Jianhua Hua Zou

US Patent:

7973094, Jul 5, 2011

Filed:

Jun 28, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/770279

Inventors:

Qun Huo - Orlando FL, US
Jianhua Zou - Oviedo FL, US
Hui Chen - Orlando FL, US

Assignee:

University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc. - Orlando FL

International Classification:

B05D 3/06
C08F 290/06
B29C 25/08

US Classification:

522 2, 522 81, 264400, 427554, 1562728

Abstract:

A metal nanoparticle supported on or dispersed in a polymer is irradiated with photons from a laser source to address the nanoparticles. The polymer is transmissive to the photons and addressed nanoparticles transform the energy of the photon to heat which is transferred to a material in the vicinity of the nanoparticle. The locally heated material undergoes a physical or chemical transformation upon heating. The transformed material can be a material in the proximity of the metal nanoparticle supported polymer or metal nanoparticle/polymer composite. In this manner thermally induced physical or chemical transformations can be carried out in very small volumes of material without significant heating to the bulk of the material.

US Patent:

8211969, Jul 3, 2012

Filed:

Oct 10, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/249859

Inventors:

Jianhua Zou - Orlando FL, US
Lei Zhai - Oviedo FL, US
Qun Huo - Orlando FL, US

Assignee:

University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc. - Orlando FL

International Classification:

B29C 41/00
B32B 27/00
B32B 27/18
C08K 3/04
C09K 7/02
C08F 291/14
C08F 279/00
C08F 236/04
C08F 236/20
C08G 81/00
C08G 75/02

US Classification:

524496, 264298, 264299, 4284974, 524495, 524847, 525535, 528377, 528379, 528380, 977742, 977753

Abstract:

A dispersion includes non-chemically modified carbon nanotubes, a soluble block copolymer providing at least one block of a conjugated polymer and at least one block of a non-conjugated polymer, and at least one solvent. At 25 C. exclusive of any mechanical force and after one hour, at least 90% of the carbon nanotubes exist in the dispersion as isolated carbon nanotubes. The components of the dispersion can be combined with a polymer miscible with the block copolymer to form a carbon nanotube polymer composite upon removal of the solvent. The dispersion can be cast on a substrate and then dried to form a coating, including forming a superhydrophobic coating on the substrate. The non-conjugated polymer of the block copolymer or another miscible conjugated polymer including a copolymer can include functionalities that non-covalently attach to the carbon nanotube surface, such as for enhanced solubility or enhanced biocompatibility.

US Patent:

8613898, Dec 24, 2013

Filed:

Jan 27, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/015170

Inventors:

Lei Zhai - Oviedo FL, US
Jianhua Liu - Orlando FL, US
Jianhua Zou - Orlando FL, US
Anindarupa Chunder - Orlando FL, US

Assignee:

University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc. - Orlando FL

International Classification:

B82Y 30/00
B82Y 40/00
C08G 75/00

US Classification:

423445R, 257 40, 257E51038, 977746, 977748, 977753, 136263, 252510

Abstract:

A composition of matter includes at least one carbon nanotube (CNT) or a graphene type structure having an outer surface, and a plurality of crystalline polymer supramolecular structures that include a conjugated polymer that are non-covalently secured to the outer surface of the CNTs or the graphene type structure. The conjugated polymer can be a conjugated homopolymer or a block copolymer including at least one conjugated block. The supramolecular structures extend outward from the outer surface of the CNTs or graphene type structures.

US Patent:

20090001325, Jan 1, 2009

Filed:

Mar 18, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/050780

Inventors:

Qun Huo - Orlando FL, US
Saiful Khondaker - Oviedo FL, US
Jianhua Zou - Orlando FL, US
Lei Zhai - Oviedo FL, US
Hui Chen - Mountain View CA, US
Harish Muthuraman - Orlando FL, US

International Classification:

H01B 1/24

US Classification:

252511, 977742

Abstract:

A method of forming carbon nanotube-polymer composites includes the steps of forming a mixture solution including a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a co-solvent. The co-solvent includes an organic solvent and a second solvent being a short chain fluorinated carboxylic acid having a boiling point below 150 C. which is less oxidizing than nitric acid, and is soluble in both the organic solvent and water. The first polymer is mixed with the mixture solution to form a polymer including mixture. The co-solvent is removed from the polymer mixture to form a dispersed nanotube-polymer composite. The second solvent can be trifluoroacetic acid.

