Diaphragm Type Patents (Class 204/252)
  • Patent number: 10741812
    Abstract: Methods of scavenging acid in a lithium-ion electrochemical cell are provided. An electrolyte solution that contains an acid or is capable of forming the acid is contacted with a polymer comprising a nitrogen-containing acid-trapping moiety selected from the group consisting of: an amine group, a pyridine group, and combinations thereof. The nitrogen-containing acid-trapping moiety scavenges acidic species present in the electrolyte solution by participating in a Lewis acid-base neutralization reaction. The electrolyte solution comprises a lithium salt and one or more solvents and is contained in the electrochemical cell that further comprises a first electrode, a second electrode having an opposite polarity from the first electrode, and a porous separator. Lithium ions can be cycled through the separator and electrolyte solution from the first electrode to the second electrode, where acid generated during the cycling is scavenged by the polymer comprising a nitrogen-containing acid-trapping moiety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignees: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shalom Luski, Doron Aurbach, Timothy J. Fuller, Ion C. Halalay, Anjan Banerjee, Baruch Ziv, Raghunathan K
  • Patent number: 10718055
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the unexpected discovery of systems for capturing carbon dioxide and producing hydrogen gas. In certain embodiments, the system treats wastewater. In certain embodiments, the system captures and sequesters CO2 as carbonate salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: Zhiyong Ren, Lu Lu
  • Patent number: 10707495
    Abstract: A metal-air battery includes: at least one positive electrode layer, which is configured for using oxygen as an active material and includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; a gas diffusion layer on the first surface of the positive electrode layer and including a plurality of carbon fibers; an electrolyte layer on the second surface of the positive electrode layer; and a negative electrode metal layer on the electrolyte layer, wherein the positive electrode layer includes a plurality of grooves, and wherein portions of the plurality of carbon fibers are in the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jungock Park, Mokwon Kim, Joonhee Kim, Dongmin Im
  • Patent number: 10689272
    Abstract: An electrode unit comprising: (a) an electrically non-conductive circumferential housing; (b) a current collector; (c) an electrode; (d) optionally a charge barrier; and (e) an electrically conductive connector in electrical contact with the current collector (b); wherein (b), (c) and (d) (when present) are located within the circumference of the circumferential housing (a); the main plane of the part of (e) which is located within the housing (a) is substantially parallel to the main plane of (b), (e) extends beyond the housing (a); and the area of the part of (e) which is located within the housing (a) is less than 30% of the area of (b). Also claimed are stacks, composites devices and their uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Fujifilm Manufacturing Europe B.V.
    Inventor: Morihito Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10688438
    Abstract: An electrodialysis module includes at least one base unit. The base unit includes a working tank, a first ion-exchange membrane, a second ion-exchange membrane, at least one first electrode, and at least two second electrodes. The first ion-exchange membrane and the second ion-exchange membrane are located in the working tank. The first ion-exchange membrane and the second ion-exchange membrane together divide the working tank into two electrode compartments and a desalination compartment therebetween. The at least one first electrode is disposed in the desalination compartment. The at least two second electrodes are disposed in each of the electrode compartments, respectively, in which the at least two second electrodes and the at least one first electrode have different polarities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Po-Yu Hu, Teh-Ming Liang, Wang-Kuan Chang, Ren-Yang Horng, Chi-Chung Liao
  • Patent number: 10648091
    Abstract: A platform technology that uses a novel membrane electrode assembly including a cathode layer comprising a reduction catalyst and a first anion-and-cation-conducting polymer, an anode layer comprising an oxidation catalyst and a cation-conducting polymer, a membrane layer comprising a cation-conducting polymer, the membrane layer arranged between the cathode layer and the anode layer and conductively connecting the cathode layer and the anode layer, in a COx reduction reactor has been developed. The reactor can be used to synthesize a broad range of carbon-based compounds from carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignees: Opus 12 Inc., The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Kendra P. Kuhl, Etosha R. Cave, George Leonard
