Patents by Inventor Uday B. Pal
Uday B. Pal 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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Publication number: 20230131327Abstract: A system for extracting oxygen from powdered metal oxides, the system comprising a container comprising an electrolyte in the form of meltable or molten salt, at least one cathode, at least one anode, a power supply, and a conducting structure, wherein the cathode is shaped as a receptacle having a porous shell, which has an upper opening, the cathode being arranged in the electrolyte with the opening protruding over the electrolyte, wherein the conducting structure comprises a plurality of conducting elements and gaps between the conducting elements, wherein the power supply is connectable to the at least one cathode and the at least one anode to selectively apply an electric potential across the cathode and the anode, wherein the conducting structure is insertable into the cathode, such that the conducting elements reach into an inner space of the cathode, wherein the conducting structure is electrically connectable to the cathode, and wherein the system is adapted for reducing at least one respective metalType: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2021Publication date: April 27, 2023Applicants: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Uday B. Pal, Achim O. Seidel, Peter Quadbeck, Astrid Adrian
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Publication number: 20230131891Abstract: A method for extracting metal and oxygen from powdered metal oxides in electrolytic cell is proposed, the electrolytic cell comprising a container, a cathode, an anode and an oxygen-ion-conducting membrane, the method comprising providing a solid oxygen ion conducting electrolyte powder into a container, providing a feedstock comprising at least one metal oxide in powdered form into the container, applying an electric potential across the cathode and the anode, the cathode being in communication with the electrolyte powder and the anode being in communication with the membrane in communication with the electrolyte powder, such that at least one respective metallic species of the at least one metal oxide is reduced at the cathode and oxygen is oxidized at the anode to form molecular oxygen, wherein the potential across the cathode and the anode is greater than the dissociation potential of the at least one metal oxide and less than the dissociation potential of the solid electrolyte powder and the membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2021Publication date: April 27, 2023Applicants: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Achim O. Seidel, Uday B. Pal, Peter Quadbeck, Astrid Adrian
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Patent number: 10287701Abstract: A method of preparing a metal nanoparticle on a surface includes subjecting a metal source to a temperature and a pressure in a carrier gas selected to provide a vapor metal species at a vapor pressure in the range of about 10?4 to about 10?11 atm; contacting the vapor metal species with a heated substrate; and depositing the metal as a nanoparticle on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2017Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: The Trustees of Boston UniversityInventors: Uday B. Pal, Soumendra Basu, Paul Gasper, Yanchen Lu, Srikanth Gopalan
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Patent number: 10266951Abstract: A method of manufacturing silicon via a solid oxide membrane electrolysis process, including providing a crucible, providing a flux including silica within the crucible, providing a cathode in the crucible in electrical contact with the flux, and providing an anode disposed in the crucible spaced apart from the cathode and in electrical contact with the flux. The cathode includes a silicon-absorbing portion in fluid communication with the flux. The anode includes a solid oxide membrane around at least a portion of the anode. The method also includes generating an electrical potential between the cathode and anode sufficient to reduce silicon at an operating temperature, and cooling the silicon-absorbing portion to below the operating temperature, and precipitating out the silicon from the silicon-absorbing portion. The silicon-absorbing portion preferentially absorbs silicon, the silicon-absorbing portion is a liquid metal at the operating temperature, and the solid oxide membrane is permeable to oxygen.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2013Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITYInventors: Uday B. Pal, Soumendra N. Basu, Yihong Jiang, Jiapeng Xu
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Patent number: 9979038Abstract: System and method for energy storage and recovery is described. More particularly, system and method using tungsten based materials to electrochemically store and recover energy is described. In certain embodiments, the system includes a reversible solid oxide electrochemical cell (RSOEC) having a porous cathode, a porous anode, and an electrolyte capable of transporting oxygen ion. The system further includes a reactor comprising tungsten, tungsten oxide, or combinations thereof. To store the energy, the RSOEC is capable of receiving electricity to electrolyze H2O to generate H2 and O2 and the reactor is operably connected to the RSOEC to receive the generated H2 and convert tungsten oxide to tungsten thereby storing electrical energy. To recover the energy, reactor is capable of receiving H2O to convert tungsten to tungsten oxide and generate H2 and the RSOEC is operably connected to the reactor to receive the generated H2 and generate electrical energy.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: Trustees of Boston UniversityInventors: Uday B. Pal, Srikanth Gopalan
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Publication number: 20180023211Abstract: A method of preparing a metal nanoparticle on a surface includes subjecting a metal source to a temperature and a pressure in a carrier gas selected to provide a vapor metal species at a vapor pressure in the range of about 10?4 to about 10?11 atm; contacting the vapor metal species with a heated substrate; and depositing the metal as a nanoparticle on the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2017Publication date: January 25, 2018Inventors: Uday B. PAL, Soumendra BASU, Paul GASPER, Yanchen LU, Srikanth GOPALAN
