Patents by Inventor Jonathan C. Stevens
Jonathan C. Stevens 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).
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Publication number: 20250019311Abstract: The processes and products described herein optimize transformation of BNNT as-synthesized material into BNNT intermediary materials. Process steps include refining to remove boron particulates, high temperature refining to break bonds between BNNT, h-BN nanocages, h-BN nanosheets and amorphous BN particles, centrifuging and microfluidic separation, and electrophoresis. Resultant BNNT intermediary materials include purified BNNT in solution, BNNT gels, h-BN nanocages, and h-BN nanosheets, gel spun BNNT fibers, hydrophilic defect enhanced BNNT materials, BNNT patterned sheets, and BNNT strands. Applications that will utilize these BNNT precursor feedstock materials include making BNNT based aligned components, thin films, aerogels, thermal conductivity enhancements, structural materials, ceramic, metal, and polymer composites, and removal of PFAS pollutants from water.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2022Publication date: January 16, 2025Inventors: Mohammad H. KIRMANI, Thomas G. DUSHATINSKI, Clay F. HUFF, Kevin C. JORDAN, Eric R. KENNEDY, Lyndsey R. SCAMMELL, Michael W. SMITH, Jonathan C. STEVENS, R. Roy WHITNEY
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Patent number: 12188536Abstract: The structural integrity and viscoelastic performance of boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) materials may be improved through forming a compressed BNNT buckyweave. The BNNT buckyweave may be formed from a BNNT buckypaper having a bulk nanotube alignment (partial alignment) that may be maintained when forming the BNNT buckyweave, and compression may be parallel to and/or perpendicular to the partial alignment. The BNNT material may be viscoelastically-enhanced through, e.g., selection of synthesized BNNT material, impurity removal/reduction, BNNT alignment, isotopically enhancement, and compression relative to alignment. BNNT buckyweave s are introduced. The present approach provides viscoelastic behavior over temperatures from near absolute zero to near 1900 K. The transport of phonons along the BNNT molecules may be enhanced by utilizing isotopically enhanced BNNTs.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2020Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: BNNT, LLCInventors: R. Roy Whitney, Thomas G. Dushatinski, Thomas W. Henneberg, Kevin C. Jordan, Jonathan C. Stevens, Michael W. Smith, Clay F. Huff, Lyndsey R. Scammell, Alex I Wixtrom
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Patent number: 11919771Abstract: High quality, catalyst-free boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) that are long, flexible, have few wall molecules and few defects in the crystalline structure, can be efficiently produced by a process driven primarily by Direct Induction. Secondary Direct Induction coils, Direct Current heaters, lasers, and electric arcs can provide additional heating to tailor the processes and enhance the quality of the BNNTs while reducing impurities. Heating the initial boron feed stock to temperatures causing it to act as an electrical conductor can be achieved by including refractory metals in the initial boron feed stock, and providing additional heat via lasers or electric arcs. Direct Induction processes may be energy efficient and sustainable for indefinite period of time. Careful heat and gas flow profile management may be used to enhance production of high quality BNNT at significant production rates.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: BNNT, LLCInventors: Michael W. Smith, Kevin C. Jordan, Jonathan C. Stevens, R. Roy Whitney
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Patent number: 11866327Abstract: Boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) material can be placed in large volume configurations such as needed for cryopumps, high surface area filters, scaffolding for coatings, transition radiation detectors, neutron detectors, and similar systems where large volumes may range from cubic millimeters to cubic meters and beyond. The technology to secure the BNNT material includes creating a scaffold of a material acceptable to the final system such as stainless steel wires for a cryopump. The BNNTs can be arranged in the scaffold by freeze drying, filtration technologies, conformal surface attachment and BNNT “glue” where the as-synthesized BNNT material has been partially purified or fully purified and dispersed in a dispersant.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2017Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: BNNT, LLCInventors: Thomas G Dushatinski, Kevin C. Jordan, Michael W. Smith, Jonathan C. Stevens, R. Roy Whitney
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Publication number: 20230286801Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for purifying as-synthesized boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) material to remove impurities of boron, amorphous boron nitride (a-BN), hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanocages, h-BN nanosheets, and carbon-containing compounds. The processes include heating the BNNT materials at different temperatures in the presence of inert gas and a hydrogen feedstock or in the presence of oxygen.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2023Publication date: September 14, 2023Inventors: Thomas G. DUSHATINSKI, Kevin C. JORDAN, Michael W. SMITH, R. Roy WHITNEY, Jonathan C. STEVENS
