Patents by Inventor Michael Sprinkle

Michael Sprinkle 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).

  • Method and apparatus for producing ultra-thin graphitic layers
    Patent number: 8460764
    Abstract: In a method of producing ultra-thin graphitic layers, a carbide crystal is placed into a graphitic enclosure. The carbide crystal and the graphitic enclosure are placed into a chamber. The carbide crystal and the graphitic enclosure are subjected to a predetermined environment. Once the predetermined environment is established, the carbide crystal and the graphitic enclosure are heated to a first temperature for a predetermined period of time sufficient to cause at least one non-carbon element to evaporate from a crystal face of the carbide crystal so as to form at least one graphitic layer on the crystal face of the carbide crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Walt A. de Heer, Xuebin Li, Michael Sprinkle
  • Method and apparatus for producing graphene oxide layers on an insulating substrate
    Patent number: 8173095
    Abstract: In a method of making a functionalized graphitic structure, a portion of a multi-layered graphene surface extending from a silicon carbide substrate is exposed to an acidic environment so as to separate graphene layers in a portion of the multi-layered graphene surface. The portion of the multi-layered graphene surface is exposed to a functionalizing material that binds to carbon atoms in the graphene sheets so that the functionalizing material remains between the graphene sheets, thereby generating a functionalized graphitic structure. The functionalized graphitic structure is dried in an inert environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Walt A. de Heer, Xiaosong Wu, Michael Sprinkle, Claire Berger
  • Method and Apparatus for Producing Graphene Oxide Layers on an Insulating Substrate
    Publication number: 20090236609
    Abstract: In a method of making a functionalized graphitic structure, a portion of a multi-layered graphene surface extending from a silicon carbide substrate is exposed to an acidic environment so as to separate graphene layers in a portion of the multi-layered graphene surface. The portion of the multi-layered graphene surface is exposed to a functionalizing material that binds to carbon atoms in the graphene sheets so that the functionalizing material remains between the graphene sheets, thereby generating a functionalized graphitic structure. The functionalized graphitic structure is dried in an inert environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Walt A. de Heer, Xiaosong Wu, Michael Sprinkle, Claire Berger
  • Method and Apparatus for Producing Ultra-Thin Graphitic Layers
    Publication number: 20090226638
    Abstract: In a method of producing ultra-thin graphitic layers, a carbide crystal is placed into a graphitic enclosure. The carbide crystal and the graphitic enclosure are placed into a chamber. The carbide crystal and the graphitic enclosure are subjected to a predetermined environment. Once the predetermined environment is established, the carbide crystal and the graphitic enclosure are heated to a first temperature for a predetermined period of time sufficient to cause at least one non-carbon element to evaporate from a crystal face of the carbide crystal so as to form at least one graphitic layer on the crystal face of the carbide crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Georgia Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Walt A. de Heer, Xuebin Li, Michael Sprinkle