The State University of New York

The Research Foundation of Suny

Eli Ruckenstein

Hongmin Zhang

Sushumna Iruvanti

Mark T Swihart

Rakesh K Gupta

Jun S Park

Yun Hang Hu

Liang Hong

Xianfang Zang

Xianfang Zeng

Hangquan Li

Fengjun Hua

Dennis B Chung

The present invention relates to a method for preparing photoluminescent silicon nanoparticles having uniformly hydrogen-terminated surfaces that are essentially free of residual oxygen. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing a blue-emitting photoluminescent silicon nanoparticle. The present invention further relates to a composition that includes a photoluminescent silicon nanoparticle having a surface that is uniformly hydrogen-terminated and essentially free of residual oxygen. The present invention also relates to a composition including a photoluminescent silicon nanoparticle having a surface that is uniformly coated with an organic layer and essentially free of residual oxygen. The present invention additionally relates to a composition including a photoluminescent silicon nanoparticle stably dispersed in an organic solvent and having a surface that is uniformly coated with an organic layer and essentially free of residual oxygen.

Production of photoluminescent silicon nanoparticles having surfaces that are essentially free of residual oxygen

A method is provided for the preparation of a hydrogen storage medium having a high hydrogen storage capacity, high reversibility and fast reaction time. A high storage capacity LiN-containing media with high reversibility is also provided.

Method for producing a reversible hydrogen storage medium with high storage capacity and ultrafast kinetics

The present invention provides a method for the preparation of graft, block, and star-shaped copolymers. The method involves in situ coupling reaction between a living anionic backbone polymer possessing epoxy side chains and other living anionic polymers. The present method is simple, the coupling reaction is fast, pure copolymers are produced and the molecular weight, graft number and grafting position can be controlled to a greater extent than in existing methods.

Method of making graft, block-graft and star-shaped copolymers by in-situ coupling reaction

The present invention relates to a continuous method of preparing a block-graft or star-shaped copolymer. This method involves providing a living polymer, mixing the living polymer with a first monomer under conditions effective to produce a block copolymer, wherein the first monomer includes a polymerization site and a polymerization initiation site, and mixing the block copolymer with a second monomer under conditions effective to produce a block-graft or star-shaped copolymer. The present invention also relates to a continuous method of preparing a graft or graft-block copolymer. This method involves mixing a first monomer and a second monomer under conditions effective to produce a copolymer of the first and second monomers, wherein the second monomer comprises a polymerization site and a polymerization initiation site, mixing the copolymer with a third monomer under conditions effective to produce a graft copolymer, and mixing the graft copolymer with a fourth monomer under conditions effective to produce a graft-block copolymer. The present invention also relates to graft, graft-block, block-graft, and star-shaped copolymers produced by the methods of the present invention.

Graft, graft-block, block-graft, and star-shaped copolymers and methods of making them

The present invention discloses the synthesis of a novel crosslinker having the following structure:

Breakable crosslinkers an use for preparation of polymers using same

This invention relates to a microporous or macroporous affinity filtration membrane wherein the matrix of the membrane is composed of chitin and the pores are made by dissolution of porogen during the preparation of the membrane. The invention also relates to a method for the purification of wheat germ agglutinin using chitin microprous or macroporous membranes.

Purification of wheat germ agglutinin using macroporous or microporous filtration membrane

This invention relates to a microporous or macroporous affinity filtration membrane wherein the matrix is composed of chitosan or chitin and the pores are made by dissolution of porogen during the preparation of the membrane. The invention also relates to a method of preparation of the membrane comprising preparing an acidic chitosan solution containing porogen, shaping the suspension into a membrane, and dissolving the porogen by immersing the membrane in an alkaline solution. To prepare chitin membranes, the chitosan membranes are acetylated. The special feature of the membrane is that the pore size can be controlled by varying the size of the porogen. The membranes are suitable for affinity purification of macromolecules.

Macroporous or microporous filtration membrane, method of preparation

The present invention relates to a method for preparing polymer composites. The method includes providing a mixture of concentrated emulsions and polymerizing the mixture of concentrated emulsions under conditions effective to form a polymer composite. The mixture of concentrated emulsions includes either a divinyl-terminated macromonomer and a first partially polymerized concentrated emulsion of a first monomer or a first partially copolymerized concentrated emulsion of a divinyl-terminated macromonomer and a first monomer. The mixture of concentrated emulsions further includes either a second partially polymerized concentrated emulsion of a second monomer or a second partially copolymerized concentrated emulsion of a divinyl-terminated macromonomer and a second monomer. Using the methods of the present invention, polymer blends and/or polymer networks containing compatibilizers can be produced. Since the polymers which are blended and the compatibilizers are generated simultaneously in situ, the methods of the present invention, compared to conventional melt-mixing techniques, are simpler and more flexible and produce compatibilized blends having improved mechanical and optical properties.

Methods for preparing polymer blends

A composite is formed wherein particles of a conductive polymer are uniformly distributed within a processable non-conductive polymer. In the method of the invention, an inverted emulsion is formed by dispersing an aqueous solution of oxidant in an organic solvent comprising a host polymer and an oil-soluble surfactant. A monomer whose polymerization yields a conductive polymer which is dissolved in a solvent miscible with the organic solvent of the emulsion is then added dropwise to the emulsion with agitation. The composite is separated from the emulsion and the precipitate is washed and dried.

Inverted emulsion pathways to conductive polymers

A paste including a thermally conducting solid filler, a nonaqueous liquid carrier and a stabilizing dispersant. The pastes are highly concentrated, of low viscosity, electrically resistive, highly thermally conducting and stable. The pastes are easily applicable to electrical and electronic devices and may be removed therefrom with common solvents to access components where necessary.

Stable high solids, high thermal conductivity pastes

A polymer composite, a method of making a polymer composite and a polymer composite membrane. The polymer composite comprises a uniform dispersion of hydrophobic polymeric particles in a continuous phase of a hydrophilic polymer. The new method of forming a polymer composite includes the formation of a concentrated emulsion of a hydrophilic monomer and a hydrophobic monomer and heating the concentrated emulsion at a predetermined temperature. The polymer composites of this invention may be useful as permselective membranes.

Hydrophilic-hydrophobic polymer composites and membranes

A polymer article and a method for making the polymer article. The polymer article includes a hydrophobic polymer substrate and a block copolymer. The block copolymer has at least first and second blocks. The first block is more hydrophobic than the second block. The molecules of the block copolymer are secured into the surface of said substrate by means of the first block and at least a portion of the second block, outwardly extends from the surface of the substrate into the environment. The method for making the polymer article, comprising a block copolymer and a hydrophobic substrate, comprises the steps of: (a) forming a solution of a block copolymer and a solvent which will solubilize said block copolymer and swell said substrate. The block copolymer has at least a first and second block. The first block is more hydrophobic than the second; (b) treating a hydrophobic substrate with the solution for a sufficient time to swell the substrate surface and enable at least a part of the more hydrophobic block to be deposited on the substrate; (c) removing block copolymer deposited substrate from the solvent; and, (d) placing block copolymer deposited substrate in water for a predetermined time until said block copolymer is oriented such that the more hydrophobic block is entrapped in the substrate and the less hydrophobic block is exposed to water.

Growing community of inventors

Amherst, NY, United States of America

Eli Ruckenstein