Patents by Inventor Nicholas Leventis
Nicholas Leventis 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: 20250025856Abstract: The present invention discloses novel porous polymeric compositions comprising random copolymers of amides, imides, ureas, and carbamic-anhydrides, useful for the synthesis of monolithic bimodal microporous/macroporous carbon aerogels. It also discloses methods for producing said microporous/macroporous carbon aerogels by the reaction of a polyisocyanate compound and a polycarboxylic acid compound, followed by pyrolytic carbonization, and by reactive etching with CO2 at elevated temperatures. Also disclosed are methods for using the microporous/macroporous carbon aerogels in the selective capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2024Publication date: January 23, 2025Inventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Malik Adnan Saeed
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Publication number: 20250011562Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of forming polyamic acid, polyamic acid metal salt, and polyimide gels under aqueous conditions, the methods utilizing water-soluble carbonate or bicarbonate salts. These gels may be converted to aerogels or xerogels, which may further be converted to carbon aerogels or xerogels. Such carbon aerogels or xerogels have the same physical properties as carbon aerogels or xerogels prepared from polyimide aerogels obtained according to conventional methods, i.e., organic solvent-based methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2024Publication date: January 9, 2025Applicant: Aspen Aerogels, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Leventis, Redouane Begag, Rushi Soni, Joshua Bartels, Hooman Yaghoobnejad Asl
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Publication number: 20240429369Abstract: Nanoporous carbon-based scaffolds or structures, and specifically carbon aerogels and their manufacture and use thereof are provided. Embodiments include a silicon-doped anode material for a lithium-ion battery, where the anode material includes beads of a polyimide-derived carbon aerogel. The carbon aerogel may further include silicon particles and accommodates expansion of the silicon particles during lithiation. The anode material provides optimal properties for use within the lithium-ion battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2024Publication date: December 26, 2024Applicant: Aspen Aerogels, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas A. Zafiropoulos, Roxana Trifu, Redouane Begag, Harris R. Miller, Wendell E. Rhine, Nicholas Leventis, George L. Gould, Alexei A. Erchak
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Publication number: 20240421288Abstract: Provided herein are composite materials for use in an electrical energy storage system (e.g., high-capacity batteries) and methods for preparing the same. The composite materials of the present disclosure comprise a carbon-based core having a porous exterior surface and a coating on at least a portion of the porous exterior surface of the core.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2022Publication date: December 19, 2024Inventors: Redouane BEGAG, Nicholas LEVENTIS, Nicholas A. ZAFIROPOULOS, Wendell RHINE, Ted Hosang LEE
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Publication number: 20240421286Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of forming lithium transition metal phosphate and fluorophosphate materials in a conductive carbon matrix. The disclosed methods are advantageous in utilizing inexpensive reactants, can mitigate formation of impurities during the synthesis, providing a more homogenous product, and may provide cathode materials with enhanced tap density relative to prior lithium transition metal phosphates. The lithium transition metal phosphate and fluorophosphate materials prepared by the disclosed methods are intimately mixed with carbon within a continuous, three-dimensional conductive carbon matrix. The materials prepared according to the disclosed methods are suitable for use in environments involving electrochemical reactions, for example as cathode materials within a lithium-ion battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2023Publication date: December 19, 2024Inventors: Hooman Yaghoobnejad Asl, Redouane Begag, Rushi Soni, Nicholas Leventis
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Publication number: 20240413312Abstract: Conglomerate particles comprising a porous carbon matrix with a plurality of cathode material particles at least partially embedded in the matrix are disclosed, as well as methods for their manufacture using predominantly aqueous chemistry. The conglomerate particles demonstrate surprisingly improved electrochemical properties when used as cathode materials as compared to the cathode material particles when non-embedded.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2023Publication date: December 12, 2024Inventors: Hooman YAGHOOBNEJAD ASL, Redouane BEGAG, Rushi SONI, Nicholas LEVENTIS, Joshua BARTELS
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Patent number: 12145127Abstract: The present invention discloses novel porous polymeric compositions comprising random copolymers of amides, imides, ureas, and carbamic-anhydrides, useful for the synthesis of monolithic bimodal microporous/macroporous carbon aerogels. It also discloses methods for producing said microporous/macroporous carbon aerogels by the reaction of a polyisocyanate compound and a polycarboxylic acid compound, followed by pyrolytic carbonization, and by reactive etching with CO2 at elevated temperatures. Also disclosed are methods for using the microporous/macroporous carbon aerogels in the selective capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2021Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: Aspen Aerogels, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Malik Adnan Saeed
