Rice Patents

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This collection includes granted patents (not applications) by Rice faculty, students and staff that list Rice University as the original assignee (owner). For questions, please contact the Kelley Center for Government Information, Data and Geospatial Services by email at govhelp@rice.edu or by phone at 713-348-5483. If you are a Rice inventor and do not find your patent listed, please contact the Kelley Center to provide us with information about your patent.

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 626

Cytokine-bisphosphonate conjugates
(2025-04-22) Karsenty, Gerard; Berger, Julian; Xiao, Han; Rice University; The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York; United States Patent and Trademark Office
Cytokine-bisphosphonate conjugates and methods of use thereof in muscle functions.
Synthetic multidomain peptide biomaterials that inhibit inducible nitric oxide synthase
(2025-03-18) Hartgerink, Jeffrey; Sikora, Andrew G.; Leach, David; Newton, Jared M.; Young, Simon; Rice University; Baylor College of Medicine; The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System; United States Patent and Trademark Office
Provided herein are compositions comprising multi domain peptide (MDP) hydrogels where the peptides that constitute the hydrogel have at least one N6-(1-iminoethyl)-lysine side chain. Also provided are hydrogels that further comprise a STING agonist, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, and/or an anti-cancer therapy. Also provided are methods of using such compositions in the treatment of cancer.
Electrochemical sensing of PFAS using gold nanoparticle functionalized electrodes
(2025-03-04) Villagran, Dino; Westerhoff, Paul; Calvillo Solis, Jonathan Josue; Wong, Michael; Rice University; Board of Regents, The University of Texas System; Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of Arizona State University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
A method of electrochemical sensing includes providing an electrochemical sensor comprising a glassy carbon substrate and gold nanoparticles located on a surface of the glassy carbon substrate; and sensing electrochemically a compound selected from the group consisting of polyfluoroalkyl compounds or perfluoroalkyl compounds using the electrochemical sensor. PFOA quantification was performed by Square Wave Adsorptive Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry (SW-AdCSV) in test solutions with a 100-5,000 ppt concentration. The concentration has a linear relationship with the stripping current within this range. Analysis of tap and groundwater samples performed by additions method demonstrated precision and accuracy above 95%. These electrodes show stability throughout 200 cycles, and reproducibility across similarly prepared but different electrodes above 97.5%. Providing the electrochemical sensor can include providing at least one member selected from the group consisting of perfluoro-1-octanethiol (PFTO), 2,2,2-trifluoroethanethiol (TFET) or perfluorodecanethiol (PFDT) on the surface of the glassy carbon substrate.
Laser-induced graphene sensors and methods of making and using same
(2025-02-18) Tour, James Mitchell; Luong X, Duy; Yang, Kaichun; Arnusch, Christopher John; Singh, Swatantra Pratap; Thakur, Amit Kumar; Stanford, Michael G.; Li, John T.; Presutti, Steven E.; Rice University; B.G. NEGEV TECHNOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONS LTD., AT BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY; United States Patent and Trademark Office
Gas sensors having laser-induced graphene (LIG) and/or LIG composites, and methods of making and using gas sensors having LIG and/or LIG composites.
Methods, compositions and uses thereof for reversing sarcopenia
(2025-02-04) Karsenty, Gerard; Berger, Julian; Xiao, Han; Rice University; The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York; United States Patent and Trademark Office
Exemplary methods, compositions and uses thereof can be provided for preventing, reducing and/or treating loss of muscle function. In particular, e.g., it is possible to administer to a subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that enhances Interleukin-6 (IL) release during exercise, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.
Epoxy compositions containing polyrotaxane additives having improved impact strength
(2025-02-25) Patel, Hasmukh A.; Khater, Ali Zein; Boul, Peter; Ajayan, Pulickel M.; Rahman, Muhammad M.; Rice University; Saudi Arabian Oil Company; United States Patent and Trademark Office
This document relates to epoxy compositions containing a sliding-ring polymer (polyrotaxane) additive and a thermally-curable epoxy resin. The epoxy compositions exhibit increased flexural toughness and impact resistance as compared to the same epoxy composition that does not contain the additive. This document also relates to 3D-printed epoxy compositions containing a sliding-ring polymer (polyrotaxane) additive and a thermally-curable epoxy resin.
Integrated microheater array for efficient and localized heating of magnetic nanoparticles at microwave frequencies
(2025-02-11) Fan, Yingying; Zhang, Qingbo; Zhang, Linlin; Bao, Gang; Chi, Taiyun; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
An microheater array system includes an integrated microheater array configured to generate a localized heat and having a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes: an inductor; a stacked oscillator configured to generate a magnetic field at microwave frequencies with tunable intensity and frequency; and an electro-thermal loop. The microheater array system may further include a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs).
