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OwnerWilliam M. Risen, Jr., Shuang Ji +2inventors
InventorsWilliam M. Risen, Jr., Shuang Ji, Xiangjun Hu, Ruiyun Zhang
Estimating the term…
New aerogels are disclosed which comprise silica, at least one organic polymer having polar functional groups, and at least one metal ion. Also disclosed are methods for making such aerogels and for making them as substantially transparent objects. In addition, gas detectors, liquid and gas absorbing objects, and optical devices made using these aerogels are disclosed. The present invention concerns optical elements which are substantially transparent and exhibit low refractive indices. The invention also relates to the optical properties of the metal-containing ions, the silica and polymer which they comprise. The optical elements can be passive or they can be active in response to electromagnetic radiation. The invention further relates to detectors of reactive and absorbate gases based on the physical changes exhibited by the aerogels upon reacting with or absorbing such gases. The present invention further concerns printable objects comprising these aerogels, specifically when the print media are imaged by the absorption of liquid and the spatial localization of pigments or dyes. The invention further concerns reactive gas absorbers comprising these aerogels and the catalytic function the aerogels serve to catalyze subsequent chemical reaction. Furthermore, the present invention concerns the absorption of chemical compounds from condensed states including liquid, critical and supercritical fluids.
An aerogel material comprising silica, at least one organic polymer with a polar functional group, and at least one metal-ion-containing species, wherein the polar functional group of the organic polymer is selected from the group consisting of amine, carbonyl, acylamine, protonated amine, hydroxyl, carboxyl groups, and combinations thereof.
An aerogel material comprising silica, at least one organic polymer with a polar functional group, and at least one metal-ion-containing species, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of a chitosan with a deacylation degree 50 to 100%, pectic acid, and alginic acid.
A method for producing a transparent aerogel, which comprises silica, a sol-gel-compatible organic polymer and a metal-ion-containing species, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.