Patents by Inventor Celia I. Merzbacher

Celia I. Merzbacher has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6649091
    Abstract: An electrically conducting composite is made by providing an aerogel structure of nonconducting material, exposing the aerogel structure to a mixture of RuO4 and a nonpolar solvent in an inert atmosphere, wherein the mixture is held initially at a first temperature that is below the temperature at which RuO4 decomposes into RuO2 in the nonpolar solvent and in the presence of the aerogel, and allowing the mixture to warm to a second temperature that is above the temperature at which RuO4 decomposes to RuO2 in the nonpolar solvent and in the presence of the aerogel, wherein the rate of warming is controlled so that as the mixture warms and the RuO4 begins to decompose into RuO2, the newly formed RuO2 is deposited throughout the aerogel structure as a three-dimensionally networked conductive deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Joseph V. Ryan, Celia I. Merzbacher, Alan D. Berry, Debra R. Rolison, Jeffery W. Long
  • Publication number: 20030062512
    Abstract: An electrically conducting composite is made by providing an aerogel structure of nonconducting material, exposing the aerogel structure to a mixture of RuO4 and a nonpolar solvent in an inert atmosphere, wherein the mixture is held initially at a first temperature that is below the temperature at which RuO4 decomposes into RuO2 in the nonpolar solvent and in the presence of the aerogel, and allowing the mixture to warm to a second temperature that is above the temperature at which RuO4 decomposes to RuO2 in the nonpolar solvent and in the presence of the aerogel, wherein the rate of warming is controlled so that as the mixture warms and the RuO4 begins to decompose into RuO2, the newly formed RuO2 is deposited throughout the aerogel structure as a three-dimensionally networked conductive deposit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventors: Joseph V. Ryan, Celia I. Merzbacher, Alan D. Berry, Debra R. Rolison, Jeffery W. Long
  • Patent number: 6492014
    Abstract: A composite gel or aerogel is formed by commingling a particulate guest (such as a colloidal or dispersed (i.e., non-colloidal) solid or a powder) with a sol which is either about to gel or in which gelation has just started. After addition of the particulate, the mixture is then permitted to gel into a solid, gelled composite with open pores. This solid, gelled composite is then dried in a manner that prevents the collapse of open pores within the solid, gelled composite in which the gel acts as a “nanoglue” that holds the particles together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Debra R. Rolison, Catherine A. Morris, Michelle L. Anderson, Karen E. Swider Lyons, Celia I. Merzbacher, Joseph V. Ryan, Veronica M. Cepak
  • Patent number: 6290880
    Abstract: An electrically conducting composite is made by providing an aerogel structure of nonconducting material, exposing the aerogel structure to a mixture of RuO4 and a nonpolar solvent in an inert atmosphere, wherein the mixture is held initially at a first temperature that is below the temperature at which RuO4 decomposes into RuO2 in the nonpolar solvent and in the presence of the aerogel, and allowing the mixture to warm to a second temperature that is above the temperature at which RuO4 decomposes to RuO2 in the nonpolar solvent and in the presence of the aerogel, wherein the rate of warming is controlled so that as the mixture warms and the RuO4 begins to decompose into RuO2, the newly formed RuO2 is deposited throughout the aerogel structure as a three-dimensionally networked conductive deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Joseph V. Ryan, Celia I. Merzbacher, Alan D. Berry, Debra R. Rolison, Jeffery W. Long
  • Patent number: 5629248
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a sulfide glass with improved mechanical and optical properties such as extended transmission in the infrared region of radiation having wavelengths of up to about 15 microns, Tg in the range of 370.degree.-550.degree. C., and thermal stability of 100.degree.-300.degree. C., containing, on mol basis, 36-72% germanium sulfide, 2-38% gallium sulfide and/or indium sulfide, and 26-62% of at least one modifier containing an alkaline earth sulfide. A process for making glass of improved mechanical and optical properties comprises the steps of mixing glass components, including an alkaline earth modifier in elemental or sulfide form; melting the glass components in an inert vessel contained in a sealed ampoule to form a molten mixture; cooling the molten glass mixture to a solid state; annealing the solid glass; and cooling the annealed glass to about room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ishwar D. Aggarwal, Celia I. Merzbacher, Barry B. Harbison, John M. Jewell
  • Patent number: 5599751
    Abstract: A sulfide glass with improved mechanical and optical properties such as ended transmission in the infrared region of radiation having wavelengths of up to about 15 microns; Tg in the region of 410.degree.-550.degree. C.; and thermal stability of 100.degree.-300.degree. C. based on the difference between T.sub.g and T.sub.x, comprising, on mol basis, 20-90% germanium sulfide, 0-60% gallium sulfide, and 5-60% of at least one modifier in sulfide form. A process for improving mechanical and optical properties of a sulfide glass based on gallium sulfide and/or germanium sulfide comprises the steps of mixing glass components, including a modifier in elemental or sulfide form; melting the glass components to form a molten mixture; cooling the molten glass mixture to a solid state; annealing the solid glass; and cooling the annealed glass to about room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Barry B. Harbison, John M. Jewell, Celia I. Merzbacher, Ishwar D. Aggarwal