Patents by Inventor Zhifeng Ren

Zhifeng Ren 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: 11975979
    Abstract: A method for growing bulk boron arsenide (BA) crystals, the method comprising utilizing a seeded chemical vapor transport (CVT) growth mechanism to produce single BAs crystals which are used for further CVT growth, wherein a sparsity of nucleation centers is controlled during the further CVT growth. Also disclosed are bulk BAs crystals produced via the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Zhifeng Ren, Fei Tian, Gang Chen, Bai Song, Ke Chen, Li Shi, Xi Chen, Sean Sullivan, David Broido, Navaneetha Krishnan Ravichandran
  • Publication number: 20240121029
    Abstract: Provided in the present application are a data processing method and apparatus based on data coding, and a device. The method comprises: performing N-channel error correction coding on data to be processed that is in information to be processed, so as to obtain N pieces of coded data to be processed; by using coded meta-channel data obtained by means of error correction coding, performing redundancy processing on the coded data to be processed, so as to obtain N pieces of response data; and then performing error correction decoding on the N pieces of response data, so as to obtain processing result information of the information to be processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Lei HE, Jiangxing WU, Quan REN, Hailong MA, Yiming JIANG, Peng ZHANG, Jichao XIE, Yiwei GUO, Zhifeng FENG
  • Publication number: 20240121027
    Abstract: Provided are a data processing system and method based on dynamic redundancy heterogeneous encoding, and a device. The method comprises: respectively performing error correction encoding on information to be processed and a processing rule, so as to form encoded information to be processed and an encoded processing rule; processing, by using the encoded processing rule, the encoded information to be processed, so as to obtain response data; and then performing error correction decoding on N pieces of response data, so as to obtain processing result information of the information to be processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Lei HE, Jiangxing WU, Quan REN, Peng YI, Xiang CHEN, Jing YU, Kun ZHOU, Yiwei GUO, Zhifeng FENG
  • Publication number: 20240113809
    Abstract: The present application provides an instruction encoding-based data processing method and apparatus, and a device. N-path error correction encoding is performed on an instruction in information to be processed to obtain N encoded instructions, the encoded instructions and encoded meta channel programs obtained by the error correction encoding are used to perform redundant processing on data to be processed to obtain N pieces of response data, and then error correction decoding is performed on the N pieces of response data to obtain processing result information of the information to be processed. Because the N encoded instructions are heterogeneous and the encoded meta channel programs used in the N-path processing are heterogeneous, the randomness of the processing process can be improved, generalized disturbance in the data processing process can be corrected in combination with the error correction encoding and decoding methods, and thus the security of data processing is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Lei HE, Jiangxing WU, Quan REN, Zhen ZHANG, Weitao HAN, Fengyu ZHANG, Zheng YUAN, Yiwei GUO, Zhifeng FENG
  • Publication number: 20240112667
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for speech synthesis. The methods, systems, and apparatus include actions of obtaining an audio representation of speech of a target speaker, obtaining input text for which speech is to be synthesized in a voice of the target speaker, generating a speaker vector by providing the audio representation to a speaker encoder engine that is trained to distinguish speakers from one another, generating an audio representation of the input text spoken in the voice of the target speaker by providing the input text and the speaker vector to a spectrogram generation engine that is trained using voices of reference speakers to generate audio representations, and providing the audio representation of the input text spoken in the voice of the target speaker for output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Ye Jia, Zhifeng Chen, Yonghui Wu, Jonathan Shen, Ruoming Pang, Ron J. Weiss, Ignacio Lopez Moreno, Fei Ren, Yu Zhang, Quan Wang, Patrick An Phu Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11891304
    Abstract: A stable water based nanofluid of graphene-based amphiphilic Janus nanosheets, where the nanofluid has a high salt-content while retaining the interfacial activities of the nanosheets. Such a nanofluid of amphiphilic Janus nanosheets may be used for enhanced oil recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Zhifeng Ren, Dan Luo, Feng Wang
  • Publication number: 20230356133
