Patents Assigned to Rice University
  • Patent number: 7939047
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of separating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by their electronic type (e.g., metallic, semi-metallic, and semiconducting). Perhaps most generally, in some embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods of separating CNTs by bandgap, wherein such separation is effected by interacting the CNTs with a surface such that the surface interacts differentially with the CNTs on the basis of their bandgap, or lack thereof. In some embodiments, such methods can allow for such separations to be carried out in bulk quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Christopher A. Dyke, Austen K. Flatt
  • Patent number: 7940043
    Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of precipitants in a hydrocarbon stream, the method comprising introducing at least a portion of the hydrocarbon stream into a measurement chamber of an NMR measuring device, assaying the fluids in the chamber with proton nuclear magnetic resonance to obtain NMR signals, and processing the NMR signals to detect the formation of precipitants in the hydrocarbon stream. The method may be carried out at first and second locations, and NMR signals obtained at the two locations compared to detect precipitation of precipitant between the two locations. A method of monitoring the water content of a hydrocarbon stream in a flowline comprising introducing at least a portion of the hydrocarbon stream into an NMR measuring device, measuring a baseline NMR water signal of the hydrocarbon stream and comparing subsequent NMR water signals with the baseline NMR water signal to detect changes in the water content of the hydrocarbon stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignees: William Marsh Rice University, Texas Tech University
    Inventors: Shuqiang Gao, Waylon V. House, Walter Chapman
  • Patent number: 7939136
    Abstract: The formation of arrays of fullerene nanotubes is described. A microscopic molecular array of fullerene nanotubes is formed by assembling subarrays of up to 106 fullerene nanotubes into a composite array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Richard E. Smalley, Daniel T. Colbert, Hongjie Dai, Jie Liu, Andrew G. Rinzler, Jason H. Hafner, Ken Smith, Ting Guo, Pavel Nikolaev, Andreas Thess
  • Patent number: 7938969
    Abstract: Methods for separating magnetic nanoparticles are provided. In certain embodiments, a method is provided for separating magnetic nanoparticles comprising: providing a sample comprising a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles; passing the sample through a first magnetic field; at least partially isolating nanoparticles of the first nanoparticle size desired; altering the strength of the first magnetic field to produce a second magnetic field; and at least partially isolating nanoparticles of the second nanoparticle size desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Vicki Leigh Colvin, Cafer Tayyar Yavuz, John Thomas Mayo, Weiyong Yu
  • Patent number: 7938991
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to new methods for combining, processing, and modifying existing materials, resulting in novel products with enhanced mechanical, electrical and electronic properties. The present invention provides for polymer/carbon nanotube composites with increased strength and toughness; beneficial for lighter and/or stronger structural components for terrestrial and aerospace applications, electrically and thermally conductive polymer composites, and electrostatic dissipative materials. Such composites rely on a molecular interpenetration between entangled single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and cross-linked polymers to a degree not possible with previous processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Constantine D. Armeniades, Enrique V. Barrera, Jong Dae Kim
  • Publication number: 20110100440
    Abstract: A general approach is provided for producing devices that absorb optical photons (visible to near IR) and performs charge separation with a useful voltage between holes and electrons. These holes and electrons may be collected in electrodes for performing useful work outside the device. The described technology is generally based upon rectification of plasmons (collective electric excitations) generated by absorbing light with tuned metallic antennas. According to some embodiments, the present invention provides a spatial array of nanoscale conductors forming an optical rectenna that responds to an incident light source and generates a current offset that may be rectified by a rectification-inducing material. The present inventors foresee an extensive use of these optical rectennas as photovoltaic devices, as well as a wide interest in diverse fundamental research and applied technologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Howard K. Schmidt, Juan Duque
  • Patent number: 7935682
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the ability of SAP to suppress the differentiation of monocytes into fibrocytes. It also relates to the ability of IL-4 and IL-3 to enhance the differentiation of monocytes into fibrocytes. Methods and compositions for binding SAP, decreasing SAP levels and suppressing SAP activity are provided. Methods of using, inter alia, CPHPC, the 4,6-pyruvate acetyl of beta-D-galactopyranose, ethanolamines, high EEO agarose, IL-4, and IL-13, and anti-SAP antibodies and fragments thereof to increase monocyte differentiation into fibrocytes are provided. These methods are useful in a variety of applications, including wound healing. Wound dressings are also provided. Finally, the invention may include assays for detecting the ability of various agents to modulate monocyte differentiation into fibrocytes and to detect monocyte defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Richard Gomer, Darrell Pilling
  • Patent number: 7935511
    Abstract: Methods of increasing yields of succinate using aerobic culture methods and a multi-mutant E. coli strain are provided. Also provided is a mutant strain of E. coli that produces high amounts of succinic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Henry Lin
  • Publication number: 20110090497
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multimetallic nanoshell sensor which comprises a core that is less conductive that a first metallic layer and having a catalytically active second metallic layer partially or completely surrounding the first metallic layer. The sensor can be used in any surface enhanced spectroscopic applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Rice University
    Inventors: Kimberly Nadia Heck, Nancy Jean Halas, Michael Sha-Nang Wong
  • Patent number: 7927859
    Abstract: The invention relates to increasing the yield of succinate in bacteria by increasing the intracellular availability of cofactors such as NADH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Ailen Sánchez
  • Patent number: 7928893
