Patents by Inventor Stephen B. Cronin
Stephen B. Cronin 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).
-
Publication number: 20250091000Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for reducing the concentration of SOx and/or NOx in gas streams.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2024Publication date: March 20, 2025Applicants: University of Southern California, Tai Chong Cheang Steamship Co. (H.K.) LimitedInventors: Stephen B. CRONIN, Alec NYSTROM, Sriram SUBRAMANIAN, Vyaas GURURAJAN, Haotian SHI, Martin A. GUNDERSEN, William SCHROEDER, Sisi YANG, Christi SCHROEDER, Fokion EGOLFOPOULOS, Tom HUISKAMP
-
Patent number: 12246284Abstract: A system for exhaust gas remediation includes an engine, a plasma reactor, and a pulse source. The engine emits exhaust gas that includes NO molecules and NOx molecules. The plasma reactor includes an internal chamber that is fluidly connected to the engine such that the exhaust gas flows into the internal chamber. An electrode is disposed within the internal chamber of the plasma reactor. The electrode is electrically coupled to an electrical pulse source. The electrical pulse source delivers electrical pulse to the electrode to form a plasma from the exhaust gas, which removes at least a portion of the NO molecules and at least a portion of the NOx molecules.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2020Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, TAI CHONG CHEANG STEAMSHIP CO. (H.K.) LIMITEDInventors: Stephen B. Cronin, Sriram Subramanian, Tom Huiskamp, Alec Nystrom, William Schroeder
-
Patent number: 12157089Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for reducing the concentration of SOx and/or NOx in gas streams.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2020Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Assignees: University of Southern California, Tai Chong Cheang Steamship Co. (H.K.) LimitedInventors: Stephen B. Cronin, Alec Nystrom, Sriram Subramanian, Vyaas Gururajan, Haotian Shi, Martin A. Gundersen, William Schroeder, Sisi Yang, Christi Schroeder, Fokion Egolfopoulos, Tom Huiskamp
-
Publication number: 20240055603Abstract: This invention relates to alkali metal (Li, Na, K) ion batteries, electrodes for alkali metal ion batteries, and methods for manufacturing electrodes for alkali metal ion batteries.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2021Publication date: February 15, 2024Applicants: University of Southern California, The Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical CollegesInventors: Stephen B. CRONIN, Sisi YANG, Özgür ÇAPRAZ, Bertan OZDOGRU
-
Patent number: 11845070Abstract: Plasmonically-enhanced catalytic surfaces and accompanying optics are described herein. These elements facilitate efficient coupling of light energy into a photocatalytic system by way of a surface plasmon. Various compatible optical configurations are presented, with an emphasis on the broadband coupling of light into a single plasmon mode. In an example embodiment, dispersive optics are used to direct polychromatic light onto a grating-embossed SPR-active surface. Dispersive optics allow resonance to be achieved at a wide range of incident wavelengths. Energy then transfers from the excited plasmon to an adjacent photocatalyst. The plasmon mode thus acts as a “funnel” of broadband light energy to the catalytic materials. High-efficiency incoupling and outcoupling from the plasmon mode suggest overall enhancement of catalytic activity, and broad applicability is anticipated due to the inherent flexibility of the system.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2018Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Ciencia, Inc.Inventors: William D. Page, George N. Gibson, Stephen B. Cronin, Arturo O. Pilar, Ernest F. Guignon
-
Publication number: 20220184551Abstract: A system for exhaust gas remediation includes an engine, a plasma reactor, and a pulse source. The engine emits exhaust gas that includes NO molecules and NOx molecules. The plasma reactor includes an internal chamber that is fluidly connected to the engine such that the exhaust gas flows into the internal chamber. An electrode is disposed within the internal chamber of the plasma reactor. The electrode is electrically coupled to an electrical pulse source. The electrical pulse source delivers electrical pulse to the electrode to form a plasma from the exhaust gas, which removes at least a portion of the NO molecules and at least a portion of the NOx molecules.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2020Publication date: June 16, 2022Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, TAI CHONG CHEANG STEAMSHIP CO. (H.K.) LIMITEDInventors: Stephen B. CRONIN, Sriram SUBRAMANIAN, Tom HUISKAMP, Alec NYSTROM, William SCHROEDER
-
Publication number: 20220152553Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for reducing the concentration of SOx and/or NOx in gas streams.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2020Publication date: May 19, 2022Applicants: University of Southern California, Tai Chong Cheang Steamship Co. (H.K.) LimitedInventors: Stephen B. CRONIN, Alec NYSTROM, Sriram SUBRAMANIAN, Vyaas GURURAJAN, Haotian SHI, Martin A. GUNDERSEN, William SCHROEDER, Sisi YANG, Christi SCHROEDER, Fokion EGOLFOPOULOS, Tom HUISKAMP
