Patents by Inventor Gregory Sotzing

Gregory Sotzing 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).

  • Publication number: 20120196078
    Abstract: Described are conjugated polymer fibers and nanofibers, methods of making, and methods of use thereof. The conjugated polymer fibers and nanofibers can be prepared by an electrostatic spinning process followed by crosslinking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Gregory A. Sotzing, Patrick T. Mather
  • Patent number: 8227567
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are precursor polymers containing units of heteroaryls and units of Si, Sn, Ge, or Pb, methods of producing the precursor polymers, and applications utilizing these precursor polymers to prepare conductive polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: University of Connecticut
    Inventor: Gregory A. Sotzing
  • Patent number: 8178629
    Abstract: Described are conjugated polymer fibers and nanofibers, methods of making, and methods of use thereof. The conjugated polymer fibers and nanofibers can be prepared by an electrostatic spinning process followed by crosslinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Gregory A. Sotzing, Patrick T. Mather
  • Patent number: 8168671
    Abstract: Inexpensive and facile methods of preparing fused heterocycles such as thieno[3,4-b]thiophene, thieno[3,4-b]furan, related compounds, and their derivatives are disclosed. Also disclosed are regioregular polymers prepared from the fused heterocycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: The University of Connecticut
    Inventor: Gregory A. Sotzing
  • Patent number: 8107153
    Abstract: An electrochromic fiber or fabric is disclosed. The fiber or fabric includes a flexible, electrically conductive fiber, and a layer comprising an electrochromic material disposed on and surrounding the flexible, electrically conductive fiber. In one embodiment, the fiber or fabric is both flexible and elastic. The fibers and fabrics are of particular utility in electrochromic devices, particularly those which form or are a part of garments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: The University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Gregory A. Sotzing, Michael A. Invernale
  • Publication number: 20110317240
    Abstract: An electrochromic fiber or fabric is disclosed. The fiber or fabric includes a flexible, electrically conductive fiber, wherein the fiber comprises a non-electrically conductive organic polymer coated with an electrically conductive polymer; and; a layer comprising an electrochromic material disposed on and surrounding the flexible, electrically conductive fiber; wherein the electrically conductive polymer is PEDOT-PSS, poly(vinylpyridine), a poly(thiophene), a poly(pyrrole), a poly(aniline), a poly(acetylene), a poly(p-phenylenevinylene), a sulfonated polythieno[3,4-b]thiophene, polystyrenesulfonate, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the fiber or fabric is both flexible and elastic. The fibers and fabrics are of particular utility in electrochromic devices, particularly those which form or are a part of garments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
    Inventors: Gregory A. Sotzing, Michael A. Invernale
  • Publication number: 20110233532
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a facile process for the formation of conjugated polymers inside or outside assembled solid-state devices. One process generally involves applying a voltage to a device comprising at least two electrodes, a combination of an electrolyte composition and a electroactive monomer disposed between the electrodes, and a potential source in electrical connection with the at least two electrodes; wherein the applying voltage polymerizes the electroactive monomer into a conjugated polymer. Also disclosed are electrochromic articles prepared from the process and solid-state devices comprising a composite of an electrolyte composition and a conjugated polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory A. Sotzing, Michael A. Invernale
  • Publication number: 20110201826
    Abstract: Polymers and copolymers having units derived from substituted 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene are disclosed. Also provided are methods of making and using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventor: Gregory A. Sotzing
  • Publication number: 20110168951
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are thermally stable conducting polymers prepared by template polymerization of a conducting monomer in the presence of a sulfonated poly(amic acid). The resulting conducting polymer-sulfonated poly(amic acid) complex can be thermally converted to a conducting polymer-sulfonated poly(imide) complex having high thermal stability and high conductivity. Also disclosed are articles prepared from the thermally stable conducting polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: Gregory A. Sotzing
  • Patent number: 7951902
    Abstract: Polymers and copolymers having units derived from substituted 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene are disclosed. Also provided are methods of making and using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: The University of Connecticut
    Inventor: Gregory A. Sotzing
  • Publication number: 20100288343
    Abstract: Photovoltaic cells containing nucleic acid materials and methods of production and use are provided. The nucleic acid materials have photovoltaic donor and acceptor molecules incorporated therein and define a spatial organization and orientation for these molecules that inhibits recombination of excitons and promotes efficiency in the photovoltaic cell. Preferred nucleic acid materials contain nucleic acid molecules complexed with ionic surfactants and are in the form of films, fibers, nanofibers, or non-woven meshes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Gregory A. Sotzing, Yogesh J. Ner
