# US 9,751,763 B2 · Material and applications therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,763 B2 - Document ID: US9751763B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/810,051 - Filed: 2011-04-06 - Published: 2013-07-18 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-14 - Assignees: Monash University - Applicants: Dan Li - Inventors: Dan Li - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751763B2 ## CPC - C01B 32/00: Carbon; Compounds thereof (C01B21/00, C01B23/00 take precedence; percarbonates C01B15/10; carbon black C09C1/48) - B01D 67/0009: {by phase separation, sol-gel transition, evaporation or solvent quenching} - B01D 67/00793: {Dispersing a component, e.g. as particles or powder, in another component} - B01D 69/10: Supported membranes; Membrane supports - B01D 69/148: {Organic/inorganic mixed matrix membranes} - B01D 71/0211: {Graphene or derivates thereof} - B01J 13/0052: {Preparation of gels} - B01J 21/185: {Carbon nanotubes (carbon nanotubes per se C01B32/15)} - B32B 9/007: {comprising carbon, e.g. graphite, composite carbon} - B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites - C01B 32/192: starting from graphitic oxides - H01G 11/36: Nanostructures, e.g. nanofibres, nanotubes or fullerenes - H01M 4/96: Carbon-based electrodes - H01M 8/0234: Carbonaceous material - B01D 61/027: {Nanofiltration} - B01D 2323/081: Heating - B01D 2323/082: Cooling - B01D 2325/02833: more than 10 and up to 100 nm - B01D 2325/10: Catalysts being present on the surface of the membrane or in the pores - B01D 2325/24: Mechanical properties, e.g. strength - B01D 2325/26: Electrical properties - H01M 4/8626: {characterised by the form} - H01M 2004/023: {Gel electrode} - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02E 60/13: Energy storage using capacitors - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - Y10T 428/249921: Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES - H01G: CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES, LIGHT-SENSITIVE OR TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE DEVICES OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE (selection of specified materials as dielectric H01B3/00; capacitors having potential barriers H10D1/62, H10K10/10) - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A gel film or an isolated gel film comprising sheets of graphene or chemically converted graphene at least partially separated by a dispersion medium, such as water, and arranged in a substantially planar manner to form an electrically conductive matrix. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gel film, comprising sheets of graphene or chemically converted graphene at least partially separated by a dispersion medium and arranged in a substantially planar manner to form an electrically conductive matrix, wherein the gel film does not comprise a ceramic or an inorganic oxide particle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gel film according to claim 1, wherein the gel is an organogel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gel film according to claim 1, wherein the gel is a hydrogel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The gel film according claim 3, consisting essentially of graphene or chemically converted graphene and water as the dispersion medium. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gel film according to claim 1, wherein an available surface area of graphene or chemically converted graphene is at least about 1000 m2/mg. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An article comprising the gel film according to claim 1, wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of: an electrode for an energy storage or conversion device selected from the group consisting of a supercapacitor, a battery, a fuel cell, a solar cell and an actuator; an electrode for an electrochemical sensor or for a resistive sensor; a filtration membrane for nanoparticle or molecule separation; a controlled drug release and/or delivery drug formulation comprising the gel film as a carrier; a conductive tissue scaffold for cell growth; a catalyst comprising the gel film as a support; an adsorbent for water purification and/or separation; and a materials component. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A hybrid gel film comprising the gel film according to claim 1, which is suitable as a scaffold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The hybrid gel film according to claim 7, wherein the hybrid gel film comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an organic molecule, a polymer, a biomolecule, an inorganic nanoparticle, a metal nanoparticle, and an inorganic oxide particle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A device, comprising the gel film according to claim 1. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9, which is selected from the group consisting of a biomedical device, an electrode, a battery, a separation device, a sensor; and an actuator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, which is an electrode which is a superconductor. ### Claim 12 An isolated gel film, comprising sheets of graphene or chemically converted graphene at least partially separated by a dispersion medium and arranged in a substantially planar manner to form an electrically conductive matrix, wherein the gel film does not comprise a ceramic or an inorganic oxide particle. ### Claim 13 A method of producing a gel film, comprising: contacting a surface with a dispersion medium comprising sheets of graphene or chemically converted graphene dispersed therein; removing some of the dispersion medium from the surface and allowing the sheets to self-assemble to form a gel film on the surface, wherein the sheets of graphene or chemically converted graphene are at least partially separated by the dispersion medium and are arranged in a substantially planar manner to form an electrically conductive matrix and wherein the gel film does not comprise a ceramic or an inorganic oxide particle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising: applying a conductive layer onto the surface before the contacting of the surface with the dispersion medium comprising sheets of graphene or chemically converted graphene dispersed therein. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising: separating the gel film from the surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the dispersion medium comprises one or more additives. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising: adding one or more additives to the gel film after the gel film has been separated from the surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein: the surface is a filter; and the dispersion medium is removed from the surface by passage through the filter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein filtration occurs under vacuum. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the dispersion medium is water. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the dispersion medium is an organic liquid. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the dispersion medium comprises a drug. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising increasing a temperature of the dispersion medium, wherein the temperature is increased to control a resultant inter-sheet spacing in the gel film that forms on the surface. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, wherein the temperature is increased such that the gel film permits passage of particles having a first average diameter but does not permit passage of particles having a diameter larger than the first average diameter. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, wherein the temperature is increased to a range of about 90 to 150° C. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, wherein temperature of the dispersion medium is increased before the step of contacting the surface. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, wherein the dispersion medium is cooled before the step of contacting the surface. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) A filtration membrane produced by the method according to claim 23.