    Abstract: An apparatus used with supplied power for treating air in an environment and method of use. A housing is mobile in the environment and has an intake and an exhaust. At least one prime mover is disposed in the housing and is operable to move the air in the environment through the housing from the intake to the exhaust. At least one ultraviolet light source is disposed in the housing, is in electrical communication with the supplied power, and is configured to generate ultraviolet radiation in at least one a portion of the housing through which the moved air passes from the intake to the exhaust. At least one permeable barrier is disposed in the housing and is configured to impede the moved air flow therethrough up to an impedance threshold. The permeable barrier is in electrical communication to the supplied power and is heated to a surface temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Monzer A. Hourani, Zhifeng Ren, Luo Yu
  • Patent number: 11785850
    Abstract: A method of thermoelectric power generation by converting heat to electricity via the use of a ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material, wherein a thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material is greater than or equal to 7% at a temperature difference of up to 800 K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Zhifeng Ren, Hangtian Zhu
  • Publication number: 20230272542
    Abstract: An electrode and system for electrocatalytic water splitting. The electrode for overall water splitting comprises a conductive substrate, and a bifunctional electrocatalyst comprising primarily metallic phosphides disposed on a surface of the substrate. The system comprises an anode and a cathode. Each of the anode and the cathode comprises a uniform distribution of a bifunctional electrocatalyst comprising metallic phosphides on a conductive substrate. The metallic phosphides can comprise iron phosphide (FeP) and dinickel phosphide (Ni2P). The bifunctional electrocatalyst promotes hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at the cathode, and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Zhifeng REN, Fang YU, Haiqing ZHOU, Shuo CHEN
  • Publication number: 20230257907
    Abstract: Herein provided are cubic boron arsenide (c-BAs) single crystals having an unexpectedly high ambipolar mobility at room temperature, µa, at one or more locations thereof that is greater than or equal to 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000, or 10000 cm2V-1s-1, wherein the ambipolar mobility is defined as: µa = 2µeµh/(µe + µh), wherein µe is electron mobility and µh is hole mobility, and having a room temperature thermal conductivity at the one or more locations thereof that is greater than or equal to 1000 Wm-1K-1. Methods of making and using the c-BAs single crystals are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Zhifeng REN, Jiming BAO, Shuai YUE, Fei TIAN, Geethal Amila Udalamatta GAMAGE, Gang CHEN, Jungwoo SHIN
  • Patent number: 11725292
    Abstract: A method of electrocatalytic water splitting by providing an anode and a cathode; and utilizing the anode and the cathode for alkaline water electrolysis. Each of the anode and the cathode comprises a uniform distribution of a bifunctional electrocatalyst comprising metallic phosphides on a conductive substrate. The metallic phosphides comprise arion phosphide (FeP) and dinickel phosphide (Ni2P). The bifunctional electrocatalyst promotes hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at the cathode, and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Zhifeng Ren, Fang Yu, Haiqing Zhou, Shuo Chen
  • Publication number: 20230246569
    Abstract: A superconductor levitation (superlev) vehicle system and method of transporting and storing coolant and fuel that includes a guideway comprising a conduit. The conduit includes a superconductor and a coolant coupled to the superconductor. The coolant is configured to cool the superconductor. A magnetic vehicle that is configured to be levitated a distance from the guideway via interaction between a magnetic field from the vehicle and a magnetic field from the superconductor. The superconductor may also be used to transport and store electrical power, and the conduit may be used to transport and store liquids and/or fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventor: Zhifeng Ren
  • Publication number: 20230220570
    Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure provides time and energy-efficient synthesis of catalysts for water electrolysis. An exemplary synthesis method includes dissolving amounts of Fe(NO3)3.9H2O and Na2S2O3.5H2O in deionized water at ambient temperature to form a solution, placing Ni foam into the solution where the Ni foam serves as a substrate and a Ni source for growth of sulfur-doped (Ni,Fe)OOH (S—(Ni,Fe)OOH) catalysts, leaving the Ni foam in the solution at ambient temperature for a duration between one minute and five minutes to provide a treated foam where the S—(Ni,Fe)OOH catalysts grow on the substrate during the duration, and removing the treated foam from the solution after the duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Zhifeng REN, Luo YU, Shuo CHEN
  • Patent number: 11692155