  • Patent number: 10637068
    Abstract: A gas diffusion electrode for an electro-synthetic or electro-energy cell, for example a fuel cell, including one or more gas permeable layers, a first conductive layer provided on a first side of the gas diffusion electrode, and a second layer, which may be a second conductive layer, provided on a second side of the gas diffusion electrode. The one or more gas permeable layers are positioned between the first conductive layer and the second layer, which may be a second conductive layer, and the one or more gas permeable layers provide a gas channel. The one or more gas permeable layers are gas permeable and substantially impermeable to the liquid electrolyte. The porous conductive material is gas permeable and liquid electrolyte permeable. The gas diffusion electrode can be one of a plurality of alternating anode/cathode sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: AquaHydrex, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerhard Frederick Swiegers, Stephen Thomas Beirne, Jun Chen, Caiyun Wang
  • Patent number: 10626509
    Abstract: An electrolysis cell for carbon dioxide of an embodiment includes: an anode part including an anode which oxidizes water or hydroxide ions to produce oxygen and an anode solution flow path which supplies an anode solution to the anode; a cathode part including a cathode which reduces carbon dioxide to produce a carbon compound, a cathode solution flow path which supplies a cathode solution to the cathode, and a gas flow path which supplies carbon dioxide to the cathode; and a separator which separates the anode part and the cathode part. The anode has a first surface in contact with the separator, and a second surface facing the anode solution flow path so that the anode solution is in contact with the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yuki Kudo, Akihiko Ono, Masakazu Yamagiwa, Yoshitsune Sugano, Ryota Kitagawa, Jun Tamura, Satoshi Mikoshiba
  • Patent number: 10619256
    Abstract: Synthetic materials that are useful as heterogeneous catalysts or electrocatalysts. The materials can be used to catalyze oxidation and/or reduction reactions and/or oxygen/hydrogen evolution/oxydation reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Alexey Serov, Plamen Atanassov
  • Patent number: 10604854
    Abstract: A cathode for water splitting production includes: (1) a porous substrate; and (2) an electrocatalyst affixed to the porous substrate. The electrocatalyst includes heterostructures of a first material and a second material that partially covers the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Hongjie Dai, Ming Gong
  • Patent number: 10601073
    Abstract: A solid electrolyte having a NaSICON-type crystal structure and represented by a general formula Li1+aZr2?bMc(PO4)3. In the general formula, Li may be partially substituted with at least one selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ag, and Ca, P may be partially substituted with at least one of B and Si, M contains at least one first element capable of stabilizing or partially stabilizing the tetragonal or cubic crystal structure of a high-temperature phase of ZrO2, ?0.50?a?2.00, 0.01?b?1.90, and 0.01?c?1.90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Yoshioka, Akisuke Ito, Ryohei Takano, Takeo Ishikura
  • Patent number: 10577698
    Abstract: The electrochemical reactors disclosed herein provide novel oxidation and reduction chemistries and employ increased mass transport rates of materials to and from the surfaces of electrodes therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Clean Chemistry, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne E. Buschmann
  • Patent number: 10576466
    Abstract: Provided are filtration media and matrixes comprising a pulverized powder of ion exchange resin and a polymeric binder. The resin can be pulverized to an average particle size in the range of 50 to 250 microns and can comprise a cation exchange resin, an anion exchange resin, a chelating resin, a biologically-related ion exchange resin, or combinations thereof. The media can further comprise activated carbon. The binder can be ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. The filtration media can be used to make matrixes and systems. Methods of making and using the same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Mark R. Stouffer
  • Patent number: 10563312
    Abstract: Photoelectrochemical cells including a cathode including alpha-hematite and a metal dichalcogenide, an anode including a conducting polymer, and an electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Hussein Alrobei, Manoj Kumar Ram
  • Patent number: 10556996
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for production of solutions of aminophosphonic acids and polymeric sulfonic acids in aprotic solvents. Membranes for membrane methodologies are produced from said solutions. Said membranes can also be doped with phosphoric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas Häring
