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).
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Patent number: 8580100Abstract: Methods of forming a conductive metal layers on substrates are disclosed which employ a seed layer to enhance bonding, especially to smooth, low-roughness or hydrophobic substrates. In one aspect of the invention, the seed layer can be formed by applying nanoparticles onto a surface of the substrate; and the metallization is achieved by electroplating an electrically conducting metal onto the seed layer, whereby the nanoparticles serve as nucleation sites for metal deposition. In another approach, the seed layer can be formed by a self-assembling linker material, such as a sulfur-containing silane material.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2011Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Trustees of Boston College, GMZ Energy, Inc.Inventors: Hsien-Ping Feng, Gang Chen, Yu Bo, Zhifeng Ren, Shuo Chen, Bed Poudel
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Publication number: 20130256609Abstract: Materials having improved thermoelectric properties are disclosed. In some embodiments, lead telluride/selenide based materials with improved figure of merit and mechanical properties are disclosed. In some embodiments, the lead telluride/selenide based materials of the present disclosure are p-type thermoelectric materials formed by adding sodium (Na), silicon (Si) or both to thallium doped lead telluride materials. In some embodiments, the lead telluride/selenide based materials are formed by doping lead telluride/selenides with potassium.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Inventors: Zhifeng Ren, Qinyong Zhang, Qian Zhang, Gang Chen
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Publication number: 20130247953Abstract: Thermoelectric devices and associated materials and assembly methods are generally described. Certain aspects relate to electrode materials and electrode configurations for use in thermoelectric devices. In some embodiments, the inventive thermoelectric devices comprise electrodes comprising silicon, such as silicides of cobalt, iron, and/or nickel. Such electrode materials can be useful for making electrical contact with a wide variety of thermoelectric materials, including skutterudite materials. The thermoelectric devices described herein can be used to convert applied voltages to thermal gradients and or to convert thermal gradients to electricity.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2012Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicants: Trustees of Boston College, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Andrew Muto, Gang Chen, Zhifeng Ren
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Publication number: 20130234375Abstract: Methods for synthesis of thermoelectric materials are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of fabricating a thermoelectric material includes generating a plurality of nanoparticles from a starting material comprising one or more chalcogens and one or more transition metals; and consolidating the nanoparticles under elevated pressure and temperature, wherein the nanoparticles are heated and cooled at a controlled rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2013Publication date: September 12, 2013Inventors: Zhifeng Ren, Shuo Chen, Wei-Shu Liu, Hengzhi Wang, Hui Wang, Bo Yu, Gang Chen
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Patent number: 8431816Abstract: An apparatus and methods for solar conversion using nanoscale cometal structures are disclosed herein. The cometal structures may be coaxial and coplanar. A nanoscale optics apparatus for use as a solar cell comprises a plurality of nanoscale cometal structures each including a photovoltaic material located between a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. A method of fabricating solar cells comprises preparing a plurality of nanoscale planar structures; coating a plurality of planar surfaces of the plurality of planar structures with a photovoltaic semiconductor while leaving space between the plurality of planar surfaces; and coating the photovoltaic semiconductor with an outer electrical conductor layer, wherein a portion of the outer electrical conductor layer is located between the planar structures to form coplanar structures.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2011Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: The Trustees of Boston CollegeInventors: Krzysztof J. Kempa, Michael J. Naughton, Zhifeng Ren, Jakub A. Rybczynski
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Publication number: 20130019924Abstract: Nanoscopically thin photovoltaic junction solar cells are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, there is provided a photovoltaic film 100 that includes a p-doped region 102, an n-doped region 106, and an intrinsic region 104 positioned between the p-doped region 102 and the n-doped region 106, wherein an overall thickness of the photovoltaic film is between about 15 nm to about 30 nm so as to extract hot carriers excited across a band gap, wherein the extracted hot carriers are capable of resulting in an open circuit voltage, Voc, of the photovoltaic film that increases with optical frequency, and wherein the extracted hot carriers are capable of resulting in a total short-circuit current density, Jsc, between about 4 mA/cm2 and about 8 mA/cm2.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2010Publication date: January 24, 2013Inventors: Michael J. Naughton, Krzysztof J. Kempa, Zhifeng Ren
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Publication number: 20120326097Abstract: Thermoelectric materials and methods of making thermoelectric materials having a nanometer mean grain size less than 1 micron. The method includes combining and arc melting constituent elements of the thermoelectric material to form a liquid alloy of the thermoelectric material and casting the liquid alloy of the thermoelectric material to form a solid casting of the thermoelectric material. The method also includes ball milling the solid casting of the thermoelectric material into nanometer mean size particles and sintering the nanometer size particles to form the thermoelectric material having nanometer scale mean grain size.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2011Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicants: Trustees of Boston College, GMZ Energy, Inc.Inventors: Zhifeng Ren, Xiao Yan, Giri Joshi, Gang Chen, Bed Poudel, James Christopher Caylor
