University of Pittsburgh

Jay Henis

Sanford A Asher

A method of making a solid filter material which filters a predetermined wavelength band from a broader spectrum of radiation is provided. The method includes creating a colloidal structure composed of particles dispersed within a medium, and introducing a solvent thereto. Thereafter, the solvent is evaporated and the remaining structure solidifies into a solid crystalline array. The particles can also be fused together by polymerization using one of several methods which are provided. In another embodiment, methods of filtering submicron particles have been developed which consists of establishing a gel membrane from a crystalline colloidal array with an interstice size less than or equal to the particles to be filtered are disclosed. The gel membrane may employ anisotropic interstices of submicron size and is stretchable or compressible mechanically. The method also includes stacking a plurality of gel membrane filters so that the material to be filtered sequentially flows through the interstices of the filters leaving different size submicron particles on different levels of said filters. Another embodiment of the invention has a plurality of particles having a positive or negative charge in a lattice and has oppositely charged mobile particles movable into and out of the interstices of the gel membrane. An electric field is employed to move the mobile particles to close or open the interstices of the lattice. The mobile particles can also pump material through the interstices. Decorative uses of the materials are also disclosed.

Crystalline colloidal arrays in solid form

A method of making a solid filter material which filters a predetermined wavelength band from a broader spectrum of radiation is provided. The method includes creating a colloidal structure composed of particles dispersed within a medium, and introducing a solvent thereto. Thereafter, the solvent is evaporated and the remaining structure solidifies into a solid crystalline array. The particles can also be fused together by polymerization using one of several methods which are provided. In another embodiment, methods of filtering submicron particles have been developed which consists of establishing a gel membrane from a crystalline colloidal array with an interstice size less than or equal to the particles to be filtered are disclosed. The gel membrane may employ anisotropic interstices of submicron size and is stretchable or compressible mechanically. The method also includes stacking a plurality of gel membrane filters so that the material to be filtered sequentially flows through the interstices of the filters leaving different size submicron particles on different levels of said filters. Another embodiment of the invention has a plurality of particles having a positive or negative charge in a lattice and has oppositely charged mobile particles movable into and out of the interstices of the gel membrane. An electric field is employed to move the mobile particles to close or open the interstices of the lattice. The mobile particles can also pump material through the interstices.

Material for separating submicron particles

A coating material is provided which has fragments of a gel membrane filter in a liquid. The gel membrane filter has a plurality of electronegative particles provided in an ordered crystalline array. The gel membrane filter has been hardened with a polymer and is embodied in refractive fragments which alter the surface appearance of the resultant coating material. The coating material may be employed as a nail polish or as a paint.

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St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Jay Henis