    Abstract: A cleaning composition is provided herein. The cleaning composition includes a plurality of metal particles and a base fluid. The plurality of metal particles have an average size in a range of from about 1 nanometer (nm) to about 10,000 micrometers (?m), and are dispersed in the base fluid. The cleaning composition is configured to generate an exothermic reaction when contacted with one or more components on a surface and water to facilitate removal of the one or more components from the surface. Methods of making and utilizing the cleaning composition are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventor: Zhifeng Ren
  • Publication number: 20230124578
    Abstract: A detoxification device for removing pathogens from air within an environment. The detoxification device may include a filtration media for catching and retaining particles larger than about 0.3 micrometers (?m) with an efficiency of at least 99%. The detoxification device may also include a heating element having a metallic foam. The heating element may be heated upon application of an electrical current to the heating element. The heating element may, upon being heated, heat the filtration media to a target temperature that is effective to kill a pathogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Monzer A. Hourani, Zhifeng Ren, Luo Yu
  • Patent number: 11627691
    Abstract: Systems and methods discussed herein relate to Zintl-type thermoelectric materials, including a p-type thermoelectric material according to the formula AMyXy, and includes at least one of calcium (Ca), europium (Eu), ytterbium (Yb), and strontium (Sr), and has a ZT of the above about 0.60 above 675K. The n-type thermoelectric component includes magnesium (Mg), tellurium (Te), antimony (Sb), and bismuth (Bi) according to the formula Mg3.2Sb1.3Bi0.5-xTex that has an average ZT above 0.8 from 400K to 800K. The p-type and n-type materials discussed herein may be used alone, in combination with other materials, or in combination with each other in various configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Zhifeng Ren, Jing Shuai
  • Publication number: 20230010138
    Abstract: A method for ambient-temperature synthesis of a catalyst for water electrolysis by dissolving an amount of an Fe2+ source and optionally an amount of a salt of another divalent cation in deionized water at ambient temperature to form a solution, placing nickel (Ni) foam into the solution, whereby the Ni foam serves as a substrate and/or a Ni source for growth of the catalyst, leaving the Ni foam in the solution at ambient temperature for a time duration in a range of from about 0.5 hour to about 4 hours to provide a treated foam, during which time duration, the catalyst is grown on the substrate, and removing the treated foam from the solution after the time duration, wherein the treated foam comprises the catalyst grown thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Zhifeng REN, Luo YU, Minghui NING
  • Patent number: 11552299
    Abstract: A method of forming a battery electrode by forming, on a first substrate, a polymer template comprising interconnected polymer fibers, forming, on the polymer template, a carbon coating to form a carbon-coated polymer template, removing the carbon-coated polymer template from the first substrate, subsequent to removing the carbon-coated polymer template from the first substrate, removing the polymer template from the carbon coating, and disposing the carbon coating on a second substrate. A solid electrolyte interphase layer (SEI) comprising the carbon coating produced via the method, a battery electrode comprising such an SEI layer, and a battery comprising such a battery electrode are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Zhifeng Ren, Siya Huang
  • Publication number: 20220372642
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting comprising oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by growing electrocatalyst comprising primarily metallic phosphides on three-dimensional substrate by: immersing the substrate in an iron nitrate solution to form a once disposed substrate; subjecting the once disposed substrate to thermal phosphidation with phosphorus powder under inert gas to grow metal phosphides thereupon and form a once subjected substrate; cooling the once subjected substrate to form a cooled, once subjected substrate; immersing the cooled, once subjected substrate in an iron nitrate solution to form a twice disposed substrate; and subjecting the twice disposed substrate to thermal phosphidation with phosphorus powder under inert gas to provide an electrode comprising the bifunctional electrocatalyst on the three-dimensional substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Zhifeng REN, Fang YU, Haiqing ZHOU, Shuo CHEN
  • Publication number: 20220367777
    Abstract: A method of thermoelectric power generation by converting heat to electricity via the use of a ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material, wherein a thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material is greater than or equal to 7% at a temperature difference of up to 800 K.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Zhifeng REN, Hangtian ZHU