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Publication number: 20120273915Abstract: An electrode includes a substantially planar metallic thin film layer with a patterned structure including a plurality of parallel lines or a plurality of crossed lines, the metallic thin film layer configured to transmit an incident light through the metallic thin film layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2011Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: SOUTH CHINA NORMAL UNIVERSITYInventors: Yang Wang, Krzysztof Kempa, Zhifeng Ren
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Patent number: 8293168Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to nanocomposite thermoelectric materials that exhibit enhanced thermoelectric properties. The nanocomposite materials include two or more components, with at least one of the components forming nano-sized structures within the composite material. The components are chosen such that thermal conductivity of the composite is decreased without substantially diminishing the composite's electrical conductivity. Suitable component materials exhibit similar electronic band structures. For example, a band-edge gap between at least one of a conduction band or a valence band of one component material and a corresponding band of the other component material at interfaces between the components can be less than about 5kBT, wherein kB is the Boltzman constant and T is an average temperature of said nanocomposite composition.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2008Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Trustees of Boston CollegeInventors: Gang Chen, Mildred Dresselhaus, Zhifeng Ren
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Publication number: 20120217165Abstract: Methods of forming a conductive metal layers on substrates are disclosed which employ a seed layer to enhance bonding, especially to smooth, low-roughness or hydrophobic substrates. In one aspect of the invention, the seed layer can be formed by applying nanoparticles onto a surface of the substrate; and the metallization is achieved by electroplating an electrically conducting metal onto the seed layer, whereby the nanoparticles serve as nucleation sites for metal deposition. In another approach, the seed layer can be formed by a self-assembling linker material, such as a sulfur-containing silane material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2011Publication date: August 30, 2012Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, GMZ Energy, Inc., The Trustees of Boston CollegeInventors: Hsien-Ping Feng, Gang Chen, Yu Bo, Zhifeng Ren, Shuo Chen, Bed Poudel
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Publication number: 20120180840Abstract: Systems and methods utilizing solar-electrical generators are discussed. Solar-electrical generators are disclosed having a radiation-capture structure and one or more thermoelectric converters. Heat produced in a capture structure via impingement of solar radiation can maintain a portion of a thermoelectric converter at a high temperature, while the use of a low temperature at another portion allows electricity generation. Thus, unlike photovoltaic cells which are generally primarily concerned with optical radiation management, solar thermoelectrics converters are generally concerned with a variety of mechanisms for heat management. Generators can include any number of features including selective radiation surfaces, low emissivity surfaces, flat panel configurations, evacuated environments, and other concepts that can act to provide thermal concentration. Designs utilizing one or more optical concentrators are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2012Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Gang Chen, Xiaoyuan Chen, Mildred Dresselhaus, Zhifeng Ren
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Publication number: 20120160290Abstract: An apparatus includes an evacuated enclosure which comprises a tubular member extending along a longitudinal axis, a radiation absorber disposed in the enclosure and having a front surface and a back surface, the front surface being adapted for exposure to solar radiation so as to generate heat, at least one thermoelectric converter disposed in the enclosure and thermally coupled to the absorber, the converter having a high-temperature end to receive at least a portion of the generated heat, such that a temperature differential is achieved across the at least one thermoelectric converter, a support structure disposed in the enclosure coupled to a low-temperature end of the thermoelectric converter, where the support structure removes heat from a low-temperature end of the thermoelectric converter, and a heat conducting element extending between the support structure and the evacuated enclosure and adapted to transfer heat from the support structure to the enclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2010Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: GMZ Energy, Inc.Inventors: Gang Chen, Zhifeng Ren, Bed Poudel, Aaron Bent
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Patent number: 8168879Abstract: Systems and methods utilizing solar-electrical generators are discussed. Solar-electrical generators are disclosed having a radiation-capture structure and one or more thermoelectric converters. Heat produced in a capture structure via impingement of solar radiation can maintain a portion of a thermoelectric converter at a high temperature, while the use of a low temperature at another portion allows electricity generation. Thus, unlike photovoltaic cells which are generally primarily concerned with optical radiation management, solar thermoelectrics converters are generally concerned with a variety of mechanisms for heat management. Generators can include any number of features including selective radiation surfaces, low emissivity surfaces, flat panel configurations, evacuated environments, and other concepts that can act to provide thermal concentration. Designs utilizing one or more optical concentrators are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2009Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Gang Chen, Xiaoyuan Chen, Mildred Dresselhaus, Zhifeng Ren
