Patents by Inventor Yong Che

Yong Che 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: 20120225021
    Abstract: In the present invention, a method of producing stable bare colloidal gold nanoparticles is disclosed. The nanoparticles can subsequently be subjected to partial or full surface modification. The method comprises preparation of colloidal gold nanoparticles in a liquid by employing a top-down nanofabrication method using bulk gold as a source material. The surface modification of these nanoparticles is carried out by adding one or multiple types of ligands each containing functional groups which exhibit affinity for gold nanoparticle surfaces to produce the conjugates. Because of the high efficiency and excellent stability of the nanoparticles produced by this method, the fabricated gold nanoparticle conjugates can have surface coverage with functional ligands which can be tuned to be any percent value between 0 and 100%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Wei QIAN, Makoto MURAKAMI, Yuki ICHIKAWA, Yong CHE
  • Patent number: 8246714
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a method of producing chemically pure and stably dispersed metal and metal-alloy nanoparticle colloids with ultrafast pulsed laser ablation. A method comprises irradiating a metal or metal alloy target submerged in a liquid with ultrashort laser pulses at a high repetition rate, cooling a portion of the liquid that includes an irradiated region, and collecting nanoparticles produced with the laser irradiation and liquid cooling. The method may be implemented with a high repetition rate ultrafast pulsed laser source, an optical system for focusing and moving the pulsed laser beams, a metal or metal alloy target submerged in a liquid, and a liquid circulating system to cool the laser focal volume and collect the nanoparticle products. By controlling various laser parameters, and with optional liquid flow movement, the method provides stable colloids of dispersed metal and metal-alloy nanoparticles. In various embodiments additional stabilizing chemical agents are not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: IMRA America, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Liu, Zhendong Hu, Makoto Murakami, Yong Che
  • Publication number: 20120168669
    Abstract: A composite nanoparticle, for example a nanoparticle containing one or a plurality of cores embedded in another material. A composite nanoparticle can be formed by a one step process that includes: ejecting material from a bulk target material using physical energy source, with the bulk target material disposed in a liquid. Composite nanoparticles are formed by cooling at least a portion of the ejected material in the liquid. The composite fine particles may then be collected from the liquid. A product that includes composite fine particles may be formed with laser ablation, and ultrashort laser ablation may be utilized so as to preserve composite nanoparticle stoichiometry. For applications of the composite fine particles, optical properties and/or magnetic properties may be exploited for various applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC
    Inventors: Yong CHE, Makoto Murakami, Wei Guo
  • Publication number: 20120148756
    Abstract: A method of producing compound nanorods and thin films under a controlled growth mode is described. The method involves ablating compound targets using an ultrafast pulsed laser and depositing the ablated materials onto a substrate. When producing compound nanorods, external catalysts such as pre-deposited metal nanoparticles are not involved. Instead, at the beginning of deposition, simply by varying the fluence at the focal spot on the target, a self-formed seed layer can be introduced for nanorods growth. This provides a simple method of producing high purity nanorods and controlling the growth mode. Three growth modes are covered by the present invention, including nanorod growth, thin film growth, and nano-porous film growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bing LIU, Zhengong HU, Yong CHE
  • Publication number: 20120140378
    Abstract: A rechargeable energy storage device is disclosed. In at least one embodiment the energy storage device includes an air electrode providing an electrochemical process comprising reduction and evolution of oxygen and a capacitive electrode enables an electrode process consisting of non-faradic reactions based on ion absorption/desorption and/or faradic reactions. This rechargeable energy storage device is a hybrid system of fuel cells and ultracapacitors, pseudocapacitors, and/or secondary batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bing TAN, Zhendong Hu, Yong Che
  • Publication number: 20120098032
    Abstract: The present invention provides a non-vacuum method of depositing a photovoltaic absorber layer based on electrophoretic deposition of a mixture of nanoparticles with a controlled atomic ratio between the elements. The nanoparticles are first dispersed in a liquid medium to form a colloidal suspension and then electrophoretically deposited onto a substrate to form a thin film photovoltaic absorber layer. The absorber layer may be subjected to optional post-deposition treatments for photovoltaic absorption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Wei GUO, Yu Jin, Bing Liu, Yong Che, Kevin V. Hagedorn
  • Publication number: 20120097224
    Abstract: The present invention provides a non-vacuum method of depositing a photovoltaic absorber layer based on electrophoretic deposition of a mixture of nanoparticles with a controlled atomic ratio between the elements. The nanoparticles are first dispersed in a liquid medium to form a colloidal suspension and then electrophoretically deposited onto a substrate to form a thin film photovoltaic absorber layer. The absorber layer may be subjected to optional post-deposition treatments for photovoltaic absorption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Wei GUO, Yu Jin, Bing Liu, Yong Che
