Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110076589 | Nano-patterned electrolytes in solid oxide fuel cells - A nano-patterned membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is provided, which includes an electrolyte membrane layer having a three-dimensional close-packed array of hexagonal-pyramids, a first porous electrode layer, disposed on a top surface of the electrolyte membrane layer that conforms to a top surface-shape of the three-dimensional close-packed array of hexagonal-pyramids, and a second porous electrode layer disposed on a bottom surface of said electrolyte membrane layer that conforms to a bottom surface-shape of the three-dimensional close-packed array of hexagonal-pyramids, where a freestanding nano-patterned MEA is provided. | 03-31-2011 |
20110111296 | OPEN STRUCTURES IN SUBSTRATES FOR ELECTRODES - Provided are conductive substrates having open structures and fractional void volumes of at least about 25% or, more specifically, or at least about 50% for use in lithium ion batteries. Nanostructured active materials are deposited over such substrates to form battery electrodes. The fractional void volume may help to accommodate swelling of some active materials during cycling. In certain embodiments, overall outer dimensions of the electrode remain substantially the same during cycling, while internal open spaces of the conductive substrate provide space for any volumetric changes in the nanostructured active materials. In specific embodiments, a nanoscale layer of silicon is deposited over a metallic mesh to form a negative electrode. In another embodiment, a conductive substrate is a perforated sheet with multiple openings, such that a nanostructured active material is deposited into the openings but not on the external surfaces of the sheet. | 05-12-2011 |
20110111304 | PRELOADING LITHIUM ION CELL COMPONENTS WITH LITHIUM - Provided are novel negative electrodes for use in lithium ion cells. The negative electrodes include one or more high capacity active materials, such as silicon, tin, and germanium, and a lithium containing material prior to the first cycle of the cell. In other words, the cells are fabricated with some, but not all, lithium present on the negative electrode. This additional lithium may be used to mitigate lithium losses, for example, due to Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) layer formation, to maintain the negative electrode in a partially charged state at the end of the cell discharge cycle, and other reasons. In certain embodiments, a negative electrode includes between about 5% and 25% of lithium based on a theoretical capacity of the negative active material. In the same or other embodiments, a total amount of lithium available in the cell exceeds the theoretical capacity of the negative electrode active material. | 05-12-2011 |
20110171502 | VARIABLE CAPACITY CELL ASSEMBLY - Electrochemical cells containing nanostructured negative active materials and composite positive active materials and methods of fabricating such electrochemical cells are provided. Positive active materials may have inactive components and active components. Inactive components may be activated and release additional lithium ions, which may offset some irreversible capacity losses in the electrochemical cells. In certain embodiments, the activation releases lithium ion having a columbic content of at least about 400 mAh/g based on the weight of the activated material. | 07-14-2011 |
20110200873 | CONDUCTIVE FIBROUS MATERIALS - As consistent with various embodiments, an electronic device includes a fibrous material having a conductive coating thereon. The conductive coating includes conductive nanoparticles coupled to fibers in the fibrous material. The structure is implemented in connection with a variety of devices, such as a capacitive device or a battery. Other embodiments are directed to forming conductive fibrous sheets, in dispersing a nanomaterial in a solution and applying the solution to a fibrous sheet, such as commercial paper, to form a conductive sheet. | 08-18-2011 |
20110200883 | DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADVANCED RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES - Methods, systems and devices are implemented in connection with rechargeable batteries. One such device includes a cathode that has lithiated sulfur. The device also includes a porous structure having pores containing the lithium-sulfide particles introduced during a manufacturing stage thereof. | 08-18-2011 |