  • Patent number: 10547075
    Abstract: To provide a catalyst layer for a fuel cell, which exhibits excellent power generation performance even in the case of reducing the used amount of a catalyst. It is an electrode catalyst layer for a fuel cell comprising a catalyst, a porous carrier for supporting the above-mentioned catalyst, and a polymer electrolyte, in which a mode diameter of the pore distribution of the above-mentioned porous carrier is 4 to 20 nm, and the above-mentioned catalyst is supported in a pore with a pore diameter of 4 to 20 nm of the above-mentioned porous carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Suzue, Yoshitaka Ono, Hiroshi Iden, Atsushi Ohma
  • Patent number: 10494276
    Abstract: Electrolytic cartridges for, systems for, and methods of electrolyzing a brine solution of water and an alkali salt to produce acidic electrolyzed water and alkaline electrolyzed water are provided. The system includes an internal chamber for receiving the brine solution and at least two electrolytic cartridges immersed in a brine bath. Each electrolytic cartridge includes an electrode, an ion selective membrane disposed on a side of the electrode so as to define a space adjacent to at least a portion of the electrode, a permeable insert covering the ion selective membrane on a side opposite the space, and a bonding plate disposed on the permeable insert on a side opposite the side facing the ion selective membrane. The methods recycle at least a portion of alkaline electrolyzed water into the feed of a cartridge having a positively charged electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Spraying Systems Co.
    Inventors: James B Swartz, James I Moyer, John Hazelwood, James D Rossom
  • Patent number: 10490849
    Abstract: The present invention provides a battery cell including: an electrode assembly having a structure in which a separator is interposed between a cathode and an anode, wherein the separator is formed with a plurality of pores and the pores include a gelation electrolyte solution component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji Eun Lee, Hee Seok Jeong, Sei Woon Oh, Eun Ju Lee
  • Patent number: 10490833
    Abstract: A fuel quality analyzer for detecting contaminants in a fuel supply includes an anode flow field plate defining a first fuel flow field channel and a fuel inlet port, a cathode flow field plate defining a second fuel flow field channel and a fuel outlet port, a polymer electrolyte membrane between the anode and cathode flow field plates, a first electrode between the anode flow field plate and the polymer electrolyte membrane, and a second electrode between the cathode flow field plate and the polymer electrolyte membrane. The second electrode has a higher platinum loading than the first electrode. A reservoir volume is defined by the anode and cathode flow field plates. At least a portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane extends into the reservoir volume. The reservoir volume is configured to retain water to humidify the polymer electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: TRIAD NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
    Inventors: Eric L. Brosha, Tommy Rockward, Christopher J. Romero, Mahlon S. Wilson, Cortney R. Kreller, Rangachary Mukundan
  • Patent number: 10465307
    Abstract: An apparatus for stereo-electrochemical deposition of metal layers consisting of an array of anodes, a cathode, a positioning system, a fluid handling system for an electrolytic solution, communications circuitry, control circuitry and software control. The anodes are electrically operated to promote deposition of metal layers in any combination on the cathode to fabricate a structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Fabric8Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: David Forrest Pain, David Morgan Wirth, Jeffrey William Herman
  • Patent number: 10461335
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a solid oxide fuel cell features a functional layer for reducing interfacial resistance between the cathode and the solid electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignees: REDOX POWER SYSTEMS, LLC, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
    Inventors: Ke-Ji Pan, Mohammed Hussain Abdul Jabbar, Dong Ding, Eric Wachsman
  • Patent number: 10428431
    Abstract: Water-splitting devices and methods for manufacturing water-splitting devices or solar cells is disclosed. The method seeks to provide a relatively high-volume, low-cost mass-production method. In one example, the method facilitates simultaneous co-assembly of one or more sub-units and two or more polymer films or sheets to form a water-splitting device. According to another aspect, there is provided an improved water-splitting device. In one example form, there is provided a water-splitting device which includes a first electrode for producing oxygen gas and a second electrode for producing hydrogen gas from water. The first electrode and the second electrode are positioned between a first outer polymer layer and a second outer polymer layer, and at least one spacer layer is positioned between the first outer polymer layer and the second outer polymer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: AQUAHYDREX PTY LTD
