An innovative method to make highly efficient coatings
Self-healing coatings are a beneficial solution to existing corrosion issues in various industries, especially in oil & gas fields. The present invention includes the fabrication of a self-healing polymer coating incorporated with corrosion inhibitor encapsulated mesoporous carbon (MeC) based nanocontainer for the corrosion protection of metal structures. A corrosion inhibitor was added directly into the pores of mesoporous carbon and then covered by a polyelectrolyte layer to prevent the unwanted release. Pores of mesoporous carbon are effectively filled with a sufficient amount of benzotriazole, and they get released at the damaged area occurring by the triggering action of corrosion. This helps in diminishing the propagation of corrosion processes through the metal surface.
The current inventive nanocontainerpolymer coatings have several advantages compared with the existing technology of solgel coating.
As coatings in:
PCT/IB2017/054995
Lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining desirable physical properties
Thermoplastic, also known as thermosoftening plastic, is a polymer that becomes pliable or moldable above a specific temperature and returns to a solid state upon cooling. The developed thermoplastic sulfur-polymer composite is comprised of a thermoplastic polymer, such as polyethylene and polystyrene, and a sulfur element. The thermoplastic polymer is a polymer matrix with the sulfur filler is dispersed in the polymer matrix.
Nanopolymers have many dramatic and very valuable properties. Most of these important nanoproperties are due to the vast increase in the ratio of surface area to volume. The exponentially increased surface area makes it possible for new quantum mechanical effects. One example is the “quantum size effect,” where the electronic properties of solids are altered with great reductions in particle size.
In addition, a certain number of physical properties may also be altered in the nanomaterials. The added nanoparticles, such as the sulfur nanoparticles of the present invention, can strongly influence the mechanical properties of the polymers, such as stiffness and elasticity. In this way, the application of sulfur nanoparticles (in the polymer matrix) in the present invention to form the nanosulfur-polymer composite is able to provide the new polymer nanomaterial with certain valuable properties; therefore, they can find important applications in many different industries.
US 14/703,358
Steering of catalyst structures towards coke-free catalyst
Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is an endothermic catalytic process (CH4 + CO2 ↔ 2 CO + 2 H2) that can produce clean and green H2 fuel and synthesis gas (CO/H2). The syngas produced can be utilized for the production of fuels and high value-added chemicals such as methanol, dimethyl ether, acetic acid, and other oxygenated chemicals and long chain hydrocarbons via Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis. DRM is also an attractive alternative for CO2 utilization and recycling, which consequently mitigates global warming as it uses two main greenhouse gases. However, it has not been industrialized yet due to the lack of development of robust catalysts that can sustain coke-free operation and high resistance to metal sintering at high temperatures. Ni-based catalysts present an economically viable alternative compared to noble metal-based catalysts. However, they suffer mainly from carbon deposition, which ultimately leads to catalyst deactivation. The Ni-supported catalysts prepared in the present invention showed excellent stability and carbon formation reduction.
The Ni-supported catalysts synthesized, namely, Ni/Ce-La-10Cu-O and Ni/Ce-Sm-10Cu-O (DBM), showed good conversion of CH4 and CO2 and excellent stability towards DRM. The best performance was made possible due to the in-situ structure modification through alloying, transforming the Ni catalyst to a NiCu catalyst with a crystallite size of <6 nm.
US 17/900,374
Artificial Materials for Effective Electromagnetic Wave Absorption
A gradient 3-dimensional (3D) honeycomb metamaterial structure is fabricated, and its structure parameters were optimized and fabricated by using 3D printing technology. Nanocomposites with carbon nanotubes and magnetic nanoparticles have been prepared and coated on the gradient 3D structure. The titled angle has a dramatic effect on the RL and the reduced mismatch between air and 3D meta-absorber should account for the enhanced performance. The gradient 3D meta-absorber has features of high performance and lightweight, which could find applications in many fields, especially in aerospace and military application where lightweight materials are preferred.
