6128 results about "Nanocomposite" patented technology

Nanocomposite photovoltaic devices are provided that generally include semiconductor nanocrystals as at least a portion of a photoactive layer. Photovoltaic devices and other layered devices that comprise core-shell nanostructures and / or two populations of nanostructures, where the nanostructures are not necessarily part of a nanocomposite, are also features of the invention. Varied architectures for such devices are also provided including flexible and rigid architectures, planar and non-planar architectures and the like, as are systems incorporating such devices, and methods and systems for fabricating such devices. Compositions comprising two populations of nanostructures of different materials are also a feature of the invention.

A solid nanocomposite particle composition for lithium metal or lithium ion battery electrode applications. The composition comprises: (A) an electrode active material in a form of fine particles, rods, wires, fibers, or tubes with a dimension smaller than 1 μm; (B) nano graphene platelets (NGPs); and (C) a protective matrix material reinforced by the NGPs; wherein the graphene platelets and the electrode active material are dispersed in the matrix material and the NGPs occupy a weight fraction wg of 1% to 90% of the total nanocomposite weight, the electrode active material occupies a weight fraction wa of 1% to 90% of the total nanocomposite weight, and the matrix material occupies a weight fraction wm of at least 2% of the total nanocomposite weight with wg+wa+wm=1. For a lithium ion battery anode application, the matrix material is preferably amorphous carbon, polymeric carbon, or meso-phase carbon. Such a solid nanocomposite composition provides a high anode capacity and good cycling stability. For a cathode application, the resulting lithium metal or lithium ion battery exhibits an exceptionally high cycle life.

This invention provides a nanocomposite-based lithium battery electrode comprising: (a) A porous aggregate of electrically conductive nano-filaments that are substantially interconnected, intersected, physically contacted, or chemically bonded to form a three-dimensional network of electron-conducting paths, wherein the nano-filaments have a diameter or thickness less than 1 μm (preferably less than 500 nm); and (b) Sub-micron or nanometer-scale electro-active particles that are bonded to a surface of the nano-filaments with a conductive binder material, wherein the particles comprise an electro-active material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ions and wherein the electro-active material content is no less than 25% by weight based on the total weight of the particles, the binder material, and the filaments. Preferably, these electro-active particles are coated with a thin carbon layer. This electrode can be an anode or a cathode. The battery featuring such an anode or cathode exhibits an exceptionally high specific capacity, an excellent reversible capacity, and a long cycle life.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a meso-porous nanocomposite material comprising: (A) nano-scaled graphene platelets, wherein each of the platelets comprises a sheet of graphite plane or multiple sheets of graphite plane, and the platelets have a thickness no greater than 100 nm (preferably smaller than 10 nm) and an average length, width, or diameter no greater than 10 μm (preferably smaller than 500 nm); and (B) an electrically conducting binder or matrix material attached or bonded to the platelets to form the nanocomposite material having liquid accessible pores, which provide a surface area greater than about 100 m2 / gm, preferably greater than 500 m2 / gm, and most preferably greater than 1000 m2 / gm. Also disclosed is a capacitor that includes at least an electrode comprising such a meso-porous nanocomposite material. A supercapacitor featuring such a nanocomposite exhibits an exceptionally high capacitance value.

Disclosed is a process for exfoliating a layered material to produce nano-scaled platelets having a thickness smaller than 100 nm, typically smaller than 10 nm, and often between 0.34 nm and 1.02 nm. The process comprises: (a) subjecting a layered material to a gaseous environment at a first temperature and first pressure sufficient to cause gas species to penetrate between layers of the layered material, forming a gas-intercalated layered material; and (b) subjecting the gas-intercalated layered material to a second pressure, or a second pressure and a second temperature, allowing gas species to partially or completely escape from the layered material and thereby exfoliating the layered material to produce partially delaminated or totally separated platelets. The gaseous environment preferably contains only environmentally benign gases that are reactive (e.g., oxygen) or non-reactive (e.g., noble gases) with the layered material. The process can also include dispersing the platelets in a matrix material to form a nanocomposite.

The present invention provides methods for selectively removing organic compound from a nano-composite material which comprises the organic compound that is dispersed within a solid inorganic compound structure. In particular, methods of the present invention comprise irradiating the nano-composite material with electromagnetic radiation wavelength that is shorter than the wavelength of visible light.