    Inventors: Gerhard Frederick Swiegers, David Leslie Officer, Gordon George Wallace
  • Patent number: 10424802
    Abstract: An innovative device that integrates, internally to one individual electrochemical cell, the functions of an electrolyzer, a hydrogen accumulator, and a fuel cell. The device can be recharged both electrically, by connecting it to a usual battery charger, and by way of a direct injection of gaseous hydrogen. The present device is very compact and features a reduced weight, consequently it can be advantageously used both to supply power to small-size portable electronic devices and to supply power to motors of electric vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: NE.M.E.SYS. SRL
    Inventors: Marco Matteini, Piero Ulivieri, Serena Santiccioli, Marco Maria Mele
  • Patent number: 10415145
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating electrolyzed water, which generates hydrogen water comprising hydrogen molecules in a high concentration. Two sheets of porous cathode plates each provided on the surface thereof with an ion-exchange membrane are provided across an anode plate so as for the ion-exchange membranes to face the anode plate and so as to form a space allowing water to flow therethrough, between the anode plate and each of the ion-exchange membranes, and thus four electrolysis chambers are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignees: Gohda Water Treatment Technology Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Toshihisa Gohda
  • Patent number: 10418622
    Abstract: Disclosed are battery management systems with control logic for battery state estimation (BSE), methods for making/using/assembling a battery cell with a reference electrode, and electric drive vehicles equipped with a traction battery pack and BSE capabilities. In an example, a battery cell assembly includes a battery housing with an electrolyte composition stored within the battery housing. The electrolyte composition transports ions between working electrodes. A first working (anode) electrode is attached to the battery housing in electrochemical contact with the electrolyte composition. Likewise, a second working (cathode) electrode is attached to the battery housing in electrochemical contact with the electrolyte composition. A reference electrode is interposed between the first and second working electrodes, placed in electrochemical contact with the electrolyte composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian J. Koch, Charles W. Wampler, Mark W. Verbrugge, Daniel R. Baker
  • Patent number: 10406270
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices and methods of using same for cleansing a solution (e.g., a salt solution) of urea via electrooxidation, and more specifically to cleansing a renal therapy solution/dialysis solution of urea via electrooxidation so that the renal therapy solution/dialysis solution can be used or reused for treatment of a patient. In an embodiment, a device for the removal of urea from a fluid having urea to produce a cleansed fluid includes a combination electrodialysis and urea oxidation cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare SA
    Inventors: Yuanpang Samuel Ding, Cristian Adolfo Menzel Bueno, Rosa Yeh
  • Patent number: 10396332
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell stack assembly is disclosed comprising a member made of an elastic and electrically conductive material placed between a bus bar and a starter plate. The elastic, electrically conducting member covers at least a peripheral region along a perimeter of a recess housing the bus bar to distribute compression forces over an interface area between the bus bar and an insulator end plate, thereby reducing shear stresses in the starter plate when the stack is compressed. An elastic pad also may be arranged in the recess and between the insulator end plate and the bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ian Joos, Mario Dzamarija
  • Patent number: 10391222
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices and methods of using same for cleansing a solution (e.g., a salt solution) of urea via electrooxidation, and more specifically to cleansing a renal therapy solution/dialysis solution of urea via electrooxidation so that the renal therapy solution/dialysis solution can be used or reused for treatment of a patient. In an embodiment, a device for the removal of urea from a fluid having urea to produce a cleansed fluid includes a urea decomposition unit and an electrodialysis unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignees: BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC., BAXTER HEALTHCARE SA
