Sabah K Bux

US Patent:

20110318250, Dec 29, 2011

Filed:

Jun 8, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/155853

Inventors:

Richard B. Kaner - Pacific Palisades CA, US
Sabah K. Bux - Chino Hills CA, US
Jean-Pierre Fleurial - Altadena CA, US
Marc Rodriguez - Granada Hills CA, US

International Classification:

C01B 33/00
C01B 33/021
B82Y 40/00

US Classification:

423344, 423349, 977896

Abstract:

Methods for producing nanostructured silicon and silicon-germanium via solid state metathesis (SSM). The method of forming nanostructured silicon comprises the steps of combining a stoichiometric mixture of silicon tetraiodide (SiI) and an alkaline earth metal silicide into a homogeneous powder, and initating the reaction between the silicon tetraiodide (SiI) with the alkaline earth metal silicide. The method of forming nanostructured silicon-germanium comprises the steps of combining a stoichiometric mixture of silicon tetraiodide (SiI) and a germanium based precursor into a homogeneous powder, and initiating the reaction between the silicon tetraiodide (SiI) with the germanium based precursors.

US Patent:

20120138843, Jun 7, 2012

Filed:

Jun 8, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/156033

Inventors:

Jean-Pierre Fleurial - Altadena CA, US
Sabah K. Bux - Chino Hills CA, US
Richard B. Kaner - Pacific Palisades CA, US

Assignee:

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - Oakland CA
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - Pasadena CA

International Classification:

C09K 3/00
C22C 13/02
C22C 13/00
C01B 33/06
C22C 28/00

US Classification:

252 623T, 423344, 420556, 420557, 420400, 420415, 420562

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method of making a substantially phase pure compound including a cation and an anion. The compound is made by mixing in a ball-milling device a first amount of the anion with a first amount of the cation that is less than the stoichiometric amount of the cation, so that substantially all of the first amount of the cation is consumed. The compound is further made by mixing in a ball-milling device a second amount of the cation that is less than the stoichiometric amount of the cation with the mixture remaining in the device. The mixing is continued until substantially all of the second amount of the cation and any unreacted portion of anion X are consumed to afford the substantially phase pure compound.

US Patent:

20170066962, Mar 9, 2017

Filed:

Sep 9, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/261764

Inventors:

- Pasadena CA, US
- Houston TX, US
Sabah K. Bux - Chino Hills CA, US
Jean-Pierre Fleurial - Altadena CA, US
Andrew Kindler - San Marino CA, US
Su C. Chi - Pasadena CA, US
Margie L. Homer - Pasadena CA, US
Bryan W. McEnerney - Pasadena CA, US
Pandurang Kulkarni - Houston TX, US
Desikan Sundararajan - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

C09K 8/80
B01J 2/00
B01J 2/04
B28B 11/24

Abstract:

The disclosure herein includes methods of preparing ceramic beads, useful as proppant materials, by mixing ceramic precursors, such as slag, fly ash, or aluminum dross, forming bead precursors from the mixture, and heating the bead precursors to drive a chemical reaction between the ceramic precursors to form the ceramic beads. The resultant ceramic beads may be generally spherical particles that are characterized by diameters of about 0.1 to 2 mm, a diametral strength of at least about 100 MPa, and a specific gravity of about 1.0 to 3.0. A coating process may optionally be used to increase a diametral strength of a proppant material. A sieving process may optionally be used to obtain a smaller range of sizes of proppant materials.

US Patent:

20160111619, Apr 21, 2016

Filed:

Jan 22, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/161641

Inventors:

- Pasadena CA, US
Sabah K. Bux - Chino Hills CA, US
Jean-Pierre Fleurial - Altadena CA, US
Vilupanur A. Ravi - Claremont CA, US
Samad A. Firdosy - La Crescenta CA, US
Kurt Star - Bellflower CA, US
Richard B. Kaner - Los Angeles CA, US

Assignee:

CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - Pasadena CA

International Classification:

H01L 35/26
H01L 35/16
H01L 35/18

Abstract:

The present invention provides a composite thermoelectric material. The composite thermoelectric material can include a semiconductor material comprising a rare earth metal. The atomic percent of the rare earth metal in the semiconductor material can be at least about 20%. The composite thermoelectric material can further include a metal forming metallic inclusions distributed throughout the semiconductor material. The present invention also provides a method of forming this composite thermoelectric material.

US Patent:

20150329769, Nov 19, 2015

Filed:

May 14, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/712888

Inventors:

- Pasadena CA, US
Samad A. Firdosy - La Crescenta CA, US
Jean-Pierre Fleurial - Altadena CA, US
Sabah K. Bux - Chino Hills CA, US
Andrew Kindler - San Marino CA, US

International Classification:

C09K 8/80
C04B 35/653
C04B 35/628
C04B 35/622

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method of preparing a proppant material by heating a reaction mixture comprising a plurality of oxides in a reactive atmosphere to a temperature above the melting point of the reaction mixture to form a melt, and then allowing the melt to solidify in a mold in the form of spherical particles. The present invention also provides a method of preparing a proppant material by heating a reaction mixture comprising a plurality of oxides and one or more additives in a reactive atmosphere to a temperature below the melting point of the reaction mixture to form a powder including one or more reaction products, and then processing the powder to form spherical particles. The present invention also provides a proppant material including spherical particles characterized by a specific gravity of about 1.0 to 3.0 and a crush strength of at least about 10,000 psi.

US Patent:

20140097391, Apr 10, 2014

Filed:

Oct 9, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/050184

Inventors:

- Pasadena CA, US
Sabah K. Bux - Chino Hills CA, US

Assignee:

California Institute of Technology - Pasadena CA

International Classification:

H01L 35/22

US Classification:

2525205, 2525212, 2525213

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method of preparing a nanocomposite thermoelectric material. The method includes heating a reaction mixture of a semiconductor material and a metal complex to a temperature greater than the decomposition temperature of the metal complex. The heating forms metallic inclusions having a size less than about 100 nm that are substantially evenly distributed throughout the semiconductor material forming the nanocomposite thermoelectric material. The present invention also provides a nanocomposite thermoelectric material prepared by this method.