Photoisomerizing polymers
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorJason T. Wertz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an example, a process of forming a photoisomerizing azobenzene polymer includes chemically reacting an azobenzene material that includes at least two chlorocarbonyl functional groups with an amine to form a photoisomerizing azobenzene polymer. The photoisomerizing azobenzene polymer has a polymer chain that includes a first chlorocarbonyl group disposed at a first end of the polymer chain, a plurality of repeating azobenzene monomer units, and a second chlorocarbonyl group disposed at a second end of the polymer chain.
Claims20
A process of forming a photoisomerizing azobenzene polymer, the process comprising:
- chemically reacting an azobenzene material that includes at least two chlorocarbonyl functional groups with an amine to form a photoisomerizing azobenzene polymer,
- wherein the photoisomerizing azobenzene polymer has a polymer chain that includes:
- a first chlorocarbonyl group disposed at a first end of the polymer chain;
- a plurality of repeating azobenzene monomer units;
- and
- a second chlorocarbonyl group disposed at a second end of the polymer chain.
A process of removing metal ions from a solution, the process comprising:
- adding, to the solution that includes metal ions, a composition of matter that includes:
- a particle;
- a photoisomerizing polymer bonded to a first portion of the particle;
- and
- a chelating material, distinct from the photoisomerizing polymer, the chelating material bonded to a second portion of the particle, the chelating material including one or more functional groups to bond one of more metal ions of the metal ions to the second portion of the particle;
- and
- after adding the composition of matter to the solution:
- exposing the solution to light having a first wavelength to induce a first change of configuration of monomer units of the photoisomerizing polymer from a first configuration to a second configuration;
- and
- exposing the solution to light having a second wavelength to induce a second change of configuration of monomer units of the photoisomerizing polymer from the second configuration to the first configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.