Directed assembly of highly-organized carbon nanotube architectures

Carbon nanotubes are a nanostructured material that promises to have a wide range of applications. However, the present techniques used to build nanotube architectures have several deficiencies, such as the inability to precisely and controllably align the nanotubes. This invention is a novel and powerful method to assemble carbon nanotubes on planar substrates to build and control highly organized 1-to-3D architectures.

Silicone Based Nanocomposites Including Inorganic Nanoparticles and Their Methods of Manufacture and Use

Rensselaer researchers have developed a thermodynamically stable dispersion technology resulting in thick, transparent, high refractive index silicone nanocomposites that increase the light efficiency of LEDs and improve the emitted light color quality. The nanocomposites could also be processed as transparent bulk material with high filler loading, which is essential for optical, magnetic and biomedical applications.

Nanoparticles with Multiple Attached Polymer Assemblies and Use Thereof in Polymer Composites

This technology relates to synthesizing nanoparticles with multiple polymer assemblies attached. In one example, a first anchoring compound is attached to a nanoparticle, and a first group of monomers are polymerized on the first anchoring compound to form a first polymeric chain covalently bonded to the nanoparticle via the first anchoring compound. In another example, a first polymeric chain can be attached to the nanoparticle, where the first polymeric chain has been polymerized prior to attachment to the nanoparticle.

Nanofilled Polymeric Nanocomposites with Tunable Index of Refraction

This technology relates to nanofilled polymeric materials with a tunable refractive index without increased scattering or loss. The tunability allows the creation of hybrid nanocomposites that combine the advantages of organic polymers (low weight, flexibility, good impact resistance, and excellent processability) and inorganic materials (high refractive index, good chemical resistance and high thermal stability).

Electrical current-induced structural changes and chemical functionalization of carbon nanotubes

Many envisioned carbon nanotube (CNT) applications, such as device interconnections in integrated circuits, require directed growth of aligned CNTs, and low-resistance high-strength CNT junctions with tunable chemistry, stability, and electronic properties. However, forming CNT-CNT junctions on the substrate plane in a scalabe fashion, to enable in-plane device circuitry and interconnections, remains to be realized. This invention is based on the discovery that high current densities can slice, weld, and chemically functionalize multiwalled CNTs and alter their electrical properties.

Process for Making Rare Earth Containing Glass

Oxide glasses with earth ions have a number of different applications including: lasers, optical switches, optical amplifiers and have anti-glare properties. These rare earth glasses, however, come with a number of problems including concentration quenching, low solubility, and inhomogenous distributions of the glass components. This invention tackles these issues by providing a process for preparing rare earth containing glasses. The glass is treated at a higher temeprature than the spinodal temperature, causing it to be homogeneous, clear, and reduced concentration quenching.

Tubular Microstructures Via Controlled Nanoparticle Assembly

There is an increasing interest in using nanoparticles as building blocks for well-defined structures that have practical applications owing to the various novel properties of nanoparticles. However, their assembly is a challenging task. Methods based on surface functionalization, andor template patterning have been used for this purpose, but both of these processes can be rather complicated. Thus, there is a continuing need for a simple method for synthesizing high aspect ratio microstructures constituted of nanoparticle building blocks.

GELATIN NANOCOMPOSITES

For most types of gelatin-based imaging elements, surface abrasion and scratching results in reduction of image quality. Thus, processing the image and, later, casual handling of the image can easily mark or disfigure the image. There is, therefore, a need for an imaging element having improved scratch resistance over materials currently used.

METHOD OF TRANSFORMING CARBON NANOTUBES

Subjecting single-walled carbon nanotubes to a flash of light causes the material to ignite, producing a photo-acoustic effect. A simple camera flash demonstrates how heat confinement in nanostructures can lead to drastic structural effects and induce ignition under exposure to conditions where no reaction would be expected for macro scale materials. This technology could have multiple applications such as optoelectronic sensors and light triggered remote detonators.

CERAMIC MATRIX NANOCOMPOSITES CONTAINING CARBON NANOTUBES FOR ENHANCED MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR

Ceramics are used in applications requiring strength, hardness, light weight, and resistance to abrasion, erosion, and corrosion, at both ambient and elevated temperatures. However, traditional ceramic materials are characteristically brittle, and this brittleness limits their use. While reduction of brittleness has been obtained with fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites, there continues to be a need for materials that combine the desirable properties of ceramics with improved fracture toughness.