Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Merchant

Christopher A. Merchant 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).

  • BENT CARBON NANOTUBES AND METHODS OF PRODUCTION
    Publication number: 20150239739
    Abstract: A method of producing carbon nanotubes includes directing a flow of a gas over a substrate to provide growth of at least one carbon nanotube in a carbon-nanotube-growth region of the substrate; applying an electric field to the carbon-nanotube-growth region of the substrate after the at least one carbon nanotube has begun to grow in the carbon-nanotube-growth region, the electric field being substantially in a first direction in the carbon-nanotube-growth region; and changing the electric field at a preselected time to be substantially in a second direction in the carbon-nanotube-growth region during growth of the at least one carbon nanotube. The second direction is different from the first direction resulting in a bend substantially at a selected position of the at least one carbon nanotube, the method of producing carbon nanotubes providing the production of the at least one carbon nanotube having at least one bend substantially at a selected position along the at least one carbon nanotube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Nina Markovic, Christopher A. Merchant, James R. Medford
  • Bent carbon nanotubes and methods of production
    Patent number: 9056777
    Abstract: A method of producing carbon nanotubes includes directing a flow of a gas over a substrate to provide growth of at least one carbon nanotube in a carbon-nanotube-growth region of the substrate; applying an electric field to the carbon-nanotube-growth region of the substrate after the at least one carbon nanotube has begun to grow in the carbon-nanotube-growth region, the electric field being substantially in a first direction in the carbon-nanotube-growth region; and changing the electric field at a preselected time to be substantially in a second direction in the carbon-nanotube-growth region during growth of the at least one carbon nanotube. The second direction is different from the first direction resulting in a bend substantially at a selected position of the at least one carbon nanotube, the method of producing carbon nanotubes providing the production of the at least one carbon nanotube having at least one bend substantially at a selected position along the at least one carbon nanotube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Nina Markovic, Christopher A. Merchant, James R. Medford
  • BENT CARBON NANOTUBES AND METHODS OF PRODUCTION
    Publication number: 20110171111
    Abstract: A method of producing carbon nanotubes includes directing a flow of a gas over a substrate to provide growth of at least one carbon nanotube in a carbon-nanotube-growth region of the substrate; applying an electric field to the carbon-nanotube-growth region of the substrate after the at least one carbon nanotube has begun to grow in the carbon-nanotube-growth region, the electric field being substantially in a first direction in the carbon-nanotube-growth region; and changing the electric field at a preselected time to be substantially in a second direction in the carbon-nanotube-growth region during growth of the at least one carbon nanotube. The second direction is different from the first direction resulting in a bend substantially at a selected position of the at least one carbon nanotube, the method of producing carbon nanotubes providing the production of the at least one carbon nanotube having at least one bend substantially at a selected position along the at least one carbon nanotube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Nina Markovic, Christopher A. Merchant, James R. Medford