Patents Assigned to Rice University
  • Publication number: 20160344016
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods of preparing porous silicon films and particles by: (1) etching a silicon material by exposure of the silicon material to a constant current density in a solution (e.g., hydrofluoric acid 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. The methods of the present invention may also include a step of associating the porous silicon film with a binding material, such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN). 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 methods of preparing porous silicon particles and anode materials that may be derived from the porous silicon films and porous silicon particles of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicants: William Marsh Rice University, Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Sibani Lisa Biswal, Madhuri Thakur, Michael S. Wong, Steven L. Sinsabaugh, Mark Isaacson
  • Patent number: 9493355
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods of preparing functionalized graphene nanoribbons. Such methods include: (1) exposing a plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to an alkali metal source in the presence of an aprotic solvent to open them; and (2) exposing the opened CNTs to an electrophile to form functionalized graphene nanoribbons (GNRs). The methods may also include a step of exposing the opened CNTs to a protic solvent to quench any reactive species on them. Additional methods include preparing unfunctionalized GNRs by: (1) exposing a plurality of CNTs to an alkali metal source in the presence of an aprotic solvent to open them; and (2) exposing the opened CNTs to a protic solvent to form unfunctionalized GNRs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Wei Lu, Bostjan Genorio
  • Patent number: 9495513
    Abstract: The invention relates to a computer readable medium including software instructions, which when executed by a scaling parameters for processor perform a method. The method includes obtaining a first and a second pre-calculated history, wherein the first and the second pre-calculated history corresponds to a first and a second path of particles through a reference material. The method further includes obtaining a first and a second plurality of phase space points and performing a first and a second set of simulations in parallel on a first and a second GPU. Each simulation uses a distinct one of the first and second plurality of phase space points, the geometry information, and the first and second pre-calculated history. The sets of simulations are performed on the GPU's to obtain a set of simulated histories. The method further includes calculating an absorbed dose of energy in the target using the set of simulated histories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignees: William Marsh Rice University, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Pablo P. Yepes, Wayne David Newhauser, John Gordon Eley
  • Patent number: 9487804
    Abstract: Systems, methods and microbes that allow the biological production of hydroxy fatty acids and dicarboxylic fatty acids are provided. Specifically, hydroxy fatty acids and dicarboxylic fatty acids are produced by microbes that have been engineered to overexpress acyl ACP thioesterase plus an alkane degration pathway, such as AlkBGT or AlkJH These can be in separate microbes or the same microbe, and separate microbes can be co-cultured or sequentially cultured. Continuously fed systems transferring secreted fats from one microbial culture to another can also be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, Xixian Xie, Leepika Tuli, Hui Wu
  • Publication number: 20160318862
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides novel derivatives of ?12-PGJ3 and modular synthetic pathways to obtaining ?12-PGJ3 and derivatives thereof. In some aspects, the present derivatives of ?12-PGJ3 are useful as chemotherapeutic agents. The present disclosure also describes compositions of these derivatives as well as methods of use of the derivatives thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kyriacos C. NICOLAOU, Philipp HERETSCH, Christopher R.H. HALE, Abdellatif El Marrouni EL GHZAOUI, Kiran Kumar PULUKURI, Ruocheng YU, Charles GROVE
  • Publication number: 20160316112
    Abstract: An image or a range image in a range at an arbitrary distance is acquired. An imaging device includes: a control unit configured to control an output of an irradiation signal including an irradiation code used for control of a pattern of emission of irradiation light and an output of a reference signal including a reference code indicating a pattern used for detection of a correlation with reception light including reflection light of the irradiation light; and an imaging element configured to output a pixel signal indicating a correlation between the reception light and the reference signal, wherein one of the irradiation code and the reference code is a code in which weighted adding of a plurality of unit codes, in which a phase of a basic code having an impulse cross-correlation with the other code is shifted for a different shift amount, is performed. The present technology can be applied, for example, to a camera that photographs a range image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicants: Sony Corporation, William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Ryuichi Tadano, Adithya Pediredla, Ashok Veeraraghavan