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Publication number: 20240376273Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of forming polyamic acid and polyimide gels in water. The resulting polyamic acid and polyimide gels may be converted to aerogels, which may further be converted to carbon aerogels. Such carbon aerogels have the same physical properties as carbon aerogels prepared from polyimide aerogels obtained according to conventional methods, i.e., organic solvent-based. The disclosed methods are advantageous in reducing or avoiding costs associated with use and disposal of potentially toxic solvents and byproducts. Gel materials prepared according to the disclosed methods are suitable for use in environments involving electrochemical reactions, for example as an electrode material within a lithium-ion battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2024Publication date: November 14, 2024Applicant: Aspen Aerogels, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Leventis, Roxana Trifu, Redouance Begag, George L. Gould, Nicholas A. Zafiropoulos, Harris R. Miller
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Publication number: 20240343588Abstract: Three-dimensional nanoporous aerogels and suitable preparation methods are provided. Nanoporous aerogels may include a carbide material such as a silicon carbide, a metal carbide, or a metalloid carbide. Elemental (e.g., metallic or metalloid) aerogels may also be produced. In some embodiments, a cross-linked aerogel having a conformal coating on a sol-gel material is processed to form a carbide aerogel, metal aerogel, or metalloid aerogel. A three-dimensional nanoporous network may include a free radical initiator that reacts with a cross-linking agent to form the cross-linked aerogel. The cross-linked aerogel may be chemically aromatized and chemically carbonized to form a carbon-coated aerogel. The carbon-coated aerogel may be suitably processed to undergo a carbothermal reduction, yielding an aerogel where oxygen is chemically extracted. Residual carbon remaining on the surface of the aerogel may be removed via an appropriate cleaning treatment.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2023Publication date: October 17, 2024Applicant: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Anand G. Sadekar, Naveen Candrasekaran, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis
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Publication number: 20240349404Abstract: Heating and processing a polymeric material is achieved using a microwave absorbing structure that defines a processing chamber to receive the polymeric material (e.g., one or more precursors to form a polymer). A microwave radiation source directs microwave radiation to the microwave absorbing structure, which absorbs the radiation and can process the material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2024Publication date: October 17, 2024Applicant: Aspen Aerogels, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Leventis, Sean Depner, Joshua Bartels
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Publication number: 20240317693Abstract: Novel compounds and polymer aerogels derived from these compounds are provided. The highly porous, monolithic polymer aerogels are extremely robust having high surface areas, large micropore volumes. and high density of nitrogen and oxygen functionalities. Due to these extraordinary properties, the polymer aerogels possess a high carbon dioxide (CO2) sorption capacity and are highly selective towards CO2 versus other gases, such as H2 and N2. As a result, the polymer aerogels can be used to effectively capture or remove CO2 from the air and/or from flue gases.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2022Publication date: September 26, 2024Applicant: The Curators of the University of MissouriInventors: Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Nicholas Leventis, Vaibhav Edlabadkar, Rushi Soni, Saidulu Gorla, ABM Shaheen ud Doulah
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Patent number: 12077639Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of forming polyamic acid and polyimide gels in water. The resulting polyamic acid and polyimide gels may be converted to aerogels, which may further be converted to carbon aerogels. Such carbon aerogels have the same physical properties as carbon aerogels prepared from polyimide aerogels obtained according to conventional methods, i.e., organic solvent-based. The disclosed methods are advantageous in reducing or avoiding costs associated with use and disposal of potentially toxic solvents and byproducts. Gel materials prepared according to the disclosed methods are suitable for use in environments involving electrochemical reactions, for example as an electrode material within a lithium-ion battery.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2021Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: Aspen Aerogels, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Leventis, Roxana Trifu, Redouane Begag, George L. Gould, Nicholas A. Zafiropoulos, Harris R. Miller
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Publication number: 20240254301Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of forming polyimide gels. The methods generally include forming a polyamic acid and dehydrating the polyamic acid with a dehydrating agent in the presence of water. The resulting polyimide gels may be converted to polyimide or carbon xerogels or aerogels. The methods are advantageous in providing rapid or even instantaneous gelation, which may be particularly useful in formation of beads comprising the polyimide gels. Polyimide or carbon gel materials prepared according to the disclosed method are suitable for use in environments containing electrochemical reactions, for example as an electrode material within a lithium-ion battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2024Publication date: August 1, 2024Applicant: Aspen Aerogels, Inc.Inventors: Redouane Begag, Roxana Trifu, Nicholas A. Zafiropoulos, Harris R. Miller, George L. Gould, Nicholas Leventis
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Publication number: 20240239666Abstract: Porous three-dimensional networks of polyimide and porous three-dimensional networks of carbon and methods of their manufacture are described. For example, polyimide aerogels are prepared by mixing a dianhydride and a diisocyanate in a solvent comprising a pyrrolidone and acetonitrile at room temperature to form a sol-gel material and supercritically drying the sol-gel material to form the polyimide aerogel. Porous three-dimensional polyimide networks, such as polyimide aerogels, may also exhibit a fibrous morphology. Having a porous three-dimensional polyimide network undergo an additional step of pyrolysis may result in the three dimensional network being converted to a purely carbon skeleton, yielding a porous three-dimensional carbon network. The carbon network, having been derived from a fibrous polyimide network, may also exhibit a fibrous morphology.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2023Publication date: July 18, 2024Applicant: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Chakkaravarthy Chidambareswarapattar
