Patents by Inventor Mirko Prato

Mirko Prato 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: 10160906
    Abstract: We describe a method for patterning of colloidal nanocrystals films that combines a high energy beam treatment with a step of cation exchange. The high energy irradiation causes cross-linking of the ligand molecules present at the nanocrystal surface, and the cross-linked molecules act as a mask for the subsequent cation exchange reaction. Consequently, in the following step of cation exchange, the regions that have not been exposed to beam irradiation are chemically transformed, while the exposed ones remain unchanged. This selective protection allows the design of patterns that are formed by chemically different nanocrystals, yet in a homogeneous nanocrystal film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA
    Inventors: Roman Krahne, Karol Miszta, Andrea Toma, Fanny Greullet, Sergio Marras, Mirko Prato, Milena Arciniegas, Liberato Manna
  • Publication number: 20160246177
    Abstract: We describe a method for patterning of colloidal nanocrystals films that combines a high energy beam treatment with a step of cation exchange. The high energy irradiation causes cross-linking of the ligand molecules present at the nanocrystal surface, and the cross-linked molecules act as a mask for the subsequent cation exchange reaction. Consequently, in the following step of cation exchange, the regions that have not been exposed to beam irradiation are chemically transformed, while the exposed ones remain unchanged. This selective protection allows the design of patterns that are formed by chemically different nanocrystals, yet in a homogeneous nanocrystal film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Roman Krahne, Karol Miszta, Andrea Toma, Fanny Greullet, Sergio Marras, Mirko Prato, Milena Arciniegas, Liberato Manna
  • Patent number: 9401507
    Abstract: Methods for producing lithium iron phosphate or lithium manganese phosphate or lithium iron manganese phosphate, by colloidal synthesis are provided. Such methods include the operation of reacting a lithium salt, an iron(II) halide (and/or a manganese(II) halide) and a phosphorus compound, which, under the reaction conditions, is capable of releasing the phosphate ion, in the presence of an organic surfactant or a mixture of organic surfactants including an alkylamine or alkenylamine, in which the surfactant or mixture of surfactants is capable of dissolving the lithium salt and the iron halide (and/or the manganese halide), where used, in an organic solvent, which is liquid at room temperature, in which the surfactant or mixture of surfactants is soluble, the reaction being performed at a temperature not lower than 250° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA
    Inventors: Andrea Paolella, George Chandramohan, Mirko Prato, Mauro Povia, Alessandro Genovese, Liberato Manna, Roberto Cingolani
  • Publication number: 20150171415
    Abstract: Methods for producing lithium iron phosphate or lithium manganese phosphate or lithium iron manganese phosphate, by colloidal synthesis are provided. Such methods include the operation of reacting a lithium salt, an iron(II) halide (and/or a manganese(II) halide) and a phosphorus compound, which, under the reaction conditions, is capable of releasing the phosphate ion, in the presence of an organic surfactant or a mixture of organic surfactants including an alkylamine or alkenylamine, in which the surfactant or mixture of surfactants is capable of dissolving the lithium salt and the iron halide (and/or the manganese halide), where used, in an organic solvent, which is liquid at room temperature, in which the surfactant or mixture of surfactants is soluble, the reaction being performed at a temperature not lower than 250° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Andrea Paolella, George Chandramohan, Mirko Prato, Mauro Povia, Alessandro Genovese, Liberato Manna, Roberto Cingolani