Radar absorbing materials (RAMs) have gained a fundamental role in civil, aerospace, and military applications that require good control of the electromagnetic (EM) environment, such as the design of ‘stealth’ aircraft against air-based radar surveillance. Such materials are characterized not only by high shielding properties against EM fields but a low reflection coefficient over a defined frequency range of the EM spectrum. The objective of ‘stealth’ designs is to reduce the radar cross-section (RSC) of the potential targets in order to make aircraft and vehicles less detectable to hostile radar surveillance systems. Enhanced Frequency-dependent electromagnetic properties (Reflection loss of over -40dB) of our 3D meta-materials by implementing the following strategies:
US 17/392,898
Innovative method to obtain metal and metal oxide nanostructures
In this invention, a robust method for fabricating high-aspect-ratio structures through a self-folding process of planar thin films is developed. It relies solely on three standard microfabrication steps, lithography, etching, and sputtering processes, provides the flexibility to position the spalled structures
according to the application requirements, and is fully compliant with CMOS fabrication standards. This method has been successfully demonstrated for metal-oxides and metals. The width of the fabricated structures is dependent on the thickness of the film deposited by sputtering, where structures as small as 20 nm in width have been obtained.
This invention solves two long-standing problems in the field of nanotechnology, namely achieving high-aspect ratio free-standing nanostructures, and accurate positioning of these nanostructures in organized patterns, following a design layout by a process engineer.
US 63/083,581
Highly efficient in-situ fabrication process of 2D−2D-type nanohybrids
The rapid growth in interest and the large number of achievements in recent years suggests that perforated two-dimensional (2D) materials with precise control of nanopores and density are indeed new generation materials with direct application in various market segments (i.e., membrane technology,
electronics, energy storage and generation, DNA sequencing, etc.). In the present invention, a method is developed to perforate 2D materials sheets with controlled pore size and density. Further, an integrated approach is developed using the present method to produce membranes at an industrial scale. 2D materials developed by various technologies can be used to perforate with the existing method.
The innovative method developed to fabricate 2D−2D-type nanohybrid follows a simplistic scalable in situ strategy and is environmentally friendly. The resulting nanostructures exhibits properties that are
imperative to develop materials at Industrial scale.
Technology reference number: PCT/IB2020/052760
Antifogging glass technology to tackle dirt and grim on glass
The fabrication of (titanium dioxide) TiO2 coatings deposited by e-beam evaporation was achieved, with the ability to induce the production of self-cleaning superhydrophilic glass without the need for UV irradiation. After being annealed at 500 °C, the non-porous films exhibited radiation-free superwetting behavior. The superhydrophilic and antifogging
properties, which can be reactivated by a thermal treatment or prolonged through UV exposure, confirmed the excellent potential of these materials for self-cleaning application, both outdoors and indoors. The deposition of a 20 nm layer did not alter the optical and mechanical properties of the glass. In addition, film adhesion to the substrate and photocatalytic activity proved to be very effective. The prepared 20 nm coating (20-TiO2-GLASS) shows enhanced antifogging properties compared to bare glass and the commercial self-cleaning glass
Current approaches to the fabrication of self-cleaning materials aim at improving hydrophilicity by imparting porous structures to the coatings. Our coatings are non-porous and able to reach a superhydrophilic state without the application of UV irradiation. The performance in terms of wettability and photocatalytic activity is thus better compared to self-cleaning glasses currently on the market.
US 10,875,807
Sustainable solution for product packaging and other applications
Convenience, safety, low price, and good aesthetic qualities are among the major factors that make plastics useful for numerous applications. Synthetic polymers that are produced from petrochemical products have low recovery/reproduction rates and are not easily degraded in the environment. The developed method in the present technology is used to make a biodegradable composite using an aqueous mixture comprised of partially hydrolyzed cellulose in a dissolution media; combing the mixture with a solution of aliphatic polyester in a polar organic solvent;
removing solvent and dissolution media to form a wet biodegradable composite; and drying the wet biodegradable composite to form a dry biodegradable composite.
Modification of biodegradable polymers through innovative nanotechnology opens up new possibilities for improving not only the properties but also the cost-price-efficiency.
US 13/268,278
Single-atom and sub-1 nm probe for highly focused electron and ion beam microscopy and nano-probe microscopy.
Nano-probes are the most critical parts in all scanning probe microscopes, like atomic force microscopes and scanning tunneling microscopes, as the resolution of the microscope is a direct function of the probe apex size, where optimum resolution can be achieved by having extremely sharp probes. These atomically sharp nano-probes can be used for characterizing and manipulating, bio and chemical molecules, nanomaterials. In electron and ion microscopes like scanning electron microscope (SEM), and ultra-high resolution transmission electron microscope (UHTEM), nanoprobes
are used as a source of electrons and ions where highly focused electron and ion beams can be produced.
