Nanopareil, LLC

South Dakota Board of Regents

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Hao Fong

Todd J Menkhaus

Yong Zhao

Lifeng Zhang

Craig Arnold

Zhengtao Zhu

Steven Schneiderman

Ajit Kelkar

Chuilin Lai

Nyle Hedin

Rajesh Sahadevan

Tao Xu

The present invention relates generally to compositions for use in biological and chemical separations, as well as other applications. More specifically, the present invention relates to hybrid felts fabricated from electrospun nanofibers with high permeance and high capacity. Such hybrid felts utilize derivatized cellulose, and at least one non-cellulose-based polymer that may be removed from the felt by subjecting it to moderately elevated temperatures and/or solvents capable of dissolving the non-cellulose-based polymer to leave behind a porous nanofiber felt having more uniform pore sizes and other enhanced properties when compared to single component nanofiber felts.

Hybrid felts of electrospun nanofibers

This invention relates thin film nanocomposites (TFNCs) and methods of preparing the same by molecular layer-by-layer assembly. The TFNCs comprise a porous nanofibrous support first layer coated with a mid-layer having an outer separating layer, wherein the out separating layer has one or more bilayers or trilayers. The TFNCs can be particularly suitable for use as filtration membranes for the separation of dissolved components from fluids such as ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis. Thus, embodiments of the invention also include filtration systems and methods of filtering.

Multilayer thin film nanocomposite membranes prepared by molecular layer-by-layer assembly

The invention relates to porous polymeric cellulose prepared via cellulose crosslinking. The porous polymeric cellulose can be incorporated into membranes and/or hydrogels. In preferred embodiments, the membranes and/or hydrogels can provide high dynamic binding capacity at high flow rates. Membranes and/or hydrogels comprising the porous polymeric cellulose are particularly suitable for filtration, separation, and/or functionalization media.

Porous polymeric cellulose prepared via cellulose crosslinking

This disclosure relates to air-assisted spinnerets and spinneret arrays for electrospinning. In some embodiments, the air-assisted spinnerets and spinneret arrays are incorporated in electrospinning systems and/or electrospinning machines. Methods of making and using the same are also described herein.

Spinnerets and spinneret arrays for electrospinning and electrospinning machines

A method of synthesizing mechanically resilient titanium carbide (TiC) nanofibrous felts comprising continuous nanofibers or nano-ribbons with TiC crystallites embedded in carbon matrix, comprising: (a) electrospinning a spin dope for making precursor nanofibers with diameters less than 0.5 J.Lm; (b) overlaying the nanofibers to produce a nano-fibrous mat (felt); and then (c) heating the nano-felts first at a low temperature, and then at a high temperature for making electrospun continuous nanofibers or nano-ribbons with TiC crystallites embedded in carbon matrix; and (d) chlorinating the above electrospun nano-felts at an elevated temperature to remove titanium for producing carbide derived carbon (CDC) nano-fibrous felt with high specific surface areas.

Titanium carbide (TiC) nano-fibrous felts

The invention relates to electrospun three-dimensional (3D) nanofibrous scaffolds (with controllable porosities as high as about 96%) and methods of preparing the same. The electrospun 3D scaffolds possess interconnected and hierarchically structured pores with sizes ranging from tens of nanometers to hundreds of micrometers. In embodiments, the 3D scaffolds can be biocompatible and/or biodegradable. In some embodiments, the 3D scaffolds can be conductive. In some embodiments, the 3D scaffolds can contain bioactive species.

Electrospun three-dimensional nanofibrous scaffolds with interconnected and hierarchically structured pores

The present application discloses carbonaceous nano-fibrous materials developed by electrospinning mixtures of alkali lignin with a polymer at varied mass ratios. The present application also discloses processing of the lignin/polymer fibers via progressive heat treatments for stabilization, pre-carbonization and carbonization. The resulting carbon nanofibers maintain a uniform shape and have high specific surface area.

Production of carbonaceous nano-fibrous materials with ultra-high specific surface area from alkali (Kraft) lignin

A method of synthesizing mechanically resilient titanium carbide (TiC) nanofibrous felts comprising continuous nanofibers or nano-ribbons with TiC crystallites embedded in carbon matrix, comprising: (a) electrospinning a spin dope for making precursor nanofibers with diameters less than 0.5 J.Lm; (b) overlaying the nanofibers to produce a nanofibrous mat (felt); and then (c) heating the nano-felts first at a low temperature, and then at a high temperature for making electrospun continuous nanofibers or nano-ribbons with TiC crystallites embedded in carbon matrix; and (d) chlorinating the above electrospun nano-felts at an elevated temperature to remove titanium for producing carbide derived carbon (CDC) nano-fibrous felt with high specific surface areas.

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Dakota Dunes, SD, United States of America

Hao Fong