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Patent number: 11629054Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for purifying as-synthesized boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) material to remove impurities of boron, amorphous boron nitride (a-BN), hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanocages, h-BN nanosheets, and carbon-containing compounds. The processes include heating the BNNT materials at different temperatures in the presence of inert gas and a hydrogen feedstock or in the presence of oxygen.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2017Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: BNNT, LLCInventors: Thomas G. Dushatinski, Kevin C. Jordan, Michael W. Smith, R. Roy Whitney, Jonathan C. Stevens
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Patent number: 11623865Abstract: Described herein are apparatus, systems, and methods for the continuous production of BNNT fibers, BNNT strands and BNNT initial yarns having few defects and good alignment. BNNTs may be formed by thermally exciting a boron feedstock in a chamber in the presence of pressurized nitrogen. BNNTs are encouraged to self-assemble into aligned BNNT fibers in a growth zone, and form BNNT strands and BNNT initial yarns, through various combinations of nitrogen gas flow direction and velocities, heat source distribution, temperature gradients, and chamber geometries.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: BNNT, LLCInventors: Michael W. Smith, Jonathan C. Stevens, Kevin C. Jordan, R. Roy Whitney
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Publication number: 20220325162Abstract: Thermal interface materials may be enhanced through the dispersion of refined boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) into a polymer matrix material and one or more microfillers. A refined BNNT material may be formed by reducing free boron particle content from an as-synthesized BNNT material, and in some embodiments reducing h-BN content. Reducing these species improves the thermal conductivity of the BNNTs. Refined BNNTs may be deagglomerated to reduce the size and mass of BNNTs in agglomerations when the deagglomerated BNNT material is dispersed into a target polymer matrix material. The deagglomerated BNNT material may be lyophilized prior to dispersion in the matrix material, to retain the deagglomeration benefit following return to solid state. The surface of the deagglomerated BNNT material may be modified, with one or more functional groups that improve dispersibility and heat transfer in the target polymer matrix material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Thomas G. DUSHATINSKI, Thomas W. HENNEBERG, Clay F. HUFF, Kevin C. JORDAN, Jonathan C. STEVENS, Michael W. SMITH, R. Roy WHITNEY, Lyndsey R. SCAMMELL, Alex I. WIXTROM
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Patent number: 11390787Abstract: Thermal interface materials may be enhanced through the dispersion of refined boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) into a polymer matrix material and one or more microfillers. A refined BNNT material may be formed by reducing free boron particle content from an as-synthesized BNNT material, and in some embodiments reducing h-BN content. Reducing these species improves the thermal conductivity of the BNNTs. Refined BNNTs may be deagglomerated to reduce the size and mass of BNNTs in agglomerations when the deagglomerated BNNT material is dispersed into a target polymer matrix material. The deagglomerated BNNT material may be lyophilized prior to dispersion in the matrix material, to retain the deagglomeration benefit following return to solid state. The surface of the deagglomerated BNNT material may be modified, with one or more functional groups that improve dispersibility and heat transfer in the target polymer matrix material.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: BNNT, LLCInventors: Thomas G. Dushatinski, Thomas W. Henneberg, Clay F. Huff, Kevin C. Jordan, Jonathan C. Stevens, Michael W. Smith, R. Roy Whitney, Lyndsey R. Scammell, Alex I. Wixtrom
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Patent number: 11362400Abstract: Thermoresponsive composite switch (TRCS) membranes for ion batteries include a porous scaffolding providing ion channels and a thermoresponsive polymer coating. Boron nitride nanotube (BNNT)/polymer composite TRCS membrane embodiments are preferable due to unique BNNT properties. A BNNT scaffold coated with one or more polymers may form a composite separator with tunable porosity (porosity level and pore size distribution), composition, wettability, and superior electronic isolation, oxidative/reduction resistance, and mechanical strength. The BNNT/polymer composite TRCS membrane optimizes the performance of ion batteries with tunable separator thicknesses that may be under 5 ???. Nano-scale porosity with thin separator thicknesses improves the charge density of the battery. Nano-scale architecture allows for reversible localized switching on the nano scale, in proximity to thermally stressed ion substrates.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2017Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: BNNT, LLCInventors: Thomas G. Dushatinski, Gary S. Huvard, R. Roy Whitney, Kevin C. Jordan, Diego Pedrazzoli, Michael W. Smith, Jonathan C. Stevens
