Wei Lu

US Patent:

20090263485, Oct 22, 2009

Filed:

Mar 2, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/380680

Inventors:

Chun Li - Missouri City TX, US
Wei Lu - Houston TX, US
Marites P. Melancon - Houston TX, US
Chiyi Xiong - Cypress TX, US
Jason Stafford - Houston TX, US
Jin Z. Zhang - Santa Cruz CA, US

International Classification:

A61K 9/14
G01N 33/53
B32B 5/16
A61P 35/00

US Classification:

424489, 435 71, 428402, 977773, 977927

Abstract:

Provided are novel nanostructures comprising hollow nanospheres and nanotubes for use as chemical sensors and molecular specific photothermal coupling agents. The nanostructures can be used in laser-induced phototherapy for treatment of cancer and other disorders. The nanostructures can also be used as a sensor that detects molecules. The nanostructures are of particular use in the fields of clinical diagnosis, clinical therapy, clinical treatment, and clinical evaluation of various diseases and disorders, manufacture of compositions for use in the treatment of various diseases and disorders, for use in molecular biology, structural biology, cell biology, molecular switches, molecular circuits, and molecular computational devices, and the manufacture thereof. The hollow gold nanospheres have a unique combination of spherical shape, small size, and strong, tunable, and narrow surface plasmon resonance absorption covering the entire visible to near IR region.

US Patent:

20120142111, Jun 7, 2012

Filed:

Jun 11, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/378440

Inventors:

James M. Tour - Bellaire TX, US
Dmitry Kosynkin - Houston TX, US
Michael Wong - Houston TX, US
Mason Tomson - Houston TX, US
Jacob Berlin - Houston TX, US
Ashley Leonard - Houston TX, US
Jay Lomeda - Houston TX, US
Wei Lu - Houston TX, US
Jie yu - Katy TX, US
Lunliang Zhang - Beijing, CN
Amy Kan - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

G01N 21/64
C07D 303/32
C07D 263/52
G01N 33/00
C09K 11/06
G01N 21/29
C07C 63/33
B82Y 15/00

US Classification:

436 27, 436 56, 436164, 549543, 562405, 548217, 2524081, 25230116, 428402, 73 5301, 977773

Abstract:

Compositions containing a transporter component and a signaling component and a method for using said compositions for analyzing porous media and flowing liquid streams, specifically for measuring pressure, temperature, relative abundance of water, pH, redox potential and electrolyte concentration. Analytes may include petroleum or other hydrophobic media, sulfur-containing compounds. The transporter component includes an amphiphilic nanomatenal and a plurality of solubilizing groups covalently bonded to the transporter component. The signaling component includes a plurality of reporter molecules associated with the transporter component. Said reporter molecules may be releasable from the transporter component upon exposure to at least one analyte. The reporter molecules may be non-covalently associated with the transporter component, or the reporter molecules are covalently bonded to the transporter component. Furthermore, said compositions and methods may be used to actively enhance oil recovery and for remediation of pollutants.

US Patent:

20170081441, Mar 23, 2017

Filed:

Sep 23, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/274085

Inventors:

James M. Tour - Bellaire TX, US
Wei Lu - Houston TX, US
Bostjan Genorio - Ivancna Gorica, SI

Assignee:

William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

International Classification:

C08F 112/08
D01F 9/12
C07C 15/56
C07C 2/76
C07C 67/035
C07C 69/76

Abstract:

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods of preparing functionalized graphene nanoribbons by (1) exposing a plurality of carbon nanotubes to an alkali metal source in the presence of an aprotic solvent, wherein the exposing opens the carbon nanotubes; and (2) exposing the opened carbon nanotubes to an electrophile to form functionalized graphene nanoribbons. Such methods may also include a step of exposing the opened carbon nanotubes to a protic solvent in order to quench any reactive species on the opened carbon nanotubes. Further embodiments of the present invention pertain to graphene nanoribbons formed by the methods of the present invention. Additional embodiments of the present invention pertain to nanocomposites and fibers containing the aforementioned graphene nanoribbons.

US Patent:

20150153472, Jun 4, 2015

Filed:

Jun 24, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/408917

Inventors:

- Houston TX, US
Wei Lu - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01V 3/26
G01N 33/24

Abstract:

Magnetic nanoparticles are utilized for magnetically detecting hydrocarbons in a geological structure. The magnetic nanoparticles generally include a core particle and a temperature responsive polymer associated with the core particle. The temperature responsive polymer may include polyacrylamides, polyethylene glycols, or combinations thereof. The temperature responsive polymer facilitates an agglomeration of the nanoparticles in a fluid at an organic/aqueous interface of the fluid, an organic phase of the fluid, or combinations thereof. The agglomeration may occur at a specific temperature or temperature range.