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Publication number: 20160376719Abstract: In some aspects, the invention relates to apparatuses for recovering a metal comprising providing a sealed container for holding a molten electrolyte, the container having an interior surface; a liner disposed along at least a portion of the interior container surface; a cathode disposed to be in electrical contact with the molten electrolyte when the molten electrolyte is disposed in the container; a solid oxygen ion-conducting membrane disposed to be in ion-conducting contact with the electrolyte when the molten electrolyte is disposed in the container; an anode in contact with the solid oxygen ion-conducting membrane, the solid oxygen ion-conducting membrane electrically separating the anode from the molten electrolyte; and a power source for generating an electric potential between the anode and the cathode.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2014Publication date: December 29, 2016Inventors: Adam Clayton POWELL, IV, Uday B. PAL, Salvador BARRIGA, Stephen Joseph DEREZINSKI, Mathew EARLAM
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Publication number: 20160362805Abstract: The invention relates to apparatuses and methods for increasing energy efficiency and improving membrane robustness in primary metal production. In some aspects, the methods and apparatuses comprise interrupting a first current flow from the cathode to the anode and permitting a second current flow from the anode to the cathode.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2014Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventors: Adam Clayton POWELL, IV, Uday B. PAL, Xiaofei GUAN
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Patent number: 9234288Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to apparatuses for and methods of conducting electrical current in an oxygen and liquid metal environment. In another aspect, the invention relates to methods for production of metals from their oxides comprising providing a cathode in electrical contact with a molten electrolyte, providing a liquid metal anode separated from the cathode and the molten electrolyte by a solid oxygen ion conducting membrane, providing a current collector at the anode, and establishing a potential between the cathode and the anode.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2012Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignees: Infinium, Inc., The Trustees of Boston UniversityInventors: Adam Clayton Powell, IV, Soobhankar Pati, Stephen Joseph Derezinski, Garrett Lau, Uday B. Pal, Xiaofei Guan, Srikanth Gopalan
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Patent number: 9206516Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to liquid anodes and fuels for production of metals from their oxides. In one aspect, the invention relates apparatuses for producing a metal from a metal oxide comprising a cathode in electrical contact with an electrolyte, a liquid metal anode separated from the cathode and the electrolyte by a solid oxygen ion conducting membrane, a fuel inlet, and a power supply for establishing a potential between the cathode and the anode. In another aspect, the invention relates to methods for production of metals from their oxides comprising providing a cathode in electrical contact with a molten electrolyte, providing a liquid metal anode separated from the cathode and the molten electrolyte by a solid oxygen ion conducting membrane, providing a fuel inlet, delivering a gaseous fuel comprising hydrogen to the liquid metal anode via the fuel inlet, and establishing a potential between the cathode and the anode.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2012Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Infinium, Inc.Inventors: Adam Clayton Powell, Soobhankar Pati, Uday B. Pal, Steven J. Derezinski, III, Steve R. Tucker
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Publication number: 20150259808Abstract: A method of manufacturing silicon via a solid oxide membrane electrolysis process, including providing a crucible, providing a flux including silica within the crucible, providing a cathode in the crucible in electrical contact with the flux, and providing an anode disposed in the crucible spaced apart from the cathode and in electrical contact with the flux. The cathode includes a silicon-absorbing portion in fluid communication with the flux. The anode includes a solid oxide membrane around at least a portion of the anode. The method also includes generating an electrical potential between the cathode and anode sufficient to reduce silicon at an operating temperature, and cooling the silicon-absorbing portion to below the operating temperature, and precipitating out the silicon from the silicon-absorbing portion. The silicon-absorbing portion preferentially absorbs silicon, the silicon-absorbing portion is a liquid metal at the operating temperature, and the solid oxide membrane is permeable to oxygen.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2013Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: Uday B. Pal, Soumendra N. Basu, Yihong Jiang, Jiapeng Xu
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Patent number: 8758949Abstract: A reversible electrochemical system includes a first electrode comprising liquid silver metal and a second electrode, said first and second electrodes separated by a oxygen ion-conducting solid electrolyte; a conduit for directing a first reactive material across the second electrode; and a conduit for contacting second reactive material with the first liquid silver electrode, wherein the cell is capable of steam electrolysis when the polarity of the electrodes is selected such that the liquid silver is an anode and the cell is capable of electrical energy generation when the polarity of the electrodes is selected such that the liquid silver is a cathode.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2012Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: The Trustees of Boston UniversityInventors: Uday B. Pal, Srikanth Gopalan
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Patent number: 8658007Abstract: An electrolysis system for generating a metal and molecular oxygen includes a container for receiving a metal oxide containing a metallic species to be extracted, a cathode positioned to contact a metal oxide housed within the container; an oxygen-ion-conducting membrane positioned to contact a metal oxide housed within the container; an anode in contact with the oxygen-ion-conducting membrane and spaced apart from a metal oxide housed within the container, said anode selected from the group consisting of liquid metal silver, oxygen stable electronic oxides, oxygen stable crucible cermets, and stabilized zirconia composites with oxygen stable electronic oxides.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2006Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: The Trustees of Boston UniversityInventor: Uday B. Pal
