Nanotechnology

Subclass 897 indent level is 3 Polymerization

Nanoparticle-polymer bistable devices
A bistable electrical device employing a bistable polymer body made from an electrically insulating polymer material in which doped nanofibers are dispersed. The doped nanofibers are composed of an electrically conductive nanofiber material and electrically conductive nanoparticles. The doped nanofibers impart bistable electrical characteristics to the polymer body, such that the polymer body is reversibly convertible between a low resistance state and a high resistance state by application of an electrical voltage.

Templated semiconductor particles and methods of making
Composite particles of a semiconductor particle such as a metal chalcogenide within a crosslinked, cored dendrimer are described. Additionally, methods of making the composite particles and compositions that contain the composite particles are described.

Methods for material fabrication utilizing the polymerization of nanoparticles
The present invention relates generally to novel systems and methods for polymerizing nanoparticles within a polymer matrix and to novel methods for fabricating materials containing nanoparticles in a polymer matrix.

Methods of making metal particles within cored dendrimers
Composite particles of a metal particle within a crosslinked, cored dendrimer are described. Additionally, methods of making the composite particles and compositions that contain the composite particles are described.

Nanoporous composites of polymerized lyotropic liquid-crystalline monomers, and hydrophobic polymers
This invention provides composite materials that combine the material properties of hydrophobic polymers with internal structure and order provided by polymerization of lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs). Composites, particularly nanocomposites, are made by forming a LLC assembly that has hydrophobic regions and hydrophilic regions, combining hydrophobic polymer in the assembly and polymerizing the polymerizable LLC monomers in the assembly. The hydrophobic polymer, polymerized LLC assembly or both can be crosslinked in the composite. Nanoporous composites, particularly those with uniform-sized pores and/or with uniform pores distribution can be prepared in this way. In addition, complex polymers in which a second polymeric material, which may be organic or inorganic, can be introduced into the pores or other structural features of the composite can be prepared. Adding flexible hydrophobic polymers to the LLC assembly increases the flexibility and toughness of the resultant polymerized composite material to provide improved composite materials for use as membranes and in other applications. Hydrophobic polymer addition can also increase the diffusion resistance in the organic phase of the composite. Of particular interest are composites in which the hydrophobic polymer is butyl rubber or related synthetic rubber.