    Inventors: Yuanpang Samuel Ding, Cristian Adolfo Menzel Bueno, Rosa Yeh
  • Patent number: 10370511
    Abstract: To provide a cation exchange membrane which is less susceptible to swelling or elongation during electrolysis of a potassium chloride aqueous solution even without permitting water absorption or swelling immediately prior to mounting it in an electrolyzer, and a method whereby it possible to stably produce a potassium hydroxide aqueous solution without necessity to conduct an operation for water absorption or swelling immediately prior to mounting the membrane in the electrolyzer. A cation exchange membrane comprising a polymer having cation exchange groups, wherein in cations (100 mol %) contained in the cation exchange membrane, the total of potassium ions and sodium ions is at least 99 mol %, and in the total (100 mol %) of potassium ions and sodium ions contained in the cation exchange membrane, the potassium ions are 80-98 mol % and the sodium ions are 20-2 mol %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: AGC Inc.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Kusano, Takayuki Kaneko, Yasushi Yamaki, Takayuki Endo
  • Patent number: 10355305
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical cell that includes an anolyte compartment housing an anode electrode; a catholyte compartment housing a cathode electrode; and a solid alkali ion conductive electrolyte membrane separating the anolyte compartment from the cathode compartment. In some cases, the electrolyte membrane is selected from a sodium ion conductive electrolyte membrane and a lithium ion conductive membrane. In some cases, the at least one of anode or the cathode includes an alkali metal intercalation material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: ENLIGHTEN INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventor: Sai Bhavaraju
  • Patent number: 10344389
    Abstract: Methods for forming a metal oxide electrolyte improve ionic conductivity. Some of those methods involve applying a first metal compound to a substrate, converting that metal compound to a metal oxide, applying a different metal compound to the metal oxide, and converting the different metal compound to form a second metal oxide. Electrolytes so formed can be used in solid oxide fuel cells, electrolyzers, and sensors, among other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignees: FCET, INC., UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Leonid V. Budaragin, Mark A. Deininger, Michael M. Pozvonkov, D. Morgan Spears, II, Paul D. Fisher, Arvid E. Pasto
  • Patent number: 10345289
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus having a material having a through-hole, a gate coupled to the material for controlling a charge concentration of the material, a sensor, and a controller coupled to the material, the gate and the sensor. The controller can perform operations including applying a first voltage potential to the material to induce a flow of current in the material, applying a second voltage potential to the gate to adjust the charge concentration of the material, and receiving sensing data from the sensor responsive to a change in electrical properties of the material caused by a target traversing the first through-hole of the material. The through-hole causes a plurality of structural portions of the target to be misaligned with a direction of the flow current in the material. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Leburton
  • Patent number: 10337539
    Abstract: An apparatus and system provide drag reduction and energy efficiency for a transport vehicle. Cover sections of transport vehicles are formed to include solar panels comprising photovoltaic cells and dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator arrays. The vehicle cover also generates electricity to charge onboard battery racks. The cover sections are integral with and shaped to conform with areas such as a trunk lid or roof. Fiber Bragg grating sensors are placed to detect formation of a separation layer. Plasma actuator arrays are actuated either to inhibit formation of the separation layer or to create span-wise waves to reduce skin drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Inventor: Naseem Z Shah
  • Patent number: 10300444
    Abstract: The hollow reactor housing contains a catalytic plate positioned within the reactor housing. The plate is constructed of alloys of at least two of Grafen®, other carbon alloys, steel, platinum, and titanium. Lids tightly close both ends of the housing. The plate has at least two electrodes attached thereto that protrude through one of the lids. The housing includes deionized water. An electronic high-power pulse generator is connected to the two electrodes feeding pulses in the frequency region of nanometer to the catalytic plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Hydroatomic Inst/Informationstjänst I Solna AB
