IP Library Granted Patent US 11,891,304
Granted Patent B2
US 11,891,304 · App. 16/651,152 · Granted Feb 6, 2024

Method of preparing a stable nanofluid of amphiphilic Janus nanosheets in salt water

Inventors: Zhifeng Ren (Pearland, TX); Dan Luo (Houston, TX); Feng Wang (Houston, TX)
Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
C01B32/198B82Y30/00B82Y40/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,891,304
App. No.
16/651,152
Granted
Feb 6, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A stable water based nanofluid of graphene-based amphiphilic Janus nanosheets, where the nanofluid has a high salt-content while retaining the interfacial activities of the nanosheets. Such a nanofluid of amphiphilic Janus nanosheets may be used for enhanced oil recovery.

Claims (22)

1. A salt water dispersed nanofluid, wherein the nanofluid comprises:

a dispersion comprising:

polyelectrolyte comprising poly sodium 4-styrenesulfonate (PSS);

amphiphilic Janus nanosheets comprising graphene oxide derivatized with at least one alkylamine group;

NaCl; and

CaCl 2 ),

wherein the dispersion comprises at least 3.5 wt. % NaCl and at least about 0.5 wt. % CaCl 2 ), and wherein the salt water dispersed nanofluid maintains a same interface behavior in brine as in fresh water, thus indicating colloidal stability.

2. The nanofluid of claim 1 , wherein the dispersion comprises the polyelectrolyte and the amphiphilic Janus nanosheets dispersed in a brine comprising the NaCl and the CaCl 2 ).

3. The nanofluid of claim 1 , wherein said nanofluid maintains the same interface behavior in the brine as in the fresh water to at least 70° C.

4. The nanofluid of claim 1 , wherein the nanosheets are stable in a single phase.

5. The nanofluid of claim 1 , wherein said nanofluid further comprises an elastic film at an oil/brine interface.

6. The nanofluid of claim 5 , wherein said elastic film is formed at a temperature of at least 70° C.

7. The nanofluid of claim 1 , wherein said amphiphilic Janus nanosheets comprise a lateral dimension of about 50 to about 350 nm.

8. The nanofluid of claim 1 , wherein the nanosheet thickness is about 3.7 nm.

9. The nanofluid of claim 1 , wherein the aspect ratio of the amphiphilic Janus nanosheets is less than 100.

10. The nanofluid of claim 1 , wherein the amphiphilic Janus nanosheets comprise a surface conjugation ratio of about 0.48.

11. The nanofluid of claim 1 , wherein said nanofluid comprises a surfactant, and wherein the surfactant comprises an elastic interfacial film at an oil/water interface.

12. The nanofluid of claim 11 , wherein the oil/water interface is a hydrocarbon/brine solution, comprising a hydrophobic/hydrophilic interface.

13. A nanofluid of claim 11 , wherein said elastic interfacial film is formed in a geologic formation comprising a hydrocarbon, and wherein said elastic interfacial film at said hydrophobic/hydrophilic interface releases said hydrocarbon from a geological formation for enhanced oil recovery.

14. The nanofluid of claim 1 :

comprising 0.005 wt % of the amphiphilic Janus nanosheets and greater than 0.5 wt % PSS, and wherein an average hydrodynamic diameter of the amphiphilic Janus nanosheets is greater than a hydrodynamic diameter of amphiphilic Janus nanosheets in a same dispersion absent the NaCl; or

comprising 0.01 wt % of the amphiphilic Janus nanosheets and greater than 0.75 wt % PSS, and wherein an average hydrodynamic diameter of the amphiphilic Janus nanosheets is greater than a hydrodynamic diameter of amphiphilic Janus nanosheets in a same dispersion absent the NaCl.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jul 18, 2023
From: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 064305/0436 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2020
From: REN, ZHIFENG; LUO, DAN; WANG, FENG
To: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
Reel/Frame 052237/0321 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62564700 · Sep 28, 2017
Related Publication 20200231445A1 · Jul 23, 2020