Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100222501 | SCALABLE PROCESS FOR SYNTHESIZING UNIFORMLY-SIZED COMPOSITE NANOPARTICLES - A method for making composite nanoparticles comprises a) providing an amount of a polyelectrolyte having a charge, b) providing an amount of a counterion having a valence of at least 2, the counterion having a charge opposite the charge of the polyelectrolyte, c) combining the polyelectrolyte and the counterion in a solution such that the polyelectrolyte self-assembles to form a plurality of polymer aggregates, the plurality of polymer aggregates having an average diameter less than about 100 nm, d) adding a precursor to the solution, wherein the precursor has a charge opposite the charge of the polyelectrolyte, and e) allowing the precursor to infuse each polymer aggregate and polymerize so as to produce composite nanoparticles. The composite nanoparticles comprise a polymer aggregate containing at least one polyelectrolyte and at least one counterion and a polymer network crosslinked throughout the polymer aggregate. The polymer network may be inorganic, e.g silicon-containing. | 09-02-2010 |
20100267594 | Nano-encapsulated triggered-release viscosity breakers - A method for the encapsulation and triggered-release of water-soluble or water-dispersible materials. The method comprises a) providing an amount of electrolyte having a charge, b) providing an amount of counterion having a valence of at least 2, c) combining the polyelectrolyte and the counterion in a solution such that the polyelectrolyte self-assembles to form aggregates, d) adding a compound to be encapsulated, and e) adding nanoparticles to the solution such that nanoparticles arrange themselves around the aggregates. Release of the encapsulated species is triggered by disassembly or deformation of the microcapsules though disruption of the charge interactions. This method is specifically useful for the controlled viscosity reduction of the fracturing fluids commonly utilized in the oil field. | 10-21-2010 |
20100303913 | Method for Nanoencapsulation - Methods of nanoencapsulation are described herein. Embodiments of the method utilize the coacervation of a cationic polyelectrolyte with an anionic polyelectrolyte to form a novel capsular matrix. In particular, the novel methods may be used to encapsulate a suspension of a hydrophobic material such as a carotenoid. The disclosed methods do not require lengthy pH adjustments nor do they require the use of any toxic crosslinking agents. In one embodiment, a method of encapsulation comprises dispersing a hydrophobic compound in an organic solvent to form a solution. The method also comprises admixing an anionic polyelectrolyte and a cationic polyelectrolyte with the suspension to form a mixture. In addition, the method comprises quiescently cooling the mixture so as to cause self-crosslinking of a capsular matrix encapsulating the hydrophobic particles. | 12-02-2010 |
20110220839 | CONVERTING NANOPARTICLES IN OIL TO AQUEOUS SUSPENSIONS - An improved process for converting an oil suspension of nanoparticles (NPs) into a water suspension of NPs, wherein water and surfactant plus salt is used instead of merely water and surfactant, leading to greatly improved NP aqueous suspensions. | 09-15-2011 |
20120231326 | STRUCTURED SILICON BATTERY ANODES - Methods of fabricating porous silicon by electrochemical etching and subsequent coating with a passivating agent process are provided. The coated porous silicon can be used to make anodes and batteries. It is capable of alloying with large amounts of lithium ions, has a capacity of at least 1000 mAh/g and retains this ability through at least 60 charge/discharge cycles. A particular pSi formulation provides very high capacity (3000 mAh/g) for at least 60 cycles, which is 80% of theoretical value of silicon. The Coulombic efficiency after the third cycle is between 95-99%. The very best capacity exceeds 3400 mAh/g and the very best cycle life exceeds 240 cycles, and the capacity and cycle life can be varied as needed for the application. | 09-13-2012 |
20130045420 | ANODE BATTERY MATERIALS AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME - In some embodiments, the present invention provides novel methods of preparing porous silicon films and particles for lithium ion batteries. In some embodiments, such methods generally include: (1) etching a silicon material by exposure of the silicon material to a constant current density in a solution to produce a porous silicon film over a substrate; and (2) separating the porous silicon film from the substrate by gradually increasing the electric current density in sequential increments. In some embodiments, the methods of the present invention may also include a step of associating the porous silicon film with a binding material. In some embodiments, the methods of the present invention may also include a step of splitting the porous silicon film to form porous silicon particles. Additional embodiments of the present invention pertain to anode materials derived from the porous silicon films and porous silicon particles. | 02-21-2013 |
20130090511 | SYNTHESIS OF ULTRASMALL METAL OXIDE NANOPARTICLES - The invention generally relates to the ultrasmall MO | 04-11-2013 |
20130345099 | Nano-Encapsulated Triggered-Release Viscosity Breaker - A method for the encapsulation and triggered-release of water-soluble or water-dispersible materials. The method comprises a) providing an amount of electrolyte having a charge, b) providing an amount of counterion having a valence of at least 2, c) combining the polyelectrolyte and the counterion in a solution such that the polyelectrolyte self-assembles to form aggregates, d) adding a compound to be encapsulated, and e) adding nanoparticles to the solution such that nanoparticles arrange themselves around the aggregates. Release of the encapsulated species is triggered by disassembly or deformation of the microcapsules though disruption of the charge interactions. This method is specifically useful for the controlled viscosity reduction of the fracturing fluids commonly utilized in the oil field. | 12-26-2013 |
20140193711 | COMBINED ELECTROCHEMICAL AND CHEMICAL ETCHING PROCESSES FOR GENERATION OF POROUS SILICON PARTICULATES - Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of preparing porous silicon particulates by: (a) electrochemically etching a silicon substrate, where electrochemical etching comprises exposure of the silicon substrate to an electric current density, and where electrochemical etching produces a porous silicon film over the silicon substrate; (b) separating the porous silicon film from the silicon substrate, where the separating comprises a gradual increase of the electric current density in sequential increments; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) a plurality of times; (d) electrochemically etching the silicon substrate in accordance with step (a) to produce a porous silicon film over the silicon substrate; (e) chemically etching the porous silicon film and the silicon substrate; and (f) splitting the porous silicon film and the silicon substrate to form porous silicon particulates. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the formed porous silicon particulates and anode materials that contain them. | 07-10-2014 |
20150050741 | TRANSPORTERS OF OIL SENSORS FOR DOWNHOLE HYDROCARBON DETECTION - Various embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to nanocomposites for detecting hydrocarbons in a geological structure. In some embodiments, the nanocomposites include: a core particle; a polymer associated with the core particle; a sulfur-based moiety associated with the polymer; and a releasable probe molecule associated with the core particle, where the releasable probe molecule is releasable from the core particle upon exposure to hydrocarbons. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of detecting hydrocarbons in a geological structure by utilizing the nanocomposites of the present disclosure. | 02-19-2015 |