This invention provides composite materials comprising nanostructures (e.g., nanowires, branched nanowires, nanotetrapods, nanocrystals, and nanoparticles). Methods and compositions for making such nanocomposites are also provided, as are articles comprising such composites. Waveguides and light concentrators comprising nanostructures (not necessarily as part of a nanocomposite) are additional features of the invention.

The present invention is directed to a three-part ammunition cartridge casing body comprising a head or base portion, a case portion and a cap portion. The cartridge casing body further comprises: the base portion, made of metal or polymeric resin, having a closed end and an open end; a substantially cylindrical case portion, open on both ends, joined to the open end of the base portion and comprising a nanocomposite material of a nanoclay dispersed in a polyamide resin matrix; and a cap portion, made of a nanocomposite material of a nanoclay dispersed in a polyamide resin matrix and further comprising glass fibers, joined to the other end of the case portion, wherein the case portion is more ductile than the cap portion.

Nanocomposite materials comprising a metal oxide bonded to at least one graphene material. The nanocomposite materials exhibit a specific capacity of at least twice that of the metal oxide material without the graphene at a charge / discharge rate greater than about 10C.

The present invention is directed to a three-part ammunition cartridge casing body comprising a head or base portion, a case portion and a cap portion. The cartridge casing body further comprises: the base portion, made of metal or polymeric resin, having a closed end and an open end; a substantially cylindrical case portion, open on both ends, joined to the open end of the base portion and comprising a nanocomposite material of a nanoclay dispersed in a polyamide resin matrix; and a cap portion, made of a nanocomposite material of a nanoclay dispersed in a polyamide resin matrix and further comprising glass fibers, joined to the other end of the case portion, wherein the case portion is more ductile than the cap portion.

A three-dimensional composite reinforcement, a three-dimensionally reinforced multifunctional nanocomposite, and methods of manufacture of each are disclosed. The three dimensional reinforcement comprises a two dimensional fiber cloth upon which carbon nanotubes have been grown, approximately perpendicular to the plane of the fiber cloth. The nanocomposite comprises the three-dimensional reinforcement and a surrounding matrix material. Examples illustrate improvements in the through-thickness mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of the nanocomposite, in addition to substantial improvements in geometrical stability upon temperature changes and vibrational damping, compared to baseline composites reinforced with the two-dimensional fiber cloth alone. Embodiments of the nanocomposite may also be configured to perform multiple functions simultaneously, such as bearing a thermal or mechanical load simultaneously or bearing a mechanical load while also monitoring the state of damage within the nanocomposite.

An antimicrobial agent which is a composite composition of matter comprising a metal or metal-containing compound distributed on or in a dendritic polymer, and a method of treating wounds comprising applying to the wounds said antimicrobial agent. In a most preferred embodiment, said antimicrobial agent comprises discrete nanosized silver or silver containing compounds distributed on or in dendritic polymers.

Disclosed is a method of exfoliating a layered material (e.g., graphite and graphite oxide) to produce nano-scaled platelets having a thickness smaller than 100 nm, typically smaller than 10 nm, and often between 0.34 nm and 1.02 nm. The method comprises: (a) subjecting the layered material in a powder form to a halogen vapor at a first temperature above the melting point or sublimation point of the halogen at a sufficient vapor pressure and for a duration of time sufficient to cause the halogen molecules to penetrate an interlayer space of the layered material, forming a stable halogen-intercalated compound; and (b) heating the halogen-intercalated compound at a second temperature above the boiling point of the halogen, allowing halogen atoms or molecules residing in the interlayer space to exfoliate the layered material to produce the platelets. Alternatively, rather than heating, step (a) is followed by a step of dispersing the halogen-intercalated compound in a liquid medium which is subjected to ultrasonication for exfoliating the halogen-intercalated compound to produce the platelets, which are dispersed in the liquid medium. The halogen can be readily captured and re-used, thereby significantly reducing the impact of halogen to the environment. The method can further include a step of dispersing the platelets in a polymer or monomer solution or suspension as a precursor step to nanocomposite fabrication.