  • Publication number: 20120003395
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a multi-layered thin film electrochemical device is provided. The method comprises: providing a first target material in a chamber; providing a substrate in the chamber; emitting a first intermittent laser beam directed at the first target material to generate a first plasma, wherein each pulse of the first intermittent laser beam has a pulse duration of about 20 fs to about 500 ps; depositing the first plasma on the substrate to form a first thin film; providing a second target material in the chamber; emitting a second intermittent laser beam directed at the second target material to generate a second plasma, wherein each pulse of the second intermittent laser beam has a pulse duration of about 20 fs to about 500 ps; and depositing the second plasma on or above the first thin film to form a second thin film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: IMRA America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Che, Zhendong Hu
  • Publication number: 20110196044
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a chemically pure and stably dispersed organic nanoparticle colloidal suspension using an ultrafast pulsed laser ablation process. The method comprises irradiating a target of an organic compound material in contact with a poor solvent with ultrashort laser pulses at a high repetition rate and collecting the nanoparticles of the organic compound produced. The method may be implemented with a high repetition rate ultrafast pulsed laser source, an optical system for focusing and moving the pulsed laser beam, an organic compound target in contact with a poor solvent, and a solvent circulating system to cool the laser focal volume and collect the produced nanoparticle products. By controlling various laser parameters, and with optional poor solvent flow movement, the method provides stable colloids of dispersed organic nanoparticles in the poor solvent in the absence of any stabilizing agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Zhendong Hu, Yong Che
  • Publication number: 20110194106
    Abstract: An device for Raman spectroscopy such as surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is disclosed herein. Various embodiments may be utilized to prepare a SERS substrate using several deposition techniques such as pulsed laser deposition. Some embodiments optimize coverage, volume, or elements of SERS active metals. The method is a single step inexpensive method for preparing a SERS active substrate. In some embodiments a coating layer underneath the SERS active metals is utilized for additional enhancements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Makoto MURAKAMI, Yong Che, Bing Liu, Yuki Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20110192714
    Abstract: A method for generating nanoparticles in a liquid comprises generating groups of ultrafast laser pulses, each pulse in a group having a pulse duration of from 10 femtoseconds to 200 picoseconds, and each group containing a plurality of pulses with a pulse separation of 1 to 100 nanoseconds and directing the groups of pulses at a target material in a liquid to ablate it. The multiple pulse group ablation produces nanoparticles with a reduced average size, a narrow size distribution, and improved production efficiency compared to prior pulsed ablation systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Bing LIU, Zhendong Hu, Yong Che
  • Publication number: 20110193025
    Abstract: A method of forming nanometer sized fine particles of functional ceramic from a bulk functional ceramic, particularly fine particles of phosphorous ceramics from a bulk phosphor material is disclosed. The method relies on irradiation of a bulk phosphorous ceramic in a liquid with an ultrashort-pulsed-laser-fragmentation beam to thereby form nanometer sized particles of the phosphorous ceramic. The method is unique in that the generated particles retain the chemical and crystalline properties of the bulk phosphorous ceramic. The generated solutions are stable colloids from which the particles can be isolated or used as is.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Yuki ICHIKAWA, Zhengong Hu, Bing Liu, Yong Che
  • Publication number: 20110192450
    Abstract: A method of producing nanoparticles of solar light absorbing compound materials based on pulsed laser ablation is disclosed. The method uses irradiation of a target material of solar light absorbing compound material with a pulsed laser beam having a pulse duration of from 10 femtoseconds to 500 picoseconds to ablate the target thereby producing nanoparticles of the target. The nanoparticles are collected and a solution of the nanoparticles is applied to a substrate to produce a thin film solar cell. The method preserves the composition and structural crystalline phase of the starting target. The method is a much lower cost fabrication method for thin film solar cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Bing LIU, Yong Che
  • Patent number: 7879410
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a multi-layered thin film electrochemical device is provided. The method comprises: providing a first target material in a chamber; providing a substrate in the chamber; emitting a first intermittent laser beam directed at the first target material to generate a first plasma, wherein each pulse of the first intermittent laser beam has a pulse duration of about 20 fs to about 500 ps; depositing the first plasma on the substrate to form a first thin film; providing a second target material in the chamber; emitting a second intermittent laser beam directed at the second target material to generate a second plasma, wherein each pulse of the second intermittent laser beam has a pulse duration of about 20 fs to about 500 ps; and depositing the second plasma on or above the first thin film to form a second thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Imra America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Che, Zhendong Hu
