Licensing Opportunities in Environment and Energy, Office of Intellectual Property and Sponsored Research

Licensing Opportunities in Environment and Energy

Environment includes Environmental Remediation, Waste Containment, and Environmental Evaluation Devices
Energy includes Electrocatalysts, Fuel Cells , PhotoVoltaic Devices and Biofuel

Environmental Remediation

Technology		Description
Title	No Contact Bio-Remediation	Summary	Describes a novel efficient bioremediation method which circumvents the need for bacteria to be in contact with the contaminant of interest.
		Competitive Advantage	Higher concentrations of contaminants can be treated without reducing the bio-efficacy of the bacteria that is actively decontaminating the waste.
		Applications	Include: Industrial wastewater treatment plants.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	12/046,707	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	12/046,707	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	07-20	Contact	Dorene Price

Waste Containment

Technology		Description
Title	In-Situ Mercury Stabilization	Summary	Describes an in-situ process of mercury stabilization (ISMS) with an option for removal from waste. Mercury is first concentrated by inserting rods of sulfur reagent into the waste. The mercury in the waste migrates to the rods and reacts with the sulfur reagent to form a stabilized mercury sulfide compound. The stable and insoluble mercury sulfide compound can then be removed.
		Competitive Advantage	The described in-situ soil remediation process allows the removal of mercury without excavation and replacement of large volumes of the waste material thereby reducing cost and environment impact.
		Applications	Industries and consulting firms involved in mercury cleanup will find immediate use of the ISMS process.
		Technical Details	Flyer
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	7,589,248	View Patent	Patent PDF
Patent Publication/Serial Number	7,589,248	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	04-04, 08-24	Contact	Dorene Price
Technology		Description
Title	Electroextraction of Heavy Metals from Liquids	Summary	Describes a continuous electrochemical process for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater and technological solutions.
		Competitive Advantage	The fast rate of heavy metal extraction using this process allows the processing of large volumes of wastewater without substantial loss of electrical power on electrodes or in the power supply. This feature allows the use of smaller treatment units capable of operating for an extended duration.
		Applications	The method can be used to purify wastewater produced by industries using chromium compounds, non-ferrous metallurgy and electro-galvanic coatings.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	6,887,368	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	6,887,368	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	02-30	Contact	Dorene Price

Environmental Evaluation Devices

Technology		Description
Title	Measurement of Hydroperoxyl Radical	Summary	The technology can be used to build an apparatus for the measurement of the elusive hydroperoxyl radicals in the atmospheric samples.
		Competitive Advantage	The technique is simple, inexpensive and provides direct quantitative measurements.
		Applications	Include industries which make air quality products for monitoring health and environment will find immediate use of our technology.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Flyer
Patent Publication/Serial Number	7,285,243	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	7,285,243	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	04-23	Contact	Dorene Price
Technology		Description
Title	Measurement of Aerosol Size Distribution	Summary	The technology is an aerosol mobility size spectrometer capable of measuring ambient particle size distribution.
		Competitive Advantage	This spectrometer can be used even in the absence of any prior knowledge about the refractive index of the aerosol particles.
		Applications	The aerosol mobility size spectrometer is applicable in a broad range of fields including the environment and pharmaceutical fields.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Flyer
Patent Publication/Serial Number	7,298,486	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	7,298,486	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	05-04	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Measurement of Aerosol Bulk Chemical Compositions	Summary	Describes an apparatus that can be used to analyze the chemical composition of ambient aerosol particles.
		Competitive Advantage	The instrument can rapidly measure the chemical components of ambient aerosols. This rapid measurement circumvents drawbacks such as thereby aerosol losses, greater complexity due to the need for sample pre-concentration, and slow time response due the time needed to drain large wetted areas seen with the use of other techniques designed for automated bulk composition measurements.
		Applications	The method can be used to build air quality monitoring devices to understand the sources, atmospheric transformation, fate and health effects of ambient aerosols.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	7,029,921	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	7,029,921	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	02-28	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Apparatus for Rapid Measurement of Aerosol Bulk Chemical Composition	Summary	Describes a system that can continuously provide on-line measurement of chemical composition of aerosol particles with a fast time resolution. The apparatus includes a modified particle size magnifier for producing activated aerosol particles and a a collection device which collects the activated aerosol particles into a liquid stream for quantitative analysis by analytical methods.
		Competitive Advantage	The apparatus provides a simple and cost effective way of measuring the ambient aerosol bulk composition.
		Applications	The apparatus built can be used in long-term air quality monitoring programs.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	6,506,345	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	6,506,345	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	00-27	Contact	Kimberley Elcess