This process depends on a physical mechanism by bombarding the probe apex with hot electrons from a surrounding ring and meanwhile monitoring the process using the FIM microscope screen. Therefore, this process provides full control of the fabrication of extremely sharp popes, and can be applied on all metal and doped semiconductor probes, unlike the blind current processes for nano-probe fabrication. The process can be monitored in real-time in the field ion microscope, where the tip (probe) sharpening process is taking
place.
US 13/293,167
Lowers manufacturing cost while maintaining desirable physical properties
Thermoplastic, also known as thermosoftening plastic, is a polymer that becomes pliable or moldable above a specific temperature, and returns to a solid state upon cooling. The developed thermoplastic sulfur-polymer composite is comprised of a thermoplastic polymer, such as polyethylene and polystyrene, and a sulfur element. The thermoplastic polymer is a polymer matrix with the sulfur filler is dispersed in the polymer matrix.
Providing access to fresh water in areas of scarcity
Water is one of the most important resources in the world, however there is scarce access to fresh water in some locations. The developed device can be used for collecting water from the atmospheric moisture with no without energy input except for solar radiation. The device is comprised of a water absorbing material, a protection wall and a water container. When the water absorbing material is below phase separation temperature, hydrogen bonds are formed with water molecules resulting in the absorption of water from the air.
U.S. 9,440,187
Enhancing the structure of molybdenum disulfide
Sulfur-containing compounds are by-products from oil and gas production. Molybdenum disulfide is the preferred catalyst for hydro-desulphurization, which is the catalytic chemical process to remove sulfur from natural gas or other refined chemical products. However, molybdenum disulfide is limited to the surface area of the material. The developed process expands the surface area of the material by increasing the porosity and internal cavities of the material.
U.S. 9,963,357
Nanotips with desirable apex atomic structures
The developed method of fabricating a super nano ion-electron source can lead to improved nanotips for applications in nanotechnology, particularly in scanning probe microscopy and electron microscopy. The method involves placing an assembly of precursor tip with an apex and a shank and a heating metal ring in a field ion microscope chamber, applying a direct current to heat the metal ring, applying an electrical field to the precursor tip, and monitoring the evolution of the tip apex until sharpened to a desirable structure.
Moh’D Rezeq
U.S. 8,460,049
A new binder-free catalyst and a process to produce a designed zeolite-based catalyst with high selectivity. The novel feature of this technology is the use of only catalyst active materials and therefore producing high-quality catalyst through a cost-effective process.
US 2020-0009542 A1
Smart sensors for in-situ measurement for monitoring and fracture mapping during and after geological hydro-fracturing. The sensors records and provides near to real-time data on temperature, pressue, chemical composition, etc. A record set of these sensors can be embedded in the proppant and provide status of the well. All data and information within the fractured rock and any information changes is transmitted wirelessly.
US 2019-0273973 A1
Enhanced filters designed to alleviate pharmaceutical pollution of water
Pharmaceutical compounds are emerging contaminants in the water supply due to increasing use throughout the world. The developed photo-regenerable filters are designed to remove pharmaceutical compounds and other contaminants from water. The filter is comprised of carbon nanotubes and high surface area titanium dioxide nanospheres, in which the high surface area titanium dioxide nanospheres are dispersed in the carbon nanotubes.
U.S. 9,840,425
Enhanced utilization/conservation of water using cellulose gels
Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer that can be extracted inexpensively from plants and other organisms. The developed cellulose gel compositions are prepared by modifying native cellulose to generate a material with enhanced water absorption and retention properties. The material is produced through the regeneration of cellulose in aqueous polyethylene oxide. The material has been demonstrated to hold twenty times its weight.
U.S. 9,901,040
Multi-chamber reactor for converting waste oil into biofuel
Biodiesel is an important alternative fuel that includes a fatty acid methyl or (ethel) esters produced from trigylcerides as the product of vegetable, lipid, animal, trapped grease, or recycled cooking oil. However, production of biodiesel is limited due to current production methods. The developed multi-chamber continuous tubular reactor for the transesterification of oil can improve production. The multi-chamber design operates in a helical flow pattern to enhance mass transfer and increase conversion.
U.S. 9,468,899
Improved process of preparing pharmaceutical tablets
A gel material from structure-modified or processed cellulose combined with an active pharmaceutical ingredient can be used to improve the process of tablet production. The approach introduces a continuous process that can reduce labor, time, and cost of production. In addition, the approach results in an improved tablet with desirable properties.
Production of pharmaceutical products in tablet form
U.S. 9,446,000
