Specified Single Metal Or Alloy Patents (Class 205/631)
  • Patent number: 9132420
    Abstract: Provided is a method for easily manufacturing large volumes of a metallic glass nanowire with an extremely small diameter. This metallic glass nanowire manufacturing method is characterized in that a melted metallic glass or a master alloy thereof is gas-atomized in a supercooled state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Koji Nakayama, Yoshihiko Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 9040012
    Abstract: System and method for sustainable economic development which includes hydrogen extracted from substances, for example, sea water, industrial waste water, agricultural waste water, sewage, and landfill waste water. The hydrogen extraction is accomplished by thermal dissociation, electrical dissociation, optical dissociation, and magnetic dissociation. The hydrogen extraction further includes operation in conjunction with energy addition from renewable resources, for example, solar, wind, moving water, geothermal, or biomass resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Publication number: 20150136614
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an electrochemical process for water splitting for production of oxygen using porous Co3O4 nanorods with a considerably low overpotential and high exchange current density. The present invention further discloses a simple, industrially feasible process of for preparation of said nanostructured porous cobalt oxide catalyst thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Alias Joy Pattayil, Vijayamohanan Kunjikrishnan Pillai, Rani Mohan Ramasundar, Joyashish Debgupta
  • Publication number: 20150034493
    Abstract: This invention relates to electrolysis apparatus 10 adapted to produce oxygenated and hydrogenated fluid, formed during the electrolysis of an electrolytic solution passed into the apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 comprises a first and second outer end members 12 and 14 and first and second permeable electrodes 16 and 18 spaced from one another. Each permeable electrode 16 and 18 are of a foraminous or perforated material. An inlet chamber 20 has two inlets 26 for allowing electrolytic solution to pass into said chamber 20. The apparatus 10 also has an oxygen outlet 28 as well as a hydrogen outlet 30. The flow of electrolytic solution through the permeable electrodes 16 and 18 will carry with it the oxygen and hydrogen gasses generated on the positive and negative (first and second) permeable electrodes respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: George Anagnostopoulos
  • Patent number: 8632672
    Abstract: The corrosion resistance of stainless steel anodes for use in alkaline water electrolysis was increased by immersion of the stainless steel anode into a caustic solution prior to electrolysis. Also disclosed herein are electrolyzers employing the so-treated stainless steel anodes. The pre-treatment process provides a stainless steel anode that has a higher corrosion resistance than an untreated stainless steel anode of the same composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Grigorii Lev Soloveichik
  • Patent number: 8524903
    Abstract: The present invention provides ruthenium or osmium complexes and their uses as a catalyst for catalytic water oxidation. Another aspect of the invention provides an electrode and photo-electrochemical cells for electrolysis of water molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Javier Jesus Concepcion Corbea, Zuofeng Chen, Jonah Wesley Jurss, Joseph L. Templeton, Paul Hoertz, Thomas J. Meyer
  • Publication number: 20130101911
    Abstract: A hydrogen fuel cell comprising: an anode; a cathode; an electrolyte; means for supplying a hydrogen-containing fuel to the fuel cell; and means for supplying an oxidant to the fuel cell; wherein the anode and, optionally, the cathode includes a catalyst comprising an alloy of the formula (I): PdxBiyMz (I) wherein: M is one or more metals; x is 0.2 to 0.4; y is 0.6 to 0.8; z is not greater than 0.1; and x+y+z=1; is described. Catalysts and electrodes for hydrogen fuel cells comprising the alloy and electrochemical methods using the alloy catalysts are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Alexandros Anastasopoulos, Brian Elliott Hayden
  • Patent number: 8413420
    Abstract: To alleviate and possibly even reverse global warming while providing a liquid fuel to replace petroleum, apparatus and methods are disclosed for capturing CO2 from an air mixture and converting it to a useful substance, especially a methanol-containing fuel, utilizing preferably an MgO-loaded cartridge, which is converted partly into MgCO3 as it captures CO2 by a carbonation reaction and is reconverted into MgO by a calcination reaction while emitting a stream of substantially pure CO2. The emitted CO2 stream is reacted with hydrogen or water to yield a methanol-containing fuel or other useful chemical agent. The hydrogen is preferably derived from water electrolysis using inexpensive solar or wind driven electricity thereby also reducing the cost of such electricity by providing an economical energy storage means. Said air mixture may be the effluent from an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle or from other fossil fuel burning sources or from the ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventor: Solomon Zaromb
  • Publication number: 20130001094
    Abstract: The application generally relates to a process for generating hydrogen, oxygen or both from water. More particularly, the application generally relates to a lanthanide-mediated electrochemical and/or photoelectrochemical process for generating hydrogen, oxygen or both from water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: MOLYCORP MINERALS, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Cable, Anthony J. Perrotta, Carl Hassler, John Burba
  • Patent number: 8236149
    Abstract: A multi-cell or single-cell electrolysis type electrolyzer for the production of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas with a delivery system through tubes, bubbler and check valve to internal combustion engine, generator, turbine or similar combustion device for the enhancement of hydrocarbon fuels and/or gas combustion device is disclosed. This device comprises at least one or more chambers of sealed containers, distilled water, a variety of electrolytes, multi or single strand stainless steel, nickel or platinum wire, a plastic, glass, or ceramic insulator within a stainless steel, nickel, or platinum tube and an ultrasonic piezo crystal allowing water and or a weak electrolyte solution to decompose into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Inventor: David M. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20110042227
    Abstract: The present invention provides ruthenium or osmium complexes and their uses as a catalyst for catalytic water oxidation. Another aspect of the invention provides an electrode and photo-electrochemical cells for electrolysis of water molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Javier Jesus Concepcion Corbea, Zuofeng Chen, Jonah Wesley Jurss, Joseph L. Templeton, Paul Hoertz, Thomas J. Meyer
  • Patent number: 7722757
    Abstract: A method and device for the production of hydrogen from water and electricity using an active metal alloy. The active metal alloy reacts with water producing hydrogen and a metal hydroxide. The metal hydroxide is consumed, restoring the active metal alloy, by applying a voltage between the active metal alloy and the metal hydroxide. As the process is sustainable, only water and electricity is required to sustain the reaction generating hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: William E. Miller, Victor A. Maroni, James L. Willit
  • Publication number: 20100084282
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dissociating water. A reaction chamber contains an anode and a cathode submerged in an aqueous hydroxide electrolyte. The temperature of the aqueous hydroxide electrolyte in the reaction chamber is elevated to least 280° C. The pressure of the aqueous hydroxide electrolyte in the reaction chamber is likewise elevated to least 2 atmospheres. An electrical voltage is applied across the anode and cathode using an electrical power supply and oxygen and hydrogen are formed from the water contained in the aqueous hydroxide electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Jason C. Ganley, John H. Holbrook, Douglas E. McKinley, JR.