  • Publication number: 20100245971
    Abstract: An electrochromic fiber or fabric is disclosed. The fiber or fabric includes a flexible, electrically conductive fiber, and a layer comprising an electrochromic material disposed on and surrounding the flexible, electrically conductive fiber. In one embodiment, the fiber or fabric is both flexible and elastic. The fibers and fabrics are of particular utility in electrochromic devices, particularly those which form or are a part of garments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
    Inventors: Gregory A. Sotzing, Michael A. Invernale
  • Publication number: 20100238534
    Abstract: An electrochromic cell of the present invention may include a first electrically conducting transparent electrode bonded to an electrochemically formed first electrochromic electrode on the surface of the electrode; a second electrically conducting transparent electrode bonded to an electrochemically formed second electrochromic electrode on the surface of the second electrode and a transparent gel polymer electrolyte formed from one or more macromomoners mixed with a plasticizer and an electrolyte salt, the gel polymer containing ionic liquids in contact with both the first and second electrochromic electrodes; the first and second electrochromic electrodes are separated from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Bijan Radmard, Gregory A. Sotzing
  • Patent number: 7746533
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are electrochromic devices using a very low band-gap conjugated polymer having a band gap (Eg) of less than or equal to about 1.5 eV, and having little or no electrochromism in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: The University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Gregory A. Sotzing, Venkataramanan Seshadri
  • Publication number: 20100113727
    Abstract: Polymers and copolymers having units derived from unsubstituted or substituted thieno[3,4-b]furan are disclosed. Also provided are methods of making and using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: Gregory A. Sotzing
  • Publication number: 20090326187
    Abstract: Inexpensive and facile methods of preparing fused heterocycles such as thieno[3,4-b]thiophene, thieno[3,4-b]furan, related compounds, and their derivatives are disclosed. Also disclosed are regioregular polymers prepared from the fused heterocycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: Gregory A. Sotzing
  • Publication number: 20090311799
    Abstract: Nucleic acid materials for FRET-based luminescence and methods of making and using the nucleic acid materials are provided. The nucleic acid materials provide an innovative and synergistic combination of three disparate elements: a nucleic acid material, the processing technique for forming a nucleic acid material into films, fibers, nanofibers, or non-woven meshes, and nonradiative energy transfer. This combination can be formed into electrospun fibers, nanofibers, and non-woven meshes of a nucleic acid material-cationic lipid complex with encapsulated chromophores capable of nonradiative energy transfer such as efficient Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Gregory A. Sotzing, Jeffrey A. Stuart, Yogesh J. Ner
  • Patent number: 7626748
    Abstract: An electrochromic cell of the present invention may include a first electrically conducting transparent electrode bonded to an electrochemically formed first electrochromic electrode on the surface of the electrode; a second electrically conducting transparent electrode bonded to an electrochemically formed second electrochromic electrode on the surface of the second electrode and a transparent gel polymer electrolyte formed from one or more macromonomers mixed with a plasticizer and an electrolyte salt, the gel polymer containing ionic liquids in contact with both the first and second electrochromic electrodes; the first and second electrochromic electrodes are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventors: Bijan Radmard, Gregory A. Sotzing
  • Publication number: 20090242113
    Abstract: An electrochromic cell is disclosed which can include a first electrically conducting transparent electrode bonded to an electrochemically formed first electrochromic electrode on the surface of the electrode; a second electrically conducting transparent electrode bonded to an electrochemically formed second electrochromic electrode on the surface of the second electrode and a transparent gel polymer electrolyte formed from one or more macromomoners mixed with a plasticizer and an electrolyte salt, the gel polymer electrolyte in contact with both the first and second electrochromic electrodes; the first and second electrochromic electrodes are separated from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Bijan Radmard, Gregory A. Sotzing
  • Patent number: 7586663
    Abstract: An electrochromic cell is disclosed which can include a first electrically conducting transparent electrode bonded to an electrochemically formed first electrochromic electrode on the surface of the electrode; a second electrically conducting transparent electrode bonded to an electrochemically formed second electrochromic electrode on the surface of the second electrode and a transparent gel polymer electrolyte formed from one or more macromomoners mixed with a plasticizer and an electrolyte salt, the gel polymer electrolyte in contact with both the first and second electrochromic electrodes; the first and second electrochromic electrodes are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Triton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bijan Radmard, Gregory A. Sotzing