US Patent:

20110224376, Sep 15, 2011

Filed:

Mar 15, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/048040

Inventors:

Lei Zhai - Oviedo FL, US
Jianhua Zou - Orlando FL, US

Assignee:

University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc. - Orlando FL

International Classification:

C08F 230/08
C08F 8/34
B32B 3/12
G06F 19/00

US Classification:

525186, 428116, 702 41

Abstract:

An aerogel includes a plurality of supramolecular structures bound to one another. Each supramolecular structure includes a carbon nanotube (CNT) or graphene type structure having an outer surface, and a plurality of polymers or aromatic molecules secured to the outer surface of the CNT or graphene type structure. The plurality of polymers or aromatic molecules have at least one crosslinkable structure. The supramolecular structures are crosslinked together by chemical bonding between the crosslinkable structures. The polymers can be block copolymers including at least one conjugated polymer block and at least one block of a crosslinkable non-conjugated polymer that provides the cross linkable structure, where the conjugated polymer block is non-covalently bonded to the outer surface of the CNT or graphene type structure.

US Patent:

20110303882, Dec 15, 2011

Filed:

May 31, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/149338

Inventors:

Qun Huo - Orlando FL, US
Saiful Khondaker - Oviedo FL, US
Jianhua Zou - Orlando FL, US
Lei Zhai - Oviedo FL, US
Hui Chen - Mountain View CA, US
Harish Muthuraman - Orlando FL, US

Assignee:

University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc. - Orlando FL

International Classification:

H01B 1/24
H01B 1/12
B82Y 30/00

US Classification:

252511, 977742, 977752

Abstract:

A carbon nanotube-polymer composite includes a polymer continuous phase having at least a first polymer, and a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in the polymer continuous phase. The carbon nanotubes are non-functionalized nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes are between 0.05 and 40 weight % of the composite. At least 98% of the carbon nanotubes are not involved in nanotube bundles.

US Patent:

20140072704, Mar 13, 2014

Filed:

Nov 12, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/077711

Inventors:

JIANHUA LIU - ORLANDO FL, US
JIANHUA ZOU - ORLANDO FL, US
ANINDARUPA CHUNDER - ORLANDO FL, US

Assignee:

University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc. - Orlando FL

International Classification:

H01B 1/04

US Classification:

427122, 252502, 252511

Abstract:

A method of forming composite materials includes dispersing a conjugated material, a solvent for the conjugated material, and a plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene including structures having an outer surface to form a dispersion. The solvent is evaporated from the dispersion to yield a CNT or graphene composite including a plurality of crystalline supramolecular structures having the conjugated material non-covalently secured to the outer surface of the CNT or the graphene including structure. The supramolecular structures have an average length which extends outward in a length direction from the outer surface of the CNT or graphene including structure, where the average length is greater than an average width of the supramolecular structures.

US Patent:

20150166757, Jun 18, 2015

Filed:

Jan 27, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/606709

Inventors:

- Orlando FL, US
JIANHUA ZOU - ORLANDO FL, US

International Classification:

C08J 9/28
C08J 9/00

Abstract:

A method of forming aerogels includes mixing a plurality of polymers or aromatic molecules, a solvent, and a plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene including structures to form a mixture, where the polymers or aromatic molecules have at least one crosslinkable structure. A solid gel is formed including a plurality of supramolecular structures from the mixture. The plurality of supramolecular structures include a plurality of the polymers or aromatic molecules secured by π-π bonds to the outer surface of the CNTs or graphene including structures. The solid gel includes a portion of the solvent trapped therein. The plurality of supramolecular structures are crosslinked and then dried to remove the solvent trapped therein to form the aerogel.