US Patent:

20150108391, Apr 23, 2015

Filed:

Jan 28, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/374591

Inventors:

James M. Tour - Bellaire TX, US
Bostjan Genorio - Ivancna Gorica, SI
Wei Lu - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

M-I L.L.C. - Houston TX
William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

International Classification:

H01F 1/01

US Classification:

252 6254, 252 6255

Abstract:

Various embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making magnetic carbon nanoribbons. Such methods generally include: (1) forming carbon nanoribbons by splitting carbon nanomaterials; and (2) associating graphene nanoribbons with magnetic materials, precursors of magnetic materials, or combinations thereof. Further embodiments of the present disclosure also include a step of reducing the precursors of magnetic materials to magnetic materials. In various embodiments, the associating occurs before, during or after the splitting of the carbon nanomaterials. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure further comprise a step of (3) functionalizing the carbon nanoribbons with functionalizing agents. In more specific embodiments, the functionalizing occurs in situ during the splitting of carbon nanomaterials. In further embodiments, the carbon nanoribbons are edge-functionalized. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to magnetic carbon nanoribbon compositions that were formed in accordance with the methods of the present disclosure.

US Patent:

20150057417, Feb 26, 2015

Filed:

Sep 14, 2012

Appl. No.:

14/345016

Inventors:

James M. Tour - Bellaire TX, US
Wei Lu - Houston TX, US
Bostjan Genorio - Ivancna Gorica, SI

Assignee:

William Marsh Rice Universtiy - Houston TX

International Classification:

C01B 31/02
C08F 112/08
C07C 29/32

US Classification:

526 89, 568840, 4234371

Abstract:

The present invention provides methods of preparing functionalized graphene nanoribbons. Such methods include: (1) exposing a plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to an alkali metal source in the presence of an aprotic solvent to open them; and (2) exposing the opened CNTs to an electrophile to form functionalized graphene nanoribbons (GNRs). The methods may also include a step of exposing the opened CNTs to a protic solvent to quench any reactive species on them. Additional methods include preparing unfunctionalized GNRs by: (1) exposing a plurality of CNTs to an alkali metal source in the presence of an aprotic solvent to open them; and (2) exposing the opened CNTs to a protic solvent to form unfunctionalized GNRs.

US Patent:

20150050741, Feb 19, 2015

Filed:

Mar 25, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/387291

Inventors:

- Houston TX, US
Wei Lu - Houston TX, US
Mason B. Tomson - Houston TX, US
Amy Kan - Houston TX, US
Lu Wang - Houston TX, US
Michael S. Wong - Houston TX, US
Gautam Kini - Houston TX, US
George J. Hirasaki - Bellaire TX, US
Clarence Miller - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01N 33/24

US Classification:

436 27, 422 73, 2524081

Abstract:

Various embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to nanocomposites for detecting hydrocarbons in a geological structure. In some embodiments, the nanocomposites include: a core particle; a polymer associated with the core particle; a sulfur-based moiety associated with the polymer; and a releasable probe molecule associated with the core particle, where the releasable probe molecule is releasable from the core particle upon exposure to hydrocarbons. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of detecting hydrocarbons in a geological structure by utilizing the nanocomposites of the present disclosure.

US Patent:

20140367091, Dec 18, 2014

Filed:

Jan 28, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/374836

Inventors:

- Houston TX, US
Wei Lu - Houston TX, US
Katherine Price Hoelscher - Houston TX, US
James Friedheim - Houston TX, US
Arvind D. Patel - Sugar Land TX, US

Assignee:

William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 47/12
C09K 8/32
C09K 8/36
E21B 21/00

US Classification:

16625001, 1663051, 175 65, 507261

Abstract:

A wellbore fluid may include an oleaginous continuous phase, one or more magnetic carbon nanoribbons, and at least one weighting agent. A method of performing wellbore operations may include circulating a wellbore fluid comprising a magnetic carbon nanoribbon composition and a base fluid through a wellbore. A method for electrical logging of a subterranean well may include placing into the subterranean well a logging medium, wherein the logging medium comprises a non-aqueous fluid and one or more magnetic carbon nanoribbons, wherein the one or more magnetic carbon nanoribbons are present in a concentration so as to permit the electrical logging of the subterranean well; and acquiring an electrical log of the subterranean well.