Patents by Inventor Thomas Schladt

Thomas Schladt 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: 11973233
    Abstract: A catalyst structure includes: (1) a substrate; (2) a catalyst layer on the substrate; and (3) an adhesion layer disposed between the substrate and the catalyst layer. In some implementations, an average thickness of the adhesion layer is about 1 nm or less. In some implementations, a material of the catalyst layer at least partially extends into a region of the adhesion layer. In some implementations, the catalyst layer is characterized by a lattice strain imparted by the adhesion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedrich B. Prinz, Shicheng Xu, Yongmin Kim, Thomas Jaramillo, Drew C. Higgins, Maha Yusuf, Zhaoxuan Wang, Kyung Min Lee, Marat Orazov, Dong Un Lee, Tanja Graf, Thomas Schladt, Gerold Huebner, Hanna-Lena Wittern, Jonathan Edward Mueller
  • Patent number: 11955646
    Abstract: A supported catalyst includes: (1) a catalyst support; and (2) deposits of a catalyst covering the catalyst support, wherein the deposits have an average thickness of about 2 nm or less, and the deposits are spaced apart from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedrich B. Prinz, Thomas Jaramillo, Drew C. Higgins, Yongmin Kim, Shicheng Xu, Thomas Schladt, Tanja Graf
  • Patent number: 11936051
    Abstract: A catalyst structure includes: (1) a substrate; (2) a catalyst layer on the substrate; and (3) an adhesion layer disposed between the substrate and the catalyst layer. In some implementations, an average thickness of the adhesion layer is about 1 nm or less. In some implementations, a material of the catalyst layer at least partially extends into a region of the adhesion layer. In some implementations, the catalyst layer is characterized by a lattice strain imparted by the adhesion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaf
    Inventors: Friedrich B. Prinz, Shicheng Xu, Yongmin Kim, Thomas Jaramillo, Drew C. Higgins, Maha Yusuf, Zhaoxuan Wang, Kyung Min Lee, Marat Orazov, Dong Un Lee, Tanja Graf, Thomas Schladt, Gerold Huebner, Hanna-Lena Wittern, Jonathan Edward Mueller
  • Publication number: 20240071576
    Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for predicting molecular electronic structural information. According to one embodiment, quantum simulation results are generated for a molecule based on a quantum simulation of an electronic structure of the molecule. The quantum simulation of the electronic structure of the molecule is performed with quantum processing units. An input vector comprising data field values derived from the quantum simulation results for the molecule is created. An electronic structural information prediction model is applied to generate, based at least in part on the input vector, predicted electronic structural information for the molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Florian NEUKART, Michael STREIF, David VON DOLLEN, Tanja GRAF, Thomas SCHLADT, Arne-Christian VOIGT, Jonthan Edward MUELLER
  • Patent number: 11776666
    Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for predicting molecular electronic structural information. According to one embodiment, quantum simulation results are generated for a molecule based on a quantum simulation of an electronic structure of the molecule. The quantum simulation of the electronic structure of the molecule is performed with quantum processing units. An input vector comprising data field values derived from the quantum simulation results for the molecule is created. An electronic structural information prediction model is applied to generate, based at least in part on the input vector, predicted electronic structural information for the molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Florian Neukart, Michael Streif, David Von Dollen, Tanja Graf, Thomas Schladt, Arne-Christian Voigt, Jonathan Edward Mueller
  • Publication number: 20230079048
    Abstract: A manufacturing process includes: depositing a first catalyst on a first gas diffusion layer (GDL) to form a first catalyst-coated GDL; depositing a first ionomer on the first catalyst-coated GDL to form a first gas diffusion electrode (GDE); depositing a second catalyst on a second GDL to form a second catalyst-coated GDL; depositing a second ionomer on the second catalyst-coated GDL to form a second GDE; and laminating the first GDE with the second GDE and with an electrolyte membrane disposed between the first GDE and the second GDE to form a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). A MEA includes a first GDL; a second GDL; an electrolyte membrane disposed between the first GDL and the second GDL; a first catalyst layer disposed between the first GDL and the electrolyte membrane; and a second catalyst layer disposed between the second GDL and the electrolyte membrane, wherein a thickness of the electrolyte membrane is about 15 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicants: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedrich B. Prinz, Timothy Goh, Shicheng Xu, Zhaoxuan Wang, Soonwook Hong, Yongmin Kim, Samuel Dull, Dong Un Lee, Thomas Francisco Jaramillo, Thomas Schladt, Gerold Huebner, Jonathan Müller, Glavas Vedran
  • Publication number: 20230009452
