Patents by Inventor Shawn A. Sapp

Shawn A. Sapp 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: 8097348
    Abstract: Pi-conjugated organoboron polymers for use in thin-film organic polymer electronic devices. The polymers contain aromatic and or unsaturated repeat units and boron atoms. Pi-conjugated organoboron polymers which are end capped, derivatized with solubilizing groups or both exhibit improved solubility and handling properties beneficial for the formation of thin films useful for device fabrication. The vacant p-orbital of the boron atoms conjugate with the pi-conjugated orbital system of the aromatic or unsaturated monomer units extending the pi-conjugation length of the polymer across the boron atoms. The pi-conjugated organoboron polymers are electron-deficient and, therefore, exhibit n-type semiconducting properties, photoluminescence, and electroluminescence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: TDA Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Silvia DeVito Luebben, Shawn Sapp
  • Patent number: 7687582
    Abstract: This invention relates to improved methods for the preparation, purification, and processing of poly(heteroaromatic) block copolymers, as well as compositions prepared by these methods. Methods relate to preparation of multiblock and triblock copolymers of intrinsically conducting polymers (ICPs) containing at least one block of a poly(heteroaromatic) polymer and at least two blocks of a non-conducting polymer. This invention provides polymer solutions or dispersions of improved stability and better film-forming properties. The poly(heteroaromatic) block copolymers are obtained in their conducting or doped form, and are retained in a solvated, wet form throughout the production and purification processes. Stable solutions or dispersions of the purified copolymers in organic solvents, water, or mixtures thereof are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: TDA Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Silvia D. Luebben, Shawn A. Sapp
  • Publication number: 20090127547
    Abstract: Pi-conjugated organoboron polymers for use in thin-film organic polymer electronic devices. The polymers contain aromatic and or unsaturated repeat units and boron atoms. Pi-conjugated organoboron polymers which are end capped, derivatized with solubilizing groups or both exhibit improved solubility and handling properties beneficial for the formation of thin films useful for device fabrication. The vacant p-orbital of the boron atoms conjugate with the pi-conjugated orbital system of the aromatic or unsaturated monomer units extending the pi-conjugation length of the polymer across the boron atoms. The pi-conjugated organoboron polymers are electron-deficient and, therefore, exhibit n-type semiconducting properties, photoluminescence, and electroluminescence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Silvia DeVito Luebben, Shawn Sapp
  • Patent number: 7361728
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a class of conducting oligomers and polymers and to a method for the preparation of the same. The conducting oligomers and polymers contain an end-capping group, which is non-electrically conductive and contains at least one branch point. The branched end-capping groups are made by a method that first substitutes the branched group on the heteroaromatic monomer, particularly at the “2” position on these monomers. In a second step, the end-capping intermediate is co-polymerized with one or more additional heteroaromatic monomers to form capped conducting oligomers and polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: TDA Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Elliott, William W. Ellis, Silvia D. Luebben, Shawn A. Sapp, Chieh-Hui Chang, Raechelle A. D'Sa
  • Publication number: 20070215864
    Abstract: Pi-conjugated organoboron polymers for use in thin-film organic polymer electronic devices. The polymers contain aromatic and or unsaturated repeat units and boron atoms. The vacant p-orbital of the boron atoms conjugate with the pi-conjugated orbital system of the aromatic or unsaturated monomer units extending the pi-conjugation length of the polymer across the boron atoms. The pi-conjugated organoboron polymers are electron-deficient and, therefore, exhibit n-type semiconducting properties, photoluminescence, and electroluminescence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Silvia Luebben, Shawn Sapp
  • Patent number: 7019138
    Abstract: This present invention provides a metal-ligand complex and methods for using and preparing the same. In particular, the metal-ligand complex of the present invention is of the formula: La-M-Xb where L, M, X, a, and b are those define herein. The metal-ligand complexes of the present invention are useful in a variety of applications including as electron-transfer mediators in dye-sensitized solar cells and related photoelectrochromic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignees: Colorado State University Research Foundation, The University of Ferrara
    Inventors: C. Michael Elliott, Shawn A. Sapp, Carlo Alberto Bignozzi, Cristiano Contado, Stefano Caramori
  • Publication number: 20040267018
    Abstract: This present invention provides a metal-ligand complex and methods for using and preparing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Michael C. Elliott, Shawn A. Sapp, Carlo Alberto Bignozzi, Cristiano Contado, Stefano Caramori