Patents by Inventor Seth B. Darling

Seth B. Darling 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: 12104249
    Abstract: The sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) of group 13 indium and gallium oxides (In2O3 and Ga2O3) into polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) thin films is demonstrated. Examples highlight the an SIS process using trimethylindium (TMIn) and trimethylgallium (TMGa), respectively, with water. In situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy reveals that these metal alkyl precursors reversibly associate with the carbonyl groups of PMMA in analogy to trimethylaluminum (TMAl), however with significantly lower affinity. SIS with TMIn and water enables the growth of In2O3 at 80° C., well below the onset temperature of atomic layer deposition (ALD) using these precursors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignees: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC, THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
    Inventors: Alex B. Martinson, Seth B. Darling, Ruben Waldman
  • Publication number: 20240252991
    Abstract: A membrane for selective separation of a target cation from a source liquid containing the target cation and one or more competing ionic species can include a crown ether polymer layer disposed on a cation exchange membrane. The crown ether polymer layer can include a crown ether capable of selectively binding the target cation and a polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Feng Gao, Yuepeng Zhang, Lei Cheng, Shi Li, Seth B. Darling, Lu Zhang, Lily A. Robertson
  • Patent number: 12012559
    Abstract: A Janus membrane exhibiting sides with different properties and methods of fabricating such a Janus membrane. The membrane comprises a polymer material lacking polar functional groups. One side of the membrane is masked during atomic layer deposition (ALD). ALD is utilized to deposit a conformal coating on an exposed side of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Ruben Waldman, Hao-Cheng Yang, Seth B. Darling
  • Publication number: 20240109040
    Abstract: A mineral membrane and method of making the same are disclosed. The mineral membrane may be made by exfoliating a mineral material to produce a membrane, and cross-linking the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Zijing Xia
  • Patent number: 11896935
    Abstract: Polymeric membranes are modified via SIS to promote membrane resilience, prolong membrane lifetime, and mitigate fouling. Modified membranes include an inorganic material within an outer portion of the modified membrane and a polymeric core that remains unmodified by the inorganic material. The polymer may be removed leaving an inorganic material patterned from an initial unmodified polymeric membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignees: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Ruben Waldman
  • Patent number: 11846021
    Abstract: The sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) and Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) of metal and/or metal oxides on personal medical equipment (PPE). The deposited metal and/or metal oxides imbues antimicrobial properties to the PPE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam, Seth B. Darling, Nestor J. Zaluzec, Alex B. Martinson
  • Patent number: 11590456
    Abstract: Atomic layer deposition is utilized to deposit a coating on a membrane. The coated membrane exhibits a tightly bound hydration layer upon exposure to water. The resultant coated membrane is oleophobic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignees: UChicago Argonne, LLC, The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Hao-Cheng Yang, Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Lin Chen, Ruben Waldman
  • Patent number: 11428440
    Abstract: A porphyrine organic framework (“POF”) material is introduced with a one-pot method for photothermal material fabrication. The POF material may be deposited on a support scaffold by reacting a pyrrole by acid-catalyzed dehydration forming a plurality of porphyrin-based covalent organic frameworks particles on the support scaffold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Zijing Xia, Hao-Cheng Yang, Zhaowei Chen, Seth B. Darling
  • Patent number: 11401385
    Abstract: A method of preparing tunable inorganic patterned nanofeatures by infiltration of a block copolymer scaffold having a plurality of self-assembled periodic polymer microdomains. The method may be used sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS), related to atomic layer deposition (ALD). The method includes selecting a metal precursor that is configured to selectively react with the copolymer unit defining the microdomain but is substantially non-reactive with another polymer unit of the copolymer. A tunable inorganic features is selectively formed on the microdomain to form a hybrid organic/inorganic composite material of the metal precursor and a co-reactant. The organic component may be optionally removed to obtain an inorganic feature s with patterned nanostructures defined by the configuration of the microdomain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Yu-Chih Tseng, Qing Peng
  • Patent number: 11359840
    Abstract: Chinese ink is applied on various materials and stabilized by atomic layer deposition to fabricate solar steam generation devices. The encapsulated ink has excellent photothermal properties and evaporation efficiency under simulated sunlight, holding great promise in solar evaporation device applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Hao-Cheng Yang, Seth B. Darling, Yunsong Xie, Zhaowei Chen, Jeffrey W. Elam
  • Patent number: 11351478
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an coating includes providing a coating comprising a base material. The base material is coated with an inorganic material using at least one of an atomic layer deposition (ALD), a molecular layer deposition (MLD), or sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) process. The SIS process includes at least one cycle of exposing the coating to a first metal precursor for a first predetermined time and a first partial pressure. The first metal precursor infiltrates at least a portion of the base material and binds with the base material. The coating is exposed to a second co-reactant precursor for a second predetermined time and a second partial pressure. The second co-reactant precursor reacts with the first metal precursor, thereby forming the inorganic material on the base material. The inorganic material infiltrating at least the portion of the base material. The inorganic material is functionalized with a material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam
  • Publication number: 20220098730