20110229761 | INTERCONNECTING ELECTROCHEMICALLY ACTIVE MATERIAL NANOSTRUCTURES - Provided are various examples of lithium electrode subassemblies, lithium ion cells using such subassemblies, and methods of fabricating such subassemblies. Methods generally include receiving nanostructures containing electrochemically active materials and interconnecting at least a portion of these nanostructures. Interconnecting may involve depositing one or more interconnecting materials, such as amorphous silicon and/or metal containing materials. Interconnecting may additionally or alternatively involve treating a layer containing the nanostructures using various techniques, such as compressing the layer, heating the layer, and/or passing an electrical current through the layer. These methods may be used to interconnect nanostructures containing one or more high capacity materials, such as silicon, germanium, and tin, and having various shapes or forms, such as nanowires, nanoparticles, and nano-flakes. | 09-22-2011 |
20110236769 | THREE DIMENSIONAL ELECTRODES USEFUL FOR MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS - An electrode for use in a microbial fuel cell comprising a porous substrate and nanostructure coating, for example, a carbon nanotube coating, is provided. The electrode can be configured as either a cathode or an anode, or both. Also provided is a microbial fuel cell comprising an anode compartment comprising an anode and a cathode compartment comprising a cathode and a metallic catalyst, wherein at least one of the anode and cathode comprises the porous substrate conformally coated with the nanostructure coating, and the cathode and anode are electrically connected. Methods for generating an electrical current with marine sediment or wastewater with the microbial fuel cell are also described. | 09-29-2011 |
20110244692 | Method for Forming a Nano-textured Substrate - A method for forming a nano-textured surface on a substrate is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises dispensing of a nanoparticle ink of nanoparticles and solvent onto the surface of a substrate, distributing the ink to form substantially uniform, liquid nascent layer of the ink, and enabling the solvent to evaporate from the nanoparticle ink thereby inducing the nanoparticles to assemble into an texture layer. Methods in accordance with the present invention enable rapid formation of large-area substrates having a nano-textured surface. Embodiments of the present invention are well suited for texturing substrates using high-speed, large scale, roll-to-roll coating equipment, such as that used in office product, film coating, and flexible packaging applications. Further, embodiments of the present invention are well suited for use with rigid or flexible substrates. | 10-06-2011 |
20110256451 | NANOTUBE-BASED NANOMATERIAL MEMBRANE - As consistent with various embodiments, an electronic device includes a carbon nanotube film having a plurality of carbon nanotubes. In certain embodiments, a coating, such as an inorganic coating, is formed on a surface of carbon nanotube. The nanotube film supports the device and facilitates electrical conduction therein. The coated nanotube is amenable to implementation with devices such as thin film batteries, a battery separator, thin film solar cells and high-energy Lithium ion batteries. | 10-20-2011 |
20110259747 | WATER STERILIZATION DEVICES INCLUDING NANOSTRUCTURES AND USES THEREOF - A water sterilization device includes: (1) a conduit including an inlet to provide entry of untreated water and an outlet to provide exit of treated water; (2) a porous electrode housed in the conduit and disposed between the inlet and the outlet, the porous electrode including a porous support and nanostructures coupled to the porous support; and (3) an electrical source coupled to the porous electrode. | 10-27-2011 |
20120043226 | Blood glucose sensing - An oxidative peak in a cathodic scan is observed in the cyclic voltammetry of glucose at gold electrodes, its peak current density being proportional to glucose concentration in a wide potential range. The application of this phenomenon in blood glucose sensing has been hindered by the presence of inhibitors: the most problematic are chlorides due to their high concentration and difficult separation from glucose. The present invention provides a solution to this problem involving a three electrode, four step pulsed electrochemical detection technique. | 02-23-2012 |
20120061124 | ELECTRODES WITH ELECTROSPUN FIBERS - In accordance with various example embodiments, an apparatus includes two or more circuit nodes and a conductive material that is located between and configured to electrically couple the circuit nodes. The conductive material includes a network of elongated portions of at least one electrospun Cu-based nanostructure. Each elongated portion has an aspect ratio of at least 50,000 and a length that is greater than 100 microns, and at least one fused crossing point that joins with a fused crossing point of another of the elongated portions. The network of elongated portions is distributed and aligned in the conductive material to set a conductance level and a transparency level along the network, along at least one direction. | 03-15-2012 |