    Inventor: Sven-Erik Prytz
  • Patent number: 10279342
    Abstract: There are provided an ion-exchange polymer including a structure represented by the following General Formula (1) and a production method therefor, an electrolyte membrane and a production method therefor, and a composition for producing an ion-exchange polymer. In a case where the sum of a1, b1, and c1 is 1.000, a1 is 0.000 to 0.750, b1 is 0.240 to 0.990, and c1 is 0.001 to 0.100. L represents an alkylene group, L1 and L2 each represent a divalent linking group, R1 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, R2 and R3 each represent an alkyl group or an allyl group, X1? and X2? each represent an inorganic or organic anion, and Y represents a halogen atom. Z1 represents —O— or —NRa—, and Ra represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Sotaro Inomata, Keisuke Kodama, Satoshi Sano, Kuniyuki Kaminaga
  • Patent number: 10258971
    Abstract: A photocatalyst electrode decomposes water with light to generate gas. The photocatalyst electrode has a laminate including a substrate, a conductive layer provided on a surface of the substrate, and a photocatalyst layer provided on a surface of the conductive layer, and a first co-catalyst electrically connected to the photocatalyst layer. The light is incident from the surface side of the photocatalyst layer of the laminate, and in a case where a region where the light is incident on the surface of the photocatalyst layer and above the surface is defined as a first region and the region other than the first region is defined as a second region, the first co-catalyst is provided at least in the second region. The first co-catalyst and the photocatalyst layer are electrically connected to each other by at least one of a transparent conductive layer provided on the surface of the photocatalyst layer or a wiring line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignees: FUJIFILM Corporation, JAPAN TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION OF ARTIFICIAL PHOTOSYNTHETIC CHEMICAL PROCESS
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10256490
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating oxygen from a gas mixture includes an oxide layer having ion transport channels therein, which facilitate the migration of oxygen ions from a first side to a second side of the layer. Molecular oxygen is decomposed into oxygen ions at the first side, whereas oxygen ions recombine into molecular oxygen at the second side. A first chamber into which a gas mixture (e.g., air) is admitted is located on the first side of the oxide layer. A second chamber receives oxygen from the oxide layer, and is located on the second side of the oxide layer; the second chamber has a polarizable medium that is in contact with the oxide layer. A gate electrode in contact with the polarizable medium applies an electric field to the second side of the oxide layer, thereby driving oxygen ions across the oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Naga Phani B. Aetukuri, Stuart S. P. Parkin, Mahesh G. Samant
  • Patent number: 10246353
    Abstract: Apparatus for Treatment of Liquid A flow-through assembly for electrocoagulation treatment of a liquid has a replaceable cartridge with sacrificial electrodes held in a chamber arranged for flow of the liquid through and over the sacrificial electrodes. The chamber has a pivoting door which can be opened for removal and replacement or refurbishing of the cartridge. One electrode for providing a current to electrochemically dissolve the sacrificial electrodes is located in the chamber with a second electrode on the inner face of the door, with the sacrificial electrodes located between the current-providing electrodes with chamber door closed in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: KOLINA LIMITED
    Inventors: Daniel Thomas Exley Ritchie, Roger Nicholas Hensby
  • Patent number: 10246355
    Abstract: An aquaculture system is provided. The aquaculture system includes a cultivation pond, a water circulation unit, a water quality detector, and a water processing module. The cultivation pond for storing the cultivation water has a recirculation inlet and recirculation outlet. The water circulation unit is in fluid communication with the cultivation pond to allow the cultivation water in the cultivation pond to circulate through the water circulation unit. The water quality detector is used to detect the quality of the water to obtain water quality information. The water processing module includes an electrolytic gas generator and a control unit to improve the quality of water. The control unit receives the water quality information and adjusts the applied voltage on the electrolytic gas generator according to the water quality information to control the gas species and a ratio of the gases generated by the electrolytic gas generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: YUAN ZE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Guo-Bin Jung, Chia-chen Yeh, Jyun-Wei Yu, Chia-Ching Ma, Chung-Wei Hsieh, Cheng-Lung Lin
