Patents by Inventor Qingkun Liu

Qingkun Liu 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: 12345909
    Abstract: Materials that can be templated by one or more of biological material and biologically-derived material, structures including such materials, and methods of forming and using the materials and structures are disclosed. Exemplary materials and structures can be used to reflect, polarize and/or retard electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado
    Inventors: Ivan I. Smalyukh, Andrew Johnston Hess, Qingkun Liu, Joshua A. De La Cruz, Blaise Fleury, Eldho Abraham, Bohdan Senyuk, Vladyslav Cherpak
  • Publication number: 20250122350
    Abstract: Disclosed are cellulose-based flexible gels containing cellulose nanorods, ribbons, fibers, and the like, and cellulose-enabled inorganic or polymeric composites, wherein the gels have tunable optical, heat transfer, and stiffness properties. The disclosed gels are in the form of hydrogels, organogels, liquid-crystal (LC) gels, and aerogels, depending on the solvents in the gels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventors: Andrew J. Hess, Qingkun Liu, Ivan I. Smalyukh
  • Patent number: 12215677
    Abstract: An artificial cilium device includes a substrate and a voltage-actuated cilia-shaped structure attached at a proximal end to the substrate. The voltage-actuated cilia-shaped structure has a first layer of a first material and a second layer of a second material. The second layer of the second material includes an exposed surface that causes the cilia-shaped structure to, in a working medium, (a) change shape from a first shape to a second shape responsive to application of a first voltage and (b) change shape from the second shape to the first shape responsive to application of a second voltage different than the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Itai Cohen, Wei Wang, Qingkun Liu
  • Publication number: 20240392758
    Abstract: An artificial cilium device includes a substrate and a voltage-actuated cilia-shaped structure attached at a proximal end to the substrate. The voltage-actuated cilia-shaped structure has a first layer of a first material and a second layer of a second material. The second layer of the second material includes an exposed surface that causes the cilia-shaped structure to, in a working medium, (a) change shape from a first shape to a second shape responsive to application of a first voltage and (b) change shape from the second shape to the first shape responsive to application of a second voltage different than the first voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Itai COHEN, Wei WANG, Qingkun LIU
  • Patent number: 12129353
    Abstract: Disclosed are cellulose-based flexible gels containing cellulose nanorods, ribbons, fibers, and the like, and cellulose-enabled inorganic or polymeric composites, wherein the gels have tunable optical, heat transfer, and stiffness properties. The disclosed gels are in the form of hydrogels, organogels, liquid-crystal (LC) gels, and aerogels, depending on the solvents in the gels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado
    Inventors: Andrew J. Hess, Qingkun Liu, Ivan I. Smalyukh
  • Publication number: 20240158601
    Abstract: Disclosed are cellulose-based flexible gels containing cellulose nanorods, ribbons, fibers, and the like, and cellulose-enabled inorganic or polymeric composites, wherein the gels have tunable optical, heat transfer, and stiffness properties. The disclosed gels are in the form of hydrogels, organogels, liquid-crystal (LC) gels, and aerogels. Further disclosed are highly transparent and flexible cellulose nanofiber-polysiloxane composite aerogels featuring enhanced mechanical robustness, tunable optical anisotropy, and low thermal conductivity. Further disclosed are gels comprising cellulosic material derived from bacteria and processes for preparing bacterial cellulose gels and methods of use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2023
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Andrew J. Hess, Ivan I. Smalyukh, Qingkun Liu, Joshua A. De La Cruz, Blaise Fleury, Eldho Abraham, Vladyslav Cherpak, Bohdan Senyuk
  • Publication number: 20230347508
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods for fabrication of moving, actuatable structures at micron scales that can be electronically controlled using low power and low voltages. Also disclosed are microscale robots having such microscale actuator structures to actuate the robots’ movements as well as devices, systems, and methods for fabrication of microscale robots. The disclosed methods of fabrication are compatible with standard semiconductor technologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Marc MISKIN, Paul McEUEN, Itai COHEN, Qingkun LIU
  • Publication number: 20220153952
    Abstract: Disclosed are cellulose-based flexible gels containing cellulose nanorods, ribbons, fibers, and the like, and cellulose-enabled inorganic or polymeric composites, wherein the gels have tunable optical, heat transfer, and stiffness properties. The disclosed gels are in the form of hydrogels, organogels, liquid-crystal (LC) gels, and aerogels, depending on the solvents in the gels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew J. Hess, Qingkun Liu, Ivan I. Smalyukh
  • Patent number: 11180627
    Abstract: Disclosed are cellulose-based flexible gels containing cellulose nanorods, ribbons, fibers, and the like, and cellulose-enabled inorganic or polymeric composites, wherein the gels have tunable optical, heat transfer, and stiffness properties. The disclosed gels are in the form of hydrogels, organogels, liquid-crystal (LC) gels, and aerogels, depending on the solvents in the gels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: Andrew J. Hess, Qingkun Liu, Ivan I. Smalyukh
  • Publication number: 20190055373
    Abstract: Disclosed are cellulose-based flexible gels containing cellulose nanorods, ribbons, fibers, and the like, and cellulose-enabled inorganic or polymeric composites, wherein the gels have tunable optical, heat transfer, and stiffness properties. The disclosed gels are in the form of hydrogels, organogels, liquid-crystal (LC) gels, and aerogels. Further disclosed are highly transparent and flexible cellulose nanofiber-polysiloxane composite aerogels featuring enhanced mechanical robustness, tunable optical anisotropy, and low thermal conductivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, A BODY CORPORATE
    Inventors: Andrew J. Hess, Ivan I. Smalyukh, Qingkun Liu, Joshua A. De La Cruz, Blaise Fleury, Eldho Abraham, Vladyslav Cherpak, Bohdan Senyuk
  • Publication number: 20180237608
    Abstract: Disclosed are cellulose-based flexible gels containing cellulose nanorods, ribbons, fibers, and the like, and cellulose-enabled inorganic or polymeric composites, wherein the gels have tunable optical, heat transfer, and stiffness properties. The disclosed gels are in the form of hydrogels, organogels, liquid-crystal (LC) gels, and aerogels, depending on the solvents in the gels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Andrew J. Hess, Qingkun Liu, Ivan I. Smalyukh