Patents by Inventor Liqiu WANG

Liqiu WANG 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: 11919003
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for moving a liquid in a substantially loss-free operation, the device made of at least a photothermal film; a pyroelectric crystal over the photothermal film; and a superomniphobic surface over the pyroelectric crystal, wherein the device is configured to move the liquid in the substantially loss-free operation with a beam of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
    Inventors: Liqiu Wang, Wei Li, Xin Tang
  • Publication number: 20230226777
    Abstract: A durable superomniphobic device is presented where the polymeric device has a surface that includes doubly re-entrant micropillars residing within pockets that are partitioned within a matrix of interconnected doubly re-entrant walls. The doubly re-entrant matrix can be in a pattern where walls that are equal to or greater in height to the micropillars intersect or otherwise contact to provide protection to the more fragile micropillars. These durable superomniphobic devices can be formed by injection molding and can repel liquids having a surface tension of about 18 to about 98 mN m?1 and display liquid contact angle of greater than or equal to 150°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Liqiu Wang, Wei Li, Jiaqian Li
  • Publication number: 20230220173
    Abstract: A matter-repellent colloid-infused smooth surface (CISS) device has a solid substrate with a smooth surface where a thin coating of a non-volatile lubricating fluid and a plurality of nanoparticles and/or microparticles reside on the surface. The non-volatile lubricating fluid can be a perfluorinated fluid and the nanoparticles and/or microparticles can be polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) to provide a slippery surface to a metal, ceramic, glass, or plastic substrate. As needed, the smooth surface of the substrate can be modified with a silylating agent that is miscible with the lubricating fluid to enhance the stability of the coating smooth surface interface. In this manner, tubes, catheters, vials, bottles, or other devices can be imparted with a slippery surface that repels most gases, liquids, and solids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Liqiu WANG, Jiaqian LI
  • Publication number: 20220354122
    Abstract: Disclosed is a coating with reversible wettability, the coating having a hydrophobic state wherein the anti-pathogen coating has a hydrophobic surface that repels at least one of bacteria, fungi, and viruses; and a hydrophilic state wherein the anti-pathogen coating has a hydrophilic surface that inactivates at least one of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, wherein the hydrophobic state switchable to the hydrophilic state by exposure to a first switching stimulus and the hydrophilic state switchable to the hydrophobic state by exposure to a second switching stimulus. This reversible wettability switch between superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity can be repeated at least three times, which indicating the process for controlled repellent or inactivation of bacteria, fungi, or viruses can be converted at least three times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Liqiu Wang, Ying Chu
  • Publication number: 20220234045
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for moving a liquid in a substantially loss-free operation, the device made of at least a photothermal film; a pyroelectric crystal over the photothermal film; and a superomniphobic surface over the pyroelectric crystal, wherein the device is configured to move the liquid in the substantially loss-free operation with a beam of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Liqiu Wang, Wei Li, Xin Tang
  • Patent number: 10843147
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for mixing highly viscous fluids to form a mixture. The mixture is created rapidly and has a high level of uniformity. The mixture is created by utilizing induced viscous fluid folding under the influence of an electric field. The electric field is introduced by connecting a nozzle dispensing the fluids in parallel to a voltage supply and grounding a collection plate located below the nozzle. When a certain voltage is applied the co-flow viscous fluids start to fold because the electric field exerts stress on the surface of the fluids, which results in changes of the geometry and dynamics of the viscous fluids. Control of the electric field provides great control over the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: VERSITECH LIMITED
    Inventors: Tiantian Kong, Zhou Liu, Ho Cheung Shum, Liqiu Wang
  • Publication number: 20190255564
    Abstract: A liquid-repellent surface is provided where the repellency arises solely from the re-entrant surface structure. The liquid repellent surface is a porous membrane that contains hexagonally packed microcavities, each of which has a narrow opening located on its top. The surface is mechanically robust because the microstructures are interconnected in a continuous manner. A method of preparing the liquid repellent surface is also provided, which involves producing a uniform emulsion containing monodisperse micro-droplets, depositing the emulsion onto a substrate, and solidifying the emulsion-deposit by evaporating the solvent in the continuous phase fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Liqiu WANG, Ping An ZHU
  • Patent number: 10365187
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for rapid and precise manipulation and transfer of tiny liquid droplets. by dynamically introducing microstructures with relatively high surface energy to a non-wettable surface, which surface has in-situ switchable adhesion to liquid droplets. By penetrating microstructures on the background surface, the chemical property of the surface is locally modified. Capillary bridges will form between microstructures and liquid droplets which lead to high adhesive forces. When the microstructures are retracted, the capillary bridges either pinch-off or recede, which drastically reduces the adhesion. With proper chemical modification, the surface can either manipulate a liquid droplet in air or in an immiscible carrier liquid. Tiny droplets with volumes down to nanoliter scale can be prepared and dispensed by using the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
    Inventors: Liqiu Wang, Xin Tang
  • Publication number: 20180111100
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for mixing highly viscous fluids to form a mixture. The mixture is created rapidly and has a high level of uniformity. The mixture is created by utilizing induced viscous fluid folding under the influence of an electric field. The electric field is introduced by connecting a nozzle dispensing the fluids in parallel to a voltage supply and grounding a collection plate located below the nozzle. When a certain voltage is applied the co-flow viscous fluids start to fold because the electric field exerts stress on the surface of the fluids, which results in changes of the geometry and dynamics of the viscous fluids. Control of the electric field provides great control over the mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
    Inventors: Tiantian KONG, Zhou LIU, Ho Cheung SHUM, Liqiu WANG
  • Publication number: 20170315024
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for rapid and precise manipulation and transfer of tiny liquid droplets. by dynamically introducing microstructures with relatively high surface energy to a non-wettable surface, which surface has in-situ switchable adhesion to liquid droplets. By penetrating microstructures on the background surface, the chemical property of the surface is locally modified. Capillary bridges will form between microstructures and liquid droplets which lead to high adhesive forces. When the microstructures are retracted, the capillary bridges either pinch-off or recede, which drastically reduces the adhesion. With proper chemical modification, the surface can either manipulate a liquid droplet in air or in an immiscible carrier liquid. Tiny droplets with volumes down to nanoliter scale can be prepared and dispensed by using the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Liqiu WANG, Xin TANG