Patents by Inventor Richard D. Ernst

Richard D. Ernst 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: 8435918
    Abstract: Ceria-coated aerogels can include an aerogel support material having a stabilized ceria coating thereon. The ceria coating can be formed by solution or vapor deposition of alcogels or aerogels. Additional catalytic metal species can also be incorporated into the coating to form multi-metallic compounds having improved catalytic activity. Further, the ceria coated aerogels retain high surface areas at elevated temperatures. Thus, improvements in catalytic activity and thermal stability can be achieved using these ceria-coated composite aerogels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Edward M. Eyring, Richard D. Ernst, Gregory C. Turpin, Brian C. Dunn
  • Publication number: 20110201702
    Abstract: A ferrihydrite catalyst composition can comprise a ferrihydrite of a structural promoter metal, a chemical promoter metal and potassium to form an amorphous nanoparticulate. The ferrihydrite catalyst can be formed by dissolving an iron salt, a structural promoter metal salt and a chemical promoter metal salt in water to form an aqueous iron solution. A ferrihydrite solid can be precipitated from the aqueous iron solution by addition of a precipitating agent under conditions such that the ferrihydrite solid is a nanoparticulate. A potassium can be incorporated into the ferrihydrite solid to form a ferrihydrite catalyst precursor. The ferrihydrite catalyst precursor can be calcined to form the ferrihydrite catalyst. A synthesis gas can be readily converted to a fuel product by contacting the ferrihydrite catalyst with the synthesis gas under reaction conditions sufficient to form a fuel product mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Sumit Bali, Garima Bali, Edward M. Eyring, Richard D. Ernst, Ronald J. Pugmire
  • Patent number: 7429404
    Abstract: A method for forming multi-metallic sites on a substrate is disclosed and described. A substrate including active groups such as hydroxyl can be reacted with a pretarget metal complex. The target metal attached to the active group can then be reacted with a secondary metal complex such that an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction occurs to form a multi-metallic species. The substrate can be a highly porous material such as aerogels, xerogels, zeolites, and similar materials. Additional metal complexes can be reacted to increase catalyst loading or control co-catalyst content. The resulting compounds can be oxidized to form oxides or reduced to form metals in the ground state which are suitable for practical use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Richard D. Ernst, Edward M. Eyring, Gregory C. Turpin, Brian C. Dunn
  • Patent number: 6034021
    Abstract: Catalytic derivatives of novel Group 4 metal complexes wherein the metal is in the +2, +3, or +4 formal oxidation state containing two ligand groups bound by .pi.-electrons, at least one of which is a cyclic or noncyclic, non-aromatic, anionic, dienyl ligand group and having a bridged ligand structure, and the use thereof as catalysts for polymerizing addition polymerizable monomers are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignees: The Dow Chemical Company, The University of Utah
    Inventors: David R. Wilson, Peter N. Nickias, David R. Neithamer, Richard D. Ernst
  • Patent number: 5817849
    Abstract: Novel Group 4 metal complexes wherein the metal is in the +2, +3, or +4 formal oxidation state containing two ligand groups bound by n-electrons, at least one of which is a cyclic or noncyclic, non-aromatic, anionic, dienyl ligand group and having a bridged ligand structure, catalytic derivatives of such complexes; and the use thereof as catalysts for polymerizing addition polymerizable monomers are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: David R. Wilson, Peter N. Nickias, David R. Neithamer, Richard D. Ernst
  • Patent number: 5352488
    Abstract: Vapor deposition of metal films is carried out using as precursors metal compounds or complexes based on open pentadienyls and derivatives. The technique can be used favorably for transition metal depositions, and can be carried out photolytically or thermolytically. In certain cases, oxygen can be substituted for a terminal carbon atom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Syracuse University
    Inventors: James T. Spencer, Richard D. Ernst