    Abstract: The sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) and Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) of metal and/or metal oxides on personal medical equipment (PPE). The deposited metal and/or metal oxides imbues antimicrobial properties to the PPE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam, Seth B. Darling, Nestor J. Zaluzec, Alex B. Martinson
  • Patent number: 11203817
    Abstract: A method of forming lead halide perovskite crystals in a solvent. The perovskite is form by solution processing of an organic and inorganic precursor in a polar protic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Muge Acik, Seth B. Darling
  • Patent number: 10954139
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an oleophilic foam includes providing a foam comprising a base material. The base material is coated with an inorganic material using at least one of an atomic layer deposition (ALD), a molecular layer deposition (MLD) or sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) process. The SIS process includes at least one cycle of exposing the foam to a first metal precursor for a first predetermined time and a first partial pressure. The first metal precursor infiltrates at least a portion of the base material and binds with the base material. The foam is exposed to a second co-reactant precursor for a second predetermined time and a second partial pressure. The second co-reactant precursor reacts with the first metal precursor, thereby forming the inorganic material on the base material. The inorganic material infiltrating at least the portion of the base material. The inorganic material is functionalized with an oleophilic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Anil U. Mane
  • Publication number: 20210017649
    Abstract: The sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) of group 13 indium and gallium oxides (In2O3 and Ga2O3) into polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) thin films is demonstrated. Examples highlight the an SIS process using trimethylindium (TMIn) and trimethylgallium (TMGa), respectively, with water. In situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy reveals that these metal alkyl precursors reversibly associate with the carbonyl groups of PMMA in analogy to trimethylaluminum (TMAl), however with significantly lower affinity. SIS with TMIn and water enables the growth of In2O3 at 80° C., well below the onset temperature of atomic layer deposition (ALD) using these precursors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Alex B. Martinson, Seth B. Darling, Ruben Waldman
  • Patent number: 10870917
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an foam includes providing a foam comprising a base material. The base material is coated with an inorganic material using at least one of an atomic layer deposition (ALD), a molecular layer deposition (MLD), or sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) process. The SIS process includes at least one cycle of exposing the foam to a first metal precursor for a first predetermined time and a first partial pressure. The first metal precursor infiltrates at least a portion of the base material and binds with the base material. The foam is exposed to a second co-reactant precursor for a second predetermined time and a second partial pressure. The second co-reactant precursor reacts with the first metal precursor, thereby forming the inorganic material on the base material. The inorganic material infiltrating at least the portion of the base material. The inorganic material is functionalized with a material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Anil U. Mane, Seth W. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20200355403
    Abstract: A porphyrine organic framework (“POF”) material is introduced with a one-pot method for photothermal material fabrication. The POF material may be deposited on a porous substrate, such as for solar steam generation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Zijing Xia, Hao-Cheng Yang, Zhaowei Chen, Seth B. Darling
  • Publication number: 20200140622
    Abstract: A method of preparing tunable inorganic patterned nanofeatures by infiltration of a block copolymer scaffold having a plurality of self-assembled periodic polymer microdomains. The method may be used sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS), related to atomic layer deposition (ALD). The method includes selecting a metal precursor that is configured to selectively react with the copolymer unit defining the microdomain but is substantially non-reactive with another polymer unit of the copolymer. A tunable inorganic features is selectively formed on the microdomain to form a hybrid organic/inorganic composite material of the metal precursor and a co-reactant. The organic component may be optionally removed to obtain an inorganic feature s with patterned nanostructures defined by the configuration of the microdomain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Yu-Chih Tseng, Qing Peng
  • Publication number: 20200078705
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an coating includes providing a coating comprising a base material. The base material is coated with an inorganic material using at least one of an atomic layer deposition (ALD), a molecular layer deposition (MLD), or sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) process. The SIS process includes at least one cycle of exposing the coating to a first metal precursor for a first predetermined time and a first partial pressure. The first metal precursor infiltrates at least a portion of the base material and binds with the base material. The coating is exposed to a second co-reactant precursor for a second predetermined time and a second partial pressure. The second co-reactant precursor reacts with the first metal precursor, thereby forming the inorganic material on the base material. The inorganic material infiltrating at least the portion of the base material. The inorganic material is functionalized with a material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam
  • Patent number: 10577466
    Abstract: A method of preparing tunable inorganic patterned nanofeatures by infiltration of a block copolymer scaffold having a plurality of self-assembled periodic polymer microdomains. The method may be used sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS), related to atomic layer deposition (ALD). The method includes selecting a metal precursor that is configured to selectively react with the copolymer unit defining the microdomain but is substantially non-reactive with another polymer unit of the copolymer. A tunable inorganic features is selectively formed on the microdomain to form a hybrid organic/inorganic composite material of the metal precursor and a co-reactant. The organic component may be optionally removed to obtain an inorganic feature s with patterned nanostructures defined by the configuration of the microdomain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Yu-Chih Tseng, Qing Peng