  • Patent number: 7510640
    Abstract: A method for configuring a solar hydrogen generation system and the system optimization are disclosed. The system utilizes photovoltaic modules and an electrolyte solution to efficiently split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The efficiency of solar powered electrolysis of water is optimized by matching the most efficient voltage generated by photovoltaic cells to the most efficient input voltage required by the electrolysis cell(s). Optimizing PV-electrolysis systems makes solar powered hydrogen generation cheaper and more practical for use as an environmentally clean alternative fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas L Gibson, Nelson A Kelly
  • Patent number: 7351316
    Abstract: Water electrolysis device determining stable isotopic composition of water and a water electrolysis method for stable isotopic composition of water capable of analyzing many samples easily, safely and at low cost in very short time, and rapidly analyzing 17O are provided. The water electrolysis device performing mass spectrometry of hydrogen or oxygen stable isotopic composition includes a proton exchange membrane of fluorocarbon polymer plated non-electrolytically with platinum, iridium, rhodium or iridium-rhodium alloy, and a cathode and an anode of porous titanium plated with platinum and sandwiching the proton exchange membrane, wherein water electrolyzes by introduction into the anode side chamber and supplying DC current between the anode and the cathode, and oxygen gas generated at the anode and hydrogen gas generated at the cathode respectively flows into an isotope ratio mass spectrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignees: Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Naohiro Yoshida, Osamu Abe, Ryu Uemura, Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20080047840
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing oxygen and hydrogen that uses only simplified electronic functions is shown in FIG. 1 and is described herein. The apparatus includes a container holding a solution such as water and multiple, closely-spaced, flat-plate electrodes arranged sequentially within the container and submerged in the solution. A power supply provides a constant voltage signal to the even numbered electrodes, and the odd numbered electrodes are grounded. The number and size of the electrodes are determined by the size of the engine being regulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Charles Robert Stockdale
  • Patent number: 7232509
    Abstract: Highly active hydrogen evolving cathode using a platinum group metal catalyst in an amount smaller than that used in the conventional hydrogen evolving cathode. The hydrogen evolving cathode includes a conductive substrate, and a catalyst layer comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of silver and a silver oxide compound, and at least one selected from the group consisting of a platinum group metal, a platinum group metal oxide and a platinum group metal hydroxide, formed on a surface of the conductive substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Miwako Nara, Yoshinori Nishiki, Tsuneto Furuta
  • Patent number: 6827838
    Abstract: A method of separating and recovering 18F from 18O water at high purity and efficiency while maintaining the purity of the 18O water. By using a solid electrode (1) as an anode and a container (electrodeposition vessel) (2) made of platinum as a cathode, 18F in a solution (4) is electrodeposited on the solid electrode surface by applying a voltage. Then, by using the solid electrode (1) on which 18F is electrodeposited as a cathode and a container (recovery vessel) (5) holding pure water therein as an anode, 18F is recovered in the pure water by applying a voltage of opposite polarity to that of the electrodeposition. In this process, little 18O water is lost. The initial concentration of the 18O water is maintained even after the electrodeposition of 18F, so that the 18O water can be repeatedly used as an irradiation target for production of 18F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Riken
    Inventors: Toshio Hyodo, Yoshiko Itoh, Fuminori Saito, Yasuyuki Nagashima, Toshikazu Kurihara, Akira Goto, Masayuki Kase, Yasushige Yano, Katsumi Senoo
  • Patent number: 6303015
    Abstract: Metallic glass/amorphous metal electrodes produced by rapid solidification (i) having a structure that is either amorphous or nanocrystalline, (ii) containing tile principal alloying element as Ni, (iii) containing alloying additions of Co and at least one member of group IVB, VB, VIB VIIB and/or VIIIB, preferably Cr and V, in the range of 0 to 20 at. %, and when combined with Ni, represent 0.75 to 0.85 of the atomic fraction of the alloy, and (iv) containing metalloid elements comprised preferably of one or more of the elements C, B, Si and P either singly or in combination to represent 0.15 to 0.25 atomic faction of the alloy. The electrodes have excellent thermal stability, improved stability in an aqueous electrolyte and can provide improved current efficiency—anodic overpotential performance. They are used in the electrolysis of aqueous electrolyte solutions such as mixtures of caustic and water in the production of oxygen and hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventors: Steven J. Thorpe, Donald W. Kirk