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Publication number: 20130192998Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to apparatuses for and methods of conducting electrical current in an oxygen and liquid metal environment. In another aspect, the invention relates to methods for production of metals from their oxides comprising providing a cathode in electrical contact with a molten electrolyte, providing a liquid metal anode separated from the cathode and the molten electrolyte by a solid oxygen ion conducting membrane, providing a current collector at the anode, and establishing a potential between the cathode and the anode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2012Publication date: August 1, 2013Inventors: Adam Clayton Powell, IV, Soobhankar Pati, Stephen Joseph Derezinski, Garrett Lau, Uday B. Pal, Xiaofei Guan, Srikanth Gopalan
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Publication number: 20130186769Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to liquid anodes and fuels for production of metals from their oxides. In one aspect, the invention relates apparatuses for producing a metal from a metal oxide comprising a cathode in electrical contact with an electrolyte, a liquid metal anode separated from the cathode and the electrolyte by a solid oxygen ion conducting membrane, a fuel inlet, and a power supply for establishing a potential between the cathode and the anode. In another aspect, the invention relates to methods for production of metals from their oxides comprising providing a cathode in electrical contact with a molten electrolyte, providing a liquid metal anode separated from the cathode and the molten electrolyte by a solid oxygen ion conducting membrane, providing a fuel inlet, delivering a gaseous fuel comprising hydrogen to the liquid metal anode via the fuel inlet, and establishing a potential between the cathode and the anode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2012Publication date: July 25, 2013Inventors: Adam Clayton POWELL, Soobhankar PATI, Uday B. PAL, Steven J. DEREZINSKI, III, Steve R. TUCKER
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Publication number: 20130183597Abstract: System and method for energy storage and recovery is described. More particularly, system and method using tungsten based materials to electrochemically store and recover energy is described. In certain embodiments, the system includes a reversible solid oxide electrochemical cell (RSOEC) having a porous cathode, a porous anode, and an electrolyte capable of transporting oxygen ion. The system further includes a reactor comprising tungsten, tungsten oxide, or combinations thereof. To store the energy, the RSOEC is capable of receiving electricity to electrolyze H2O to generate H2 and O2 and the reactor is operably connected to the RSOEC to receive the generated H2 and convert tungsten oxide to tungsten thereby storing electrical energy. To recover the energy, reactor is capable of receiving H2O to convert tungsten to tungsten oxide and generate H2 and the RSOEC is operably connected to the reactor to receive the generated H2 and generate electrical energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2011Publication date: July 18, 2013Applicant: THE TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITYInventors: Uday B. Pal, Srikanth Gopalan
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Publication number: 20100288649Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided that allow metals including metals having stable oxide phases and metals with variable valencies to be extracted from their respective ores via an electrolytic process that is environmentally sound and economically viable. The process for lowering the oxidation state of a metal in a metal oxide comprises providing an electrolysis chamber housing a flux containing a highly reactive metal (e.g. Mg) and having a cathode, an anode, and a solid oxide membrane. A reducing chamber housing the metal oxide having a higher oxidation state to be reduced is provided. A solid oxide membrane (SOM) process is used to generate vapor of the highly reactive metal in the electrolysis chamber. The vapor of the highly reactive metal is directed to the reducing chamber, where the vapor of the highly reactive metal reacts with the metal oxide to be reduced to provide a metal or metal oxide having a lowest oxidation state and an oxide of the highly reactive metal (e.g. MgO).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2007Publication date: November 18, 2010Inventor: Uday B. Pal
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Publication number: 20100015014Abstract: A composite membrane includes a mixed ionic and electronic conducting membrane; and an porous catalyst layer on at least one surface of the membrane, said electrocatalytic layer comprised of an oxygen ion conductor and electronic conductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2006Publication date: January 21, 2010Inventors: Srikanth Gopalan, Uday B. Pal, Karthikeyan Annamalai, Cui Hengdong
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Patent number: 7588626Abstract: A mixed ionic and electronic conducting membrane includes a two-phase solid state ceramic composite, wherein the first phase comprises an oxygen ion conductor and the second phase comprises an n-type electronically conductive oxide, wherein the electronically conductive oxide is stable at an oxygen partial pressure as low as 10?20 atm and has an electronic conductivity of at least 1 S/cm. A hydrogen separation system and related methods using the mixed ionic and electronic conducting membrane are described.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2005Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: Trustees of Boston UniversityInventors: Srikanth Gopalan, Uday B. Pal, Annamalai Karthikeyan, Cui Hengdong
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Publication number: 20090071841Abstract: A reversible electrochemical system includes a first electrode comprising liquid silver metal and a second electrode, said first and second electrodes separated by a oxygen ion-conducting solid electrolyte; a conduit for directing a first reactive material across the second electrode; and a conduit for contacting second reactive material with the first liquid silver electrode, wherein the cell is capable of steam electrolysis when the polarity of the electrodes is selected such that the liquid silver is an anode and the cell is capable of electrical energy generation when the polarity of the electrodes is selected such that the liquid silver is a cathode.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2006Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: BOSTON UNIVERSITYInventors: Uday B. Pal, Srikanth Gopalan