University of Houston System

Kang-Shyang Liao

Seamus A Curran

Nigel Alley

Amrita Haldar

Alexander Wang

Sampath Dias

Soniya Devi Yambem

Renat Tatarin

Killian Barton

Jennifer McAlpin

Brian McElhenny

Nigel J Alley

Alexander J Wang

A system and method for depositing a coating may comprise a coating chemical reactor, surface activation component, and a deposition component. A target surface may be prepared for deposition with the surface activation component. The coating chemical reactor may comprise a coating chemical dispenser and a coating chemical verifier that prepares the coating chemical for deposition. The coating chemical verifier may utilize an optical excitation source and at least one optical detector, wherein chemical substances are identified by unique signatures composed of binary code. The coating chemical may be received by the deposition component to depositing the coating chemical on the target surface.

Fixed and portable coating apparatuses and methods

A process for manufacturing the composition coating may include selecting a wood or masonry material substrate and utilizing a sol-gel comprising a silane or silane derivative and metal oxide precursor to coat the substrate. The process may utilize an all solution process or controlled environment for manufacturing a composition coating that prevent wetting and/or staining of a substrate. The composition coatings for treating wood or masonry materials improves weather-resistance, microbial resistance, stain-resistance and fungal-resistance of the materials. The reduced permeability of the resulting masonry materials can also delay or inhibit degradation caused by permeation of ions such as chlorides and sulfates. In addition, a stain comprising the composite solution and pigments may impart additional property to wood or masonry materials whilst retaining or improving the original appearance, particularly for the visibility and contrast of the wood grain as seen after the application of the coating.

Weather-resistant, fungal-resistant, and stain-resistant coatings and methods of applying on wood, masonry, or other porous materials

A process of fabricating the waterproof coating may include selecting a textile material substrate, utilizing a sol-gel comprising a silane or silane derivative and metal oxide precursor to coat the substrate, and optionally coating the substrate with a hydrophobic chemical agent and/or other chemical agents to create a surface with nanoscopic or microscopic features. The process may utilize an all solution process or controlled environment for fabricating a fluorine-free waterproof coating that prevent wetting or staining of a substrate, or may utilize a controlled environment. The composition coatings for treating textile materials improve soil-resistance and stain-resistance of the textile materials while the compositions contain no fluorine-based chemicals. In addition, the composite solution may impart additional properties such as physical strength to the textile whilst retaining the original appearance.

Soil-resistant, stain-resistant fluorine-free coatings and methods of applying on materials

According to some embodiments, the present invention provides a novel photovoltaic solar cell system from photovoltaic modules that are vertically arrayed in a stack format using thin film semiconductors selected from among organic and inorganic thin film semiconductors. The stack cells may be cells that are produced in a planar manner, then vertically oriented in an angular form, also termed herein tilted, to maximize the light capturing aspects. The use of a stack configuration system as described herein allows for the use of a variety of electrode materials, such as transparent materials or semitransparent metals. Light concentration can be achieved by using fresnel lens, parabolic mirrors or derivatives of such structures. The light capturing can be controlled by being reflected back and forth in the photovoltaic system until significant quantities of the resonant light is absorbed. Light that passes to the very end and can be reflected back through the device by beveling or capping the end of the device with a different refractive index material, or alternatively using a reflective surface. The contacting between stacked cells can be done in series or parallel. According to some embodiments, the present invention uses a concentrator architecture where the light is channeled into the cells that contain thermal fluid channels (using a transparent fluid such as water) to absorb and hence reduce the thermal energy generation.

Vertically stacked photovoltaic and thermal solar cell

A process of fabricating the composition coating may include selecting a textile material substrate, utilizing a sol-gel comprising a silane or silane derivative and metal oxide precursor to coat the substrate, and optionally coating the substrate with a hydrophobic chemical agent and/or other chemical agents to create a surface with nanoscopic or microscopic features. The process may utilize an all solution process or controlled environment for fabricating a composition coating that prevent wetting or staining of a substrate. The composition coatings for treating textile materials improve soil-resistance and stain-resistance of the textile materials. The composition coatings and their use for treating textile materials can also impart water repellency, oil repellency, ease of cleaning stains and removing particulates. In addition, the composite solution may impart additional properties such as physical strength to the textile whilst retaining the original appearance.

Soil-resistant, stain-resistant coatings and methods of applying on textile or other flexible materials

A process of fabricating the waterproof coating may include selecting a substrate, utilizing a sol-gel comprising a silane or silane derivative and metal oxide precursor to coat the substrate, and optionally coating the substrate with a hydrophobic chemical agent and/or other chemical agents to create a surface with nanoscopic or microscopic features. The process may utilize an all solution process or controlled environment for fabricating self-cleaning and waterproof coating that prevent wetting or staining of a substrate, or may utilize a controlled environment.

Waterproof coating with nanoscopic/microscopic features and methods of making same

A method of forming a self-cleaning coating on a substrate comprises the step of selecting a substrate, cleaning the substrate, and/or roughening the substrate using an abrasive. In an embodiment, roughening of the substrate create microscopic tortuous grooves. Another embodiment of the method comprises coating the roughened surface with at least one hydrophobic chemical agent. In an exemplary embodiment, the hydrophobic chemical agent covalently binds with the substrate creating nanoscopic grooves. Another embodiment of the present disclosure pertains to an apparatus for depositing a self-cleaning coating on a flat substrate. A further embodiment of the present disclosure pertains to a self-cleaning coating on a substrate comprising a hydrophobic chemical agent covalently bonded to at least one roughened surface of the substrate.

Self-cleaning coatings and methods for making same

A composition and method for fabricating graphitic nanocomposites in solid state matrices is presented. The process for fabricating graphitic nanocomposites in solid state matrices may include selecting one or a mixture of specific graphitic nanomaterials. The graphitic nanomaterial(s) may be functionalizing with a moiety similar to the building blocks of the solid state matrices. The functionalized graphitic nanomaterials are mixed with the building blocks of the solid state matrices. The mixture may be cured, which causes in situ formation of the sol-gel solid state matrices that entraps and/or covalently links with the graphitic nanomaterials during the network growing process. This process allows the nanomaterials to be introduced into the matrices homogeneously without forming large aggregations.

Graphitic nanocomposites in solid state matrices and methods for making same

An improved graft polymerization method from general graphitic structures with organic based monomers through the mechanism of Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) polymerization was developed. Organic hybrid nanomaterials comprising graphitic structures are covalently bonded via chemically reactive groups on the outer walls of the structure. Methods for forming the covalently bonded structures to many organic based monomers and/or polymers may occur through RAFT polymerization utilizing dithioester as a chain transfer agent. The method may also comprise nanocomposite formation of such organic hybrid nanomaterials with common plastic(s) to form graphitic nanocomposite reinforced plastic articles.

Graft polymerization initiated on graphitic nanomaterials and their nanocomposite formation

Compositions and methods for improved materials and material laminates with graphitic or inorganic/organic nanomaterials are presented. Graphitic or inorganic/organic nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, graphenes or graphene oxides, are introduced into an aqueous composition as fillers to provide a graphitic or inorganic/organic nanocomposite. Such composition may be used as laminates to improve adhesion between a film and a layer of material or between layers of materials and to increase not only strength properties, but also to provide other desired properties such as electronic properties, UV absorbing/blocking, optical-limiting, anti-reflective, fire-retardant, conducting, anti-microbial properties or pigmentation to say material. By tailoring the composite formulations with multiple graphitic or organic/inorganic nanomaterials, the resulting materials laminates become multifunctional and can be used for a variety of applications.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Kang-Shyang Liao