Patents by Inventor Katherine R. Zodrow

Katherine R. Zodrow 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).

  • Publication number: 20220323906
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for distilling a fluid by exposing the fluid to a porous membrane that includes a surface capable of generating heat. In some embodiments, the heat generated at the surface propagates the distilling of the fluid by converting the fluid to a vapor that flows through the porous membrane and condenses to a distillate. In some embodiments, the surface capable of generating heat is associated with a photo-thermal composition that generates the heat at the surface by converting light energy from a light source to thermal energy. In some embodiments, the photo-thermal composition includes, without limitation, noble metals, semiconducting materials, dielectric materials, carbon-based materials, composite materials, nanocomposite materials, nanoparticles, hydrophilic materials, polymers, fibers, meshes, fiber meshes, hydrogels, hydrogel meshes, nanomaterials, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Qilin Li, Jinjian Wu, Nancy J. Halas, Katherine R. Zodrow, Haoli Guo, Jiarui Xu, Cong Yu
  • Patent number: 11331627
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for distilling a fluid by exposing the fluid to a porous membrane that includes a surface capable of generating heat. In some embodiments, the heat generated at the surface propagates the distilling of the fluid by converting the fluid to a vapor that flows through the porous membrane and condenses to a distillate. In some embodiments, the surface capable of generating heat is associated with a photo-thermal composition that generates the heat at the surface by converting light energy from a light source to thermal energy. In some embodiments, the photo-thermal composition includes, without limitation, noble metals, semiconducting materials, dielectric materials, carbon-based materials, composite materials, nanocomposite materials, nanoparticles, hydrophilic materials, polymers, fibers, meshes, fiber meshes, hydrogels, hydrogel meshes, nanomaterials, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Qilin Li, Jinjian Wu, Nancy C. Halas, Katherine R. Zodrow, Haoli Guo, Jiarui Xu, Cong Yu
  • Publication number: 20210170337
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for distilling a fluid by exposing the fluid to a porous membrane that includes a surface capable of generating heat. In some embodiments, the heat generated at the surface propagates the distilling of the fluid by converting the fluid to a vapor that flows through the porous membrane and condenses to a distillate. In some embodiments, the surface capable of generating heat is associated with a photo-thermal composition that generates the heat at the surface by converting light energy from a light source to thermal energy. In some embodiments, the photo-thermal composition includes, without limitation, noble metals, semiconducting materials, dielectric materials, carbon-based materials, composite materials, nanocomposite materials, nanoparticles, hydrophilic materials, polymers, fibers, meshes, fiber meshes, hydrogels, hydrogel meshes, nanomaterials, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Qilin Li, Jinjian Wu, Nancy C. Halas, Katherine R. Zodrow, Haoli Guo, Jiarui Xu, Cong Yu
  • Patent number: 10843134
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for distilling a fluid by exposing the fluid to a porous membrane that includes a surface capable of generating heat. In some embodiments, the heat generated at the surface propagates the distilling of the fluid by converting the fluid to a vapor that flows through the porous membrane and condenses to a distillate. In some embodiments, the surface capable of generating heat is associated with a photo-thermal composition that generates the heat at the surface by converting light energy from a light source to thermal energy. In some embodiments, the photo-thermal composition includes, without limitation, noble metals, semiconducting materials, dielectric materials, carbon-based materials, composite materials, nanocomposite materials, nanoparticles, hydrophilic materials, polymers, fibers, meshes, fiber meshes, hydrogels, hydrogel meshes, nanomaterials, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Qilin Li, Jinjian Wu, Nancy J. Halas, Katherine R. Zodrow, Haoli Guo, Jiarui Xu, Cong Yu
  • Publication number: 20170246592
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for distilling a fluid by exposing the fluid to a porous membrane that includes a surface capable of generating heat. In some embodiments, the heat generated at the surface propagates the distilling of the fluid by converting the fluid to a vapor that flows through the porous membrane and condenses to a distillate. In some embodiments, the surface capable of generating heat is associated with a photo-thermal composition that generates the heat at the surface by converting light energy from a light source to thermal energy. In some embodiments, the photo-thermal composition includes, without limitation, noble metals, semiconducting materials, dielectric materials, carbon-based materials, composite materials, nanocomposite materials, nanoparticles, hydrophilic materials, polymers, fibers, meshes, fiber meshes, hydrogels, hydrogel meshes, nanomaterials, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Qilin Li, Jinjian Wu, Nancy J. Halas, Katherine R. Zodrow, Haoli Guo, Jiarui Xu, Cong Yu