Fuel Cell-Enabled CO2-to-CO Conversion Using Ultra-Selective Membrane Technology
TS-072615 — The Need
Efficient carbon dioxide (CO₂) utilization and separation remain critical challenges in energy, chemical, and environmental sectors. Existing processes for CO₂ conversion to carbon monoxide (CO) and for separating CO₂/CO mixtures are energy-intensive, costly, and often lack selectivit…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Ho, W.S. Winston; Han, Yang
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Sustainable Ammonia and Hydrogen Production via Biomass-Fueled Chemical Looping
TS-072583 — The Need
The ammonia industry is a major contributor to global CO₂ emissions, primarily due to its reliance on fossil fuels for hydrogen production and the energy-intensive air separation process for nitrogen. With over 500 million tons of CO₂ emitted annually from ammonia synthesis, there is a …
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Fan, Liang-Shih; Joshi, Rushikesh Kishor; Kudva, Ishani Karki; Shinde, Shekhar
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Method to Identify Optimal Conditions for Continuous Fixed-Bed Chemical Looping
TS-072582 — The Need
Current hydrogen production methods, such as steam methane reforming, are energy-intensive and emit significant CO₂, posing challenges for industries seeking low-carbon solutions. There is a critical need for scalable, efficient processes that enable continuous hydrogen generation while a…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Fan, Liang-Shih; Akulwar, Falguni; Jawdekar, Tanay
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Carbon Dioxide Capture and Silica Generation via Silicate Looping
TS-072580 — The Need
Rising atmospheric CO₂ levels from fossil fuel combustion pose urgent climate and regulatory challenges. Existing carbon capture and sequestration technologies are often costly, energy-intensive, or limited in scalability. There is a critical need for economically viable solutions that no…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Zhai, Shang; Cole, David; Fan, Liang-Shih; Shank, Kyle
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Integrated Chemical Looping System for CO2 Capture and High-Purity Syngas Generation
TS-072579 — The Need
Industrial processes that utilize syngas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) often generate tail gas streams rich in CO₂ and other byproducts. Conventional carbon capture methods, such as acid gas removal units, are highly energy-intensive and reduce overall plant efficiency. There is a critic…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Fan, Liang-Shih; Joshi, Rushikesh Kishor; Kudva, Ishani Karki; Shinde, Shekhar
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Advanced Chemical Looping Strategies for Efficient Solid Fuel Utilization and Hydrogen Production
TS-072577 — The Need
The transition to sustainable energy is hindered by the limitations of current hydrogen production methods, which rely heavily on fossil fuels and struggle with efficient, low-emission processing of solid fuels like biomass and coal. Existing chemical looping systems face challenges such as…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Fan, Liang-Shih; Joshi, Rushikesh Kishor; Kudva, Ishani Karki; Shinde, Shekhar; Wang, Dawei
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Transforming Alum Sludge into a Sustainable Solution for Organic Contaminant Removal
TS-072576 — The Need
Drinking water utilities face mounting challenges in managing alum sludge, a byproduct of water treatment, as landfill options dwindle and disposal costs rise. Simultaneously, utilities must address increasingly stringent regulations for organic contaminants such as disinfection byproducts …
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Elliott, Dane; MacKay, Allison
- Licensing Officer: Randhawa, Davinder
Graphene-Encapsulated Silicon Anode for Low-Pressure Solid-State Batteries
TS-072330 — The Need
Current solid-state batteries (SSBs) offer high energy density and improved safety but require high stack pressures for stable operation, limiting their practicality in electric vehicles and consumer electronics. Silicon anodes, while promising for their high capacity, suffer from rapid deg…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Kim, Jung Hyun; Jang, Dawoon; Morchhale, Ayush
- Licensing Officer: Randhawa, Davinder
Portable Fire Suppression via Conductive Aerosol-Assisted Vortex Rings
TS-072328 — The Need
Current firefighting methods often rely on water, toxic foams, or pre-installed systems, which can strain resources, pose environmental hazards, and limit portability. There is a growing demand for safer, non-toxic, and portable fire suppression solutions that can be rapidly deployed in div…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Tahmina, Qudsia; LaRocco, John; Simonis, John
- Licensing Officer: Randhawa, Davinder
Mesoporous Support-Immobilized Metal Oxide Nanoparticles for High-Purity Syngas Generation
TS-071809 — The Need
Syngas is an essential intermediate for producing high-value chemicals such as gasoline, methanol, and dimethyl ether. Current industrial methods (steam reforming, autothermal reforming, and partial oxidation) are energy-intensive, costly, and environmentally burdensome. Moreover, these met…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Fan, Liang-Shih; Cheng, Zhuo; Liu, Yan; Qin, Lang
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Redox Chemical Looping System for CO2 Capture and Syngas Generation
TS-071808 — The Need
Industrial syngas and hydrogen production processes are highly energy-intensive and contribute significantly to carbon emissions due to reliance on fossil fuel combustion. Existing methods require multiple unit operations, resulting in low efficiency and high operational costs. There is a c…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Fan, Liang-Shih; Baser, Deven Swapneshu; Cheng, Zhuo; Shah, Vedant
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Stable Phase Metal Oxide Syngas Generation without Molecular Oxygen
TS-071806 — The Need
Current syngas production from methane relies on energy-intensive air separation units (ASUs) to supply molecular oxygen, driving up capital and operating costs. Conventional catalysts also suffer from carbon deposition at low oxidant concentrations, limiting process flexibility and efficie…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Fan, Liang-Shih; Baser, Deven; Cheng, Zhuo; Kathe, Mandar; Kong, Fanhe "Frank"; Nadgouda, Sourabh; Tong, Andrew
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
UZELA & Larval Settlement Modules: Advancing Coral Reef Restoration
TS-071766 — Empowering transformative change in marine ecosystems through innovation and collaboration.
