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).
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Patent number: 10571803Abstract: Simplified methods of multiple-patterning photolithography using sequential infiltration synthesis to modify the photoresist such that it withstands plasma etching better than unmodified resist and replaces one or more hard masks and/or a freezing step in MPL processes including litho-etch-litho-etch photolithography or litho-freeze-litho-etch photolithography.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Yu-Chih Tseng
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Publication number: 20200041169Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2018Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: Hao-Cheng Yang, Seth B. Darling, Yunsong Xie, Zhaowei Chen, Jeffrey W. Elam
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Publication number: 20200039845Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Anil U. Mane
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Patent number: 10550010Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Anil U. Mane
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Patent number: 10537858Abstract: A porous membrane provides enhanced filtration of pollutants and particles by coating the membrane with conformal thin films of doped titanium dioxide via atomic layer deposition or, alternatively, sequential infiltration synthesis. The membrane can either be organic or inorganic, and the doping of the membrane, usually with nitrogen, is an important feature that shifts the optical absorption of the TiO2 from the UV range into the visible-light range. This enables the use of lower energy light, including sunlight, to activate the photocatalytic function of the film. The coating described in the present invention is compatible with virtually any porous membrane and allows for precise tuning of the pore size with molecular precision. The present invention presents a new coating process and chemical structure that provides catalytic activity, strongly enhanced by light, to both mitigate fouling and break down various organic pollutants in the process stream.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2016Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: Seth B. Darling, Anna Lee, Jeffrey W. Elam, Joseph A. Libera
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Publication number: 20190366273Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2018Publication date: December 5, 2019Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: Hao-Cheng Yang, Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Lin Chen, Ruben Waldman
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Publication number: 20190345397Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2018Publication date: November 14, 2019Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: Ruben Waldman, Hao-Cheng Yang, Seth B. Darling
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Patent number: 10305421Abstract: A solar cell system is formed with a dynamic surface relief grating. Movement members are actuated by a controller to produce a force on the reflective surface. The reflective surface deforms in response to the force creating a surface relief grating that can adapt to changing light conditions.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2016Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: U.S. Department of EnergyInventors: Seth B Darling, Omar Daniel Lopez
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Patent number: 9786511Abstract: A plasma etch resist material modified by an inorganic protective component via sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) and methods of preparing the modified resist material. The modified resist material is characterized by an improved resistance to a plasma etching or related process relative to the unmodified resist material, thereby allowing formation of patterned features into a substrate material, which may be high-aspect ratio features. The SIS process forms the protective component within the bulk resist material through a plurality of alternating exposures to gas phase precursors which infiltrate the resist material. The plasma etch resist material may be initially patterned using photolithography, electron-beam lithography or a block copolymer self-assembly process.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Yu-Chih Tseng, Qing Peng
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Publication number: 20170203258Abstract: A porous membrane provides enhanced filtration of pollutants and particles by coating the membrane with conformal thin films of doped titanium dioxide via atomic layer deposition or, alternatively, sequential infiltration synthesis. The membrane can either be organic or inorganic, and the doping of the membrane, usually with nitrogen, is an important feature that shifts the optical absorption of the TiO2 from the UV range into the visible-light range. This enables the use of lower energy light, including sunlight, to activate the photocatalytic function of the film. The coating described in the present invention is compatible with virtually any porous membrane and allows for precise tuning of the pore size with molecular precision. The present invention presents a new coating process and chemical structure that provides catalytic activity, strongly enhanced by light, to both mitigate fouling and break down various organic pollutants in the process stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2016Publication date: July 20, 2017Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: Seth B. Darling, Anna Lee, Jeffrey W. Elam, Joseph A. Libera
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Patent number: 9684234Abstract: Simplified methods of multiple-patterning photolithography using sequential infiltration synthesis to modify the photoresist such that it withstands plasma etching better than unmodified resist and replaces one or more hard masks and/or a freezing step in MPL processes including litho-etch-litho-etch photolithography or litho-freeze-litho-etch photolithography.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2013Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Yu-Chih Tseng
