Hui Du

US Patent:

8501526, Aug 6, 2013

Filed:

Apr 23, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/453948

Inventors:

Glenn Teeter - Lakewood CO, US
Hui Du - Golden CO, US
Matthew Young - Lakewood CO, US

Assignee:

Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC - Golden CO

International Classification:

H01L 21/00

US Classification:

438 95, 438 57, 257436, 257E25009, 257E31029

Abstract:

A method for synthesizing a thin film of copper, zinc, tin, and a chalcogen species (“CZTCh” or “CZTSS”) with well-controlled properties. The method includes depositing a thin film of precursor materials, e. g. , approximately stoichiometric amounts of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), tin (Sn), and a chalcogen species (Ch). The method then involves re-crystallizing and grain growth at higher temperatures, e. g. , between about 725 and 925 degrees K, and annealing the precursor film at relatively lower temperatures, e. g. , between 600 and 650 degrees K. The processing of the precursor film takes place in the presence of a quasi-equilibrium vapor, e. g. , Sn and chalcogen species. The quasi-equilibrium vapor is used to maintain the precursor film in a quasi-equilibrium condition to reduce and even prevent decomposition of the CZTCh and is provided at a rate to balance desorption fluxes of Sn and chalcogens.

US Patent:

20120318361, Dec 20, 2012

Filed:

Jun 20, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/528096

Inventors:

Glenn Teeter - Lakewood CO, US
Hui Du - Golden CO, US
Matthew Young - Lakewood CO, US
Pete Erslev - Golden CO, US

Assignee:

ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC - Golden CO

International Classification:

H01L 31/0296
H01L 31/18

US Classification:

136264, 438 95, 136265, 257E31015

Abstract:

A method for synthesizing a thin film of CZTS such as for use as an absorber in a photovoltaic device. The method includes providing a substrate in a chamber, and, then, depositing a film of CZTS material on the substrate, the CZTS material comprising copper, zinc, tin, and at least on chalcogen species. The depositing includes tuning an optical bandgap of the film with heterovalent alloying. The depositing is performed at low temperatures with the substrate provided in the chamber free of direct/active heating. For example, the substrate may be maintained at a temperature below about 150 C. during the depositing of the film. The heterovalent alloying involves controlling deposition rates for the copper and the zinc to define a copper to zinc ratio set the optical bandgap such as a value between about 1.0 eV and about 2.75 eV.

US Patent:

20220190396, Jun 16, 2022

Filed:

Dec 22, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/559393

Inventors:

- Tucson AZ, US
Yuriy V. Mikhaylik - Tucson AZ, US
Hui Du - Tucson AZ, US
Joern Kulisch - Eppelheim, DE
Marina Safont-Sempere - Mannheim, DE
Klaus Leitner - Ludwigshafen, DE
Holger Schneider - Ludwigshafen, DE

Assignee:

Sion Power Corporation - Tucson AZ

International Classification:

H01M 10/42
H01M 4/36
H01M 10/052
H01M 50/403
H01M 50/411
H01M 50/431
H01M 50/446
H01M 50/449
B05D 1/12
H01M 4/04

Abstract:

Articles and methods including layers for protection of electrodes in electrochemical cells are provided. As described herein, a layer, such as a protective layer for an electrode, may comprise a plurality of particles (e.g., crystalline inorganic particles, amorphous inorganic particles). In some embodiments, at least a portion of the plurality of particles (e.g., inorganic particles) are fused to one another. For instance, in some embodiments, the layer may be formed by aerosol deposition or another suitable process that involves subjecting the particles to a relatively high velocity such that fusion of particles occurs during deposition. In some embodiments, the layer (e.g., the layer comprising a plurality of particles) is an ion-conducting layer.

US Patent:

20210249651, Aug 12, 2021

Filed:

Jan 29, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/161795

Inventors:

- Tucson AZ, US
Yuriy V. Mikhaylik - Tucson AZ, US
Hui Du - Tucson AZ, US
Joern Kulisch - Eppelheim, DE
Marina Safont-Sempere - Mannheim, DE
Klaus Leitner - Ludwigshafen, DE
Holger Schneider - Ludwigshafen, DE

Assignee:

Sion Power Corporation - Tucson AZ

International Classification:

H01M 4/36
H01M 10/0525
H01M 50/449
H01M 4/139
H01M 50/431
H01M 50/403
H01M 4/62
H01M 4/04
H01M 10/052
H01M 10/42
H01M 4/13

Abstract:

Articles and methods including layers for protection of electrodes in electrochemical cells are provided. As described herein, a layer, such as a protective layer for an electrode, may comprise a plurality of particles (e.g., crystalline inorganic particles, amorphous inorganic particles). In some aspects, at least a portion of the plurality of particles (e.g., inorganic particles) are fused to one another. For instance, in some aspects, the layer may be formed by aerosol deposition or another suitable process that involves subjecting the particles to a relatively high velocity such that fusion of particles occurs during deposition. In some cases, the protective layer may be porous.