  • Publication number: 20160293935
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicants: William Marsh Rice University, Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Sibani Lisa Biswal, Michael S. Wong, Madhuri Thakur, Steven L. Sinsabaugh
  • Patent number: 9453763
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a resolution of a multidimensional imaging system includes taking a first hyperspectral snapshot by the multidimensional imaging system comprising a light processor comprising a plurality of optical fibers having a first end with an input spacing and a second end with an adjustable output spacing; adjusting the adjustable output spacing of the light processor to a new output spacing; and taking a second hyperspectral snapshot after adjusting the adjustable spacing of the multidimensional imagining system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventor: Tomasz S. Tkaczyk
  • Patent number: 9452239
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a substantially interconnected model vasculature, as well as compositions formed from such methods are provided. In some embodiments, the methods may comprise forming a non-woven fiber network comprising a plurality of fibers and a void space; backfilling the void space of the fiber network; and removing the fibers to form a substantially interconnected vascular network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignees: William Marsh Rice University, University of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: Jennifer L. West, Christopher S. Chen, Jordan S. Miller, Michael T. Yang
  • Patent number: 9455094
    Abstract: Provided are methods of making graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid materials. Such methods generally include: (1) associating a graphene film with a substrate; (2) applying a catalyst and a carbon source to the graphene film; and (3) growing carbon nanotubes on the graphene film. The grown carbon nanotubes become covalently linked to the graphene film through carbon-carbon bonds that are located at one or more junctions between the carbon nanotubes and the graphene film. In addition, the grown carbon nanotubes are in ohmic contact with the graphene film through the carbon-carbon bonds at the one or more junctions. The one or more junctions may include seven-membered carbon rings. Also provided are the formed graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Yu Zhu, Lei Li, Zheng Yan, Jian Lin
  • Publication number: 20160276588
    Abstract: A porous memory device, such as a memory or a switch, may provide a top and bottom electrodes with a memory material layer (e.g. SiOx) positioned between the electrodes. The memory material layer may provide a nanoporous structure. In some embodiments, the nanoporous structure may be formed electrochemically, such as from anodic etching. Electroformation of a filament through the memory material layer may occur internally through the layer rather than at an edge at extremely low electro-forming voltages. The porous memory device may also provide multi-bit storage, high on-off ratios, long high-temperature lifetime, excellent cycling endurance, fast switching, and lower power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Gunuk Wang, Yang Yang, Yongsung Ji
  • Publication number: 20160276411
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the resistive memory cells and arrays discussed herein comprise: (1) a first electrode; (2) a second electrode; (3) resistive memory material; and (4) a diode. The resistive memory material is selected from the group consisting of SiOx, SiOxNy, SiOxNyH, SiOxCz, SiOxCzH, and combinations thereof, wherein each of x, y and z are equal or greater than 1 or equal or less than 2. The diode may be any suitable diode, such as n-p diodes, p-n diodes, and Schottky diodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicants: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Jun Yao, Jian Lin, Gunuk Wang, Krishna Palem
  • Patent number: 9449743
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making magnetic carbon nanoribbons. Such methods generally include: (1) forming carbon nanoribbons by splitting carbon nanomaterials; and (2) associating graphene nanoribbons with magnetic materials, precursors of magnetic materials, or combinations thereof. Further embodiments of the present disclosure also include a step of reducing the precursors of magnetic materials to magnetic materials. In various embodiments, the associating occurs before, during or after the splitting of the carbon nanomaterials. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure further comprise a step of (3) functionalizing the carbon nanoribbons with functionalizing agents. In more specific embodiments, the functionalizing occurs in situ during the splitting of carbon nanomaterials. In further embodiments, the carbon nanoribbons are edge-functionalized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY, M-I, L.L.C.
