Partially Oxidized Carbon With Homogeneous Surface Oxygenation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional carbon oxidation methods are time-consuming, produce hazardous waste, and result in inconsistent and highly variable oxidation levels, making it difficult to achieve reproducible and homogeneous partially oxidized carbonaceous materials suitable for sensitive applications.

Innovation Solution

A microwave-assisted method using mild oxidizers like hydrogen peroxide and bases like ammonium hydroxide in solvents such as water or green solvents, with exposure times ranging from seconds to hours, to produce partially oxidized carbon with homogeneous oxygen distribution and reproducible oxidation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional wet oxidation methods are used, then high degree of oxidation is achieved, but the oxidation level becomes inconsistent and highly variable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxidation level consistencyVSAvoidbatch-to-batch reproducibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the oxidation parameters by using mild oxidizing agents (hydrogen peroxide, sodium chlorite) instead of strong oxidants, controlling pH with buffers, and using microwave irradiation with specific power levels (e.g., 600W) and durations to achieve consistent partial oxidation across batches

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs real-time monitoring of oxidation程度 through UV-Vis spectroscopy and adjusts microwave power and treatment time based on measured oxidation levels to maintain consistency and prevent over-oxidation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If conventional wet oxidation methods are used, then oxidation process is completed, but processing time becomes excessively long

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxidation processing speedVSAvoidoxidation reaction time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional thermal heating with microwave irradiation, which provides rapid and uniform heating of the reaction mixture, reducing oxidation time from hours to minutes while maintaining control over the oxidation程度

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses periodic microwave irradiation with controlled duty cycles and intermittent stirring to achieve efficient oxidation while preventing local overheating and maintaining reaction consistency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Object-generated harmful factors

If conventional wet oxidation methods are used, then oxidation reaction proceeds, but hazardous waste is generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehazardous waste productionVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses environmentally benign, easily decomposable oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide and sodium chlorite that break down into water, oxygen, and harmless salts, replacing persistent and toxic oxidants used in conventional methods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts potentially harmful strong oxidizing reactions into controlled, selective oxidation processes using mild agents that specifically target carbon surface groups without generating hazardous byproducts, turning a hazardous process into a green chemistry application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method achieves consistent surface oxygen content with low variability, reducing processing time and hazardous waste, and enabling applications in sensors, composites, and energy storage with improved performance.

Implementation Method 1

exposing the mixture to microwave radiation for a predetermined time to produce partially oxidized carbon

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrowave radiation: Microwave Radiation

Implementation Method 2

a mild oxidizer... to introduce oxygen-containing functional groups onto the carbon surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS12479730B1Homogenous, partially oxidized carbon and microwave-assisted methods of making the same

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 LYTEN INC

AI summary

Partially oxidized carbonaceous materials characterized by substantially homogenous, partially oxygenated surfaces thereof are enabled via microwave-assisted methods that are simple and fast. The exemplary methods include combining carbonaceous material(s), at least one mild oxidizer, at least one nucleophile, and an aqueous solvent system to obtain a mixture; and exposing the mixture to microwave radiation for a predetermined time to produce partially oxidized carbonaceous materials. The predetermined time may be in a range from about 5 seconds to about 2 hours, and the power of the microwave energy may be in a range from about 100 w to about 1700 W. The partially oxidized carbonaceous materials are characterized by a homogeneous distribution of oxygen content in surfaces thereof, in nonzero amounts up to about 10 at %, and a standard deviation of surface oxygen content in a range from about 0.1 at % to about 1.0 at %.