Patents by Inventor Andrew G. Rinzler

Andrew G. Rinzler 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).

  • Patent number: 8961830
    Abstract: A composition of matter comprises a polymer with a fully conjugated backbone or a conjugated block with a plurality of binding groups connected to the backbone by a linking moiety. The binding groups permit a non-covalent binding to a graphitic surface such as a carbon nanotube. A composition of matter where an electroactive polymer with binding groups connected to a conjugated backbone through a linking moiety is bound to carbon nanotubes. Such compositions can be used for a variety of applications using electroactive materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Reynolds, Ryan M. Walczak, Andrew G. Rinzler
  • Patent number: 8124259
    Abstract: A microbial fuel cell (100) includes an anode compartment (110) including an anode (115) and anolyte (120). The anolyte (120) comprises a plurality of in-vivo cells (125) mixed with a plurality of electrically conducting nano or micro-scale fibers (128), wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electrically conducting fibers (128) are in electrical contact with a surface of the anode (115). A cathode compartment (140) includes a cathode (145) and a catholyte (150). A cation-exchange membrane (155) is disposed between the anode compartment (110) and the cathode compartment (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. Rinzler, Lonnie O'Neal Ingram, Keelnatham T. Shanmugam, Jonathan C. Moore, Zhuangchun Wu
  • Patent number: 7972699
    Abstract: An optically transparent and electrically conductive single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) film comprises a plurality of interpenetrated single walled carbon nanotubes, wherein for a 100 nm film the film has sufficient interpenetration to provide a 25° C. sheet resistance of less than 200 ohm/sq. The film also provides at least 20% optical transmission throughout a wavelength range from 0.4 ?m to 5 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. Rinzler, Zhihong Chen
  • Patent number: 7959779
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to cutting single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT). In one embodiment, the present invention provides for preparations of homogeneous populations of short carbon nanotube molecules by cutting and annealing (reclosing) the nanotube pieces followed by fractionation. The cutting and annealing processes may be carried out on a purified nanotube bucky paper, on felts prior to purification of nanotubes or on any material that contains single-wall nanotubes. In one embodiment, oxidative etching with concentrated nitric acid is employed to cut SWNTs into shorter lengths. The annealed nanotubes may be disbursed in an aqueous detergent solution or an organic solvent for the fractionation. Closed tubes can also be derivatized to facilitate fractionation, for example, by adding solubilizing moieties to the end caps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Daniel T. Colbert, Honglie Dai, Jason H. Hafner, Andrew G. Rinzler, Richard E. Smalley, Jie Liu, Kenneth A. Smith, Ting Guo, Pavel Nikolaev, Andreas Thess
  • 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
  • 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: 20100272981
    Abstract: An optically transparent and electrically conductive single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) film comprises a plurality of interpenetrated single walled carbon nanotubes, wherein for a 100 nm film the film has sufficient interpenetration to provide a 25° C. sheet resistance of less than 200 ohm/sq. The film also provides at least 20% optical transmission throughout a wavelength range from 0.4 ?m to 5 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: ANDREW G. RINZLER, ZHIHONG CHEN
  • Patent number: 7776444
    Abstract: An optically transparent and electrically conductive single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) film comprises a plurality of interpenetrated single walled carbon nanotubes, wherein for a 100 nm film the film has sufficient interpenetration to provide a 25° C. sheet resistance of less than 200 ohm/sq. The film also provides at least 20% optical transmission throughout a wavelength range from 0.4 ?m to 5 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. Rinzler, Zhihong Chen
  • Patent number: 7704479
    Abstract: An highly porous electrically conducting film that includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, nanowires or a combination of both. The highly porous electrically conducting film exhibits an electrical resistivity of less than 0.1 O·cm at 25 C and a density of between 0.05 and 0.70 g/cm3. The film can exhibit a density between 0.50 and 0.85 g/cm3 and an electrical resistivity of less than 6×10?3 O·cm at 25 C. Also included is a method of forming these highly porous electrically conducting films by forming a composite film using carbon nanotubes or nanowires and sacrificial nanoparticles or microparticles. At least a portion of the nanoparticles or microparticles are then removed from the composite film to form the highly porous electrically conducting film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. Rinzler, John R. Reynolds, Rajib Kumar Das
  • Publication number: 20100096265
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to cutting single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT). In one embodiment, the present invention provides for preparations of homogeneous populations of short carbon nanotube molecules by cutting and annealing (reclosing) the nanotube pieces followed by fractionation. The cutting and annealing processes may be carried out on a purified nanotube bucky paper, on felts prior to purification of nanotubes or on any material that contains single-wall nanotubes. In one embodiment, oxidative etching with concentrated nitric acid is employed to cut SWNTs into shorter lengths. The annealed nanotubes may be disbursed in an aqueous detergent solution or an organic solvent for the fractionation. Closed tubes can also be derivatized to facilitate fractionation, for example, by adding solubilizing moieties to the end caps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Daniel T. Colbert, Honglie Dai, Jason H. Hafner, Andrew G. Rinzler, Richard E. Smalley, Jie Liu, Kenneth A. Smith, Ting Guo, Pavel Nikolaev, Andreas Thess
  • Publication number: 20100099815
    Abstract: Stable charge-transfer doping of carbon nanotubes is achieved using a dopant containing polymer (DCP) wherein the DCP has a multiplicity of dopant moieties that are capable of donating electrons to or accepting electrons from the nanotubes linked to a polymer. The DCP has a sufficient number of dopant moieties connected to the polymer such that when charge transfer equilibrium between a particular dopant moiety and the nanotubes is in a dissociated, or dedoped state, the dopant moiety remains tethered by a linking moiety to the polymer and remains in the vicinity of the nanotubes as the polymer remains bound to the tube by at least one bound dopant of the DCP. The linking groups are selected to permit the presentation of the dopant moieties to the nanotubes in a manner that is unencumbered by the polymer backbone and can undergo charge transfer doping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew G. Rinzler, John R. Reynolds, Ryan M. Walczak
  • Publication number: 20100038597
    Abstract: A composition of matter comprises a polymer with a fully conjugated backbone or a conjugated block with a plurality of binding groups connected to the backbone by a linking moiety. The binding groups permit a non-covalent binding to a graphitic surface such as a carbon nanotube. A composition of matter where an electroactive polymer with binding groups connected to a conjugated backbone through a linking moiety is bound to carbon nanotubes. Such compositions can be used for a variety of applications using electroactive materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC.
