# US 12,224,162 B2 · Catalytic nanofiber membrane assembly and reduced pressure plasma reactor for fluid, vapor and gas processing

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- Number: US 12,224,162 B2
- Document ID: US12224162B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/381,411
- Filed: 2023-10-18
- Published: 2024-04-18
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2022-10-18
- Assignees: The UAB Research Foundation
- Applicants: The Uab Research Foundation
- Inventors: Andrei V. Stanishevsky; Riley Yager
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224162B2

## CPC

- H01J 37/3255: {Material}
- H01J 37/32541: {Shape}
- H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H)

## Abstract

Various examples are provided related to catalytic nanofiber membrane assemblies or structures which can be used in plasma reactors. In one example, a three-dimensional (3D) catalytic structure includes nanofiber-based elements (NFBEs) and electrodes placed about the NFBEs with the NFBEs stacked between the electrodes. In another example, a plasma reactor includes a vessel containing the 3D catalytic structure where gas pressure in the vessel is less than 1 atmosphere.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A three-dimensional (3D) catalytic structure, comprising:
a plurality of nanofiber-based elements (NFBEs); and
a plurality of electrodes placed about the plurality of NFBEs, the plurality of NFBEs stacked between the plurality of electrodes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The 3D catalytic structure of claim 1, wherein the plurality of NFBEs comprise ceramic nanofibers, carbon nanofibers, metal nanofibers, or a combination there of.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The 3D catalytic structure of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are bare or isolated.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The 3D catalytic structure of claim 3, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a mesh electrode.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The 3D catalytic structure of claim 1, wherein one or more NFBE of the plurality of NFBEs comprise a multilayer structure.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The 3D catalytic structure of claim 1, wherein one or more NFBE of the plurality of NFBEs comprise a gradient structure.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The 3D catalytic structure of claim 1, wherein one or more pairs of adjacent NFBEs of the plurality of NFBEs are separated by a gap.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The 3D catalytic structure of claim 7, wherein the gap between the adjacent NFBEs is formed by a spacer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The 3D catalytic structure of claim 8, wherein the spacer comprises a solid glass spacer, a ceramic spacer, or a rigid NFBE-based spacer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The 3D catalytic structure of claim 1, wherein a gap between an electrode of the plurality of electrodes and an adjacent NFBE of the plurality of NFBEs is formed by a spacer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The 3D catalytic structure of claim 1, wherein individual NFBEs of the plurality of NFBEs have a thickness of about 0.1 mm or greater.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The 3D catalytic structure of claim 1, wherein total porosity of the plurality of NFBEs is about 75% or greater.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The 3D catalytic structure of claim 12, wherein the total porosity of the plurality of NFBEs is about 80% or greater.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The 3D catalytic structure of claim 1, wherein nanofibers of one or more of the plurality NFBEs are seeded with a co-catalyst.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The 3D catalytic structure of claim 14, wherein the co-catalyst is seeded on the nanofibers in a continuous layer or particles.

### Claim 16

A plasma reactor, comprising:
a vessel containing a three-dimensional (3D) catalytic structure comprising:
a plurality of nanofiber-based elements (NFBEs); and
a plurality of electrodes placed about the plurality of NFBEs, the plurality of NFBEs stacked between the plurality of electrodes;
where gas pressure in the vessel is less than 1 atmosphere.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The plasma reactor of claim 16, wherein the plurality of electrodes are inside the vessel or outside the vessel.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The plasma reactor of claim 17, wherein a DC voltage or a periodic high voltage is applied to the plurality of electrodes.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The plasma reactor of claim 17, wherein spacing between adjacent electrodes of the plurality of electrodes is between about 5 mm to about 200 mm.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The plasma reactor of claim 16, wherein a gas or a fluid is supplied to one or more NFBE within the 3D catalytic structure.