John Michael Alford

Title: John Michael Alford: Fullerene Recovery and Separation

Introduction

John Michael Alford is an inventor based in Lakewood, Colorado. His work includes methods for recovering and separating fullerenes, a class of carbon-based molecules. He is associated with TDA Research, Inc. and William Marsh Rice University, and holds 4 patents.

Latest Patents

Alford’s listed patents include methods for fullerene recovery and for isolating small-bandgap fullerenes and endohedral metallofullerenes.

“Methods for Fullerene Recovery” describes extracting fullerenes from the carbon matrix in which they are produced. The method addresses both fullerenes that are soluble in toluene and those that are essentially insoluble. It is designed to recover more soluble fullerenes than extraction by solvent contact alone. The patent also describes a method for creating salts of the extracted fullerenes.

“Isolation of Small-Bandgap Fullerenes and Endohedral Metallofullerenes” describes recovering these materials from soot by converting individual fullerenes or metallofullerenes into anionic forms. Adding electrons disrupts bonding between molecules in the solid material, allowing the resulting anions to dissolve in organic electrochemical solvents. The fullerenes can then be plated out or precipitated by returning them to a neutral state.

Career Highlights

Alford’s patent work focuses on techniques for extracting, dissolving, and isolating fullerene materials. His listed organizational affiliations include TDA Research, Inc. and William Marsh Rice University.

Collaborations

Alford’s listed coworkers include Michael D. Diener and Lon J. Wilson. Their names appear alongside his work in the fullerene research and patent context.

Conclusion

John Michael Alford’s patents address practical approaches to recovering and separating fullerenes, including small-bandgap and endohedral metallofullerene materials.