Patents by Inventor Steven J. Sibener

Steven J. Sibener 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: 12296299
    Abstract: Provided are apparatus and methods for enriching and separating isotopologues or isotopes. The apparatus and methods enrich and/or separate isotopes or isotopologues present in a substantially monovelocity supersonic beam incident upon a solid surface comprising condensed forms of the isotopologues or the isotopes via the differential condensation of the different isotopologues or isotopes on the surface or the differential reflection of the different isotopologues or isotopes from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
    Inventors: Steven J. Sibener, Michelle R. Brann, Stephen P. Hansknecht
  • Patent number: 12109535
    Abstract: Methods for enriching, separating, or enriching and separating isotopes and isotopologues, as well as other chemical species, contained in a supersonic beam are provided. In the methods, a supersonic beam having different isotopes, isotopologues, or other chemical species entrained therein and a beam comprising a matrix material converge on a surface. As the matrix material forms a solid matrix on the surface, heavier isotopes, isotopologues, and/or other chemical species become preferentially embedded in the matrix, while lighter isotopes, isotopologues, and/or other chemical species are preferentially scattered from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
    Inventors: Steven J. Sibener, Kevin D. Gibson
  • Publication number: 20220355248
    Abstract: Provided are apparatus and methods for enriching and separating isotopologues or isotopes. The apparatus and methods enrich and/or separate isotopes or isotopologues present in a substantially monovelocity supersonic beam incident upon a solid surface comprising condensed forms of the isotopologues or the isotopes via the differential condensation of the different isotopologues or isotopes on the surface or the differential reflection of the different isotopologues or isotopes from the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Steven J. Sibener, Michelle R. Brann, Stephen P. Hansknecht
  • Patent number: 11413579
    Abstract: Methods for separating isotopes are provided. An embodiment of such a method comprises directing a supersonic beam characterized by an average velocity v and velocity distribution ?v/v, the beam comprising a first isotope and a second isotope, at a single-crystalline surface at an angle of incidence ?i such that the first isotope elastically scatters from the surface with a peak angle ?f1 and the second isotope elastically scatters from the surface with a peak angle ?f2; and selectively collecting the scattered first isotope, the scattered second isotope, or both. Apparatus for carrying out the methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Steven J. Sibener, Jacob D. Graham, Kevin J. Nihill
  • Publication number: 20220143551
    Abstract: Methods for enriching, separating, or enriching and separating isotopes and isotopologues, as well as other chemical species, contained in a supersonic beam are provided. In the methods, a supersonic beam having different isotopes, isotopologues, or other chemical species entrained therein and a beam comprising a matrix material converge on a surface. As the matrix material forms a solid matrix on the surface, heavier isotopes, isotopologues, and/or other chemical species become preferentially embedded in the matrix, while lighter isotopes, isotopologues, and/or other chemical species are preferentially scattered from the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Steven J. Sibener, Kevin D. Gibson
  • Publication number: 20200139302
    Abstract: Methods for separating isotopes are provided. An embodiment of such a method comprises directing a supersonic beam characterized by an average velocity v and velocity distribution ?v/v, the beam comprising a first isotope and a second isotope, at a single-crystalline surface at an angle of incidence ?i such that the first isotope elastically scatters from the surface with a peak angle ?fl and the second isotope elastically scatters from the surface with a peak angle ?f2; and selectively collecting the scattered first isotope, the scattered second isotope, or both. Apparatus for carrying out the methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Steven J. Sibener, Jacob D. Graham, Kevin J. Nihill
  • Patent number: 8269100
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Sanja Tepavcevic, Tijana Rajh, Nada Dimitrijevic, Steven J. Sibener
  • Publication number: 20100078066
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Sanja Tepavcevic, Tijana Rajh, Nada Dimitrijevic, Steven J. Sibener