Method of determining solid and liquid components in sedimentary rocks using NMR relaxation
(2025-02-18) Singer, Philip M.; Liu, Yunke; Wang, Xinglin; Hirasaki, George J.; Vinegar, Harold J.; Rice University; Vinegar Technologies LLC; United States Patent and Trademark Office
A method for separating liquid-like (T2e) from solid-like (T2G) 1H NMR transverse relaxation times in porous media uses novel pulse sequences together with a 1H NMR spectrometer optimized for geological core samples. The method is applied to obtain 1D T2 distributions and 2D T1-T2 maps in organic-rich chalks for quantification of liquid-like signal (micropore fluids, meso-macropore fluids, fluids dissolved in organic matter, and clay-bound water) and solid-like signal (kerogen, bitumen, and clay hydroxyls). The novel pulse sequences comprise a solid-echo, which detects more solid-like signal than an FID. The method is used for fluid typing in micro/meso-macro pores, clay mineral identification, determination of kerogen content, and quantification of solvent-extracted bitumen versus bitumen expelled from kerogen due to swelling from dissolved hydrocarbons. The method is used to quantify the asphaltene, resin, aromatic, and/or saturate content of bitumen in the rock.
Method for mathematical language processing via tree embeddings
(2024-11-19) Wang, Zichao; Lan, Shiting; Baraniuk, Richard G.; Rice University; University of Massachusetts; United States Patent and Trademark Office
A method for processing formulae includes encoding a formula by: training, with a server, a model by using a machine learning algorithm with a data set that includes a plurality of formulae; transforming, with a processor, a first formula into a tree format using the trained model; converting, with the processor, the tree format of the first formula into a plurality of lists; and encoding, with the processor, the plurality of lists into a fixed dimension vector by leveraging a stacked attention module; and generating one or more formula candidates by: obtaining, with the processor, input information; and generating, with the processor, one or more second formula candidates based on input information by using the stacked attention module with a tree beam search algorithm.
Multicomponent plasmonic photocatalysts consisting of a plasmonic antenna and a reactive catalytic surface: the antenna-reactor effect
(2024-10-08) Halas, Nancy Jean; Nordlander, Peter; Robatjazi, Hossein; Swearer, Dayne Francis; Zhang, Chao; Zhao, Hangqi; Zhou, Linan; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
A multicomponent photocatalyst includes a reactive component optically, electronically, or thermally coupled to a plasmonic material. A method of performing a catalytic reaction includes loading a multicomponent photocatalyst including a reactive component optically, electronically, or thermally coupled to a plasmonic material into a reaction chamber; introducing molecular reactants into the reaction chamber; and illuminating the reaction chamber with a light source.
Nano-sized boron-doped diamond (BDD) enabled electrodes
(2024-09-17) Westerhoff, Paul K.; Garcia-segura, Sergio; Sinha, Shahnawaz; Bansal, Rishabh; Verduzco, Rafael; Wong, Michael S.; Rice University; Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
An electrode includes an electrically conductive substrate with a coating containing boron-doped diamond (BDD) nanoparticles. Fabricating the electrode can include dispersing BDD nanoparticles in a solvent to yield a suspension, coating a conductive substrate with the suspension, and drying the suspension to yield the electrode. In some cases, fabricating the electrode includes combining BDD nanoparticles with a polymeric resin precursor to yield a mixture including a metal oxide, coating a conductive substrate with the mixture to yield a coated substrate, and calcining the coated substrate to yield a metal oxide coating including BDD nanoparticles. In certain cases, fabricating the electrode includes combining powdered activated carbon with polymeric linkers to yield a polymeric precursor solution, combining BDD nanoparticles with the polymeric precursor solution to yield a mixture, coating a conductive substrate with the mixture to yield a coated substrate, and crosslinking the polymeric linkers to yield the electrode.
Anodes, cathodes, and separators for batteries and methods to make and use same
(2024-09-10) Tour, James M.; Salvatierra, Rodrigo Villegas; Silva, Gladys Anahi Lopez; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
Anodes, cathodes, and separators for batteries (electrochemical energy storage devices). The anodes are Li metal anodes having lithiated carbon films (Li-MWCNT) (as dendrite suppressors and protective coatings for the Li metal anodes). The cathodes are sulfurized carbon cathodes. The separators are GNR-coated (or modified) separators. The invention includes each of these separately (as well as in combination both with each other and with other anodes, cathodes, and separators) and the methods of making each of these separately (and in combination). The invention further includes a battery that uses at least one of (a) the anode having a lithiated carbon film, (b) the sulfurized carbon cathode, and (c) the GNR-modified separator in the anode/cathode/separator arrangement. For instance, a full battery can include the sulfurized carbon cathode in combination with the Li-MWCNT anode or a full battery can include the sulfurized carbon cathode in combination with other anodes (such as a GCNT-Li anode).
Assembly of planar chiral superlattices from achiral building blocks
(2024-08-27) Jones, Matthew R.; Cheng, Zhihua; Xing, Yuchen; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
The spontaneous assembly of chiral structures from building blocks that lack chirality is fundamentally important for colloidal chemistry and has implications for the formation of advanced optical materials. Here, we find that purified achiral gold tetrahedron-shaped nanoparticles assemble into two-dimensional superlattices that exhibit planar chirality under a balance of repulsive electrostatic and attractive van der Waals and depletion forces. A model accounting for these interactions shows that the growth of planar structures is kinetically preferred over similar three-dimensional products, explaining their selective formation.