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Publication number: 20170166456Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2015Publication date: June 15, 2017Applicant: UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Anil U. Mane
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Publication number: 20170137577Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2016Publication date: May 18, 2017Applicant: UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Yu-Chih Tseng, Qing Peng
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Patent number: 9487600Abstract: 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 features with patterned nanostructures defined by the configuration of the microdomain.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2011Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey Elam, Yu-Chih Tseng, Qing Peng
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Publication number: 20150255298Abstract: A plasma etch resist material modified by an inorganic protective component via sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) and methods of preparing the modified resist material. The modified resist material is characterized by an improved resistance to a plasma etching or related process relative to the unmodified resist material, thereby allowing formation of patterned features into a substrate material, which may be high-aspect ratio features. The SIS process forms the protective component within the bulk resist material through a plurality of alternating exposures to gas phase precursors which infiltrate the resist material. The plasma etch resist material may be initially patterned using photolithography, electron-beam lithography or a block copolymer self-assembly process.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2015Publication date: September 10, 2015Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE LLCInventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Yu-Chih Tseng, Qing Peng
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Patent number: 8980418Abstract: A plasma etch resist material modified by an inorganic protective component via sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) and methods of preparing the modified resist material. The modified resist material is characterized by an improved resistance to a plasma etching or related process relative to the unmodified resist material, thereby allowing formation of patterned features into a substrate material, which may be high-aspect ratio features. The SIS process forms the protective component within the bulk resist material through a plurality of alternating exposures to gas phase precursors which infiltrate the resist material. The plasma etch resist material may be initially patterned using photolithography, electron-beam lithography or a block copolymer self-assembly process.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Yu-Chih Tseng, Qing Peng
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Patent number: 8836944Abstract: Systems and methods for opto electric properties are provided. A light source illuminates a sample. A reference detector senses light from the light source. A sample detector receives light from the sample. A positioning fixture allows for relative positioning of the sample or the light source with respect to each other. An electrical signal device measures the electrical properties of the sample. The reference detector, sample detector and electrical signal device provide information that may be processed to determine opto-electric properties of the same.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Uchicago Argonne, LLCInventors: Maxim Nikiforov, Seth B. Darling, Ozgun Suzer, Jeffrey Guest, Andreas Roelofs
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Publication number: 20130256265Abstract: Simplified methods of multiple-patterning photolithography using sequential infiltration synthesis to modify the photoresist such that it withstands plasma etching better than unmodified resist and replaces one or more hard masks and/or a freezing step in MPL processes including litho-etch-litho-etch photolithography or litho-freeze-litho-etch photolithography.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: UChicago Argonne LLCInventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Yu-Chih Tseng
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Publication number: 20120241411Abstract: A plasma etch resist material modified by an inorganic protective component via sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) and methods of preparing the modified resist material. The modified resist material is characterized by an improved resistance to a plasma etching or related process relative to the unmodified resist material, thereby allowing formation of patterned features into a substrate material, which may be high-aspect ratio features. The SIS process forms the protective component within the bulk resist material through a plurality of alternating exposures to gas phase precursors which infiltrate the resist material. The plasma etch resist material may be initially patterned using photolithography, electron-beam lithography or a block copolymer self-assembly process.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2012Publication date: September 27, 2012Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Yu-Chih Tseng, Qing Peng
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Patent number: 8269100Abstract: A hybrid photovoltaic cell comprising a composite substrate of a nanotube or nanorod array of metal oxide infiltrated with a monomer precursor and subsequently polymerized in situ via UV irradiation. In an embodiment, the photovoltaic cell comprises an electron accepting TiO2 nanotube array infiltrated with a photo-sensitive electron donating conjugated polymer. The conjugated polymer may be formed in situ through UV irradiation polymerizing a monomer precursor such as 2,5-diiodothiophene (DIT).Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2009Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: Seth B. Darling, Sanja Tepavcevic, Tijana Rajh, Nada Dimitrijevic, Steven J. Sibener