzyl-Rs. Rs is selected from the group consisting of imidazoliums and pyridiniums. The composition contains 10%-90% by weight of vinylbenzyl-Rs. The composition can further comprise a polyolefin comprising substituted polyolefins, a polymer comprising cyclic amine groups, a polymer comprising at least one of a phenylene group and a phenyl group, a polyamide, and/or the reaction product of a constituent having two carbon-carbon double bonds. The composition can be in the form of a membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Qingmei Chen, Zengcai Liu, Robert Kutz
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Publication number: 20160108530Abstract: An electrochemical device converts carbon dioxide to a reaction product. The device includes an anode and a cathode, each comprising a quantity of catalyst. The anode and cathode each has reactant introduced thereto. A polymer electrolyte membrane is interposed between the anode and the cathode. At least a portion of the cathode catalyst is directly exposed to gaseous carbon dioxide during electrolysis. The average current density at the membrane is at least 20 mA/cm2, measured as the area of the cathode gas diffusion layer that is covered by catalyst, and CO selectivity is at least 50% at a cell potential of 3.0 V. In some embodiments, the polymer electrolyte membrane comprises a polymer in which a constituent monomer is (p-vinylbenzyl)-R, where R is selected from the group consisting of imidazoliums, pyridiniums and phosphoniums. In some embodiments, the polymer electrolyte membrane is a Helper Membrane comprising a polymer containing an imidazolium ligand, a pyridinium ligand, or a phosphonium ligand.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Qingmei Chen, Zengcai Liu, Robert Kutz
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Patent number: 9193593Abstract: An environmentally beneficial process for the production of fuels and chemicals employs carbon dioxide from a natural source or from an artificial chemical source that would otherwise be discharged into the environment. The carbon dioxide is converted to formic acid and the formic acid is then non-biologically converted to fuels and/or chemicals without the intermediate process of hydrogenating the formic acid to methanol or reacting the formic acid with ammonia to form formamide. In the present process, formic acid is converted to one of seven primary feedstocks: formaldehyde, acrylic acid, methane, ethylene, propylene, syngas, and C5-C7 carbohydrates. The formaldehyde, acrylic acid, methane, ethylene, propylene, syngas and/or short chain carbohydrates can either be used directly, or can be converted into a wealth of other products.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2013Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zheng Richard Ni, Qingmei Chen, Brian A. Rosen
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Publication number: 20140239231Abstract: An environmentally beneficial process for the production of fuels and chemicals employs carbon dioxide from a natural source or from an artificial chemical source that would otherwise be discharged into the environment. The carbon dioxide is converted to formic acid and the formic acid is then non-biologically converted to fuels and/or chemicals without the intermediate process of hydrogenating the formic acid to methanol or reacting the formic acid with ammonia to form formamide. In the present process, formic acid is converted to one of seven primary feedstocks: formaldehyde, acrylic acid, methane, ethylene, propylene, syngas, and C5-C7 carbohydrates. The formaldehyde, acrylic acid, methane, ethylene, propylene, syngas and/or short chain carbohydrates can either be used directly, or can be converted into a wealth of other products.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: DIOXIDE MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zheng Richard Ni, Qingmei Chen, Brian A. Rosen
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Patent number: 8269029Abstract: Microwave assisted synthesis may be used to produce water-repellent metallic organic frameworks (MOFs) molecules. The water-repellent MOFs contain non-polar functional groups, such as a trifluoromethoxy group, which has a strong water repellent effect. The water-repellent MOF, when exposed to water vapor for one week does not result in a significant X-ray power pattern change. The water-repellent MOFs may be suitable as an adsorbent in many industrial applications, such as gas chromatography.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2009Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of IllinoisInventors: Richard I Masel, Zheng Ni, Qingmei Chen
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Publication number: 20100075123Abstract: Microwave assisted synthesis may be used to produce water-repellent metallic organic frameworks (MOFs) molecules. The water-repellent MOFs contain non-polar functional groups, such as a trifluoromethoxy group, which has a strong water repellent effect. The water-repellent MOF, when exposed to water vapor for one week does not result in a significant X-ray power pattern change. The water-repellent MOFs may be suitable as an adsorbent in many industrial applications, such as gas chromatography.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2009Publication date: March 25, 2010Applicant: University of Illinois - Office of Technology ManagementInventors: Richard I. MASEL, Zheng NI, Qingmei CHEN