Patents by Inventor Robert Hauge
Robert Hauge has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8709373Abstract: The present disclosure describes carbon nanotube arrays having carbon nanotubes grown directly on a substrate and methods for making such carbon nanotube arrays. In various embodiments, the carbon nanotubes may be covalently bonded to the substrate by nanotube carbon-substrate covalent bonds. The present carbon nanotube arrays may be grown on substrates that are not typically conducive to carbon nanotube growth by conventional carbon nanotube growth methods. For example, the carbon nanotube arrays of the present disclosure may be grown on carbon substrates including carbon foil, carbon fibers and diamond. Methods for growing carbon nanotubes include a) providing a substrate, b) depositing a catalyst layer on the substrate, c) depositing an insulating layer on the catalyst layer, and d) growing carbon nanotubes on the substrate. Various uses for the carbon nanotube arrays are contemplated herein including, for example, electronic device and polymer composite applications.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2009Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Robert Hauge, Cary Pint, Noe Alvarez, W. Carter Kittrell
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Patent number: 8591854Abstract: We have discovered that size dependent solubility of large fullerenes in strong acids is dependent on acid strength. This provides a scalable method for separating large fullerenes by size. According to some embodiments, a method for processing a fullerene starting material comprises large fullerenes comprises mixing the starting material with a first concentrated sulfuric acid solution so as to obtain a first dispersion comprising a first portion of the large fullerenes solubilized in the first concentrated sulfuric acid solution.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2008Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Pradeep K. Rai, A. Nicholas Parra-Vasquez, Haiqing Peng, Robert Hauge, Matteo Pasquali
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Publication number: 20110318248Abstract: We have discovered that size dependent solubility of large fullerenes in strong acids is dependent on acid strength. This provides a scalable method for separating large fullerenes by size. According to some embodiments, a method for processing a fullerene starting material comprises large fullerenes comprises mixing the starting material with a first concentrated sulfuric acid solution so as to obtain a first dispersion comprising a first portion of the large fullerenes solubilized in the first concentrated sulfuric acid solution.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2008Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITYInventors: Pradeep K. Rai, A. Nicholas Parra-Vasquez, Haiqing Peng, Robert Hauge, Matteo Pasquali
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Publication number: 20110262772Abstract: Methods for preparing carbon nanotube layers are disclosed herein. Carbon nanotube layers may be films, ribbons, and sheets. The methods comprise preparing an aligned carbon nanotube array and compressing the array with a roller to create a carbon nanotube layer. Another method disclosed herein comprises preparing a carbon nanotube layer from an aligned carbon nanotube array grown on a grouping of lines of metallic catalyst. A composite material comprising at least one carbon nanotube layer and prepared by the process comprising a) compressing an aligned single-wall carbon nanotube array with a roller, and b) transferring the carbon nanotube layer to a polymer is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2008Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Robert Hauge, Cary Pint, Ya-Qiong Xu, Matteo Pasquali
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Patent number: 7780939Abstract: This invention is directed to chemical derivatives of carbon nanotubes wherein the carbon nanotubes have a diameter up to 3 nm. In one embodiment, this invention also provides a method for preparing carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube by reacting single-wall carbon nanotubes with fluorine gas and recovering fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes, then reacting fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes with a nucleophile. Some of the fluorine substituents are replaced by nucleophilic substitution. If desired, the remaining fluorine can be completely or partially eliminated to produce carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube. The substituents are dependent on the nucleophile, and preferred nucleophiles include alkyl lithium species such as methyl lithium.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2006Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: John L. Margrave, Edward T. Mickelson, Robert Hauge, Peter Boul, Chad Huffman, Jie Liu, Richard E. Smalley, Ken Smith, Daniel T. Colbert
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Patent number: 7527780Abstract: This invention is directed to making chemical derivatives of carbon nanotubes and to uses for the derivatized nanotubes, including making arrays as a basis for synthesis of carbon fibers. In one embodiment, this invention also provides a method for preparing single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube by reacting single wall carbon nanotubes with fluorine gas and recovering fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes, then reacting fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes with a nucleophile. Some of the fluorine substituents are replaced by nucleophilic substitution. If desired, the remaining fluorine can be completely or partially eliminated to produce single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube. The substituents will, of course, be dependent on the nucleophile, and preferred nucleophiles include alkyl lithium species such as methyl lithium.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2001Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: John L. Margrave, Edward T. Mickelson, Robert Hauge, Peter Boul, Chad Huffman, Jie Liu, Richard E. Smalley, Ken Smith, Daniel T. Colbert