Coral reefs, the cornerstone of marine biodiversity and coastal protection, are facing critical decline from climate change, disease, and anthropogenic pressures. Traditional restoration efforts often fall short due to high mortality and slow growth, leaving oceans and communities increasingly vul…
- College: College of Arts & Sciences
- Inventors: Grottoli, Andrea; Dixon, Shannon; Hulver, Ann Marie; Welter, Jacob
- Licensing Officer: Panic, Ana
High-Throughput Cellulose Acetate Nanofiber Mats for Oil Spill Remediation
TS-071746 — The Need
Oil spills continue to pose significant threats to aquatic environments, public health, and economies worldwide. Existing sorbent technologies struggle to efficiently capture thin oil sheens and often lack buoyancy, limiting their effectiveness in real-world conditions. There is a critica…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Gouma, Pelagia "Perena"
- Licensing Officer: Randhawa, Davinder
Self-Powered Perovskite-Based Nuclear Batteries for Long-Life Energy Generation
TS-071606 — The Need
There is a critical need for compact, long-lasting, and maintenance-free power sources for applications where conventional energy harvesting is impractical or impossible. These include deep space missions, implantable medical devices, and remote or harsh environments where solar or thermoel…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Cao, Lei Raymond; Pan, Lei
- Licensing Officer: Zinn, Ryan
SPARKLE: Machine Learning Platform for Rapid Organic Battery Material Discovery
TS-071386 — The Need
The search for sustainable, high-performance battery materials is hindered by reliance on finite metal-based resources and slow, trial-and-error development cycles. Organic electrode materials (OEMs), composed of earth-abundant elements, offer a more sustainable path but present challenges …
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Paulson, Joel; Muthyala, Madhav; Park, Jay; Sorourifar, Farshud; Zhang, Shiyu
- Licensing Officer: Mess, David
A Generalized Mistuning Model for Bladed Disk Systems
TS-070971 — The Need
Modern gas turbines and compressors rely on bladed disks, which are highly sensitive to mistuning caused by manufacturing tolerances, wear, or damage. Existing modeling tools are fragmented, complex, and often limited to specific mistuning types. Industry will greatly benefit from a unified…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: D'Souza, Kiran; Krizak, Troy
- Licensing Officer: Giles, David
Broadband Piezoelectric Energy Harvester with Adaptive Frequency Tuning
TS-070970 — The Need
Many vibration-based energy harvesting systems are limited by narrow operational frequency bands, making them inefficient for environments where excitation frequencies drift—such as in bridges, machinery, or vehicles. Current solutions often sacrifice energy density to broaden bandwid…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Guan, Yuqin; D'Souza, Kiran
- Licensing Officer: Giles, David
Indicator Microbial Marker(s) to Track Indoor Respiratory Emissions
TS-070635 — The Need
We urgently need to be able to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental controls in buildings to reduce viral transmission and to prioritize resources. In 2021, $200 billion dollars was allocated in the US to improving ventilation in schools in response to COVID-19, but without reliable …
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Dannemiller, Karen
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Modular Unit for Liquid Fuel Production from Natural Gas
TS-070633 — The Need
Stranded natural gas (SNG), a by-product of crude oil extraction, is often flared due to the high cost and logistical challenges of pipeline transport. Approximately 15 tons/day of SNG is flared from one oil well. This results in significant greenhouse gas emissions and wasted energy. With …
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Fan, Liang-Shih; Gun, Sudeshna; Jawdekar, Tanay; Joshi, Anuj; Kumar, Sonu; Lu, Cong-Wen; Paulson, Joel
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Novel Operational Strategies for Fixed-Bed Redox Chemical Looping Systems
TS-070630 — The Need
Fixed bed chemical looping systems offer operational simplicity and minimal attrition compared to moving bed systems, but they suffer from transient behaviors like feed breakthrough, uneven solid conversion, and coking. These issues compromise efficiency, scalability, and product consistenc…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Fan, Liang-Shih; Joshi, Rushikesh Kishor; Sunny, Ashin
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Fixed-Bed Redox Chemical Looping for Clean Energy Syngas and Hydrogen
TS-070629 — The Need
