# US 2025/0084299 A1 · Quantum dot nanofluids > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0084299 A1 - Document ID: US20250084299A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/958,286 - Filed: 2024-11-25 - Published: 2025-03-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-20 - Assignees: University of Wyoming - Applicants: University of Wyoming - Inventors: Lamia GOUAL; Kaustubh Shriram RANE; Bingjun ZHANG - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250084299A1 ## CPC - C09K 8/584: characterised by the use of specific surfactants - E21B 43/16: Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons - C09K 8/594: Compositions used in combination with injected gas {, e.g. CO2 orcarbonated gas}(C09K8/592 takes precedence) - E21B 43/168: {Injecting a gaseous medium} - B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites - B82Y 40/00: Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures - C09K 2208/10: Nanoparticle-containing well treatment fluids - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES ## Abstract In one embodiment, a method for recovery of an oil from a porous medium comprises contacting the porous medium with an aqueous nanofluid, solubilizing oil from the porous medium via the nanoparticles to form a dispersion comprising the oil and the aqueous nanofluid, and collecting at least some of the dispersion. The aqueous nanofluid may contain a combination of amphiphilic quantum dots and hydrophilic quantum dots, in a continuous phase. At least 90% of the quantum dot nanoparticles may have an aspect ratio of from 1:1 to 1:6. In another embodiment, a method for recovery of an oil from a porous medium includes adding quantum dots to foaming surfactants to enhance foam lamella stability under reservoir conditions and provide conformance and mobility control in porous media and hydraulic fractures. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for recovery of oil, the method comprising: forming a stabilized foam comprising: an aqueous nanofluid comprising graphene quantum dot nanoparticles adapted to stabilize the foam, the graphene quantum dot nanoparticles comprising chemically-functionalized graphene quantum dot nanoparticles and non-functionalized graphene quantum dot nanoparticles; and a dispersion of gas bubbles in a surfactant; contacting a porous medium with the stabilized foam; in response to the contacting the porous medium with the aqueous nanofluid, mobilizing oil from the porous medium via the graphene quantum dot nanoparticles and forming a dispersion comprising the oil and the stabilized foam; and collecting at least some of the dispersion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the stabilized foam has a gas fraction from about 70% to about 90%. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the chemically-functionalized graphene quantum dot nanoparticles comprise amphiphilic graphene quantum dot nanoparticles; and the non-functionalized graphene quantum dot nanoparticles comprise non-functionalized hydrophilic graphene quantum dot nanoparticles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein each amphiphilic graphene quantum dot nanoparticle of the amphiphilic graphene quantum dot nanoparticles comprises at least one hydrophobic functional group, the at least one hydrophobic functional group comprising a hydrocarbon chain having 3 to 30 carbons. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one hydrophobic functional group comprises an alkylamine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the graphene quantum dot nanoparticles in the aqueous nanofluid comprise: 20 to 80 wt % of the amphiphilic graphene quantum dot nanoparticles; and 20 to 80 wt % of the non-functionalized hydrophilic graphene quantum dot nanoparticles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the aqueous nanofluid comprises a larger amount of the non-functionalized hydrophilic graphene quantum dot nanoparticles than an amount of the amphiphilic graphene quantum dot nanoparticles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the graphene quantum dot nanoparticles have a specific surface area from about 10,000 m2/g to about 40,000 m2/g. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the graphene quantum dot nanoparticles have a specific surface area from about 15,000 m2/g to 38,000 m2/g. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the graphene quantum dot nanoparticles have a molecular weight from about 700 amu to about 900 amu. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the graphene quantum dot nanoparticles have a diameter from 0.5 nm to 5.5 nm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the graphene quantum dot nanoparticles have a diameter from 1.5 nm to 5.5 nm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying a wettability of the porous medium in response to the contacting the porous medium with the stabilized foam. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising mobilizing oil through pores and throats of the porous medium via reduction of interfacial tension between the oil and the aqueous nanofluid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the surfactant comprises an amphoteric surfactant. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the aqueous nanofluid contains from about 0.001wt % to about 10 wt % of the graphene quantum dot nanoparticles. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the aqueous nanofluid contains from about 0.01wt % to about 1 wt % of the graphene quantum dot nanoparticles. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least 90% of the graphene quantum dot nanoparticles have an aspect ratio of 1:1 to 6:1. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least 90% of the graphene quantum dot nanoparticles have a diameter between about 1.5 nm and about 5.5 nm.