公开(公告)号：US20140366924A1

公开(公告)日：2014-12-18

申请号：US14307111

申请日：2014-06-17

Applicant: University of Houston System

Inventor： Zhifeng Ren ,  Qian Zhang

IPC: H01L35/16 ,  H01L35/34

CPC classification number: H01L35/16 ,  H01L35/34

Abstract: A thermoelectric composition comprising tin (Sn), tellurium (Te) and at least one dopant that comprises a peak dimensionless figure of merit (ZT) of 1.1 and a Seebeck coefficient of at least 50 μV/K and a method of manufacturing the thermoelectric composition. A plurality of components are disposed in a ball-milling vessel, wherein the plurality of components comprise tin (Sn), tellurium (Te), and at least one dopant such as indium (In). The components are subsequently mechanically and thermally processed, for example, by hot-pressing. In response to the mechanical-thermally processing, a thermoelectric composition is formed, wherein the thermoelectric composition comprises a dimensionless figure of merit (ZT) of the thermoelectric composition is at least 0.8, and wherein a Seebeck coefficient of the thermoelectric composition is at least 50 μV/K at any temperature.

Abstract translation: 一种包含锡（Sn），碲（Te）和至少一种掺杂剂的热电组合物，其包含峰值无量纲品质因数（ZT）为1.1，塞贝克系数为至少50μV/ K，以及制造热电组合物的方法 。 多个部件设置在球磨容器中，其中多个部件包括锡（Sn），碲（Te）和至少一种掺杂剂如铟（In）。 随后机械和热处理组件，例如通过热压。 响应于机械热处理，形成热电组合物，其中热电组合物包含热电组合物的无量纲优点（ZT）至少为0.8，并且其中热电组成的塞贝克系数为至少50 μV/ K。

公开(公告)号：US11891304B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-06

申请号：US16651152

申请日：2018-09-27

Applicant: University of Houston System

Inventor： Zhifeng Ren ,  Dan Luo ,  Feng Wang

IPC: C01B32/198 ,  B82Y30/00 ,  B82Y40/00

CPC classification number: C01B32/198 ,  B82Y30/00 ,  B82Y40/00

Abstract: A stable water based nanofluid of graphene-based amphiphilic Janus nanosheets, where the nanofluid has a high salt-content while retaining the interfacial activities of the nanosheets. Such a nanofluid of amphiphilic Janus nanosheets may be used for enhanced oil recovery.

公开(公告)号：US11692155B1

公开(公告)日：2023-07-04

申请号：US17745714

申请日：2022-05-16

Applicant: University of Houston System

Inventor： Zhifeng Ren

IPC: C11D17/00 ,  C11D7/02 ,  C11D3/14 ,  C11D11/00 ,  C11D7/26 ,  C11D7/20 ,  B82Y40/00

CPC classification number: C11D3/14 ,  C11D7/20 ,  C11D7/26 ,  C11D11/0047 ,  C11D17/0004 ,  C11D17/0013 ,  B82Y40/00

Abstract: A cleaning composition is provided herein. The cleaning composition includes a plurality of metal particles and a base fluid. The plurality of metal particles have an average size in a range of from about 1 nanometer (nm) to about 10,000 micrometers (μm), and are dispersed in the base fluid. The cleaning composition is configured to generate an exothermic reaction when contacted with one or more components on a surface and water to facilitate removal of the one or more components from the surface. Methods of making and utilizing the cleaning composition are also provided.

公开(公告)号：US11627691B2

公开(公告)日：2023-04-11

申请号：US15999846

申请日：2017-02-17

Applicant: University of Houston System

Inventor： Zhifeng Ren ,  Jing Shuai

IPC: H10N10/852 ,  C22C12/00 ,  H10N10/853 ,  C22C28/00 ,  B22F3/15 ,  B22F1/054 ,  B22F9/04

Abstract: Systems and methods discussed herein relate to Zintl-type thermoelectric materials, including a p-type thermoelectric material according to the formula AMyXy, and includes at least one of calcium (Ca), europium (Eu), ytterbium (Yb), and strontium (Sr), and has a ZT of the above about 0.60 above 675K. The n-type thermoelectric component includes magnesium (Mg), tellurium (Te), antimony (Sb), and bismuth (Bi) according to the formula Mg3.2Sb1.3Bi0.5-xTex that has an average ZT above 0.8 from 400K to 800K. The p-type and n-type materials discussed herein may be used alone, in combination with other materials, or in combination with each other in various configurations.

