Patents by Inventor Sankar Nair

Sankar Nair 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: 8637693
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for dehydrating single-walled metal oxide nanotubes by heating the SWNT under vacuum at 250-300° C.; methods of dehydroxylating SWNT, comprising heating the SWNT under vacuum at 300-340° C., and methods for maximizing the pore volume of a SWNT, comprising heating the SWNT at 300° C. under vacuum to partially dehydroxylate and dehydrate the SWNT; methods of modifying the inner surface of a single walled aluminosilicate nanotube (SWNT), comprising dehydration or dehydration and dehydroxylation, followed by reacting the SWNT with a derivative under anhydrous conditions to produce a SWNT that is derivatized on its inner surface. The invention also includes single-walled nanotubes produced by the methods of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Dun-Yen Kang, Sankar Nair, Christopher Jones
  • Publication number: 20130313193
    Abstract: The growth of continuous MOF membranes on porous polymeric supports is reported, wherein a dip-coating procedure is used to deposit a layer of seed MOF nanocrystals on the surfaces of porous polymers, preferably in the form of hollow fibers, and polycrystalline MOF membranes are subsequently grown at temperatures as low as 65° C. from precursor solutions. The present work opens the road to inexpensive and scalable fabrication of MOF membranes for large-scale separation applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Sankar Nair, Andrew Brown, Christopher W. Jones
  • Patent number: 8568517
    Abstract: A gas separation device comprising a porous support structure comprising polymeric hollow fibers, and an inorganic mesoporous membrane disposed on the porous support structure is disclosed. The inorganic mesoporous membrane is uniform and free of defects. Further, the inorganic mesoporous membrane comprises a network of interconnected three-dimensional pores that interconnect with the porous support structure. The gas permeances of the inorganic mesoporous membrane is substantially higher than the gas permeances of the polymeric hollow fibers. A method of fabricating the gas separation device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Sankar Nair, Kwang-Suk Jang, Christopher Jones, William Koros, Justin Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130096245
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a nanocomposite material having single-walled aluminosilicate nanotube in polymer, a membrane comprising such nanocomposite material, and the method of making the nanocomposite material, in which the composite material has high volume fraction of well-dispersed nanotubes. A gel-phased single-walled aluminosilicate nanotube is first prepared and then mixed with a polymer matrix to yield the composite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Sankar Nair, Dun-Yen Kang, Christopher W. Jones
  • Publication number: 20130064747
    Abstract: DDR nanocrystals of uniform size and structure were synthesized using hydrothermal secondary growth and then used to make DDR zeolite membranes and for any other use where uniform, small DDR zeolite crystals are beneficial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Zhengzhi Zhou, Sankar Nair
  • Publication number: 20120247328
    Abstract: MOF nanocrystals having a narrow size distribution, as well as methods of making and using same are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew BROWN, Sankar NAIR, David SHOLL, Cantwell CARSON
  • Publication number: 20120247336
    Abstract: DDR nanocrystals were synthesized using hydrothermal secondary growth. The morphology of the nanoparticles can be manipulated by changing the ratio of silica to water, the synthesis temperature, and the mineralizing agents. Specifically, nanocrystals with morphology of hexagonal plates, octahedral, and diamond-like plates are disclosed. These nanoparticles can be used as seed coatings for DDR membrane growth on substrates, and for the fabrication of mixed matrix membranes, and for any other use where uniform, small DDR zeolite crystals are beneficial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhengzhi ZHOU, Sankar NAIR
  • Publication number: 20120108418
    Abstract: Methods of making thin, defect-free, mesoporous silica coatings on polymeric hollow fibers are provided, along with membranes, devices and applications employing same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Sankar NAIR, Kwang-Suk JANG, Christopher JONES, William KOROS, Justin JOHNSON
  • Publication number: 20120078541
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-pressure quartz crystal microbalance sensor that is capable of measuring adsorption and diffusion characteristics of nanoporous materials and thin films at high pressures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicants: ConocoPhillips Company - IP Services Group, Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Peter HESKETH, Sankar Nair, Ken McCarley, Milad Navaei, Kevin Bagnall, Anandram Venkatasubramanian
  • Publication number: 20110320176
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for characterizing the pores of reticulated framework structures and using these characteristics to predict the actual performance characteristics of the reticulated framework structures as membranes for gas separation, and other purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Georgia Inst of Tech, Office of Technology Licensing
    Inventors: Emmanuel Haldoupis, Seda Keskin, Sankar Nair, David S. Shol
  • Publication number: 20110230672