20120125430 | Solar Cell Comprising a Plasmonic Back Reflector and Method Therefor - A method for forming a solar cell having a plasmonic back reflector is disclosed. The method includes the formation of a nanoimprinted surface on which a metal electrode is conformally disposed. The surface structure of the nanoimprinted surface gives rise to a two-dimensional pattern of nanometer-scale features in the metal electrode enabling these features to collectively form the plasmonic back reflector. | 05-24-2012 |
20120135282 | BATTERIES FOR EFFICIENT ENERGY EXTRACTION FROM A SALINITY DIFFERENCE - An electrochemical system includes: (1) a battery including an anode and a cathode; (2) a first source of a first electrolyte having a first concentration of ions; (3) a second source of a second electrolyte having a second concentration of the ions, wherein the second concentration is greater than the first concentration; and (4) a fluid conveyance mechanism connected between the battery and each of the first source and the second source. During charging of the battery, the anode and the cathode are at least partially immersed in the first electrolyte, and, during discharging of the battery, the anode and the cathode are at least partially immersed in the second electrolyte. The fluid conveyance mechanism exchanges the first electrolyte with the second electrolyte between charging and discharging of the battery, and exchanges the second electrolyte with the first electrolyte between discharging and charging of the battery. | 05-31-2012 |
20120154983 | Method of Fabrication of Carbon Nanofibers on Nickel Foam - A method for forming a novel composite of carbon nanofibers grown on a nickel foam is described wherein the composite, when used in a capacitor exhibits superior change retention and discharge capacities. Once the composite material has been obtained, it may be formed into electrodes which can be used to form supercapacitors of large per area capacitances in the order of 1.2 F/cm | 06-21-2012 |
20120183856 | ELECTRODE INCLUDING NANOSTRUCTURES FOR RECHARGEABLE CELLS - A lithium ion battery electrode includes silicon nanowires used for insertion of lithium ions and including a conductivity enhancement, the nanowires growth-rooted to the conductive substrate. | 07-19-2012 |
20120244650 | Air-Stable Ink for Scalable, High-Throughput Layer Deposition - A method for producing and depositing air-stable, easily decomposable, vulcanized ink on any of a wide range of substrates is disclosed. The ink enables high-volume production of optoelectronic and/or electronic devices using scalable production methods, such as roll-to-roll transfer, fast rolling processes, and the like. | 09-27-2012 |
20120328936 | HIGH RATE, LONG CYCLE LIFE BATTERY ELECTRODE MATERIALS WITH AN OPEN FRAMEWORK STRUCTURE - A battery includes a cathode, an anode, and an aqueous electrolyte disposed between the cathode and the anode and including a cation A. At least one of the cathode and the anode includes an electrode material having an open framework crystal structure into which the cation A is reversibly inserted during operation of the battery. The battery has a reference specific capacity when cycled at a reference rate, and at least 75% of the reference specific capacity is retained when the battery is cycled at 10 times the reference rate. | 12-27-2012 |
20130022868 | TRANSPARENT ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES - A transparent electrochemical energy storage device includes a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte disposed between the electrodes. Each of the electrodes includes a substrate and a set of electrode materials that are arranged across the substrate in a pattern with a feature dimension no greater than 200 μm and occupying an areal fraction in the range of 5% to 70%. | 01-24-2013 |
20130065128 | ENCAPSULATED SULFUR CATHODES FOR RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERIES - A battery includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode. The cathode includes a hollow structure defining an internal volume and a sulfur-based material disposed within the internal volume. A characteristic dimension of the internal volume is at least 20 nm, and the sulfur-based material occupies less than 100% of the internal volume to define a void. | 03-14-2013 |