Electrocatalysts

Technology		Description
Title	Electrocatalyst for Alcohol Oxidation at Fuel Cell Anodes	Summary	Describes a ternary anode electrocatalysts comprising platinum nanoparticles and tin oxide rhodium clusters on high surface area carbon which facilitate the complete oxidation of ethanol to generate 12 electrons per ethanol molecule.
		Competitive Advantage	Describes an electrocatalyst for the complete oxidation of ethanol in fuel cells thereby eliminating reaction intermediates such as acetic acid and acetaldehyde as products, rather than carbon di oxide.
		Applications	Electrocatalyst for complete ethanol oxidation at fuel cell anodes.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	11/853,368	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	11/853,368	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	07-27	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Synthesis of Metal-Metal Oxide Catalysts and Electrocatalysts	Summary	Describes the synthesis of platinum-metal oxide composite particles and their use as electrocatalysts in oxygen-reducing cathodes for fuel cells.
		Competitive Advantage	The technology provides a novel method for controllable deposition of monolayers of metals either on conducting or insulating oxides. In addition, the platinum-metal oxide composite particles are resistant to the oxidation and dissolution effects seen in other platinum electrocatalysts in cathode during the operation of the fuel cell.
		Applications	The method can be used for synthesis of electrocatalysts for fuel cells, organic electrosynthesis. heterogeneous catalytic reactions, photochemical water splitting, and metallization of oxide films in electronic technologies.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	US-2007-0264189	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	US-2007-0264189	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	07-17	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Platinum-Metal Oxide Composite Particles	Summary	Describes methods for preventing the oxidation of the platinum electrocatalyst in the cathodes of fuel cells by using platinum-metal oxide composite particles.
		Competitive Advantage	The platinum-metal oxide composites are resistant to oxidation and dissolution in oxygen-reducing cathodes which improves the stability and efficiency of the fuel cell significantly. In addition, the method provides a significant reduction in platinum loading while maintaining the oxygen-reducing electrocatalytic activity of the platinum.
		Applications	Include synthesis of efficient electrocatalysts for fuel cells with an oxidant, such as oxygen, and a fuel source, such as hydrogen.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Flyer
Patent Publication/Serial Number	US-2006-0263675	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	US-2006-0263675	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	05-12	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Gold Monolayers on Platinum Nanoparticle Cores	Summary	Describes particles composed of an electrocatalytically active noble metal, containing a core at least partially encapsulated by an outer shell of gold or gold alloy.
		Competitive Advantage	These gold coated nanoparticles are resistant to the oxidation and dissolution effects of fuel cells.
		Applications	These gold-coated platinum particles can be used as fuel cell electrocatalysts for generating electrical energy, among other catalytic applications.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	US-2007-0026292	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	US-2007-0026292	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	05-19	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Palladium-Cobalt Particles as Oxygen-Reduction Electrocatalysts	Summary	Describes the use of palladium-cobalt alloy nanoparticles as oxygen reduction electrocatalysts in fuel cells.
		Competitive Advantage	The palladium-cobalt nanoparticles have the same catalytic activity as the highly expensive platinum nanoparticles making them a cheaper alternative to platinum.
		Applications	These palladium-cobalt nanoparticles will be useful as oxygen reduction electrocatalysts in fuel cells.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	US-2006-0177728	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	US-2006-0177728	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	05-02	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Synthesis of Metal-Coated Palladium and Palladium-Alloy Particles	Summary	Describes a method for depositing sub-monoatomic and monoatomic layers of metals such as platinum onto palladium or palladium-alloy particles.
		Competitive Advantage	The platinum coated palladium or palladium-alloy particles synthesized using this method exhibit high catalytic activity at a significantly lower platinum loading. This reduced platinum loading cuts the cost of producing an electrocatalyst for fuel cells.
		Applications	These metal-coated palladium and palladium-alloy particles can be used as electrocatalysts in the anodes and cathodes of fuel cells, among other catalytic applications.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	US-2006-0134505	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	US-2006-0134505	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	04-28	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Platinum and Platinum Alloy- Coated Palladium and Palladium Alloy Particles	Summary	Describes particle composites comprising a palladium or palladium-alloy particle or nanoparticle substrate coated with an atomic submonolayer, monolayer, bilayer, or trilayer of zerovalent platinum atoms.
		Competitive Advantage	The platinum- and platinum alloy-coated palladium and palladium alloy particles have notably improved oxygen-reducing catalytic activity. In addition, they require significantly lower platinum loading, thereby cutting the cost of producing an electrocatalyst for fuel cells.
		Applications	These platinum- and platinum alloy-coated palladium and palladium alloy particles are particularly useful as oxygen-reduction electrocatalysts.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	US-2006-0135359	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	US-2006-0135359	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	04-27	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Carbon Monoxide Tolerant Fuel Cell Electrocatalyst	Summary	Describes a fuel cell anode with an electrocatalyst that has a conductive support material, ruthenium nanoparticles and a group VIII noble metal, such as platinum. The anode can also have a perfluorinated polymer membrane on its surface.
		Competitive Advantage	These electrocatalysts have high tolerance to carbon monoxide and require low platinum loading.