  • Publication number: 20100227133
    Abstract: A method of forming patterns on transparent substrates using a pulsed laser is disclosed. Various embodiments include an ultrashort pulsed laser, a substrate that is transparent to the laser wavelength, and a target plate. The laser beam is guided through the transparent substrate and focused on the target surface. The target material is ablated by the laser and is deposited on the opposite substrate surface. A pattern, for example a gray scale image, is formed by scanning the laser beam relative to the target. Variations of the laser beam scan speed and scan line density control the material deposition and change the optical properties of the deposited patterns, creating a visual effect of gray scale. In some embodiments patterns may be formed on a portion of a microelectronic device during a fabrication process. In some embodiments high repetition rate picoseconds and nanosecond sources are configured to produce the patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bing Liu, Zhendong Hu, Makoto Murakami, Jingzhou Xu, Yong Che
  • Publication number: 20100209700
    Abstract: A method of producing compound nanorods and thin films under a controlled growth mode is described. The method involves ablating compound targets using an ultrafast pulsed laser and depositing the ablated materials onto a substrate. When producing compound nanorods, external catalysts such as pre-deposited metal nanoparticles are not involved. Instead, at the beginning of deposition, simply by varying the fluence at the focal spot on the target, a self-formed seed layer can be introduced for nanorods growth. This provides a simple method of producing high purity nanorods and controlling the growth mode. Three growth modes are covered by the present invention, including nanorod growth, thin film growth, and nano-porous film growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bing LIU, Zhengong HU, Yong CHE
  • Publication number: 20100196192
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a method of producing chemically pure and stably dispersed metal and metal-alloy nanoparticle colloids with ultrafast pulsed laser ablation. A method comprises irradiating a metal or metal alloy target submerged in a liquid with ultrashort laser pulses at a high repetition rate, cooling a portion of the liquid that includes an irradiated region, and collecting nanoparticles produced with the laser irradiation and liquid cooling. The method may be implemented with a high repetition rate ultrafast pulsed laser source, an optical system for focusing and moving the pulsed laser beams, a metal or metal alloy target submerged in a liquid, and a liquid circulating system to cool the laser focal volume and collect the nanoparticle products. By controlling various laser parameters, and with optional liquid flow movement, the method provides stable colloids of dispersed metal and metal-alloy nanoparticles. In various embodiments additional stabilizing chemical agents are not required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bing Liu, Zhendong Hu, Makoto Murakami, Yong Che
  • Patent number: 7767272
    Abstract: A method of producing compound nanorods and thin films under a controlled growth mode is described. The method involves ablating compound targets using an ultrafast pulsed laser and depositing the ablated materials onto a substrate. When producing compound nanorods, external catalysts such as pre-deposited metal nanoparticles are not involved. Instead, at the beginning of deposition, simply by varying the fluence at the focal spot on the target, a self-formed seed layer can be introduced for nanorods growth. This provides a simple method of producing high purity nanorods and controlling the growth mode. Three growth modes are covered by the present invention, including nanorod growth, thin film growth, and nano-porous film growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: IMRA America, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Liu, Zhendong Hu, Yong Che
  • Publication number: 20100000466
    Abstract: A p-type semiconductor zinc oxide (ZnO) film and a process for preparing the film are disclosed. The film is co-doped with phosphorous (P) and lithium (Li). A pulsed laser deposition scheme is described for use in growing the film. Further described is a process of pulsed laser deposition using transparent substrates which includes a pulsed laser source, a substrate that is transparent at the wavelength of the pulsed laser, and a multi-target system. The optical path of the pulsed laser is arranged in such a way that the pulsed laser is incident from the back of the substrate, passes through the substrate, and then focuses on the target. By translating the substrate towards the target, this geometric arrangement enables deposition of small features utilizing the root of the ablation plume, which can exist in a one-dimensional transition stage along the target surface normal, before the angular width of the plume is broadened by three-dimensional adiabatic expansion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Bing LIU, Zhendong Hu, Yong Che, Yuzuru Uehara
  • Publication number: 20090311513
    Abstract: A one-step and room-temperature process for depositing nanoparticles or nanocomposite (nanoparticle-assembled) films of metal oxides such as crystalline titanium dioxide (TiO2) onto a substrate surface using ultrafast pulsed laser ablation of Titania or metal titanium target. The system includes a pulsed laser with a pulse duration ranging from a few femtoseconds to a few tens of picoseconds, an optical setup for processing the laser beam such that the beam is focused onto the target surface with an appropriate average energy density and an appropriate energy density distribution, and a vacuum chamber in which the target and the substrate are installed and background gases and their pressures are appropriately adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Zhendong Hu, Yong Che, Bing Liu