US Patent:

20210135205, May 6, 2021

Filed:

Nov 10, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/093908

Inventors:

- Tucson AZ, US
Yuriy V, Mikhaylik - Tucson AZ, US
Hui Du - Tucson AZ, US
Joern Kulisch - Eppelheim, DE
Marina Safont-Sempere - Mannheim, DE
Klaus Leitner - Ludwigshafen, DE
Holger Schneider - Ludwigshafen, DE

Assignee:

Sion Power Corporation - Tucson AZ

International Classification:

H01M 4/36
H01M 4/13
H01M 10/052
H01M 4/139
H01M 4/62
H01M 50/403
H01M 50/431
H01M 50/449
H01M 4/04
H01M 10/0525
H01M 10/42

Abstract:

Articles and methods including layers for protection of electrodes in electrochemical cells are provided. As described herein, a layer, such as a protective layer for an electrode, may comprise a plurality of particles (e.g., crystalline inorganic particles, amorphous inorganic particles). In some aspects, at least a portion of the plurality of particles (e.g., inorganic particles) are fused to one another. For instance, in some aspects, the layer may be formed by aerosol deposition or another suitable process that involves subjecting the particles to a relatively high velocity such that fusion of particles occurs during deposition. In some cases, the protective layer may be porous.

US Patent:

20200243824, Jul 30, 2020

Filed:

Jun 19, 2017

Appl. No.:

16/098654

Inventors:

- Tucson AZ, US
Hui Du - Tucson AZ, US
Tracy Earl Kelley - Tucson AZ, US

Assignee:

Sion Power Corporation - Tucson AZ

International Classification:

H01M 2/16
H01M 10/052
H01M 4/134
H01M 4/38
C07F 9/00

Abstract:

Coatings for components of electrochemical cells (e.g., layers for protecting electrodes) are generally described. Associated compounds, articles, systems, and methods are also generally described.

US Patent:

20200099108, Mar 26, 2020

Filed:

Sep 30, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/587939

Inventors:

- Tucson AZ, US
- Ludwigshafen, DE
Hui Du - Tucson AZ, US
Joern Kulisch - Eppelheim, DE
Marina Safont-Sempere - Ludwigshafen, DE
Klaus Leitner - Ludwigshafen, DE
Holger Schneider - Ludwigshafen, DE

Assignee:

Sion Power Corporation - Tucson AZ
BASF SE - Ludwigshafen

International Classification:

H01M 10/42
H01M 4/36
H01M 10/052
H01M 2/16
H01M 2/14
B05D 1/12
H01M 4/04

Abstract:

Articles and methods including layers for protection of electrodes in electrochemical cells are provided. As described herein, a layer, such as a protective layer for an electrode, may comprise a plurality of particles (e.g., crystalline inorganic particles, amorphous inorganic particles). In some embodiments, at least a portion of the plurality of particles (e.g., inorganic particles) are fused to one another. For instance, in some embodiments, the layer may be formed by aerosol deposition or another suitable process that involves subjecting the particles to a relatively high velocity such that fusion of particles occurs during deposition. In some embodiments, the layer (e.g., the layer comprising a plurality of particles) is an ion-conducting layer.

US Patent:

20170338475, Nov 23, 2017

Filed:

May 19, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/599595

Inventors:

- Tucson AZ, US
- Ludwigshafen, DE
Hui Du - Tucson AZ, US
Joern Kulisch - Eppelheim, DE
Marina Safont-Sempere - Ludwigshafen, DE
Klaus Leitner - Ludwigshafen, DE
Holger Schneider - Ludwigshafen, DE

Assignee:

Sion Power Corporation - Tucson AZ
BASF SE - Ludwigshafen

International Classification:

H01M 4/36
H01M 2/16
H01M 10/0525
H01M 2/14
H01M 4/04
H01M 10/42

Abstract:

Articles and methods including layers for protection of electrodes in electrochemical cells are provided. As described herein, a layer, such as a protective layer for an electrode, may comprise a plurality of particles (e.g., crystalline inorganic particles, amorphous inorganic particles). In some aspects, at least a portion of the plurality of particles (e.g., inorganic particles) are fused to one another. For instance, in some aspects, the layer may be formed by aerosol deposition or another suitable process that involves subjecting the particles to a relatively high velocity such that fusion of particles occurs during deposition. In some cases, the protective layer may be porous.