    Abstract: A catalyst structure includes: (1) a substrate; (2) a catalyst layer on the substrate; and (3) an adhesion layer disposed between the substrate and the catalyst layer. In some implementations, an average thickness of the adhesion layer is about 1 nm or less. In some implementations, a material of the catalyst layer at least partially extends into a region of the adhesion layer. In some implementations, the catalyst layer is characterized by a lattice strain imparted by the adhesion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicants: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedrich B. PRINZ, Shicheng XU, Yongmin KIM, Thomas JARAMILLO, Drew C. HIGGINS, Maha YUSUF, Zhaoxuan WANG, Kyung Min LEE, Marat ORAZOV, Dong Un LEE, Tanja GRAF, Thomas SCHLADT, Gerold HUEBNER, Hanna-Lena WITTERN, Jonathan Edward MUELLER
  • Patent number: 11489167
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a supported catalyst material for a fuel-cell electrode, as well as a catalyst material that can be produced using said method. In the method, first, a carbide-forming substance is deposited from the gas phase onto the carbon-based carrier material to produce a carbide-containing layer and, then, a catalytically-active precious metal or an alloy thereof from the gas phase is deposited to form a catalytic layer. By chemical reaction of the carbide-forming substance with the carbon, very stable carbide bonds are formed at the interface, while an alloy phase of the two forms at the interface between carbide-forming substance and precious metal. Overall, a very stable adhesion of the catalytic precious metal to the substrate results, whereby degradation effects are reduced, and the life of the material is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Tanja Graf, Thomas Schladt
  • Patent number: 11462744
    Abstract: A manufacturing process includes: depositing a first catalyst on a first gas diffusion layer (GDL) to form a first catalyst-coated GDL; depositing a first ionomer on the first catalyst-coated GDL to form a first gas diffusion electrode (GDE); depositing a second catalyst on a second GDL to form a second catalyst-coated GDL; depositing a second ionomer on the second catalyst-coated GDL to form a second GDE; and laminating the first GDE with the second GDE and with an electrolyte membrane disposed between the first GDE and the second GDE to form a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). A MEA includes a first GDL; a second GDL; an electrolyte membrane disposed between the first GDL and the second GDL; a first catalyst layer disposed between the first GDL and the electrolyte membrane; and a second catalyst layer disposed between the second GDL and the electrolyte membrane, wherein a thickness of the electrolyte membrane is about 15 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedrich B. Prinz, Timothy Goh, Shicheng Xu, Zhaoxuan Wang, Soonwook Hong, Yongmin Kim, Samuel Dull, Dong Un Lee, Thomas Francisco Jaramillo, Thomas Schladt, Gerold Huebner, Jonathan Müller, Glavas Vedran
  • Publication number: 20220190354
    Abstract: A method for the production of an electrode for a fuel cell is provided that comprises providing a multitude of catalyst particles carried on at least one electrically conductive particle carrier, and depositing one or more atomic or molecular layers of an ionomer from the gas phase on the catalyst particles and/or the at least one particle carrier, thereby forming a proton-conducting ionomer coating. Furthermore, an electrode for a fuel cell is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas SCHLADT, Lasse SCHMIDT, Tanja GRAF, Gerold HÜBNER, Jonathan Edward MÜLLER
  • Publication number: 20220029171
    Abstract: A manufacturing process includes: depositing a catalyst support on a gas diffusion layer to form a catalyst support-coated gas diffusion layer; depositing a catalyst on the catalyst support-coated gas diffusion layer to form a catalyst-coated gas diffusion layer; and depositing an ionomer on the catalyst-coated gas diffusion layer to form an ionomer-coated gas diffusion layer. A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes: a gas diffusion layer; a polymer electrolyte membrane; and a catalyst layer disposed between the gas diffusion layer and the polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein the catalyst layer includes an ionomer, and a concentration of the ionomer varies within the catalyst layer according to a concentration profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicants: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Shicheng XU, Friedrich B. PRINZ, Thomas SCHLADT, Tanja GRAF, Jonathan Edward MUELLER, Sebastian KIRSCH, Gerold HUEBNER, Vedran GLAVAS
  • Publication number: 20210305589
    Abstract: A layered structure for a fuel cell comprises a carbon-based catalyst-free gas diffusion layer substrate and a carbon-based microporous layer, which is joined to the gas diffusion layer substrate and comprises a plurality of carbon carriers or carbon fibers embedded into an ion-conducting polymer binder mixture. The polymer binder mixture comprises a sulfur-free binding polymer and a sulfonated polymer, and a fraction of the binding polymer at or near a surface of the microporous layer facing away from the gas diffusion layer substrate is less than or equal to a fraction of the sulfonated polymer. A method for producing a layered structure of this type is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Gerold HÜBNER, Tanja GRAF, Thomas SCHLADT
  • Publication number: 20210257629
