University of Michigan

Apoorv Shanker

Jinsang Kim

Gun-Ho Kim

Kevin P Pipe

Sunitha Nagrath

Hyeun Joong Yoon

Vasudha Murlidhar

Chen Li

Methods of increasing thermal conductivity of a bulk polymer are provided. The methods include contacting a bulk polyelectrolyte polymer comprising an ionizable repeating pendant group with an aqueous liquid having a pH that ionizes the pendant group and isotropically extend the polyelectrolyte polymer to an extended non-globular chain conformation. The polyelectrolyte polymer so treated thus exhibits a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to about 0.6 W/m&#xb7;K and optionally greater than or equal to about 1 W/m&#xb7;K. In other aspects, the present disclosure provides a high thermal conductivity material comprising a bulk polyelectrolyte polymer bearing a repeating charged group and having an extended non-globular chain conformation and that exhibits a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to about 0.6 W/m&#xb7;K and optionally greater than or equal to about 1 W/m&#xb7;K. The high thermal conductivity material may be used in electronic devices, including as housings/encapsulation and thermal interfaces.

Molecularly engineered high thermal conductivity polymers and methods for making the same

A system for detecting rare cells in a fluid is disclosed. The system includes a substrate and a mixture disposed on the substrate and including a carrier and a thermo-responsive polymer for capture and release of the rare cells. Also disclosed is a method for detecting rare cells in a fluid using a system including a substrate and a mixture that is disposed on the substrate. The mixture includes a carrier and a thermo-responsive polymer. The method includes providing the system and introducing a sample of fluid containing the rare cells into the system such that the sample interacts with the carrier for capturing the rare cells.

System for detecting rare cells

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Apoorv Shanker