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for dehydrating single-walled metal oxide nanotubes by heating the SWNT under vacuum at 250-300° C.; methods of dehydroxylating SWNT, comprising heating the SWNT under vacuum at 300-340° C., and methods for maximizing the pore volume of a SWNT, comprising heating the SWNT at 300° C. under vacuum to partially dehydroxylate and dehydrate the SWNT; methods of modifying the inner surface of a single walled aluminosilicate nanotube (SWNT), comprising dehydration or dehydration and dehydroxylation, followed by reacting the SWNT with a derivative under anhydrous conditions to produce a SWNT that is derivatized on its inner surface. The invention also includes single-walled nanotubes produced by the methods of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Georgia Inst. of Tech, Office of Technology Licensing
    Inventors: Dun-Yen Kang, Sankar Nair, Christopher Jones
  • Patent number: 7835870
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for evaluating the length of elongated elements in a sample. The disclosed systems and methods may include using a direct current stimulus to determine a direct current base length region corresponding to at least a portion of the sample. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include using an alternating current stimulus to determine that the direct current base length region corresponds to a first set of elongated elements and a second set of elongated elements. The first set of elongated elements may have a first base length and the second set of elongated elements may have a second base length. The elongated elements may comprise, for example, chain molecules, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), or proteins. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include measuring an ion current through a nanopore, the ion current produced by the alternating current stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Georgia Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Sankar Nair, Soumendu Bhattacharya, Vishwanath Natarajan, Abhijit Chatterjee
  • Publication number: 20100016619
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the modification of the internal surfaces of zeolite crystals via treatment with alcohols containing at least four carbon atoms. The modified zeolites possess high thermal stability and the properties of the modified zeolites can be tailored to provide improved performance for use in separations processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Chil-Hung Cheng, Christopher Jones, Sankar Nair, Ronald R. Chance, Benjamin A. McCool, Harry W. Deckman
  • Publication number: 20070099191
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for evaluating the length of elongated elements in a sample. The disclosed systems and methods may include using a direct current stimulus to determine a direct current base length region corresponding to at least a portion of the sample. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include using an alternating current stimulus to determine that the direct current base length region corresponds to a first set of elongated elements and a second set of elongated elements. The first set of elongated elements may have a first base length and the second set of elongated elements may have a second base length. The elongated elements may comprise, for example, chain molecules, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), or proteins. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include measuring an ion current through a nanopore, the ion current produced by the alternating current stimulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Sankar Nair, Soumendu Bhattacharya, Vishwanath Natarajan, Abhijit Chatterjee
  • Patent number: 7087288
    Abstract: Layered silicate materials and applications are disclosed. In one aspect, the invention features layered silicate materials having pores that run generally perpendicular to the layers. In another aspect, the invention features composite materials including layered framework materials (e.g., layered silicate materials, layered Aluminophosphate materials, layered tin sulfides) having pores or openings that run generally perpendicular to the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Michael Tsapatsis, Hae-Kwon Jeong, Sankar Nair
  • Patent number: 6863983
    Abstract: Layered silicate materials and applications are disclosed. In one aspect, the invention features layered silicate materials having pores that run generally perpendicular to the layers. In another aspect, the invention features composite materials including layered framework materials (e.g., layered silicate materials, layered Aluminophosphate materials, layered tin sulfides) having pores or openings that run generally perpendicular to the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Michael Tsapatsis, Hae-Kwon Jeong, Sankar Nair
  • Publication number: 20050037209
    Abstract: Layered silicate materials and applications are disclosed. In one aspect, the invention features layered silicate materials having pores that run generally perpendicular to the layers. In another aspect, the invention features composite materials including layered framework materials (e.g., layered silicate materials, layered Aluminophosphate materials, layered tin sulfides) having pores or openings that run generally perpendicular to the layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Tsapatsis, Hae-Kwon Jeong, Sankar Nair
  • Publication number: 20040062909
    Abstract: Layered silicate materials and applications are disclosed. In one aspect, the invention features layered silicate materials having pores that run generally perpendicular to the layers. In another aspect, the invention features composite materials including layered framework materials (e.g., layered silicate materials, layered Aluminophosphate materials, layered tin sulfides) having pores or openings that run generally perpendicular to the layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Tsapatsis, Hae-Kwon Jeong, Sankar Nair