Patents by Inventor Yunxi Yao

Yunxi Yao 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: 11958741
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for facilitating an intramolecular reaction that occurs in single collisions of CO2 molecules (or their derivatives amenable to controllable acceleration, such as CO2+ ions) with a solid surface, such that molecular oxygen (or its relevant analogs, e.g., O2+ and O2? ions) is directly produced are provided. The reaction is driven by kinetic energy and is independent of surface composition and temperature. The methods and apparatus may be used to remove CO2 from Earth's atmosphere, while, in other embodiments, the methods and apparatus may be used to prevent the atmosphere's contamination with CO2 emissions. In yet other embodiments, the methods and apparatus may be used to obtain molecular oxygen in CO2-rich environments, such as to facilitate exploration of extraterrestrial bodies with CO2-rich atmospheres (e.g. Mars).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Yunxi Yao, Konstantinos P. Giapis
  • Publication number: 20210371280
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for facilitating an intramolecular reaction that occurs in single collisions of CO2 molecules (or their derivatives amenable to controllable acceleration, such as CO2+ ions) with a solid surface, such that molecular oxygen (or its relevant analogs, e.g., O2+ and O2? ions) is directly produced are provided. The reaction is driven by kinetic energy and is independent of surface composition and temperature. The methods and apparatus may be used to remove CO2 from Earth's atmosphere, while, in other embodiments, the methods and apparatus may be used to prevent the atmosphere's contamination with CO2 emissions. In yet other embodiments, the methods and apparatus may be used to obtain molecular oxygen in CO2-rich environments, such as to facilitate exploration of extraterrestrial bodies with CO2-rich atmospheres (e.g. Mars).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Yunxi Yao, Konstantinos P. Giapis
  • Patent number: 11084722
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for facilitating an intramolecular reaction that occurs in single collisions of CO2 molecules (or their derivatives amenable to controllable acceleration, such as CO2+ ions) with a solid surface, such that molecular oxygen (or its relevant analogs, e.g., O2+ and O2? ions) is directly produced are provided. The reaction is driven by kinetic energy and is independent of surface composition and temperature. The methods and apparatus may be used to remove CO2 from Earth's atmosphere, while, in other embodiments, the methods and apparatus may be used to prevent the atmosphere's contamination with CO2 emissions. In yet other embodiments, the methods and apparatus may be used to obtain molecular oxygen in CO2-rich environments, such as to facilitate exploration of extraterrestrial bodies with CO2-rich atmospheres (e.g. Mars).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Yunxi Yao, Konstantinos P. Giapis
  • Publication number: 20180244521
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for facilitating an intramolecular reaction that occurs in single collisions of CO2 molecules (or their derivatives amenable to controllable acceleration, such as CO2+ ions) with a solid surface, such that molecular oxygen (or its relevant analogs, e.g., O2+ and O2? ions) is directly produced are provided. The reaction is driven by kinetic energy and is independent of surface composition and temperature. The methods and apparatus may be used to remove CO2 from Earth's atmosphere, while, in other embodiments, the methods and apparatus may be used to prevent the atmosphere's contamination with CO2 emissions. In yet other embodiments, the methods and apparatus may be used to obtain molecular oxygen in CO2-rich environments, such as to facilitate exploration of extraterrestrial bodies with CO2-rich atmospheres (e.g. Mars).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Yunxi Yao, Konstantinos P. Giapis