Aerogel Technologies Corporation

University of Missouri

Aspen Aerogels, Inc.

Other

United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

Ohio Aerospace Institute

Basf Se Corporation

The University of Texas System

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Nicholas Leventis

Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis

Chakkaravarthy Chidambareswarapattar

Malik Adnan Saeed

Redouane Begag

Roxana Trifu

George Leighton Gould

Nicholas Anthony Zafiropoulos

Harris Miller

Mary Ann B Meador

Hongbing Lu

James C Johnston

Wendell Eugene Rhine

Sudhir Mulik

Eve F Fabrizio

Suraj Donthula

Abhishek Bang

Gitogo Churu

Ulvi F Ilhan

Shruti Mahadik-Khanolkar

Alexei A Erchak

Marc Fricke

Dirk Weinrich

Wibke Loelsberg

Ning Xiang

Maria A Kuczmarski

William A Galison

Clarissa Wisner

Adnan M Saeed

Tahereh Taghvaee

Parwani Rewatkar

Chariklia Leventis

Wibke LÖLSBERG

The present disclosure is directed to silica-carbon composite materials including a low bulk density carbon material having a skeletal framework of carbon nanofibers, the skeletal framework forming a pore structure comprising an array of interconnected pores. The silica-carbon composite materials further include a conformal coating layer of silica on the carbon nanofibers. Further provided are methods for preparation of the silica-carbon composite materials, and methods for reduction of the silica-carbon composite materials to provide silicon-carbon composite materials.

Fibrous carbon aerogels coated with nano-thin silicon as lithium battery anodes

A nanoporous aerogel comprising an acid-catalyzed, oxidatively aromatized PBO polymer. The nanoporous aerogel includes a benzoxazine moiety containing polybenzoxazine polymer with up-to six sites of cross-linking per unit is the product of the high yield, room temperature, and acid catalyzed synthesis method, as provided for herein. A method of producing the aerogel is providing that results in robust monoliths, oxidative aromatization, and conversion to nanoporous carbons for the provided aerogels. The PBO polymer may be co-generated as an interpenetrating network with a metal oxide network, wherein the PBO network serves as both a reactive template and as a sacrificial scaffold in the synthesis of the pure, nanoporous, monolithic metal aerogels, in an energy efficient method.

Organic and metallic aerogels, composition for the organic and metallic aerogels, and method for manufacturing the organic and metallic aerogels

The present invention discloses novel porous polymeric compositions comprising random copolymers of amides, imides, ureas, and carbamic-anhydrides, useful for the synthesis of monolithic bimodal microporous/macroporous carbon aerogels. It also discloses methods for producing said microporous/macroporous carbon aerogels by the reaction of a polyisocyanate compound and a polycarboxylic acid compound, followed by pyrolytic carbonization, and by reactive etching with COat elevated temperatures. Also disclosed are methods for using the microporous/macroporous carbon aerogels in the selective capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide.

Porous co-polymeric gel compositions, porous carbon compositions, and methods for synthesis thereof

The present disclosure is directed to methods of forming polyamic acid and polyimide gels in water. The resulting polyamic acid and polyimide gels may be converted to aerogels, which may further be converted to carbon aerogels. Such carbon aerogels have the same physical properties as carbon aerogels prepared from polyimide aerogels obtained according to conventional methods, i.e., organic solvent-based. The disclosed methods are advantageous in reducing or avoiding costs associated with use and disposal of potentially toxic solvents and byproducts. Gel materials prepared according to the disclosed methods are suitable for use in environments involving electrochemical reactions, for example as an electrode material within a lithium-ion battery.

Aqueous polyimide processes

Nanoporous carbon-based scaffolds or structures, and specifically carbon aerogels and their manufacture and use thereof are provided. Embodiments include a silicon-doped anode material for a lithium-ion battery, where the anode material includes beads of a polyimide-derived carbon aerogel. The carbon aerogel may further include silicon particles and accommodates expansion of the silicon particles during lithiation. The anode material provides optimal properties for use within the lithium-ion battery.

Polyimide bead materials and methods of manufacture thereof

The present disclosure is directed to methods of forming polyimide gels. The methods generally include forming a polyamic acid and dehydrating the polyamic acid with a dehydrating agent in the presence of water. The resulting polyimide gels may be converted to polyimide or carbon xerogels or aerogels. The methods are advantageous in providing rapid or even instantaneous gelation, which may be particularly useful in formation of beads comprising the polyimide gels. Polyimide or carbon gel materials prepared according to the disclosed method are suitable for use in environments containing electrochemical reactions, for example as an electrode material within a lithium-ion battery.

Water co-catalyst for polyimide processes

Nanoporous carbon-based scaffolds or structures, and specifically carbon aerogels and their manufacture and use thereof are provided. Embodiments include a silicon-doped anode material for a lithium-ion battery, where the anode material includes beads of polyimide-derived carbon aerogel. The carbon aerogel includes silicon particles and accommodates expansion of the silicon particles during lithiation. The anode material provides optimal properties for use within the lithium-ion battery.

Carbon aerogel-based electrode materials and methods of manufacture thereof

Porous three-dimensional networks of polyurea and porous three-dimensional networks of carbon and methods of their manufacture are described. In an example, polyurea aerogels are prepared by mixing an triisocyanate with water and a triethylamine to form a sol-gel material and supercritically drying the sol-gel material to form the polyurea aerogel. Subjecting the polyurea aerogel to a step of pyrolysis may result in a three dimensional network having a carbon skeleton, yielding a carbon aerogel. The density and morphology of polyurea aerogels can be controlled by varying the amount of isocyanate monomer in the initial reaction mixture. A lower density in the aerogel gives rise to a fibrous morphology, whereas a greater density in the aerogel results in a particulate morphology. Polyurea aerogels described herein may also exhibit a reduced flammability.