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Publication number: 20070196262Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel processes for the functionalization (derivatization) of carbon nanotubes and, as an extension, to fullerenes and other carbon surfaces. Generally, such processes involve reductive pathways. In some embodiments, carbon nanotubes are reacted with alkali metal and organic halides in anhydrous liquid ammonia. In other embodiments, polymers are grown from carbon nanotube sidewalls by reacting carbon nanotubes with alkali metal and monomer species in anhydrous liquid ammonia.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2005Publication date: August 23, 2007Inventors: Edward Billups, Anil Sadana, Feng Liang, Robert Hauge
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Publication number: 20070118937Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to the block copolymerization of aromatic polymers with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the CNTs typically being shortened, to form nanotube block copolymers. The present invention is also directed to fibers and other shaped articles made from the nanotube block copolymers of the present invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2006Publication date: May 24, 2007Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Wen-Fang Hwang, James Tour, Zheyi Chen, Robert Hauge, Kazufumi Kobashi
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Publication number: 20070098621Abstract: This invention is directed to making chemical derivatives of carbon nanotubes and to uses for the derivatized nanotubes, including making arrays as a basis for synthesis of carbon fibers. In one embodiment, this invention also provides a method for preparing single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube by reacting single wall carbon nanotubes with fluorine gas and recovering fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes, then reacting fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes with a nucleophile. Some of the fluorine substituents are replaced by nucleophilic substitution. If desired, the remaining fluorine can be completely or partially eliminated to produce single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube. The substituents will, of course, be dependent on the nucleophile, and preferred nucleophiles include alkyl lithium species such as methyl lithium.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2006Publication date: May 3, 2007Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: John Margrave, Edward Mickelson, Robert Hauge, Peter Boul, Chad Huffman, Jie Liu, Richard Smalley
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Publication number: 20070065975Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of purifying carbon nanotubes (CNTs). In general, such methods comprise the following steps: (a) preparing an aqueous slurry of impure CNT material; (b) establishing a source of Fe2+ ions in the slurry to provide a catalytic slurry; (c) adding hydrogen peroxide to the catalytic slurry to provide an oxidative slurry, wherein the Fe2+ ions catalyze the production of hydroxyl radicals; and (d) utilizing the hydroxyl radicals in the oxidative slurry to purify the CNT material and provide purified CNTs.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2005Publication date: March 22, 2007Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Richard Smalley, Irene Marek, Yuhuang Wang, Robert Hauge, Hongwei Shan
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Publication number: 20070009421Abstract: The present invention is directed to fibers of epitaxially grown single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and methods of making same. Such methods generally comprise the steps of: (a) providing a spun SWNT fiber; (b) cutting the fiber substantially perpendicular to the fiber axis to yield a cut fiber; (c) etching the cut fiber at its end with a plasma to yield an etched cut fiber; (d) depositing metal catalyst on the etched cut fiber end to form a continuous SWNT fiber precursor; and (e) introducing feedstock gases under SWNT growth conditions to grow the continuous SWNT fiber precursor into a continuous SWNT fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2005Publication date: January 11, 2007Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: W. Kittrell, Yuhuang Wang, Myung Kim, Robert Hauge, Richard Smalley, Irene Marek
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Publication number: 20060231399Abstract: The invention relates to a process for sorting and separating a mixture of (n, m) type single-wall carbon nanotubes according to (n, m) type. A mixture of (n, m) type single-wall carbon nanotubes is suspended such that the single-wall carbon nanotubes are individually dispersed. The nanotube suspension can be done in a surfactant-water solution and the surfactant surrounding the nanotubes keeps the nanotube isolated and from aggregating with other nanotubes. The nanotube suspension is acidified to protonate a fraction of the nanotubes. An electric field is applied and the protonated nanotubes migrate in the electric fields at different rates dependent on their (n, m) type. Fractions of nanotubes are collected at different fractionation times. The process of protonation, applying an electric field, and fractionation is repeated at increasingly higher pH to separated the (n, m) nanotube mixture into individual (n, m) nanotube fractions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2006Publication date: October 19, 2006Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Richard Smalley, Robert Hauge, W. Kittrell, Ramesh Sivarajan, Michael Strano, Sergei Bachilo, R. Weisman
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Publication number: 20060201880Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to new liquid-liquid extraction methods for the length-based separation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and other 1-dimensional nanostructures.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2005Publication date: September 14, 2006Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Kirk Ziegler, Daniel Schmidt, Robert Hauge, Richard Smalley, Irene Marek