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for developing radar scene and target profiles based on Compressive Sensing concept. An outgoing radar waveform is transmitted in the direction of a radar target and the radar reflectivity profile is recovered from the received radar wave sequence using a compressible or sparse representation of the radar reflectivity profile in combination with knowledge of the outgoing wave form. In an exemplary embodiment the outgoing waveform is a pseudo noise sequence or a linear FM waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Richard G. Baraniuk, Theo P. H. Steeghs
  • Publication number: 20110086781
    Abstract: The formation of arrays of fullerene nanotubes is described. A microscopic molecular array of fullerene nanotubes is formed by assembling subarrays of up to 106 fullerene nanotubes into a composite array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Richard E. Smalley, Daniel T. Colbert, Hongjie Dai, Jie Liu, Andrew G. Rinzler, Jason H. Hafner, Ken Smith, Ting Guo, Pavel Nikolaev, Andreas Thess
  • Publication number: 20110079770
    Abstract: The invented ink-jet printing method for the construction of thin film transistors using all SWNTs on flexible plastic films is a new process. This method is more practical than all of exiting printing methods in the construction TFT and RFID tags because SWNTs have superior properties of both electrical and mechanical over organic conducting oligomers and polymers which often used for TFT. Furthermore, this method can be applied on thin films such as paper and plastic films while silicon based techniques can not used on such flexible films. These are superior to the traditional conducting polymers used in printable devices since they need no dopant and they are more stable. They could be used in conjunction with conducting polymers, or as stand-alone inks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Gyou-Jin Cho, Min Hun Jung, Jared L. Hudson, James M. Tour
  • Patent number: 7916741
    Abstract: A system and method for preventing a count-to-infinity problem in a network using epochs of sequence numbers in protocol messages to eliminate stale protocol information in the network and to allow the forwarding topology to recover in merely one round trip time across the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Khaled Elmeleegy, Alan L. Cox, Tze Sing Eugene Ng
  • Publication number: 20110063054
    Abstract: A method comprising polarizing and coupling an electromagnetic beam to a first-order transverse electric (TE1) mode with respect to a parallel plate waveguide (PPWG) integrated resonator comprising two plates and a cavity, sending the electromagnetic beam into the PPWG integrated resonator to excite the cavity by the TE1 mode and cause a resonance response, and obtaining wave amplitude data that comprises a resonant frequency, and obtaining the refractive index of fluids filling the cavity via the shift in resonant frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Rajind Mendis, Daniel M. Mittleman
  • Publication number: 20110065946
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to nanodiamond (ND) surface coatings and methods of making same. Such coatings are formed by a covalent linkage of ND crystals to a particular surface via linker species. The methods described herein overcome many of the limitations of the prior art in that they can be performed with standard wet chemistry (i.e., solution-based) methods, thereby permitting low temperature processing. Additionally, such coatings can potentially be applied on a large scale and for coating large areas of a variety of different substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Valery N. Khabashesku, Yu Liu, Nancy J. Halas
  • Publication number: 20110064010
    Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a wireless network interface card (WNIC). The WNIC includes an integrated circuit and a computer readable medium including executable instructions, which when executed by the integrated circuit perform a method, the method including selecting a first directional antenna of a number of directional antennas on a mobile communications device, sending a first data packet using the first directional antenna, and determining whether the first antenna is valid using a transmission strength threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Lin Zhong, Hasan Dumanli, Ashutosh Sabharwal, Ardalan Amiri Sani
  • Publication number: 20110059842
    Abstract: A new type of solid acid catalyst, which promises better catalytic performance than conventionally prepared supported metal oxides due to its precisely synthesized nanostructure has been described. The catalyst is nanoparticulate in form and is comprised of monolayers of tungstated zirconia of the formula, WOxZryO4-2y made by impregnating a support with zirconium and tungsten. The support catalyst is further characterized in having a tugsten monolayer between greater than 0001 W/nm2 to about 30 W/nm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicants: RICE UNIVERSITY, LEHIGH UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Israel E. Wachs, Elizabeth I. Ross-Medgaarden, Michael Sha-nang Wong
  • Publication number: 20110058765
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for the electro-optic modulation of light. The device includes a substrate having a first ring waveguide and a second ring waveguide on the surface. The device includes a first p-doped region inside the first ring waveguide and a second p-doped region inside the second ring waveguide. The device includes a first n-doped region interposed between the first ring waveguide and the second ring waveguide, a second n-doped region outside the first ring waveguide, and a third n-doped region out the second ring waveguide. The device includes a first linear waveguide located on the surface adjacent to the first ring waveguide and the second ring waveguide. The device includes a fourth n-doped region on the surface located adjacent to the first linear waveguide. The device includes a control circuit configured to modulate light in the first linear waveguide using a voltage source and electrical connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventor: Qianfan Xu
  • Publication number: 20110059871
    Abstract: Drilling fluids comprising graphenes and nanoplatelet additives and methods for production thereof are disclosed. Graphene includes graphite oxide, graphene oxide, chemically-converted graphene, and functionalized chemically-converted graphene. Derivatized graphenes and methods for production thereof are disclosed. The derivatized graphenes are prepared from a chemically-converted graphene through derivatization with a plurality of functional groups. Derivatization can be accomplished, for example, by reaction of a chemically-converted graphene with a diazonium species. Methods for preparation of graphite oxide are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Howard K. Schmidt, Jay R. Lomeda, Dmitry V. Kosynkin, Condell D. Doyle