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Publication number: 20110308564Abstract: An apparatus and methods for solar conversion using nanoscale cometal structures are disclosed herein. The cometal structures may be coaxial and coplanar. A nanoscale optics apparatus for use as a solar cell comprises a plurality of nanoscale cometal structures each including a photovoltaic material located between a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. A method of fabricating solar cells comprises preparing a plurality of nanoscale planar structures; coating a plurality of planar surfaces of the plurality of planar structures with a photovoltaic semiconductor while leaving space between the plurality of planar surfaces; and coating the photovoltaic semiconductor with an outer electrical conductor layer, wherein a portion of the outer electrical conductor layer is located between the planar structures to form coplanar structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2011Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: The Trustees of Boston CollegeInventors: Krzysztof J. Kempa, Michael J. Naughton, Zhifeng Ren, Jakub A. Rybczynski
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Publication number: 20110287977Abstract: A nanocoaxial sensor includes an outer conductor, an inner conductor, a dielectric material disposed between the outer and inner conductors, a nanocavity sized to allow target species to enter the nanocavity between the outer and inner conductors, and an active sensing element immobilized within the nanocavity on at least one of the inner or outer conductors. The active sensing element is adapted to selectively capture the at least one of the target species.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2007Publication date: November 24, 2011Inventors: Dong Cai, Thomas Chiles, Krzysztof Kempa, Michael Naughton, Zhifeng Ren, Paudel Trilochan
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Patent number: 7943847Abstract: An apparatus and methods for solar conversion using nanoscale cometal structures are disclosed herein. The cometal structures may be coaxial and coplanar. A nanoscale optics apparatus for use as a solar cell comprises a plurality of nanoscale cometal structures each including a photovoltaic material located between a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. A method of fabricating solar cells comprises preparing a plurality of nanoscale planar structures; coating a plurality of planar surfaces of the plurality of planar structures with a photovoltaic semiconductor while leaving space between the plurality of planar surfaces; and coating the photovoltaic semiconductor with an outer electrical conductor layer, wherein a portion of the outer electrical conductor layer is located between the planar structures to form coplanar structures.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2006Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: The Trustees of Boston CollegeInventors: Krzysztof J. Kempa, Michael J. Naughton, Zhifeng Ren, Jakub A. Rybczynski
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Publication number: 20110108778Abstract: Compositions related to skutterudite-based thermoelectric materials are disclosed. Such compositions can result in materials that have enhanced ZT values relative to one or more bulk materials from which the compositions are derived. Thermo-electric materials such as n-type and p-type skutterudites with high thermoelectric figures-of-merit can include materials with filler atoms and/or materials formed by compacting particles (e.g., nanoparticles) into a material with a plurality of grains each having a portion having a skutterudite-based structure. Methods of forming thermoelectric skutterudites, which can include the use of hot press processes to consolidate particles, are also disclosed. The particles to be consolidated can be derived from (e.g., grinded from), skutterudite-based bulk materials, elemental materials, other non-Skutterudite-based materials, or combinations of such materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2009Publication date: May 12, 2011Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Trustees of Boston CollegeInventors: Zhifeng Ren, Jian Yang, Xiao Yan, Qinyu He, Gang Chen, Qing Hao
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Publication number: 20100186794Abstract: An energy generation method includes receiving solar radiation at a solar absorber, providing heat from the solar absorber to a hot side of a set of thermoelectric converters, generating electricity from the set of thermoelectric converters, and providing heat from a cold side of the set of thermoelectric converters to a fluid being provided into a solar fluid heating system or a solar thermal to electrical conversion plant.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2008Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventors: Gang Chen, Zhifeng Ren
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Patent number: 7754964Abstract: An apparatus and method for solar conversion using nanocoax structures are disclosed herein. A nano-optics apparatus for use as a solar cell comprising a plurality of nano-coaxial structures comprising an internal conductor surrounded by a semiconducting material coated with an outer conductor; a film having the plurality of nano-coaxial structures; and a protruding portion of the an internal conductor extending beyond a surface of the film. A method of fabricating a solar cell comprising: coating a substrate with a catalytic material; growing a plurality of carbon nanotubes as internal cores of nanocoax units on the substrate; oxidizing the substrate; coating with a semiconducting film; and filling with a metallic medium that wets the semiconducting film of the nanocoax units.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2006Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: The Trustees of Boston CollegeInventors: Krysztof J. Kempa, Michael J. Naughton, Zhifeng Ren, Yang Wang, Jakub A. Rybczynski
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Patent number: 7666051Abstract: A device and method is presented for achieving a high field emission from the application of a low electric field. More specifically, the device includes a substrate wherein a plurality of nanostructures are grown on the substrate. The relationship of the nanostructures and the substrate (the relationship includes the number of nanostructures on the substrate, the orientation of the nanostructures in relationship to each other and in relationship to the substrate, the geometry of the substrate, the morphology of the nanostructures and the morphology of the substrate, the manner in which nanostructures are grown on the substrate, the composition of nanostructure and composition of substrate, etc) allow for the generation of the high field emission from the application of the low electric field.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2007Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: The Trustees of Boston CollegeInventors: Zhifeng Ren, Sung Ho Jo, Debasish Banerjee