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Bostjan Genorio, Wei Lu, Brandi Katherine Price-Hoelscher
  • Publication number: 20160263150
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of optimizing a treatment efficacy of a biological system by tuning a property of the biological system through the addition of an optimizing agent to the biological system. The tuning can include: (a) determining a property parameter of the biological system; (b) selecting an optimizing agent to be added to the biological system based on the determined property parameter; and (c) adding the optimizing agent to the biological system. The optimizing agent can include a kosmotropic material. The biological system can include a tissue, such as a tumor. The methods of the present disclosure can be utilized to enhance the efficacy of various treatments, such as the heat treatment of a biological system exposed to a radiofrequency field. The methods of the present disclosure can also include a step of treating the biological system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicants: Baylor College of Medicine, William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Nadia C. Lara, Andrew R. Barron, Stuart Corr, Steven Curley
  • Patent number: 9441253
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a metabolic transistor in bacteria where a competitive pathway is introduced to compete with a product pathway for available carbon so as to control the carbon flux in the bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Hui Wu
  • Patent number: 9431565
    Abstract: An opto-electronic sensor may provide one or more layers of atomically layered photo-sensitive materials. The sensor may include a gate electrode layer, a dielectric layer in contact with the gate electrode layer, and a working media layer that is photo-sensitive deposited on the dielectric layer. The working media layer may provide one or more layers of one or more materials where each of the one or more layers is an atomic layer. The sensor may also include side electrodes in contact with the working media layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Sidong Lei, Liehui Ge, Antony George, Bo Li, Robert Vajtai, Pulickel M. Ajayan
  • Patent number: 9428394
    Abstract: A highly oxidized form of graphene oxide and methods for production thereof are described in various embodiments of the present disclosure. In general, the methods include mixing a graphite source with a solution containing at least one oxidant and at least one protecting agent and then oxidizing the graphite source with the at least one oxidant in the presence of the at least one protecting agent to form the graphene oxide. Graphene oxide synthesized by the presently described methods is of a high structural quality that is more oxidized and maintains a higher proportion of aromatic rings and aromatic domains than does graphene oxide prepared in the absence of at least one protecting agent. Methods for reduction of graphene oxide into chemically converted graphene are also disclosed herein. The chemically converted graphene of the present disclosure is significantly more electrically conductive than is chemically converted graphene prepared from other sources of graphene oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Dmitry V. Kosynkin
  • Publication number: 20160237337
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrocarbon recovery composition, which composition contains: a) a first anionic surfact ant selected from the group consisting of a propoxylated primary alcohol carboxylate and a propoxylated primary alcohol glycerol sulfonate; and b) a second anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of a propoxylated primary alcohol carboxylate and a propoxylated primary alcohol glycerol sulfonate, and wherein the first and second anionic surfactants are different. Further, the invention relates to an injectable liquid containing the hydrocarbon recovery composition and a method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicants: SHELL OIL COMPANY, WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Julian Richard BARNES, Clarence Alphonso MILLER, George Jiro HIRASAKI, Maura Camps PUERTO, Sheila Teresa DUBEY, Carmen Geraldine REZNIK
  • Publication number: 20160237237
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to gas barrier composites that include a polymer matrix and graphene nanoribbons dispersed in the polymer matrix. The polymer matrix can include a phase-separated block copolymer with a hard phase domain and a soft phase domain. Like-wise, the functionalized graphene nanoribbons can include edge-functionalized graphene nanoribbons with concentrations that range from about 0.1% by weight to about 5% by weight of the gas barrier composites. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of making gas barrier composites by dispersing graphene nanoribbons in a polymer matrix. In some embodiments, the dispersing lowers the permeability of a gas through the gas barrier composite and causes phase separation of block copolymers in the polymer matrix. In some embodiments, the dispersion of graphene nanoribbons in the polymer matrix lowers the gas effective diffusivity of the gas barrier composite by three orders of magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Changsheng Xiang
  • Patent number: 9416364
    Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant microorganisms that have been engineered to produce various chemicals using genes that have been repurposed to create a reverse beta oxidation pathway. Generally speaking, the beta oxidation cycle is expressed and driven in reverse by modifying various regulation points for as many cycles as needed, and then the CoA thioester intermediates are converted to useful products by the action of termination enzymes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Ramon Gonzalez, James Clomburg, Clementina Dellomonaco, Elliot N. Miller