The present invention is generally directed to nanocomposite thermoelectric materials that exhibit enhanced thermoelectric properties. The nanocomposite materials include two or more components, with at least one of the components forming nano-sized structures within the composite material. The components are chosen such that thermal conductivity of the composite is decreased without substantially diminishing the composite's electrical conductivity. Suitable component materials exhibit similar electronic band structures. For example, a band-edge gap between at least one of a conduction band or a valence band of one component material and a corresponding band of the other component material at interfaces between the components can be less than about 5 kBT, wherein kB is the Boltzman constant and T is an average temperature of said nanocomposite composition.

A polymer coated nanoparticle containing a metallic core and a polymer shell encapsulating said metallic core is useful, for example, in magnetic tapes and supercapacitors.

A process for producing meso-porous nanocomposite electrode comprising nano-scaled graphene platelets. The process comprises: (A) providing nano-scaled graphene platelets, wherein each of the platelets comprises a single graphene sheet or a stack of multiple graphene sheets, and the platelets have an average thickness no greater than 100 nm (preferably less than 5 nm and most preferably less than 2 nm in thickness); (B) combining a binder material, the graphene platelets, and a liquid to form a dispersion; (C) forming the dispersion into a desired shape and removing the liquid to produce a binder-platelet mixture; and (D) treating the binder material under a desired temperature or radiation environment to convert the binder-platelet mixture into a meso-porous nanocomposite electrode, wherein the platelets are bonded by the binder and the electrode has electrolyte-accessible pores characterized in that the nanocomposite has a surface area greater than about 100 m2 / gm (preferably greater than 200 m2 / gm, more preferably greater than 500 100 m2 / gm, and most preferably greater than 1,000 m2 / gm). A supercapacitor featuring such a nanocomposite exhibits an exceptionally high capacitance value.

The invention relates to an optical device. The optical device comprises a waveguide core and a nanocomposite material optically coupled to the waveguide core. The nanocomposite material includes a plurality of quantum dots. The nanocomposite material has a nonlinear index of refraction γ that is at least 10−9 cm2 / W when irradiated with an activation light having a wavelength λ between approximately 3×10−5 cm and 2×10−4 cm.

A method of depositing silicon on carbon nanomaterials such as vapor grown carbon nanofibers, nanomats, or nanofiber powder is provided. The method includes flowing a silicon-containing precursor gas in contact with the carbon nanomaterial such that silicon is deposited on the exterior surface and within the hollow core of the carbon nanomaterials. A protective carbon coating may be deposited on the silicon-coated nanomaterials. The resulting nanocomposite materials may be used as anodes in lithium ion batteries.

Nanocomposite materials having at least two layers, each layer consisting of one metal oxide bonded to at least one graphene layer were developed. The nanocomposite materials will typically have many alternating layers of metal oxides and graphene layers, bonded in a sandwich type construction and will be incorporated into an electrochemical or energy storage device.

Disclosed is a nanocomposite comprising a nano-reinforcing material (e.g., layered clay), a polymer matrix (e.g., a polyolefin), and, an epoxy-functionalized graft polymer compatible with the polymer matrix (e.g., epoxy-grafted polyolefin). Such nanocomposites are useful in the fabrication of a variety of materials including parts for the transportation and packaging industries, electronics, business equipment, building and construction materials.

A thermoelectric material comprises core-shell particles having a core formed from a core material and a shell formed from a shell material. In representative examples, the shell material is a material showing an appreciable thermoelectric effect in bulk. The core material preferably has a lower thermal conductivity than the shell material. In representative examples, the core material is an inorganic oxide such as silica or alumina, and the shell material is a chalcogenide semiconductor such as a telluride, for example bismuth telluride. A thermoelectric material including such core-shell particles may have an improved thermoelectric figure of merit compared with a bulk sample of the shell material alone. Embodiments of the invention further include thermoelectric devices using such thermoelectric materials, and preparation techniques. The use of core-shell nanoparticles allows highly uniform nanocomposites to be formed, and embodiments of the invention also includes other materials and devices using core-shell particles.

A quantum dot-resin nanocomposite including a nanoparticle including a curable resin and a plurality of quantum dots contacting the nanoparticle. Also, a method of preparing the nanocomposite, and a molded article including the nanocomposite.