		Applications	These electrocatalysts can be used in cost-efficient polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	6,670,301	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	6,670,301	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	01-07	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Anodes to Oxidize Alcohol in Fuel Cells	Summary	Describes an anode for use in the oxidation of alcohol in a fuel cell. The anode has a binary electrocatalyst and a group VIII noble metal catalyst supported on the substrate.
		Competitive Advantage	The described anode oxidizes alcohol in a fuel cell, with significantly reduced carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition, these anodes have higher stability with respect to agglomeration, increased activity at higher overpotentials and their costs are lower due to lower weight of noble metals.
		Applications	Include anode for use in the oxidation of alcohol in a fuel cell.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	6,183,894	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	6,183,894	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	99-05	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Electrocatalysts for O2 Reduction	Summary	A thin (monolayer) film of a catalytically active noble metal encapsulates a high-stability, self-protecting support particle. The support particles may be nanoparticles containing a component that easily passivates, creating a relatively inert surface layer which inhibits corrosion of the underlying constituents.
		Competitive Advantage	During reactions, catalysts may be "poisoned," dissolve, or corrode, leading to decreased performance and lifetime. Including the passivating element protects the catalytically active layer from these deleterious effects.
		Applications	These composite catalysts can be used in many reactions, including oxygen reduction and hydrogen oxidation in fuel cells.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	61/155,196	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	61/155,196	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	08-32	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Pt Monolayer on Noble Metal-Non Noble Metal Core-Shell	Summary	A core-shell particle of a non-noble metal is used to support a noble metal catalyst.
		Competitive Advantage	The formation of a monolayer of catalyst on a core-shell particle, especially a nanostructure, increases the mass specific activity of the catalyst.
		Applications	These catalysts can be used to reduce oxygen.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	61/153,424	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	61/153,424	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	08-33	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Electrocatalysts on Carbon Nanoparticles	Summary	Monolayers of platinum are deposited on high-surface-area nanoparticles such as nanohorns.
		Competitive Advantage	Nanostructures with non-spheroidal shapes have very high surface areas. Depositing a sole monolayer of platinum on such structures allows virtually every Pt molecule to participate in catalytic activity, increasing the noble metal mass activity of the catalyst.
		Applications	>These nanostructure-supported catalysts can be used in any platinum-catalyzed reaction, and specifically in fuel cells at both the cathode and the anode.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	61/155,178	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	61/155,178	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	08-34	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Platinum Monolayers on Palladium, Palladium Alloy and Gold Alloy Nanoparticle Cores	Summary	Electrocatalysts having only monolayers of platinum on nanoparticles of less expensive materials, such as palladium, gold, and their alloys, exhibit increased mass activity.
		Competitive Advantage	High noble-metal mass activity allows for reduced incorporation of expensive materials such as platinum, resulting in lower overall costs for electrocatalysts.
		Applications	These reduced-platinum electrocatalysts find their primary applications in fuel cells, although use in other platinum-catalyzed reactions may be advantageous.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	11/156,038	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	11/156,038	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	05-09	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Electrocatalyst for Alcohol Oxidation at Fuel Cell Anodes	Summary	These anode electrocatalysts comprising platinum nanoparticles and tin oxide rhodium clusters on high surface area carbon facilitate the complete oxidation of ethanol to generate 12 electrons per ethanol molecule.
		Competitive Advantage	This electrocatalytic method for the complete oxidation of ethanol in fuel cells eliminates the production of reaction intermediates such as acetic acid and acetaldehyde as products.
		Applications	The electrocatalyst can be used for complete ethanol oxidation at fuel cell anodes and in other reactions where ethanol's complete oxidation is desirable.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	11/853,368	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	11/853,368	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	07-27	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Underpotential Mediated Layer-by-Layer Metal Deposition	Summary	Successive layers of noble metals are deposited by repeatedly depositing copper followed by ionic replacement.
		Competitive Advantage	The method offers precise control over the thickness of noble metal layers on substrates such as nanostructures.
		Applications	This technique can be used to deposit layers of noble metals on substrates with submonolayer precision.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	61/074784	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	61/074784	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	08-27	Contact	Kimberley Elcess
Technology		Description
Title	Deposition of Contiguous Metal Adlayer on Transition Metal Nanostructures	Summary	A contiguous layer of electrocatalyst is deposited on transition metal nanoparticles resulting in a higher specific activity than nanostructures of noble metal alone.
		Competitive Advantage	This deposition method results in lower-cost, high specific activity electrocatalysts.
		Applications	Applications for this technology include as cathode and/or anode catalysts for fuel cells, and catalysts for other noble metal-catalyzed reactions.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	61/106,359	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	61/106,359	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	08-31	Contact	Kimberley Elcess

