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: 20200239319Abstract: 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: September 6, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Applicant: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Chakkaravarthy Chidambareswarapattar
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Patent number: 10669212Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 6, 2018Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: THE CURATORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURIInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Malik Adnan Saeed, Parwani Rewatkar, Tahereh Taghvaee
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Publication number: 20200071482Abstract: 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: April 4, 2019Publication date: March 5, 2020Applicant: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Sudhir Mulik
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Publication number: 20190359787Abstract: 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: December 14, 2018Publication date: November 28, 2019Applicant: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Chakkaravarthy Chidambareswarapattar
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Patent number: 10487095Abstract: Cross-linked sol-gel like materials and cross-linked aerogels, as well as methods for making such cross-linked sol-gel like materials and cross-linked aerogels are described.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2016Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis
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Patent number: 10442693Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 19, 2017Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Chakkaravarthy Chidambareswarapattar
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Publication number: 20190308912Abstract: 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 6, 2018Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Malik Adnan Saeed, Parwani Rewatkar, Tahereh Taghvaee
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Patent number: 10301445Abstract: 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: August 19, 2011Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Sudhir Mulik
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Publication number: 20180305491Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2016Publication date: October 25, 2018Applicants: 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: 20180272312Abstract: 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: March 23, 2017Publication date: September 27, 2018Inventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Malik Adnan Saeed
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Publication number: 20180257941Abstract: 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: October 6, 2017Publication date: September 13, 2018Applicant: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Anand G. Sadekar, Naveen Candrasekaran, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis
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Publication number: 20180251623Abstract: 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: October 6, 2017Publication date: September 6, 2018Applicant: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Chakkaravarthy Chidambareswarapattar
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Publication number: 20180162736Abstract: 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: July 19, 2017Publication date: June 14, 2018Applicant: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Chakkaravarthy Chidambareswarapattar
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Patent number: 9994516Abstract: Novel urethane-acrylate (UAC) Star monomers and polyurethane-acrylate (PUAC) aerogel polymers derived therefrom are described herein, along with other novel, related monomers and polymers. Also described herein are processes for preparing the UAC Star monomers, the PUAC aerogel polymers, and the other related monomers and polymers. The PUAC and related polymers herein are useful in various applications including in structural and thermal insulation.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2016Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: The Curators of The University of MissouriInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Abhishek Bang
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Patent number: 9809694Abstract: 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: November 26, 2014Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Chakkaravarthy Chidambareswarapattar
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Patent number: 9745198Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 24, 2014Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Chakkaravarthy Chidambareswarapattar
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Publication number: 20170137376Abstract: Novel urethane-acrylate (UAC) Star monomers and polyurethane-acrylate (PUAC) aerogel polymers derived therefrom are described herein, along with other novel, related monomers and polymers. Also described herein are processes for preparing the UAC Star monomers, the PUAC aerogel polymers, and the other related monomers and polymers. The PUAC and related polymers herein are useful in various applications including in structural and thermal insulation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2016Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Abhishek Bang
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Patent number: 9593225Abstract: The present disclosure provides a series of new and improved porous polyamide aerogels derived from multifunctional aromatics that combine the high mechanical strength of aramids with the pore structure of aerogels. The polyamide aerogels have a hyperbranched structure, relatively low density, high porosity and may be derived from functionalized monomers having more aromatic groups than functional groups. The present disclosure also provides a new method for producing the porous polyamide aerogels by polymerizing an aromatic multifunctional carboxylic acid or a ferrocene multifunctional carboxylic acid with a polyfunctional aromatic isocyanate at moderate reaction conditions followed by drying with liquid CO2. Also disclosed are various methods of use of these polyamide aerogels in a variety of applications, particularly in the generation of various precious metal catalysts.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: The Curators of the University of MissouriInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Malik Adnan Saeed
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Publication number: 20170050990Abstract: Cross-linked sol-gel like materials and cross-linked aerogels, as well as methods for making such cross-linked sol-gel like materials and cross-linked aerogels are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2016Publication date: February 23, 2017Applicant: Aerogel Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis
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Patent number: 9550846Abstract: Novel urethane-acrylate (UAC) Star monomers and polyurethane-acrylate (PUAC) aerogel polymers derived therefrom are described herein, along with other novel, related monomers and polymers. Also described herein are processes for preparing the UAC Star monomers, the PUAC aerogel polymers, and the other related monomers and polymers. The PUAC and related polymers herein are useful in various applications including in structural and thermal insulation.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: The Curators of the University of MissouriInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis, Abhishek Bang