  • Patent number: 10227701
    Abstract: An insulating frame for electrolysis cells is proposed, which has a geometric form with corners, said insulating frame being of a flat design and having an anode and a cathode side as well as an outer and inner end face, the insulating frame being characterized in that it is has an edge area directly adjoining the inner end face, characterized in that in the area of the corners the edge area has corner expansion joints in the form of cut-outs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: UHDENORA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Dirk Hoormann, Dmitri Donst, Frank Funck, Philipp Hofmann, Gregor Polcyn, Peter Toros, Peter Woltering
  • Patent number: 10207939
    Abstract: A water treatment system comprises an electrolytic cell comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode comprising a coating of polymer comprising structural units of formula I and a power source for powering the first and the second electrodes; wherein R1 is independently at each occurrence a C1-C6 alkyl radical or —SO3H; R2 is independently at each occurrence a C1-C6 alkyl radical; a is independently at each occurrence an integer ranging from 0 to 4; and b is independently at each occurrence an integer ranging from 0 to 3. An associated method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: BL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Zijun Xia, Qunjian Huang, Chihyu Caroline Sui, Jianhua Fang, Xiaoan Xie
  • Patent number: 10202698
    Abstract: A device for producing an organic hydride 10 of an aspect of the present invention has an electrochemical cell provided with an anode 12 on a surface of an electrolyte membrane 11 and a cathode including a cathode catalyst layer 13 and a cathode diffusion layer 14 on another surface of the electrolyte membrane 11. A gap is provided between the anode 12 and the electrolyte membrane 11. The anode 12 has a network structure with an aperture ratio of 30 to 70%, and has an electrical supply supporting material formed of an electronic conductor and the electrode catalyst held by the electrical supply supporting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignees: Yokohama National University, DE NORA PERMELEC LTD
    Inventors: Shigenori Mitsushima, Yasutomo Takakuwa, Yoshinori Nishiki, Akihiro Kato, Akiyoshi Manabe, Yasushi Sato, Kota Miyoshi, Kojiro Nakagawa, Shinji Oshima
  • Patent number: 10155010
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to articles and methods for containing compositions comprising hydrogen gas. In some embodiments, the article comprises a container that comprises glass. In some cases, the container may further comprise TiO2, which may be embedded within the glass, coated on the glass, etc. The container further may contain a composition within the container. In some cases, the composition may comprise dissolved hydrogen gas. Such compositions may be useful, for example, for the treatment of animal and human diseases, for improvement in athletic performance, for the enhancement of the overall health of a subject, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Perricone Hydrogen Water Company, LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas V. Perricone
  • Patent number: 10155878
    Abstract: The present invention relates to aqueous binders and to heat-sealing lacquers produced therefrom for heat-sealable coatings which adhere on aluminum without use of any primer, permit good sealability of the coated aluminum foil with respect to PS and/or PVC, and moreover feature good blocking resistance even at temperatures above 40° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Evonik Röhm GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Hermes, Dominik Sturm, Christian Golditz, Michael Wicke, Herbert Jung, Juergen Hartmann, Bruno Keller
  • Patent number: 10151040
    Abstract: The present description relates to an anode arrangement for use in an electrolysis production of metals comprising an anode having a hollow body comprising a cavity, the body having at least one gas outlet connected in flow communication with the cavity. A gas inlet is connected in fluid flow communication with the cavity of the anode, the gas inlet being connectable to a source of hydrogen gas for feeding hydrogen gas into the cavity of the anode. The anode arrangement also comprises an electrical connector and a hydrogen chloride (HCl) recuperator surrounding at least a portion of the anode for recovering HCl gas released through the at least one gas outlet at an outer surface of the anode during electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: ALLIANCE MAGNÉSIUM
    Inventors: Joël Fournier, Lionel Roué, Sébastien Helle
  • Patent number: 10141592