-
Publication number: 20210146347Abstract: Plasmonically-enhanced catalytic surfaces and accompanying optics are described herein. These elements facilitate efficient coupling of light energy into a photocatalytic system by way of a surface plasmon. Various compatible optical configurations are presented, with an emphasis on the broadband coupling of light into a single plasmon mode. In an example embodiment, dispersive optics are used to direct polychromatic light onto a grating-embossed SPR-active surface. Dispersive optics allow resonance to be achieved at a wide range of incident wavelengths. Energy then transfers from the excited plasmon to an adjacent photocatalyst. The plasmon mode thus acts as a “funnel” of broadband light energy to the catalytic materials. High-efficiency incoupling and outcoupling from the plasmon mode suggest overall enhancement of catalytic activity, and broad applicability is anticipated due to the inherent flexibility of the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2018Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: William D. Page, George N. Gibson, Stephen B. Cronin, Arturo O. Pilar, Ernest F. Guignon
-
Patent number: 10680403Abstract: Bulk direct transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) may have an increased interlayer separation of at least 0.5, 1, or 3 angstroms more than its bulk value. The TMDC may be a bulk direct band gap molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) or a bulk direct band gap tungsten diselenide (WSe2). Oxygen may be between the interlayers. A device may include the TMDC, such as an optoelectronic device, such as an LED, solid state laser, a photodetector, a solar cell, a FET, a thermoelectric generator, or a thermoelectric cooler. A method of making bulk direct transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) with increased interlayer separation may include exposing bulk direct TMDC to a remote (aka downstream) oxygen plasma. The plasma exposure may cause an increase in the photoluminescence efficiency of the TMDC, more charge neutral doping, or longer photo-excited carrier lifetimes, as compared to the TMDC without the plasma exposure.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2015Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignees: University of Southern California, The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Stephen B. Cronin, Rohan Dhall, Roger Lake, Zhen Li, Mahesh Neupane, Darshana Wickramaratne
-
Publication number: 20180026422Abstract: Bulk direct transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) may have an increased interlayer separation of at least 0.5, 1, or 3 angstroms more than its bulk value. The TMDC may be a bulk direct band gap molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) or a bulk direct band gap tungsten diselenide (WSe2). Oxygen may be between the interlayers. A device may include the TMDC, such as an optoelectronic device, such as an LED, solid state laser, a photodetector, a solar cell, a FET, a thermoelectric generator, or a thermoelectric cooler. A method of making bulk direct transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) with increased interlayer separation may include exposing bulk direct TMDC to a remote (aka downstream) oxygen plasma. The plasma exposure may cause an increase in the photoluminescence efficiency of the TMDC, more charge neutral doping, or longer photo-excited carrier lifetimes, as compared to the TMDC without the plasma exposure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2015Publication date: January 25, 2018Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Stephen B. Cronin, Rohan Dhall, Roger Lake, Zhen Li, Mahesh Neupane, Darshana Wickramaratne
-
Patent number: 6452206Abstract: A superlattice structure for thermoelectric power generation includes m monolayers of a first barrier material alternating with n monolayers of a second quantum well material with a pair of monolayers defining a superlattice period and each of the materials having a relatively smooth interface therebetween. Each of the quantum well layers have a thickness which is less than the thickness of the barrier layer by an amount which causes substantial confinement of conduction carriers to the quantum well layer and the alternating layers provide a superlattice structure having a figure of merit which increases with increasing temperature.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1998Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Theodore C. Harman, Mildred S. Dresselhaus, David L. Spears, Michael P. Walsh, Stephen B. Cronin, Xiangzhong Sun, Takaaki Koga
-
Patent number: 6060656Abstract: A superlattice structure for use in thermoelectric power generation systems includes m layers of a first one of Silicon and Antimony doped Silicon-Germanium alternating with n layers of Silicon-Germanium which provides a superlattice structure having a thermoelectric figure of merit which increases with increasing temperature above the maximum thermoelectric figure of merit achievable for bulk SiGe alloys.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1998Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Mildred S. Dresselhaus, Theodore C. Harman, Stephen B. Cronin, Takaaki Koga, Xiangzhong Sun, Kang L. Wang