University of Colorado

Ravenbrick LLC

Andrew L LaFrate

Richard Daniel Noble

Jason Edward Bara

Douglas L Gin

Evan Shigeto Hatakeyama

Trevor Carlisle

Robert L Kerr

Richard M Powers

Wil McCarthy

Neil Brian Cramer

Matthew Bryant Kish

Christopher M Caldwell

Michael Pickford

The present invention provides gels, solutions, films, membranes, compositions, and other materials containing polymerized and/or non-polymerized room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). These materials are useful in catalysis, gas separation and as antistatic agents. The RTILs are preferably imidazolium-based RTILs which are optionally substituted, such as with one or more hydroxyl groups. Optionally, the materials of the present invention are composite materials comprising both polymerized and non-polymerized RTILs. The RTIL polymer is formed from polymerized RTIL cations typically synthesized as monomers and polymerized in the presence of the non-polymerized RTIL cations to provide a solid composite material. The non-polymerized RTIL cations are not covalently bound to the cationic polymer but remain as free cations within the composite material able to associate with charged subunits of the polymer. These composite materials are useful in catalysis, gas separation, and antistatic applications.

Imidazolium-based room-temperature ionic liquids, polymers, monomers and membranes incorporating same

Imidazolium-based room-temperature ionic liquids, polymers, monomers, and membranes incorporating same

A resizable polymer-stabilized, thermotropic liquid crystal device formulation is used in passive or active light-regulating and temperature-regulating films, materials and devices, including construction materials. Implementations of the device may be composed of five basic elements: one or more transparent substrates, a transparent surface treatment, a liquid crystal mixture, a stabilizing polymer, and spacer beads. The polymer-stabilized liquid crystal is coated and cured on at least one substrate. The transparent surface treatment and the stabilizing polymer network are selected to provide phase separation, curing, and adhesion within the LC mixture. The substrate or substrates may be polarizing or nonpolarizing.

Polymer stabilized thermotropic liquid crystal device

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

Andrew L LaFrate