Three-dimensional porous polyurea networks and methods of manufacture

Porous polymer compositions for the synthesis of monolithic bimodal microporous/macroporous carbon compositions useful for selective CO2 sequestration

A nanoporous aerogel comprising an acid-catalyzed, oxidatively aromatized PBO polymer. The nanoporous aerogel includes a benzoxazine moiety containing polybenzoxazine polymer with up-to six sites of cross-linking per unit is the product of the high yield, room temperature, and acid catalyzed synthesis method, as provided for herein. A method of producing the aerogel is providing that results in robust monoliths, oxidative aromatization, and conversion to nanoporous carbons for the provided aerogels. The PBO polymer may be co-generated as an interpenetrating network with a metal oxide network, wherein the PBO network serves as both a reactive template and as a sacrificial scaffold in the synthesis of the pure, nanoporous, monolithic metal aerogels, in an energy efficient method. 

The present invention discloses novel methods for producing highly porous ceramic and/or metal aerogel monolithic objects that are hard, sturdy, and resistant to high temperatures. These methods comprise preparing nanoparticulate oxides of metals and/or metalloids via a step of vigorous stirring to prevent gelation, preparing polymer-modified xerogel powder compositions by reacting said nanoparticulate oxides with one or more polyfunctional monomers, compressing said polymer-modified xerogel powder compositions into shaped compacts, and carbothermal conversion of the shaped xerogel compacts via pyrolysis to provide the highly porous ceramic and/or metal aerogel monolithic objects that have the same shapes as their corresponding xerogel compact precursors. Representative of the highly porous ceramic and/or metal aerogel monolithic objects of the invention are ceramic and/or metal aerogels of Si, Zr, Hf, Ti, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Au, and the like. Examples include sturdy, shaped, highly porous silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (SiN), zirconium carbide (ZrC), hafnium carbide (HfC), chromium carbide (CrC), titanium carbide (TiC), zirconium boride (ZrB), hafnium boride (HfB), and metallic aerogels of iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), ruthenium (Ru), gold (Au), and the like. Said aerogel monolithic objects have utility in various applications such as, illustratively, in abrasives, in cutting tools, as catalyst support materials such as in reformers and converters, as filters such as for molten metals and hot gasses, in bio-medical tissue engineering such as bone replacement materials, in applications requiring strong lightweight materials such as in automotive and aircraft structural components, in ultra-high temperature ceramics, and the like.

Highly porous ceramic and metal aerogels from xerogel powder precursors, and methods for their production and use

Nanoporous three-dimensional networks of polyurethane particles, e.g., polyurethane aerogels, and methods of preparation are presented herein. Such nanoporous networks may include polyurethane particles made up of linked polyisocyanate and polyol monomers. In some cases, greater than about 95% of the linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers are urethane linkages. To prepare such networks, a mixture including polyisocyanate monomers (e.g., diisocyanates, triisocyanates), polyol monomers (diols, triols), and a solvent is provided. The polyisocyanate and polyol monomers may be aliphatic or aromatic. A polyurethane catalyst is added to the mixture causing formation of linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers. Phase separation of particles from the reaction medium can be controlled to enable formation of polyurethane networks with desirable nanomorphologies, specific surface area, and mechanical properties. Various properties of such networks of polyurethane particles (e.g., strength, stiffness, flexibility, thermal conductivity) may be tailored depending on which monomers are provided in the reaction.

Porous polyurethane networks and methods of preparation

The present invention is directed to a process for preparing a porous material, at least compris-ing the steps of providing a mixture (I) comprising a composition (A) at least comprising at least one polyfunctional isocyanate as component (ai) and at least one mineral acid (aa), and a sol-vent (B), reacting the components in the composition (A) obtaining an organic gel, and drying of the gel obtained. The invention further relates to the porous materials which can be obtained in this way and the use of the porous materials as thermal insulation material and as catalysts.

Process for producing isocyanate-based xerogels and aerogels with mineral acids

The present invention discloses novel methods for producing highly porous ceramic and/or metal aerogel monolithic objects that are hard, sturdy, and resistant to high temperatures. These methods comprise preparing nanoparticulate oxides of metals and/or metalloids via a step of vigorous stirring to prevent gelation, preparing polymer-modified xerogel powder compositions by reacting said nanoparticulate oxides with one or more polyfunctional monomers, compressing said polymer-modified xerogel powder compositions into shaped compacts, and carbothermal conversion of the shaped xerogel compacts via pyrolysis to provide the highly porous ceramic and/or metal aerogel monolithic objects that have the same shapes as to their corresponding xerogel compact precursors. Representative of the highly porous ceramic and/or metal aerogel monolithic objects of the invention are ceramic and/or metal aerogels of Si, Zr, Hf, Ti, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Au, and the like. Examples include sturdy, shaped, highly porous silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (SiN), zirconium carbide (ZrC), hafnium carbide (HfC), chromium carbide (CrC), titanium carbide (TiC), zirconium boride (ZrB), hafnium boride (HfB), and metallic aerogels of iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), ruthenium (Ru), gold (Au), and the like. Said aerogel monolithic objects have utility in various applications such as, illustratively, in abrasives, in cutting tools, as catalyst support materials such as in reformers and converters, as filters such as for molten metals and hot gasses, in bio-medical tissue engineering such as bone replacement materials, in applications requiring strong lightweight materials such as in automotive and aircraft structural components, in ultra-high temperature ceramics, and the like.

Cross-linked sol-gel like materials and cross-linked aerogels, as well as methods for making such cross-linked sol-gel like materials and cross-linked aerogels are described.

Growing community of inventors

Rolla, MO, United States of America

Nicholas Leventis