Flash joule heating synthesis method and compositions thereof
(2024-08-06) Tour, James Mitchell; Luong X, Duy; Kittrell, Wilbur Carter; Chen, Weiyin; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
Methods for the synthesis of graphene, and more particularly the method of synthesizing graphene by flash Joule heating (FJH). Such methods can be used to synthesize turbostratic graphene (including low-defect turbostratic graphene) in bulk quantities. Such methods can further be used to synthesize composite materials and 2D materials.
Location information from a receiver in a wireless network
(2024-08-27) Mittleman, Daniel; Knightly, Edward; Rice University; Brown University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
A multi-frequency wireless access device including a first waveguide having a pair of parallel metal plates with open sides and a slot in one of the metal plates, the slot permitting radiation to leak out, the leaked radiation illuminating a range of angles depending on frequency.
Passive and single-viewpoint 3D imaging system
(2024-08-27) Wu, Yicheng; Boominathan, Vivek; Chen, Huaijin; Sankaranarayanan, Aswin C.; Veeraraghavan, Ashok; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
A method for a passive single-viewpoint 3D imaging system comprises capturing an image from a camera having one or more phase masks. The method further includes using a reconstruction algorithm, for estimation of a 3D or depth image.
Facile preparation of carbon nanotube hybrid materials by catalyst solutions
(2024-08-13) Tour, James M.; Salvatierra, Rodrigo Villegas; Zakhidov, Dante; Sha, Junwei; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making a carbon nanotube hybrid material by depositing a catalyst solution onto a carbon-based material, and growing carbon nanotubes on the carbon-based material such that the grown carbon nanotubes become covalently linked to the carbon-based material through carbon-carbon bonds. The catalyst solution includes a metal component (e.g., iron) and a buffer component (e.g., aluminum) that may be in the form of particles. The metal component of the particle may be in the form of a metallic core or metallic oxide core while the buffer component may be on a surface of the metal component in the form of metal or metal oxides. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the catalytic particles and carbon nanotube hybrid materials. The carbon nanotube hybrid materials of the present disclosure may be incorporated as electrodes (e.g., anodes or cathodes) in energy storage devices.
Additive manufacture-assisted method for making structural elements having controlled failure characteristics
(2024-06-18) Sajadi, Seyed Mohammad; Meiyazhagan, Ashok Kumar; Boul, Peter; Rahman, Muhammad; Thaemlitz, Carl; Ajayan, Pulickel; Rice University; Saudi Arabian Oil Company; United States Patent and Trademark Office
A process for making a layered multi-material structural element having controlled mechanical failure characteristics. The process includes the steps of: supplying a cementitious layer and forming a polymer layer on the cementitious layer by additive manufacture such that the polymer layer has a first thickness and the cementitious layer has a second thickness, wherein the polymer layer comprises a polymer and the cementitious layer comprises a cementitious material; and allowing the polymer from the polymer layer to suffuse into the cementitious layer for a period of time to obtain a suffused zone in the cementitious layer such that the suffused zone has a third thickness that is less than half the second thickness.
Methods of fabricating laser-induced graphene and compositions thereof
(2024-06-18) Tour, James M.; Chyan, Yieu; Arnusch, Christopher John; Singh, Swatantra Pratap; Li, Yilun; Luong X, Duy; Kittrell, Carter; Ye, Ruquan; Miller, Jordan; Kinstlinger, Ian; Cofer, Savannah; Rice University; B.G. Negev Technologies and Applications Ltd. at Ben-Gurion University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
Methods that expand the properties of laser-induced graphene (LIG) and the resulting LIG having the expanded properties. Methods of fabricating laser-induced graphene from materials, which range from natural, renewable precursors (such as cloth or paper) to high performance polymers (like Kevlar). With multiple lasing, however, highly conductive PEI-based LIG could be obtained using both multiple pass and defocus methods. The resulting laser-induced graphene can be used, inter alia, in electronic devices, as antifouling surfaces, in water treatment technology, in membranes, and in electronics on paper and food Such methods include fabrication of LIG in controlled atmospheres, such that, for example, superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic LIG surfaces can be obtained. Such methods further include fabricating laser-induced graphene by multiple lasing of carbon precursors. Such methods further include direct 3D printing of graphene materials from carbon precurors. Application of such LIG include oil/water separation, liquid or gas separations using polymer membranes, anti-icing, microsupercapacitors, supercapacitors, water splitting catalysts, sensors, and flexible electronics.
Alkali-metal anode with alloy coating applied by friction
(2024-05-14) Tour, James M.; Salvatierra, Rodrigo Villegas; Luong, Duy Xuan; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
An electrochemical cell with a lithium-metal anode that suppresses dendrite formation and can be fabricated using a simple, inexpensive, and solvent-free process. The anode is coated with a layer of disordered nanomaterial, saturated with lithium ions, that suppresses dendrite formation during charging. The dendrite-suppression coating can be applied simply using a dry, abrasive technique in which the lithium-metal anode is alternately abraded to roughen the surface and polished using a polishing powder of a material that alloys with the lithium.

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