Fuel Cells

Technology		Description
Title	Activated Aluminum Hydride Hydrogen Storage Compositions and Uses	Summary	Describes materials and methods to control and efficiently produce hydrogen gas. In particular, it describes aluminum hydride hydrogen storage compositions and their use in the production of hydrogen gas.
		Competitive Advantage	The method addresses the need for practical hydrogen storage hydride compositions for low temperature production of hydrogen which do not require simultaneous processing in the presence or absence of such metal catalysts or other dopants and/or which are not alkali metal alanates doped with such metal catalysts.
		Applications	Include the production of hydrogen gas.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Flyer
Patent Publication/Serial Number	US-2007-0025908	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	US-2007-0025908	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	05-15	Contact	Dorene Price
Technology		Description
Title	Regeneration of Aluminum Hydride	Summary	Describes methods and materials required for the formation of hydrogen storage alanes. The methods rely upon the reduction of the change in free energy of the reaction between aluminum and molecular hydrogen. The change in free energy is reduced by lowering the entropy change during the reaction by providing aluminum in a state of high entropy, and/or by increasing the magnitude of the change in enthalpy of the reaction or combinations.
		Competitive Advantage	Aluminum hydride is an attractive alternative to the traditional metal hydrides for the storage of hydrogen for its use as an energy source. The method described here provides a cost effective process to store the hydrogen in a solid state for widespread applications.
		Applications	The aluminum hydride made using the process can be used as a hydrogen storage medium for a number of applications.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	7,521,037	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	7,521,037	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	06-18, 09-20	Contact	Christine Brakel

Photovoltaic Devices

Technology		Description
Title	Nanostructured Pillar Electrodes for Photovoltaic Devices	Summary	Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) photovoltaic (PV) cells are a type of solar cell formed by sandwiching two semiconducting materials, one p-type and one n-type, between two electrodes. Charge carriers are produced at the junction between semiconductor types and diffuse toward an electrode where they can be harnessed to produce electricity. These nanopillared electrodes reduce the distance charge carriers must travel to encounter an electrode.
		Competitive Advantage	The electrode nanopillars reduce charge carrier transit time, allowing thicker light-absorbing layers without increasing the recombination of electron-hole pairs, making the PV cell much more efficient.
		Applications	While specifically described with reference to BHJ-PV cells, the nanopillared electrode principle can be applied to other types of solar cells.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Citations
Patent Publication/Serial Number	61/088,826	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	61/088,826	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	08-26	Contact	Kimberley Elcess

Biofuel

Technology		Description
Title	Electrochemical Enhancement of Bio-ethanol and Metabolite Production	Summary	This method accelerates the production of ethanol and other metabolites by implementing an electron removal process for a species of microbe used in the fermentation step of the manufacturing process.
		Competitive Advantage	Existing industries which use fermentation by microbes as a manufacturing step is their process to produce bio-ethanol or other commercially used metabolites can implement this technology with a minimal capital investment to increase production and cut cost of production.
		Applications	Include industries which make bio-ethanol or other commercially used metabolites by means of fermenting microbes.
		Technical Details	Technical Brief
			Press Release
			Publication
			Flyer
Patent Publication/Serial Number	61/042,867	View Patent
Patent Publication/Serial Number	61/042,867	Licensing	Exclusive and non-exclusive
BSA #	07-36	Contact	Dorene Price

Last Modified: October 2, 2009
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