公开(公告)号：US11447882B2

公开(公告)日：2022-09-20

申请号：US17047032

申请日：2019-04-10

Applicant: University of Houston System

Inventor： Zhifeng Ren ,  Fang Yu ,  Haiqing Zhou ,  Shuo Chen

IPC: C23C16/30 ,  C25B11/075 ,  C25B11/061 ,  C25B1/04 ,  C23C16/04 ,  C23C16/18

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting comprising oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by growing electrocatalyst comprising primarily metallic phosphides on a three-dimensional substrate by: immersing the substrate in an iron nitrate solution to form a once disposed substrate; subjecting the once disposed substrate to thermal phosphidation with phosphorus powder under inert gas to grow metal phosphides thereupon and form a once subjected substrate; cooling the once subjected substrate to form a cooled, once subjected substrate; immersing the cooled, once subjected substrate in an iron nitrate solution to form a twice disposed substrate; and subjecting the twice disposed substrate to thermal phosphidation with phosphorus powder under inert gas to provide an electrode comprising the bifunctional electrocatalyst on the three-dimensional substrate.

公开(公告)号：US11365294B2

公开(公告)日：2022-06-21

申请号：US16636628

申请日：2018-07-27

Applicant: University of Houston System

Inventor： Zhifeng Ren ,  Dan Luo ,  Feng Wang

IPC: C08J3/215 ,  C01B32/198 ,  B82Y40/00

Abstract: A facile and scalable method to prepare graphene-based amphiphilic Janus nanosheets with high efficiency utilizing the formation of hydrogen bonding to immobilize graphene oxide (GO) on the surfaces of starch microspheres. After selective functionalization of the exposed surface using alkylamine, amphiphilic Janus nanosheets (AJN) were obtained by releasing the nanosheets from the starch microspheres.

公开(公告)号：US20220162086A1

公开(公告)日：2022-05-26

申请号：US17616995

申请日：2020-07-03

Applicant: University of Houston System

Inventor： Zhifeng Ren ,  Jun Mao

IPC: C01G29/00 ,  H01L35/18

Abstract: New thermoelectric materials, such as Mg3Bi2-based Zintl phase compounds are described, where the semi-metallic Mg3.2Bi2 show an unexpectedly large Seebeck coefficient at 350 K and enhanced thermoelectric performances.

公开(公告)号：US20210339183A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-04

申请号：US16883977

申请日：2020-05-26

Applicant: Integrated Viral Protection Solutions, LLC ,  University of Houston System

Inventor： Monzer A. Hourani ,  Zhifeng Ren ,  Luo Yu

IPC: B01D46/42 ,  F24F3/16 ,  B60H3/06 ,  B01D46/44 ,  B01D46/00 ,  B01D39/20 ,  A61L9/20

Abstract: An apparatus is used with supplied power for treating air flow of an air handing system of a facility. A frame has a plenum with an inlet and an outlet. The frame is configured to position in the air flow of the air handing system for passage of the air flow therethrough. A filter is disposed in the plenum and is configured to filter the air flow therethrough up to a filtration threshold. An ultraviolet light source disposed in the plenum is connected in electrical communication with the supplied power and is configured to generate ultraviolet radiation in the plenum. A permeable metal barrier disposed in the plenum is configured to impede the air flow therethrough up to an impedance threshold. The barrier is connected in electrical communication to the supplied power and is heated to a surface temperature.

公开(公告)号：US11162179B2

公开(公告)日：2021-11-02

申请号：US16302572

申请日：2017-05-17

Applicant: University of Houston System

Inventor： Zhifeng Ren ,  Haiqing Zhou ,  Fang Yu ,  Shuo Chen

IPC: C25B11/091 ,  H01M4/86 ,  H01M4/90 ,  C25B11/031 ,  C25B11/051 ,  C25B11/057 ,  C25B11/075 ,  C25B1/04

Abstract: A hybrid three dimensional (3D) hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalyst that is formed from a porous Ni foam support, a NiSe2 scaffold positioned on the support; and layered transition metal dichalcogenide (LTMDC) or first-row transition metal dichalcogenide particles positioned on the NiSe2 scaffold. The catalyst provides a low onset potential, large cathode current density, small Tafel slopes, and large exchange current densities, similar in catalytic power to Pt HER catalysts.

公开(公告)号：US10818832B2

公开(公告)日：2020-10-27

申请号：US15627593

申请日：2017-06-20

Applicant: University of Houston System ,  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Inventor： Qing Jie ,  Zhifeng Ren ,  Gang Chen

IPC: H01L35/34 ,  H01L35/14 ,  H01L35/08 ,  H01L35/18 ,  H01L35/20 ,  H01L35/22

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for the manufacture of n-type and p-type filled skutterudite thermoelectric legs of an electrical contact. A first material of CoSi2 and a dopant are ball-milled to form a first powder which is thermo-mechanically processed with a second powder of n-type skutterudite to form a n-type skutterudite layer disposed between a first layer and a third layer of the doped-CoSi2. In addition, a plurality of components such as iron, and nickel, and at least one of cobalt or chromium are ball-milled form a first powder that is thermo-mechanically processed with a p-type skutterudite layer to form a p-type skutterudite layer “second layer” disposed between a first and a third layer of the first powder. The specific contact resistance between the first layer and the skutterudite layer for both the n-type and the p-type skutterudites subsequent to hot-pressing is less than about 10.0 μΩ·cm2.