    Inventors: John R. Reynolds, Ryan M. Walczak, Andrew G. Rinzler
  • Patent number: 7655302
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to carbon fiber produced from fullerene nanotube arrays. In one embodiment, the present invention involves a macroscopic carbon fiber comprising at least 106 fullerene nanotubes in generally parallel orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    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: 7632569
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to forming an array of fullerene nanotubes. In one embodiment, a macroscopic molecular array is provided comprising at least about 106 fullerene nanotubes in generally parallel orientation and having substantially similar lengths in the range of from about 5 to about 500 nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    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
  • Publication number: 20090169463
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to forming an array of fullerene nanotubes. In one embodiment, a macroscopic molecular array is provided comprising at least about 106 fullerene nanotubes in generally parallel orientation and having substantially similar lengths in the range of from about 5 to about 500 nanometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Richard E. Smalley, Daniel T. Colbert, Hongjie Dai, Jie Liu, Andrew G. Rinzler, Jason H. Hafner, Kenneth A. Smith, Ting Guo, Pavel Nikolaev, Andreas Thess
  • Patent number: 7510695
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to forming a patterned array of fullerene nanotubes. In one embodiment, a nanoscale array of microwells is provided on a substrate; a metal catalyst is deposited in each microwells; and a stream of hydrocarbon or CO feedstock gas is directed at the substrate under conditions that effect growth of fullerene nanotubes from each microwell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    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: 7481989
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to cutting fullerene nanotubes. In one embodiment, the present invention provides for preparation of homogeneous populations of short fullerene nanotubes by cutting and annealing (reclosing) the nanotube pieces followed by fractionation. The cutting and annealing processes may be carried out on a purified nanotube bucky paper, on felts prior to purification of nanotubes or on any material that contains fullerene nanotubes. In one embodiment, oxidative etching with concentrated nitric acid is employed to cut fullerene nanotubes into shorter lengths. The annealed nanotubes may be disbursed in an aqueous detergent solution or an organic solvent for the fractionation. Closed tubes can also be derivatized to facilitate fractionation, for example, by adding solubilizing moieties to the end caps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    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
  • Publication number: 20090004094
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to cutting fullerene nanotubes. In one embodiment, the present invention provides for preparation of homogeneous populations of short fullerene nanotubes by cutting and annealing (reclosing) the nanotube pieces followed by fractionation. The cutting and annealing processes may be carried out on a purified nanotube bucky paper, on felts prior to purification of nanotubes or on any material that contains fullerene nanotubes. In one embodiment, oxidative etching with concentrated nitric acid is employed to cut fullerene nanotubes into shorter lengths. The annealed nanotubes may be disbursed in an aqueous detergent solution or an organic solvent for the fractionation. Closed tubes can also be derivatized to facilitate fractionation, for example, by adding solubilizing moieties to the end caps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Richard E. Smalley, Daniel T. Colbert, Hongjie Dai, Jie Liu, Andrew G. Rinzler, Jason H. Hafner, Kenneth A. Smith, Ting Guo, Pavel Nikolaev, Andreas Thess
  • Publication number: 20080311025
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to forming a patterned array of fullerene nanotubes. In one embodiment, a nanoscale array of microwells is provided on a substrate; a metal catalyst is deposited in each microwells; and a stream of hydrocarbon or CO feedstock gas is directed at the substrate under conditions that effect growth of fullerene nanotubes from each microwell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Richard E. Smalley, Daniel T. Colbert, Hongjie Dai, Jie Liu, Andrew G. Rinzler, Jason H. Hafner, Kenneth A. Smith, Ting Guo, Pavel Nikolaev, Andreas Thess
  • Publication number: 20080261083
    Abstract: A microbial fuel cell (100) includes an anode compartment (110) including an anode (115) and anolyte (120). The anolyte (120) comprises a plurality of in-vivo cells (125) mixed with a plurality of electrically conducting nano or micro-scale fibers (128), wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electrically conducting fibers (128) are in electrical contact with a surface of the anode (115). A cathode compartment (140) includes a cathode (145) and a catholyte (150). A cation-exchange membrane (155) is disposed between the anode compartment (110) and the cathode compartment (140).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. Rinzler, Lonnie O'Neal Ingram, Keelnatham T. Shanmugam, Jonathan C. Moore, Zhuangchun Wu