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Publication number: 20220099151Abstract: The structural integrity and viscoelastic performance of boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) materials may be improved through forming a compressed BNNT buckyweave. The BNNT buckyweave may be formed from a BNNT buckypaper having a bulk nanotube alignment (partial alignment) that may be maintained when forming the BNNT buckyweave, and compression may be parallel to and/or perpendicular to the partial alignment. The BNNT material may be viscoelastically-enhanced through, e.g., selection of synthesized BNNT material, impurity removal/reduction, BNNT alignment, isotopically enhancement, and compression relative to alignment. BNNT buckyweave s are introduced. The present approach provides viscoelastic behavior over temperatures from near absolute zero to near 1900 K. The transport of phonons along the BNNT molecules may be enhanced by utilizing isotopically enhanced BNNTs.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: R. Roy Whitney, Thomas G. Dushatinski, Thomas W. Henneberg, Kevin C. Jordan, Jonathan C. Stevens, Michael W. Smith, Clay F. Huff, Lyndsey R. Scammell, Alex I Wixtrom
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Publication number: 20220024764Abstract: High quality, catalyst-free boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) that are long, flexible, have few wall molecules and few defects in the crystalline structure, can be efficiently produced by a process driven primarily by Direct Induction. Secondary Direct Induction coils, Direct Current heaters, lasers, and electric arcs can provide additional heating to tailor the processes and enhance the quality of the BNNTs while reducing impurities. Heating the initial boron feed stock to temperatures causing it to act as an electrical conductor can be achieved by including refractory metals in the initial boron feed stock, and providing additional heat via lasers or electric arcs. Direct Induction processes may be energy efficient and sustainable for indefinite period of time. Careful heat and gas flow profile management may be used to enhance production of high quality BNNT at significant production rates.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: Michael W. SMITH, Kevin C. Jordan, Jonathan C. Stevens, R. Roy Whitney
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Patent number: 11167986Abstract: High quality, catalyst-free boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) that are long, flexible, have few wall molecules and few defects in the crystalline structure, can be efficiently produced by a process driven primarily by Direct Induction. Secondary Direct Induction coils, Direct Current heaters, lasers, and electric arcs can provide additional heating to tailor the processes and enhance the quality of the BNNTs while reducing impurities. Heating the initial boron feed stock to temperatures causing it to act as an electrical conductor can be achieved by including refractory metals in the initial boron feed stock, and providing additional heat via lasers or electric arcs. Direct Induction processes may be energy efficient and sustainable for indefinite period of time. Careful heat and gas flow profile management may be used to enhance production of high quality BNNT at significant production rates.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: BNNT, LLCInventors: Michael W. Smith, Kevin C. Jordan, Jonathan C. Stevens, R. Roy Whitney
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Publication number: 20210155479Abstract: High quality Boron Nitride Nanotubes (BNNTs) may be synthesized by heating a boron melt target via one or more laser diodes, including laser diode stacks. The use of a diode stack and beam shaping optics to irradiate the boron melt eliminates the need for a conventional laser cavity as has been employed with previous embodiments. The diode arrangements facilitate managing power distribution on the born melt(s), nitrogen gas flows, and blackbody radiation that drive the BNNT self-assembly process. These parameters may be used for controlling the proportions and characteristics of boron species, a-BN particles, h-BN nanocages, and h-BN nano sheets in the as-synthesized BNNT material while enhancing the quality of the BNNTs.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2019Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Jonathan C. STEVENS, Thomas W. HENNEBERG, Kevin C. JORDAN, Michael W. SMITH, R. Roy WHITNEY
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Publication number: 20210139329Abstract: High quality, catalyst-free boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) that are long, flexible, have few wall molecules and few defects in the crystalline structure, can be efficiently produced by a process driven primarily by Direct Induction. Secondary Direct Induction coils, Direct Current heaters, lasers, and electric arcs can provide additional heating to tailor the processes and enhance the quality of the BNNTs while reducing impurities. Heating the initial boron feed stock to temperatures causing it to act as an electrical conductor can be achieved by including refractory metals in the initial boron feed stock, and providing additional heat via lasers or electric arcs. Direct Induction processes may be energy efficient and sustainable for indefinite period of time. Careful heat and gas flow profile management may be used to enhance production of high quality BNNT at significant production rates.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2020Publication date: May 13, 2021Inventors: Michael W. SMITH, Kevin C. JORDAN, Jonathan C. STEVENS, R. Roy WHITNEY
