Abstract: A nanoparticle coated with a semiconducting material and a method for making the same. In one embodiment, the method comprises making a semiconductor coated nanoparticle comprising a layer of at least one semiconducting material covering at least a portion of at least one surface of a nanoparticle, comprising: (A) dispersing the nanoparticle under suitable conditions to provide a dispersed nanoparticle; and (B) depositing at least one semiconducting material under suitable conditions onto at least one surface of the dispersed nanoparticle to produce the semiconductor coated nanoparticle. In other embodiments, the nanoparticle comprises a fullerene. Further embodiments include the semiconducting material comprising CdS or CdSe.

Abstract: A method for making hollow spheres of alumina or aluminate comprises: coating polymeric beads with an aqueous solution of an alumoxane, drying the beads so as to form an alumoxane coating on the beads; heating the beads to a first temperature that is sufficient to convert the alumoxane coating to an amorphous alumina or aluminate coating and is not sufficient to decompose the polymeric beads; dissolving the polymeric bead in a solvent; removing the dissolved polymer from the amorphous alumina or aluminate coating; and heating the amorphous alumina or aluminate coating to a second temperature that is sufficient to form a hollow ceramic sphere of desired porosity and strength. The hollow spheres can be used as proppants or can be incorporated in porous membranes.

Abstract: Proppants having added functional properties are provided, as are methods that use the proppants to track and trace the characteristics of a fracture in a geologic formation. Information obtained by the methods can be used to design a fracturing job, to increase conductivity in the fracture, and to enhance oil and gas recovery from the geologic formation. The functionalized proppants can be detected by a variety of methods utilizing, for example, an airborne magnetometer survey, ground penetrating radar, a high resolution accelerometer, a geophone, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultra-sound, impedance measurements, piezoelectric activity, radioactivity, and the like. Methods of mapping a subterranean formation are also provided and use the functionalized proppants to detect characteristics of the formation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a series of new compounds, combining the unique properties of fullerenes and bio-active amino acid residues, and to methods for making such compounds. The present invention is directed toward fullerene-based amino acids, and to amino acid residues, peptide chains, proteins, and polypeptides made from such fullerene-based amino acids. The present invention is further directed to amino acid residues, peptide chains, proteins, and polypeptides comprising such fullerene-based amino acids and into which such fullerene-based amino acids have been incorporated. Exemplary compounds have been prepared, and these compounds have been characterized and confirmed with infrared (IR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (MS), etc.

Abstract: High surface area iron oxides that can be ferroxane-derived iron oxides are described, as well as methods of using the same to remove at least a portion of one or more sulfur-containing species from a gas stream or liquid stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a new composition of matter in the form of chemically derivatized silica coated fullerenes, including silica coated C60 molecules and silica coated carbon nanotubes, processes for making the same and to uses for the derivatized silica coated fullerenes. Included among many uses in chemical, physical or biological fields of use, but not limited thereto, are high speed, low loss electrical interconnects for nanoscale electronic devices, components and circuits. In one embodiment, this invention also provides a method for preparing silica coated fullerenes having substituents attached to the surface of silica coated fullerenes by reacting silica coated fullerenes with a wide range of organic or inorganic chemical species in a gaseous or liquid state. Preferred substituents include but are not limited to organic groups and organic groups containing heteroatoms such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and halogens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a new composition of matter in the form of chemically derivatized silica coated fullerenes, including silica coated C60 molecules and silica coated carbon nanotubes, processes for making the same and to uses for the derivatized silica coated fullerenes. Included among many uses in chemical, physical or biological fields of use, but not limited thereto, are high speed, low loss electrical interconnects for nanoscale electronic devices, components and circuits. In one embodiment, this invention also provides a method for preparing silica coated fullerenes having substituents attached to the surface of silica coated fullerenes by reacting silica coated fullerenes with a wide range of organic or inorganic chemical species in a gaseous or liquid state. Preferred substituents include but are not limited to organic groups and organic groups containing heteroatoms such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and halogens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a new composition of matter in the form of chemically derivatized silica coated fullerenes, including silica coated C60 molecules and silica coated carbon nanotubes, processes for making the same and to uses for the derivatized silica coated fullerenes. Included among many uses in chemical, physical or biological fields of use, but not limited thereto, are high speed, low loss electrical interconnects for nanoscale electronic devices, components and circuits. In one embodiment, this invention also provides a method for preparing silica coated fullerenes having substituents attached to the surface of silica coated fullerenes by reacting silica coated fullerenes with a wide range of organic or inorganic chemical species in a gaseous or liquid state. Preferred substituents include but are not limited to organic groups and organic groups containing heteroatoms such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and halogens.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards methods (processes) of providing large quantities of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) of defined diameter and chirality (i.e., precise populations). In such processes, CNT seeds of a pre-selected diameter and chirality are grown to many (e.g., hundreds) times their original length. This is optionally followed by cycling some of the newly grown material back as seed material for regrowth. Thus, the present invention provides for the large-scale production of precise populations of CNTs, the precise composition of such populations capable of being optimized for a particular application (e.g., hydrogen storage). The present invention is also directed to complexes of CNTs and transition metal catalyst precurors, such complexes typically being formed en route to forming CNT seeds.

Abstract: A nanoparticle coated with a semiconducting material and a method for making the same. In one embodiment, the method comprises making a semiconductor coated nanoparticle comprising a layer of at least one semiconducting material covering at least a portion of at least one surface of a nanoparticle, comprising: (A) dispersing the nanoparticle under suitable conditions to provide a dispersed nanoparticle; and (B) depositing at least one semiconducting material under suitable conditions onto at least one surface of the dispersed nanoparticle to produce the semiconductor coated nanoparticle. In other embodiments, the nanoparticle comprises a fullerene. Further embodiments include the semiconducting material comprising CdS or CdSe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants.

Abstract: A nanoparticle coated with a semiconducting material and a method for making the same. In one embodiment, the method comprises making a semiconductor coated nanoparticle comprising a layer of at least one semiconducting material covering at least a portion of at least one surface of a nanoparticle, comprising: (A) dispersing the nanoparticle under suitable conditions to provide a dispersed nanoparticle; and (B) depositing at least one semiconducting material under suitable conditions onto at least one surface of the dispersed nanoparticle to produce the semiconductor coated nanoparticle. In other embodiments, the nanoparticle comprises a fullerene. Further embodiments include the semiconducting material comprising CdS or CdSe.

Abstract: A method for making hollow spheres of alumina or aluminate comprises: coating polymeric beads with an aqueous solution of an alumoxane, drying the beads so as to form an alumoxane coating on the beads; heating the beads to a first temperature that is sufficient to convert the alumoxane coating to an amorphous alumina or aluminate coating and is not sufficient to decompose the polymeric beads; dissolving the polymeric bead in a solvent; removing the dissolved polymer from the amorphous alumina or aluminate coating; and heating the amorphous alumina or aluminate coating to a second temperature that is sufficient to form a hollow ceramic sphere of desired porosity and strength. The hollow spheres can be used as proppants or can be incorporated in porous membranes.