Current industrial processes for hydrogen and syngas production—such as steam methane reforming and autothermal reforming—are energy-intensive, prone to catalyst coking, and economically viable only at large scales. These methods also struggle with CO₂ emissions and integratio…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Fan, Liang-Shih; Joshi, Anuj; Joshi, Rushikesh Kishor; Kumar, Sonu; Sunny, Ashin
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Novel Hydrothermal Cathode Nanoparticle Synthesis Method for Fast-Charging Batteries
TS-070308 — The Need
Current lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode materials suffer from poor electronic conductivity and limited lithium-ion diffusion, especially under high-rate charging conditions. These limitations hinder the performance of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) in demanding applications such as elect…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Kim, Jung Hyun; Sayre, Jay; Singavarapu, Lakshmi Surag; Yap, Jun Wei
- Licensing Officer: Randhawa, Davinder
Self-Powered In-Pipe UV Water Treatment System
TS-070306 — The Need
In many under-resourced or remote regions, access to safe drinking water is compromised by the lack of reliable electricity needed to power standard point-of-use (POU) treatment systems, such as UV disinfection units. Where clean water infrastructure is absent or unreliable, communities fac…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Hull, Natalie; Belloni, Clarissa; Ma, Daniel; Nassar, Georgio
- Licensing Officer: Randhawa, Davinder
Engineered Microbial Platforms for Continuous Biomanufacturing from Industrial CO₂ Streams
TS-070297 —
Transforming industrial waste gases into valuable biofuels and chemicals.
Overview:
Industrial sectors such as cement and petroleum refining are under increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining profitability. Our innovative technology leverages engineered strains of Cupriavidus necator to directly convert industrial waste carbon dioxide (C…
- College: College of Arts & Sciences
- Inventors: Tabita, Fred (Bob) "Bob"; Dangel, Andrew; Laguna, Rick; North, Justin; Young, Sarah
- Licensing Officer: Panic, Ana
Next-Gen 3D Nanostructures for Solar-Powered Chemical Processes
TS-070030 — The Need
Current photocatalytic technologies often require UV light for activation, limiting their efficiency and applicability under natural sunlight. Additionally, the short lifespan of photogenerated electrons and holes in TiO₂ nanoparticles hinders effective utilization. There is a need for a…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Gouma, Pelagia "Perena"
- Licensing Officer: Randhawa, Davinder
3-Stage Membrane Processes for CO2 Capture from Flue Gases
TS-069650 — The Need
The urgent need to mitigate climate change has driven the demand for efficient carbon capture technologies. Current methods often fall short in achieving high capture rates and purity levels, especially for industrial applications. This technology addresses the critical need for a scalable…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Han, Yang; Ho, W.S. Winston
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Elastocloric Dehumidifier for Atmospheric Water Harvesting
TS-069524 — The Need
Global water scarcity is a critical issue, with many regions lacking access to clean and reliable water sources. Traditional water harvesting methods are often energy-intensive and inefficient. There is a pressing need for innovative, sustainable, and energy-efficient technologies to extra…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: LaRocco, John; Simonis, John; Tahmina, Qudsia
- Licensing Officer: Randhawa, Davinder
Enhanced Butanol Production via Engineered Clostridium Strains
TS-069522 — The Need
The biofuel and biochemical industries face challenges in efficiently converting fermentation byproducts, such as butyrate, into higher-value products like butanol. Traditional methods often result in the accumulation of waste products, limiting overall process efficiency and economic viab…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Moore, Curtis; Yang, Shang-Tian "ST"
- Licensing Officer: Randhawa, Davinder
Methods to produce high purity tritium gas
TS-067793 — The technology is a device and method for producing high purity tritium gas by irradiating a lithium composition within a gas cell that selectively allows tritium to diffuse while blocking other byproducts, ensuring efficient and direct collection of pure tritium without extensive purification. This system is designed to enhance the purity, efficiency, and scalability of tritium production for various industrial and research applications.