The invention is characterized in that it comprises a truncated contact lens (1), whose truncation plane is parallel to the base of said contact lens, and a polymeric nanocomposite material (2) centrally disposed and attached to the perimeter of the truncated area, said material being sensitive to pressure changes, biocompatible and transparent, and including contact electrodes (3), and in that it also comprises means for transmitting IOP measurement data to an external system. The invention also relates to a method for measuring IOP using said lens comprising: i) placing said sensor contact lens in the eye to determine its intraocular pressure; ii) providing a direct current value between external electrodes; iii) ΔV measurement between internal electrodes; and iv) identifying whether the value obtained is outside the linear response, expressed in changes of resistivity, of the polymeric nanocomposite material. The invention also relates to a telemetry system comprising said lens.

A nanocomposite of a halogenated elastomer and an inorganic, exfoliated clay, suitable for use as an air barrier, is disclosed. The halogenated elastomer can be a polymer comprising C4 to C7 isoolefin derived units, para-methylstyrene derived units, and para(halomethylstyrene) derived units, or can be a butyl-type rubber. The nanocomposite can be formed by contacting an aqueous slurry of inorganic clay with a polymer cement while agitating vigorously to form emulsions or micro-emulsions to intimately mix the inorganic clay and the elastomer. The nanocomposite so formed has improved air barrier properties and is suitable for use as an innerliner or innertube.

A polymer nanoparticle is provided. The nanoparticle includes an inner layer having alkenylbenzene monomer units. The nanoparticle further includes an outer layer having monomer units selected from conjugated dienes, alkylenes, alkenylbenzenes, and mixtures thereof. The nanoparticle has at least one functional group associated with the outer layer. The nanoparticle further has at least one metal complexed with said functional group. The nanoparticles can be used as a templates for preparation of nano-sized metal crystals and polymer-metal nanocomposite.

This invention provides a nano-scaled graphene platelet (NGP) having a thickness no greater than 100 nm and a length-to-width ratio no less than 3 (preferably greater than 10). The NGP with a high length-to-width ratio can be prepared by using a method comprising (a) intercalating a carbon fiber or graphite fiber with an intercalate to form an intercalated fiber; (b) exfoliating the intercalated fiber to obtain an exfoliated fiber comprising graphene sheets or flakes; and (c) separating the graphene sheets or flakes to obtain nano-scaled graphene platelets. The invention also provides a nanocomposite material comprising an NGP with a high length-to-width ratio. Such a nanocomposite can become electrically conductive with a small weight fraction of NGPs. Conductive composites are particularly useful for shielding of sensitive electronic equipment against electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI), and for electrostatic charge dissipation.

The present invention discloses intercalates formed by contacting a layered material, e.g., a phyllosilicate, with an intercalant monomer surface modifier including an alkyl radical having at least 6 carbon atoms and a polymerizable monomer, oligomer or polymer. The intercalant monomer surface modifier converts the interlayer region of the layered materials from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, therefore, polymerizable monomers, oligomers or polymers can be easily intercalated into the interlayer spacing. The co-presence of the intercalant monomer surface modifier and polymerizable monomer, oligomer or polymer provide an environment for more polymerizable monomers, oligomers or polymers to be intercalated into the interlayer spacing and the intercalates are readily exfoliated into polymer matrices to form nanocomposites. The nanocomposites (e.g., epoxy-clay) prepared from the intercalates demonstrated enhanced mechanical, thermal and chemical resistance compared with pristine polymer matrices.

A method of making nanoscale ordered composites of covalent ceramics through block copolymer-assisted assembly. At least one polymeric precursor is mixed with a block copolymer, and self-assembly of the mixture proceeds through an annealing process. During the annealing step, the polymeric precursor cross-links to form a structure robust enough to survive both the order-disorder transition temperature the block copolymer and the pyrolysis process, yielding ordered nanocomposites of high temperature ceramic materials. The method yields a variety of structures and morphologies. A ceramic material having at least one ceramic phase that has an ordered structure on a nanoscale and thermally stable up to a temperature of at least about 800° C. is also disclosed. The ceramic material is suitable for use in hot gas path assemblies, such as turbine assemblies, boilers, combustors, and the like.

The present invention is directed to a novel poly(diol citrates)-based nanocomposite materials created using completely biodegradable and biocompatible polymers that may be used in tissue engineering. More specifically, the specification describes methods and compositions for making and using nanocomposites comprised of citric acid copolymers and polymers including but not limited to poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA).

A field grading material includes a field grading effective amount of a nanoparticle filler distributed in a polymeric matrix, and the nanoparticle filler is heterogeneously distributed in the polymeric matrix.