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: 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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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
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Publication number: 20220298321Abstract: 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: November 1, 2021Publication date: September 22, 2022Applicant: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Sudhir Mulik
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Publication number: 20220209234Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to silica-carbon composite materials including a low bulk density carbon material having a skeletal framework of carbon nanofibers, the skeletal framework forming a pore structure comprising an array of interconnected pores. The silica-carbon composite materials further include a conformal coating layer of silica on the carbon nanofibers. Further provided are methods for preparation of the silica-carbon composite materials, and methods for reduction of the silica-carbon composite materials to provide silicon-carbon composite materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2021Publication date: June 30, 2022Applicant: Aspen Aerogels, Inc.Inventors: Roxana Trifu, Nicholas Leventis, Redouane Begag
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Publication number: 20220185970Abstract: 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: December 9, 2021Publication date: June 16, 2022Applicant: 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: 20220185985Abstract: 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: December 9, 2021Publication date: June 16, 2022Applicant: 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: 20220127148Abstract: 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: January 7, 2022Publication date: April 28, 2022Applicant: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Anand G. Sadekar, Naveen Candrasekaran, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis
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Publication number: 20220069290Abstract: 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: August 23, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Applicant: 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: 20220055013Abstract: 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: October 4, 2021Publication date: February 24, 2022Applicant: Aspen Aerogels, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Malik Adnan Saeed
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Patent number: 11192994Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 4, 2019Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Sudhir Mulik
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Patent number: 11135564Abstract: 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: March 23, 2017Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Aspen Aerogels, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Malik Adnan Saeed
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Patent number: 11104764Abstract: A nanoporous aerogel comprising an acid-catalyzed, oxidatively aromatized PBO polymer. The nanoporous aerogel includes a benzoxazine moiety containing polybenzoxazine polymer with up-to six sites of cross-linking per unit is the product of the high yield, room temperature, and acid catalyzed synthesis method, as provided for herein. A method of producing the aerogel is providing that results in robust monoliths, oxidative aromatization, and conversion to nanoporous carbons for the provided aerogels. The PBO polymer may be co-generated as an interpenetrating network with a metal oxide network, wherein the PBO network serves as both a reactive template and as a sacrificial scaffold in the synthesis of the pure, nanoporous, monolithic metal aerogels, in an energy efficient method.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2015Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Inventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Suraj Donthula, Gitogo Churu, Hongbing Lu, Shruti Mahadik-Khanolkar
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Publication number: 20210206940Abstract: Nanoporous three-dimensional networks of polyurethane particles, e.g., polyurethane aerogels, and methods of preparation are presented herein. Such nanoporous networks may include polyurethane particles made up of linked polyisocyanate and polyol monomers. In some cases, greater than about 95% of the linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers are urethane linkages. To prepare such networks, a mixture including polyisocyanate monomers (e.g., diisocyanates, triisocyanates), polyol monomers (diols, triols), and a solvent is provided. The polyisocyanate and polyol monomers may be aliphatic or aromatic. A polyurethane catalyst is added to the mixture causing formation of linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers. Phase separation of particles from the reaction medium can be controlled to enable formation of polyurethane networks with desirable nanomorphologies, specific surface area, and mechanical properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2020Publication date: July 8, 2021Applicant: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Chakkaravarthy Chidambareswarapattar
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Patent number: 10968140Abstract: The present invention discloses novel methods for producing highly porous ceramic and/or metal aerogel monolithic objects that are hard, sturdy, and resistant to high temperatures. These methods comprise preparing nanoparticulate oxides of metals and/or metalloids via a step of vigorous stirring to prevent gelation, preparing polymer-modified xerogel powder compositions by reacting said nanoparticulate oxides with one or more polyfunctional monomers, compressing said polymer-modified xerogel powder compositions into shaped compacts, and carbothermal conversion of the shaped xerogel compacts via pyrolysis to provide the highly porous ceramic and/or metal aerogel monolithic objects that have the same shapes as their corresponding xerogel compact precursors. Representative of the highly porous ceramic and/or metal aerogel monolithic objects of the invention are ceramic and/or metal aerogels of Si, Zr, Hf, Ti, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Au, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2020Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Inventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Malik Adnan Saeed, Parwani Rewatkar, Tahereh Taghvaee
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Publication number: 20200377421Abstract: The present invention discloses novel methods for producing highly porous ceramic and/or metal aerogel monolithic objects that are hard, sturdy, and resistant to high temperatures. These methods comprise preparing nanoparticulate oxides of metals and/or metalloids via a step of vigorous stirring to prevent gelation, preparing polymer-modified xerogel powder compositions by reacting said nanoparticulate oxides with one or more polyfunctional monomers, compressing said polymer-modified xerogel powder compositions into shaped compacts, and carbothermal conversion of the shaped xerogel compacts via pyrolysis to provide the highly porous ceramic and/or metal aerogel monolithic objects that have the same shapes as to their corresponding xerogel compact precursors. Representative of the highly porous ceramic and/or metal aerogel monolithic objects of the invention are ceramic and/or metal aerogels of Si, Zr, Hf, Ti, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Au, and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Malik Adnan Saeed, Parwani Rewatkar, Tahereh Taghvaee
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Patent number: 10822466Abstract: Nanoporous three-dimensional networks of polyurethane particles, e.g., polyurethane aerogels, and methods of preparation are presented herein. Such nanoporous networks may include polyurethane particles made up of linked polyisocyanate and polyol monomers. In some cases, greater than about 95% of the linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers are urethane linkages. To prepare such networks, a mixture including polyisocyanate monomers (e.g., diisocyanates, triisocyanates), polyol monomers (diols, triols), and a solvent is provided. The polyisocyanate and polyol monomers may be aliphatic or aromatic. A polyurethane catalyst is added to the mixture causing formation of linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers. Phase separation of particles from the reaction medium can be controlled to enable formation of polyurethane networks with desirable nanomorphologies, specific surface area, and mechanical properties.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2018Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Chakkaravarthy Chidambareswarapattar
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Patent number: 10759893Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for preparing a porous material, at least compris-ing the steps of providing a mixture (I) comprising a composition (A) at least comprising at least one polyfunctional isocyanate as component (ai) and at least one mineral acid (aa), and a sol-vent (B), reacting the components in the composition (A) obtaining an organic gel, and drying of the gel obtained. The invention further relates to the porous materials which can be obtained in this way and the use of the porous materials as thermal insulation material and as catalysts.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2016Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignees: BASF SE, THE CURATORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURIInventors: Wibke Loelsberg, Marc Fricke, Dirk Weinrich, Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Adnan M. Saeed
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Publication number: 20200269207Abstract: 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: February 27, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Applicant: 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