    Abstract: A manufacturing process includes: depositing a first catalyst on a first gas diffusion layer (GDL) to form a first catalyst-coated GDL; depositing a first ionomer on the first catalyst-coated GDL to form a first gas diffusion electrode (GDE); depositing a second catalyst on a second GDL to form a second catalyst-coated GDL; depositing a second ionomer on the second catalyst-coated GDL to form a second GDE; and laminating the first GDE with the second GDE and with an electrolyte membrane disposed between the first GDE and the second GDE to form a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). A MEA includes a first GDL; a second GDL; an electrolyte membrane disposed between the first GDL and the second GDL; a first catalyst layer disposed between the first GDL and the electrolyte membrane; and a second catalyst layer disposed between the second GDL and the electrolyte membrane, wherein a thickness of the electrolyte membrane is about 15 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Friedrich B. Prinz, Timothy Goh, Shicheng Xu, Zhaoxuan Wang, Soonwook Hong, Yongmin Kim, Samuel Dull, Dong Un Lee, Thomas Francisco Jaramillo, Thomas Schladt, Gerold Huebner, Jonathan Muller, Glavas Vedran
  • Publication number: 20200343563
    Abstract: A supported catalyst includes: (1) a catalyst support; and (2) deposits of a catalyst covering the catalyst support, wherein the deposits have an average thickness of about 2 nm or less, and the deposits are spaced apart from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicants: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedrich B. Prinz, Thomas Jaramillo, Drew C. Higgins, Yongmin Kim, Shicheng Xu, Thomas Schladt, Tanja Graf
  • Patent number: 10790515
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a supported catalyst material for a fuel cell. This comprises an electrically conductive, carbon-based carrier material and catalytic structures deposited or grown on the carrier material with a multilayer structure. The core layer comprises an electrically conductive bulk material, with the bulk material in direct contact with the carbon-based carrier material. The thin surface layer has a catalytically active noble metal or an alloy thereof. The preparation is carried out directly onto the carrier material with the deposition of the corresponding starting materials from the gas phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Thomas Schladt, Tanja Graf
  • Publication number: 20200286595
    Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for predicting molecular electronic structural information. According to one embodiment, quantum simulation results are generated for a molecule based on a quantum simulation of an electronic structure of the molecule. The quantum simulation of the electronic structure of the molecule is performed with quantum processing units. An input vector comprising data field values derived from the quantum simulation results for the molecule is created. An electronic structural information prediction model is applied to generate, based at least in part on the input vector, predicted electronic structural information for the molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Florian Neukart, Michael Streif, David Von Dollen, Tanja Graf, Thomas Schladt, Arne-Christian Voigt, Jonathan Edward Mueller
  • Publication number: 20200127300
    Abstract: A catalyst structure includes: (1) a substrate; (2) a catalyst layer on the substrate; and (3) an adhesion layer disposed between the substrate and the catalyst layer. In some implementations, an average thickness of the adhesion layer is about 1 nm or less. In some implementations, a material of the catalyst layer at least partially extends into a region of the adhesion layer. In some implementations, the catalyst layer is characterized by a lattice strain imparted by the adhesion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicants: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedrich B. PRINZ, Shicheng XU, Yongmin KIM, Thomas JARAMILLO, Drew C. HIGGINS, Maha YUSUF, Zhaoxuan WANG, Kate LEE, Marat ORAZOV, Dong Un LEE, Tanja GRAF, Thomas SCHLADT, Gerold HUEBNER, Hanna-Lena WITTERN, Jonathan Edward MUELLER
  • Publication number: 20190379041
    Abstract: An active material body for a rechargeable battery, whereby the active material body comprises at least one active material that has a Young's modulus EA and at least one layered first coating applied on the surface of the active material, whereby the coating consists of a first material that has a first Young's modulus E1 whereby the following applies: first Young's modulus?Young's modulus of the active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas SCHLADT, Tanja GRAF
  • Publication number: 20190264325
    Abstract: A method includes (1) functionalizing a substrate to yield a functionalized substrate; and (2) depositing a catalyst on the functionalized substrate by atomic layer deposition to form a thin film of the catalyst covering the functionalized substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Friedrich B. PRINZ, Thomas Francisco JARAMILLO, Tanja GRAF, Thomas SCHLADT, Gerold HUEBNER, Shicheng XU, Yongmin KIM, Maha YUSUF, Drew Christopher HIGGINS
  • Publication number: 20190157686
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a supported catalyst material for a fuel-cell electrode, as well as a catalyst material that can be produced using said method. In the method, first, a carbide-forming substance is deposited from the gas phase onto the carbon-based carrier material to produce a carbide-containing layer and, then, a catalytically-active precious metal or an alloy thereof from the gas phase is deposited to form a catalytic layer. By chemical reaction of the carbide-forming substance with the carbon, very stable carbide bonds are formed at the interface, while an alloy phase of the two forms at the interface between carbide-forming substance and precious metal. Overall, a very stable adhesion of the catalytic precious metal to the substrate results, whereby degradation effects are reduced, and the life of the material is extended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Tanja GRAF, Thomas SCHLADT