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Patent number: 12034151Abstract: Nanoporous carbon-based scaffolds or structures, and specifically carbon aerogels and their manufacture and use thereof are provided. Embodiments include a silicon-doped anode material for a lithium-ion battery, where the anode material includes beads of a polyimide-derived carbon aerogel. The carbon aerogel may further include silicon particles and accommodates expansion of the silicon particles during lithiation. The anode material provides optimal properties for use within the lithium-ion battery.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2021Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: Aspen Aerogels, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas A. Zafiropoulos, Roxana Trifu, Redouane Begag, Harris R. Miller, Wendell E. Rhine, Nicholas Leventis, George L. Gould, Alexei A. Erchak
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Publication number: 20240141125Abstract: Porous three-dimensional networks of polyurea and porous three-dimensional networks of carbon and methods of their manufacture are described. In an example, polyurea aerogels are prepared by mixing an triisocyanate with water and a triethylamine to form a sol-gel material and supercritically drying the sol-gel material to form the polyurea aerogel. Subjecting the polyurea aerogel to a step of pyrolysis may result in a three dimensional network having a carbon skeleton, yielding a carbon aerogel. The density and morphology of polyurea aerogels can be controlled by varying the amount of isocyanate monomer in the initial reaction mixture. A lower density in the aerogel gives rise to a fibrous morphology, whereas a greater density in the aerogel results in a particulate morphology. Polyurea aerogels described herein may also exhibit a reduced flammability.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2023Publication date: May 2, 2024Applicant: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Sudhir Mulik
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Publication number: 20240140882Abstract: Novel methods of synthesizing amorphous carbon and graphitic carbon aerogels are provided. The carbon aerogels produced by these methods are highly porous, monolithic carbon aerogels and are extremely robust. Specifically, the amorphous carbon aerogels have high surface areas and large micropore volumes. Due to these extraordinary properties, these aerogels possess high carbon dioxide (CO2) sorption capacities and are highly selective towards CO2 versus other gases, such as H2 and N2. As a result, the amorphous carbon aerogels can be used to effectively capture or remove CO2 from the air and/or from flue gases. Furthermore, the graphitic carbon aerogels notably have high graphite content, crystallite size, and graphite quality, of which are comparable to those of commercial graphite.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2022Publication date: May 2, 2024Applicant: The Curators of the University of MissouriInventors: Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Nicholas Leventis, Rushi Soni, Vaibhav Edlabadkar, Parwani Rewatkar, ABM Shaheen ud Doulah
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Patent number: 11932745Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of forming polyimide gels. The methods generally include forming a polyamic acid and dehydrating the polyamic acid with a dehydrating agent in the presence of water. The resulting polyimide gels may be converted to polyimide or carbon xerogels or aerogels. The methods are advantageous in providing rapid or even instantaneous gelation, which may be particularly useful in formation of beads comprising the polyimide gels. Polyimide or carbon gel materials prepared according to the disclosed method are suitable for use in environments containing electrochemical reactions, for example as an electrode material within a lithium-ion battery.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Aspen Aerogels, Inc.Inventors: Redouane Begag, Roxana Trifu, Nicholas A. Zafiropoulos, Harris R. Miller, George L. Gould, Nicholas Leventis
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Publication number: 20230294061Abstract: Nanoporous carbon-based scaffolds or structures, and specifically carbon aerogels and their manufacture and use thereof are provided. Embodiments include a silicon-doped anode material for a lithium-ion battery, where the anode material includes beads of polyimide-derived carbon aerogel. The carbon aerogel includes silicon particles and accommodates expansion of the silicon particles during lithiation. The anode material provides optimal properties for use within the lithium-ion battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: Aspen Aerogels, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Anthony Zafiropoulos, Roxana Trifu, Redouane Begag, Wendell E. Rhine, George L. Gould, Alexei A. Erchak, Harris R. Miller, Nicholas Leventis
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Patent number: 11648521Abstract: Nanoporous carbon-based scaffolds or structures, and specifically carbon aerogels and their manufacture and use thereof are provided. Embodiments include a silicon-doped anode material for a lithium-ion battery, where the anode material includes beads of polyimide-derived carbon aerogel. The carbon aerogel includes silicon particles and accommodates expansion of the silicon particles during lithiation. The anode material provides optimal properties for use within the lithium-ion battery.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Aspen Aerogels, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas A. Zafiropoulos, Roxana Trifu, Redouane Begag, Wendell E. Rhine, George L. Gould, Alexei A. Erchak, Harris R. Miller, Nicholas Leventis