Patents by Inventor Regis P. Dowd, JR.

Regis P. Dowd, JR. 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).

  • Methods for forming membrane electrode assemblies
    Patent number: 10985393
    Abstract: In embodiments, a method of forming a membrane electrode assembly comprises pressing a stack comprising a cathode, an anode, a proton exchange membrane between the cathode and the anode, and a porous catalyst layer in contact with the proton exchange membrane, the porous catalyst layer comprising an ionomer, the ionomer coating internal surfaces of pores of the porous catalyst layer, thereby providing internal ionomer-gas interfaces within the porous catalyst layer; for a time, a pressure, and a temperature to bind the ionomer to the proton exchange membrane, whereby steam is generated within the porous catalyst layer. The steam is removed via pores of the porous catalyst layer to increase the hydrophobicity of the internal ionomer-gas interfaces within the porous catalyst layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
    Inventors: Trung Van Nguyen, Regis P. Dowd, Jr.
  • METHODS FOR FORMING MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES
    Publication number: 20190044168
    Abstract: In embodiments, a method of forming a membrane electrode assembly comprises pressing a stack comprising a cathode, an anode, a proton exchange membrane between the cathode and the anode, and a porous catalyst layer in contact with the proton exchange membrane, the porous catalyst layer comprising an ionomer, the ionomer coating internal surfaces of pores of the porous catalyst layer, thereby providing internal ionomer-gas interfaces within the porous catalyst layer; for a time, a pressure, and a temperature to bind the ionomer to the proton exchange membrane, whereby steam is generated within the porous catalyst layer. The steam is removed via pores of the porous catalyst layer to increase the hydrophobicity of the internal ionomer-gas interfaces within the porous catalyst layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Trung Van Nguyen, Regis P. Dowd, JR.