    Abstract: A resin-framed membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes a stepped membrane electrode assembly and a resin frame member. The stepped membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode. The resin frame member surrounds an outer periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and includes an inner protruding portion that protrudes from an inner peripheral base portion toward the cathode electrode and that has a thickness. The inner protruding portion has an adhesive application portion to which an adhesive is applied so as to surround a part of the inner protruding portion. The part is in contact with the stepped membrane electrode assembly. A thickness of a cathode diffusion layer is larger than a thickness of an anode diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Sugiura, Yoshihito Kimura, Naoki Mitsuta, Masashi Sugishita, Kenichi Tanaka, Yukihito Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10125747
    Abstract: A method and system for providing an engine for producing mechanical energy through the absorption and evaporation of moisture uses a hygroscopic material in one or more configurations to do mechanical work. The hygroscopic material can include microbial spores, plant cells and cell materials, silk and hydrogel materials that absorb moisture and expand or swell when exposed to high relative humidity environments and shrink or return to nearly their original size or shape when exposed to low relative humidity environments wherein the moisture evaporates and is released. By exposing the hygroscopic material to a cycle of high relative humidity environments and low relative humidity environments, useful work can be done. One or more transmission elements can be used to couple the hygroscopic material to a generator that converts the mechanical energy to, for example, electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
    Inventor: Ozgur Sahin
  • Patent number: 10071920
    Abstract: An electrolyzed water-manufacturing apparatus comprises: a flow-through-type electrolysis tank, having a pair of electrodes disposed parallel to each other, obtained by forming an anode chamber and a cathode chamber with a diaphragm stretched between the electrodes parallel therewith, and through which water flows through the anode chamber and the cathode chamber sequentially; a electrolysis starting water supply tube connected to the inlet of the anode chamber for supplying electrolysis starting water only to the anode chamber; an electrolyzed water extraction tube connected to the outlet of the cathode chamber for extracting the electrolyzed water; a circulation tube connecting the anode chamber outlet to the cathode chamber inlet; a free chlorine-removing filter disposed in the circulation tube; and a circulation tube formed downstream of the free chlorine-removing filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: BIO-REDOX LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventor: Kokichi Hanaoka
  • Patent number: 10053784
    Abstract: A differential pressure water electrolysis system includes high-pressure water electrolysis cells and a high pressure hydrogen manifold. The high-pressure water electrolysis cells are stacked in a stacking direction. Each of the high-pressure water electrolysis cells includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode current collector, a cathode current collector, a tabular anode separator, a tabular cathode separator, a sealing member, and a resin frame member. The resin frame member is disposed between the tabular anode separator and the tabular cathode separator so as to surround the sealing member and the anode current collector. The resin frame member includes a water supply port to introduce water for electrolysis and a water discharge port to discharge a surplus of the water after electrolysis. The high pressure hydrogen manifold is provided so as to distribute hydrogen in the stacking direction and so as to be encircled by the sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato Daimon, Eiji Haryu
  • Patent number: 10046285
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer functional film obtained by polymerizing and curing a composition including (A) a styrene-based monomer represented by Formula (HSM); (B) a crosslinking agent represented by Formula (CL); and (C) a polymerization initiator represented by Formula (PI-1) or (PI-2), and a method for producing the same: in which R1 represents a halogen atom or —N+(R2)(R3)(R4)(X1?); n1 represents an integer from 1 to 10; here, R2 to R4 each independently represent a particular substituent; X1? represents an organic or inorganic anion; L1 represents an alkylene group or an alkenylene group; Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd each independently represent a particular substituent; n2 and n4 each independently represent an integer from 1 to 10; X2? and X3? each independently represent an organic or inorganic anion; and R5 to R10 each represent a hydrogen atom or a particular substituent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoko Agui, Masataka Sato, Keisuke Kodama, Kazuomi Inoue