The production of high purity tritium gas is critical for applications in nuclear fusion, radioluminescent devices, and scientific research. Current methods for tritium production often result in contaminants like helium and other gases, requiring additional purification processes that are costly …
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Cao, Lei Raymond; Van Zile, Matthew
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Method of repurposing spacecraft dust as an agricultural material
TS-067535 — The Need
In future decades, more people than ever will be spending time in space. Current crop production systems onboard spacecraft are not self-sustainable, relying on fertilizer and substrate materials that must be launched from Earth. These resupply missions can cost thousands of dollars per po…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Nastasi, Nicholas; Dannemiller, Karen
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Novel Quantitative Method to Detect Mold Growth in Buildings
TS-066963 — The Need
Exposure to mold in homes costs billions of dollars every year. Exposure is particularly harmful to the 8% of the United States population that suffers from asthma; a leading cause of disability in children. Currently, odor, visible mold growth, and dampness are the best indicators of mold…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Dannemiller, Karen; Balasubrahmaniam, Neeraja; Bope, Ashleigh
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Color Correction System for Accurate Colorimetric Smartphone Measurements
TS-066957 — The Need
Colorimetric tests and remote image analysis are used in a wide range of industrial and medical applications. Digital image-based measurements made with smartphones are a promising platform to quantify colors at low cost, but suffer from inconsistency and errors caused by lens quality, sen…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Dannemiller, Karen; Panescu, Jenny; Qin, Rongjun; Song, Shuang; Zhang, Guixiang
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Synthetic approaches for mitigating battery capacity loss in oxide anodes
TS-066056 — The Need
The advancement of lithium-ion battery technology relies heavily on increasing energy density, yet practical usage of silicon (Si) anodes faces challenges due to parasitic side reactions and active lithium consumption. Controlling lithium amounts precisely while achieving uniform distribut…
- College: College of Arts & Sciences
- Inventors: Co, Anne; Hwang, Jisun; Lorie Lopez, Jose
- Licensing Officer: Randhawa, Davinder
Anode synthesis using spray pyrolysis
TS-066037 — The Need
In the realm of materials science and energy storage, there's a growing demand for innovative anode synthesis methods that yield materials with improved mechanical and electrochemical properties. Traditional synthesis techniques often fall short in achieving the desired performance met…
- College: College of Arts & Sciences
- Inventors: Co, Anne; Lorie Lopez, Jose
- Licensing Officer: Randhawa, Davinder
Metal nitric oxides redox flow batteries
TS-066016 — The Need
Redox flow batteries (RFBs) offer a promising solution for storing intermittent renewable energy in the electrical grid. However, their reliance on finite and unsustainable transition metals, such as vanadium, poses significant sustainability challenges. The rising costs and environmental …
- College: College of Arts & Sciences
- Inventors: Zhang, Shiyu; Park, Jaehyun
- Licensing Officer: Randhawa, Davinder
Designing High-Donicity Anions for Rechargeable Potassium Superoxide/Peroxide Batteries
TS-066015 — The Need
Over the past two decades, the advancement of metal-O2 batteries has been hindered by issues of instability, reversibility, and poor energy efficiency, primarily due to the instability of superoxide in the presence of Li+ and Na+ ions. Existing solutions such as Li-O2 and Na-O2 batteries h…
- College: College of Arts & Sciences
- Inventors: Wu, Yiying
- Licensing Officer: Randhawa, Davinder
Sacrificial Layer to Facilitate Welding of Thin Foils
TS-065430 — Cost-effective method to prevent damaged electrodes when welding thin foils.
Manufacturing of automotive lithium-ion batteries and battery packs is attracting growing attention with the driving demands of electric vehicles. During battery assembly, multi-layers of metal films, functioning as anodes, cathodes, or bus-bars are welded together. Achieving satisfying weld quali…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Liu, Xun; Kwon, Ho; Shah, Umair
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Containment System for Heating and Off-Gassing
TS-065424 — Due to environmental concerns and the decreasing supply of fossil fuels, there is
substantial demand for nuclear-based energy production. Nuclear energy now provides about 10% of the world's electricity from about 440 power reactors and is the second largest source of low-carbon power. In addition, over 50 smaller countries utilize nuclear energy in about 220 research-size reactors. These reactors are used to produce medical and industrial isotopes and several other purposes.
It is essential to meet the safeguard requirements in liquid-fueled molten salt reactors, fuel salt transportation, and fuel cycle processes and to develop effective methods for measuring and monitoring the mass of molten fuel salt or coolant salt. However, due to the complex and dynamic nature o…
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Van Zile, Matthew; Cao, Lei Raymond; Kauffman, Andrew
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
Fluid Active Flow Control Enabled Variable Turbine Vane
TS-065423 — Turbine aircraft engines (jet engines) are a type of propulsion system commonly used in aviation. These engines operate on jet propulsion, where air is drawn into the engine, mixed with fuel, ignited, and then expelled at high speed to generate thrust. Jet engines are used in commercial and military aircraft, as well as helicopters.
While turbine aircraft engines offer higher efficiency and performance than their counterparts, there is still a need to improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gases. It’s estimated that jet engines account for over 2.5% of all CO2 emissions, and there are substantial …
- College: College of Engineering (COE)
- Inventors: Spens, Alexander; Bons, Jeffrey
- Licensing Officer: Ashouripashaki, Mandana
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