20130320582 | INTERCONNECTED HOLLOW NANOSTRUCTURES CONTAINING HIGH CAPACITY ACTIVE MATERIALS FOR USE IN RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES - Provided are electrode layers for use in rechargeable batteries, such as lithium ion batteries, and related fabrication techniques. These electrode layers have interconnected hollow nanostructures that contain high capacity electrochemically active materials, such as silicon, tin, and germanium. In certain embodiments, a fabrication technique involves forming a nanoscale coating around multiple template structures and at least partially removing and/or shrinking these structures to form hollow cavities. These cavities provide space for the active materials of the nanostructures to swell into during battery cycling. This design helps to reduce the risk of pulverization and to maintain electrical contacts among the nanostructures. It also provides a very high surface area available ionic communication with the electrolyte. The nanostructures have nanoscale shells but may be substantially larger in other dimensions. Nanostructures can be interconnected during forming the nanoscale coating, when the coating formed around two nearby template structures overlap. | 12-05-2013 |
20140045065 | LI-ION BATTERY ELECTRODES HAVING NANOPARTICLES IN A CONDUCTIVE POLYMER MATRIX - Aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards energy storage devices, and methods of manufacturing such devices. Energy storage devices, consistent with the present disclosure, include a source of lithium ions, a plurality of nanoparticles, and a conductive polymer network. The nanoparticles are encapsulated in conductive polymer shells and volumetrically change due to lithiation and delithiation due to movement of the lithium ions created by an electrical potential. The conductive polymer network bonds to the nanoparticles and accommodates volumetric changes of the plurality of nanoparticles during lithiation and delithiation. | 02-13-2014 |
20140090870 | NANOWIRE APPARATUSES AND METHODS - Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to apparatuses and methods involving nanowires having junctions therebetween. As consistent with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes first and second sets of nanowires, in which the second set overlaps the first set. The apparatus further includes a plurality of nanowire joining recrystallization junctions, each junction including material from a nanowire of the first set that is recrystallized into an overlapping nanowire of the second set. | 04-03-2014 |
20140222123 | NANOPILLAR ELECTRODE DEVICES AND METHODS OF RECORDING ACTION POTENTIALS - This disclosure provide a nanopillar electrode device, comprising a substrate patterned with a plurality of metal pads. The device may further comprise a plurality of nanopillars electrode arrays, wherein each nanopillar electrode array is attached to the substrate above a metal pad and electrically connected to the pad. The device may further comprise and a chamber surrounding the nanopillar electrodes, which can be used for culturing cells of interest for recording action potentials. The nanopillar electrode device may be configured to apply a voltage through the nanopillar electrodes from a voltage source. Nanopillar electroporation may be used to increase the permeability of cell membranes to allow intracellular recording. Also provided are methods of device fabrication, and methods of use. | 08-07-2014 |
20140329120 | RECHARGEABLE BATTERY SAFETY BY MULTIFUNCTIONAL SEPARATORS AND ELECTRODES - A battery includes: 1) an anode; 2) a cathode; 3) a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the separator includes at least one functional layer; and 4) a sensor connected to the at least one functional layer to monitor an internal state of the battery. | 11-06-2014 |
20150056435 | TRANSPARENT CONDUCTING ELECTRODES COMPRISING MESOSCALE METAL WIRES - A composition suitable for use in a transparent conducting electrode (TCE) is disclosed. The composition comprises a conductive background medium and an incorporated plurality of mesoscale metal wires. The composition is characterized by lower electrical sheet resistance as compared to prior-art compositions for TCEs without a significant degradation in optical transmittance. | 02-26-2015 |
20150075992 | WATER STERILIZATION DEVICES AND USES THEREOF - A water sterilization device includes: (1) a conduit; (2) a first porous electrode housed in the conduit; (3) a second porous electrode housed in the conduit and disposed adjacent to the first porous electrode; and (4) an electrical source coupled to the first porous electrode and the second porous electrode to apply a voltage difference between the first porous electrode and the second porous electrode. The conduit is configured to provide passage of a fluid stream through the first porous electrode and the second porous electrode, and an inactivation efficiency of pathogens in the fluid stream is at least about 99%, such as at least about 99.9% or at least about 99.95%. | 03-19-2015 |