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Patent number: 7093659Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a well. The method includes the steps of: (a) forming a treatment fluid, and (b) introducing the treatment fluid into the well and into contact with the formation. The treatment fluid includes: (1) water; (2) a water-soluble polysaccoharide capable of increasing the viscosity of the water or a water-soluble polysaccharide and a crosslinking agent for the water-soluble polysaccharide; (3) a breaker comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a source of chlorite ions and a source of hypochlorite ions; and (4) a breaker moderator comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a source of magnesium ions and a source of calcium ions.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2004Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Ronald J. Powell, Robert Hauge
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Publication number: 20060159612Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to methods of ozonating CNTs in fluorinated solvents (fluoro-solvents), wherein such methods provide a less dangerous alternative to existing ozonolysis methods. In some embodiments, such methods comprise the steps of: (a) dispersing carbon nanotubes in a fluoro-solvent to form a dispersion; and (b) reacting ozone with the carbon nanotubes in the dispersion to functionalize the sidewalls of the carbon nanotubes and yield functionalized carbon nanotubes with oxygen-containing functional moieties. In some such embodiments, the fluoro-solvent is a fluorocarbon solvent, such as a perfluorinated polyether.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2005Publication date: July 20, 2006Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Kirk Ziegler, Jonah Shaver, Robert Hauge, Richard Smalley, Irene Marek
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Publication number: 20050277201Abstract: The present invention is directed toward novel matrix elements, generally comprising functionalized carbon nanotubes, for matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI)-mass spectroscopy (MS), methods of making such matrix elements, and to methods of using such matrix elements in MALDI-MS applications, particularly for the analysis of biological molecules. In some embodiments, by carefully tuning the absorption characteristics of the matrix element, biomolecular analytes can be sequenced.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2004Publication date: December 15, 2005Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Ramesh Sivarajan, Robert Hauge, Terry Marriott
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Publication number: 20050205259Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a well. The method comprising the steps of: (a) forming a treatment fluid, and (b) introducing the treatment fluid into the well and into contact with the formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2004Publication date: September 22, 2005Inventors: Ronald Powell, Robert Hauge
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Publication number: 20050171281Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to the block copolymerization of rigid rod polymers with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the CNTs generally being shortened, to form nanotube block copolymers. The present invention is also directed to fibers and other shaped articles made from the nanotube block copolymers of the present invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2004Publication date: August 4, 2005Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Wen-Fang Hwang, Richard Smalley, Robert Hauge
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Publication number: 20050169830Abstract: The present invention is directed to the creation of macroscopic materials and objects comprising aligned nanotube segments. The invention entails aligning single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) segments that are suspended in a fluid medium and then removing the aligned segments from suspension in a way that macroscopic, ordered assemblies of SWNT are formed. The invention is further directed to controlling the natural proclivity of nanotube segments to self assemble into ordered structures by modifying the environment of the nanotubes and the history of that environment prior to and during the process. The materials and objects are “macroscopic” in that they are large enough to be seen without the aid of a microscope or of the dimensions of such objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2004Publication date: August 4, 2005Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Smalley Richard, Daniel Colbert, Kenneth Smith, Deron Walters, Michael Casavant, Chad Huffman, Boris Yakobson, Robert Hauge, Rajesh Saini, Wan-Ting Chiang, Xiao Qin
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Publication number: 20050160798Abstract: The present invention is directed to at least one method and at least one apparatus for determining the length of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The method generally comprises the steps of: dispersing a sample of SWNTs into a suitable dispersing medium to form a solvent-suspension of solvent-suspended SWNTs; determining the mean SWNT diameter of the solvent-suspended SWNTs; introducing the solvent-suspended SWNTs into a viscosity-measuring device; obtaining a specific viscosity for the SWNT solvent-suspension; and determining the length of the SWNTs based upon the specific viscosity by solving, for example, the Kirkwood-Auer equation corrected by Batchelor's formula for the drag on a slender cylinder for “L,” to determine the length of the SWNTs.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2004Publication date: July 28, 2005Applicant: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Matteo Pasquali, Virginia Davis, Ingrid Stepanek-Basset, A. Nicholas Parra-Vasquez, Robert Hauge