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Publication number: 20210040371Abstract: Thermal interface materials may be enhanced through the dispersion of refined boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) into a polymer matrix material and one or more microfillers. A refined BNNT material may be formed by reducing free boron particle content from an as-synthesized BNNT material, and in some embodiments reducing h-BN content. Reducing these species improves the thermal conductivity of the BNNTs. Refined BNNTs may be deagglomerated to reduce the size and mass of BNNTs in agglomerations when the deagglomerated BNNT material is dispersed into a target polymer matrix material. The deagglomerated BNNT material may be lyophilized prior to dispersion in the matrix material, to retain the deagglomeration benefit following return to solid state. The surface of the deagglomerated BNNT material may be modified, with one or more functional groups that improve dispersibility and heat transfer in the target polymer matrix material.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Thomas G. DUSHATINSKI, Thomas W. HENNEBERG, Clay F. HUFF, Kevin C. JORDAN, Jonathan C. STEVENS, Michael W. SMITH, R. Roy WHITNEY, Lyndsey R. SCAMMELL, Alex I. WIXTROM
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Patent number: 10906810Abstract: High quality, catalyst-free boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) that are long, flexible, have few wall molecules and few defects in the crystalline structure, can be efficiently produced by a process driven primarily by Direct Induction. Secondary Direct Induction coils, Direct Current heaters, lasers, and electric arcs can provide additional heating to tailor the processes and enhance the quality of the BNNTs while reducing impurities. Heating the initial boron feed stock to temperatures causing it to act as an electrical conductor can be achieved by including refractory metals in the initial boron feed stock, and providing additional heat via lasers or electric arcs. Direct Induction processes may be energy efficient and sustainable for indefinite period of time. Careful heat and gas flow profile management may be used to enhance production of high quality BNNT at significant production rates.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: BNNT, LLCInventors: Michael W. Smith, Kevin C. Jordan, Jonathan C. Stevens, R. Roy Whitney
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Patent number: 10844262Abstract: Thermal interface materials may be enhanced through the dispersion of refined boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) into a polymer matrix material and one or more microfillers. A refined BNNT material may be formed by reducing free boron particle content from an as-synthesized BNNT material, and in some embodiments reducing h-BN content. Reducing these species improves the thermal conductivity of the BNNTs. Refined BNNTs may be deagglomerated to reduce the size and mass of BNNTs in agglomerations when the deagglomerated BNNT material is dispersed into a target polymer matrix material. The deagglomerated BNNT material may be lyophilized prior to dispersion in the matrix material, to retain the deagglomeration benefit following return to solid state. The surface of the deagglomerated BNNT material may be modified, with one or more functional groups that improve dispersibility and heat transfer in the target polymer matrix material.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2019Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: BNNT, LLCInventors: Thomas G. Dushatinski, Thomas W. Henneberg, Clay F. Huff, Kevin C. Jordan, Jonathan C. Stevens, Michael W. Smith, R. Roy Whitney, Lyndsey R. Scammell, Alex I. Wixtrom
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Publication number: 20200283669Abstract: Thermal interface materials may be enhanced through the dispersion of refined boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) into a polymer matrix material and one or more microfillers. A refined BNNT material may be formed by reducing free boron particle content from an as-synthesized BNNT material, and in some embodiments reducing h-BN content. Reducing these species improves the thermal conductivity of the BNNTs. Refined BNNTs may be deagglomerated to reduce the size and mass of BNNTs in agglomerations when the deagglomerated BNNT material is dispersed into a target polymer matrix material. The deagglomerated BNNT material may be lyophilized prior to dispersion in the matrix material, to retain the deagglomeration benefit following return to solid state. The surface of the deagglomerated BNNT material may be modified, with one or more functional groups that improve dispersibility and heat transfer in the target polymer matrix material.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2019Publication date: September 10, 2020Inventors: Thomas G. DUSHATINSKI, Thomas W. HENNEBERG, Clay F. HUFF, Kevin C. JORDAN, Jonathan C. STEVENS, Michael W. SMITH, R. Roy WHITNEY, Lyndsey R. SCAMMELL, Alex I. WIXTROM
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Patent number: 10766780Abstract: As disclosed herein, the viscoelastic performance of boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) materials may be enhanced and made into useful formats by utilizing purified BNNTs, aligned BNNTs, isotopically enhanced BNNTs, and density controlled BNNT material. Minimizing the amounts of boron particles, a-BN particles, and h-BN nanocages, and optimizing the h-BN nanosheets has the effect of maximizing the amount of BNNT surface area present that may interact with BNNTs themselves and thereby create the nanotube-to-nanotube friction that generates the viscoelastic behavior over temperatures from near absolute zero to near 1900 K. Aligning the BNNT molecular strands with each other within the BNNT material also generates enhanced friction surfaces. The transport of phonons along the BNNT molecules may be further enhanced by utilizing isotopically enhanced BNNTs.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: BNNT, LLCInventors: R. Roy Whitney, Thomas G. Dushatinski, Thomas W. Henneberg, Kevin C. Jordan, Diego Pedrazzoli, Jonathan C. Stevens, Michael W. Smith