IP Library Granted Patent US 7,273,567
Granted Patent B1
US 7,273,567 · App. 09/448,927 · Granted Sep 25, 2007

Energy-activated compositions for controlled sustained release of a gas

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,273,567
App. No.
09/448,927
Granted
Sep 25, 2007
Kind
B1
Abstract

A composition for energy-controlled generation and release of at least one gas, which includes an energy-activated catalyst capable of being activated by electromagnetic energy, and a solid or a liquid containing anions capable of being oxidized by the activated catalyst or reacted with species generated during activation of the catalyst to generate at least one gas. The composition, when exposed to electromagnetic energy, is capable of generating and releasing the gas after activation of the catalyst and oxidation or reaction of the anions.

Claims (37)

1. A solid composition for electromagnetic energy-controlled generation and release of a gas comprising:

between about 50 wt. % and about 99.99 wt. % of an energy-activated catalyst capable of being activated by electromagnetic energy, and

between about 0.01 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of a solid containing anions capable of being oxidized or reacted to generate at least one gas wherein the anions are selected from the group consisting of chlorite, bisulfite, sulfite, hydrosulfide, sulfide, hypochlorite, cyanide and nitrite,

the solid composition, when exposed to electromagnetic energy, being capable of generating and releasing the gas from the solid for at least one week after activation of the catalyst and oxidation or reaction of the anions.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the solid is a salt, an inert material, a polyelectrolyte, a solid electrolyte, or a solid solution.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal sulfide, a metal chalcogenite, a metal phosphide, a metal arsenide, a non-metallic semiconductor, a polymeric semiconductor, a photoactive homopolyanion, and a photoactive heteropolyion.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, tungsten trioxide, ruthenium dioxide, iridium dioxide, tin dioxide, strontium titanate, barium titanate, tantalum oxide, calcium titanate, iron (III) oxide, molybdenum trioxide, niobium pentoxide, indium trioxide, cadmium oxide, hafnium oxide, zirconium oxide, manganese dioxide, copper oxide, vanadium pentoxide, chromium trioxide, yttrium trioxide, silver oxide, and Ti x Zr 1-x O 2 wherein x is between 0 and 1; the metal sulfide is cadmium sulfide, zinc sulfide, indium sulfide, copper sulfide, tungsten disulfide, bismuth trisulfide, or zinc cadmium disulfide; the metal chalcogenite is zinc selenide, cadmium selenide, indium selenide, tungsten selenide, or cadmium telluride; the metal phosphide is indium phosphide; the metal arsenide is gallium arsenide; the non-metallic semiconductor is silicon, silicon carbide, diamond, germanium, germanium dioxide, or germanium telluride; the polymeric semiconductor is polyacetylene; the photoactive homopolyanion is W 10 O 32 −4 ; and the photoactive heteropolyion is XM 12 O 40 −n or X 2 M 18 O 62 −7 wherein x is Bi, Si, Ge, P or As, M is Mo or W, and n is an integer from 1 to 12.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the gas is selected from the group consisting of chlorine dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, dichlorine monoxide, hydrocyanic acid, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide and nitrous oxide.

6. A solid composition for electromagnetic energy-controlled generation and release of a gas comprising:

between about 50 wt. % and about 99.99 wt. % of an energy-activated catalyst capable of being activated by electromagnetic energy, and

between about 0.01 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of a solid containing anions capable of being oxidized or reacted to generate at least one gas selected from the group consisting of chlorine dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, dichlorine monoxide, hydrocyanic acid, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide and nitrous oxide,

the solid composition, when exposed to electromagnetic energy, being capable of generating and releasing the gas from the solid for at least one week after activation of the catalyst and oxidation or reaction of the anions.

7. The composition of claim 6 wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal sulfide, a metal chalcogenite, a metal phosphide, a metal arsenide, a non-metallic semiconductor, a polymeric semiconductor, a photoactive homopolyanion, and a photoactive heteropolyion.

8. The composition of claim 6 wherein the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, tungsten trioxide, ruthenium dioxide, iridium dioxide, tin dioxide, strontium titanate, barium titanate, tantalum oxide, calcium titanate, iron (III) oxide, molybdenum trioxide, niobium pentoxide, indium trioxide, cadmium oxide, hafnium oxide, zirconium oxide, manganese dioxide, copper oxide, vanadium pentoxide, chromium trioxide, yttrium trioxide, silver oxide, and Ti x Zr 1-x O 2 wherein x is between 0 and 1; the metal sulfide is cadmium sulfide, zinc sulfide, indium sulfide, copper sulfide, tungsten disulfide, bismuth trisulfide, or zinc cadmium disulfide; the metal chalcogenite is zinc selenide, cadmium selenide, indium selenide, tungsten selenide, or cadmium telluride; the metal phosphide is indium phosphide; the metal arsenide is gallium arsenide; the non-metallic semiconductor is silicon, silicon carbide, diamond, germanium, germanium dioxide, or germanium telluride; the polymeric semiconductor is polyacetylene; the photoactive homopolyanion is W 10 O 32 −4 ; and the photoactive heteropolyion is XM 12 O 40 −n or X 2 M 18 O 62 −7 wherein x is Bi, Si, Ge, P or As, M is Mo or W, and n is an integer from 1 to 12.

9. A solid composition for electromagnetic energy-controlled generation and release of at least one gas comprising:

between about 50 wt. % and about 99.99 wt. % of an energy-activated catalyst capable of being activated by electromagnetic energy, and

between about 0.01 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of a solid containing chlorite or nitrite anions;

the solid composition, when exposed to electromagnetic energy, being capable of generating and releasing chlorine dioxide or a nitrogen oxide from the solid for at least one week after activation of the catalyst and oxidation or reaction of the anions.

10. A solid composition for photo-controlled generation and release of at least one gas comprising:

between about 50 wt. % and about 99.99 wt. % of a photocatalyst capable of being activated by light, and

between about 0.01 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of a solid containing anions capable of photo-oxidizing or reacting to generate at least one gas wherein the anions are selected from the group consisting of chlorite, bisulfite, sulfite, hydrosulfide, sulfide, hypochlorite, cyanide and nitrite,

the solid composition, when exposed to light, being capable of generating and releasing the gas from the solid for at least one week after activation of the photocatalyst and photo-oxidation or reaction of the anions.

11. The composition of claim 10 wherein the solid is a salt, an inert material, a polyelectrolyte, a solid electrolyte, or a solid solution.

12. The composition of claim 10 wherein the photocatalyst is selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal sulfide, a metal chalcogenite, a metal phosphide, a metal arsenide, a non-metallic semiconductor, a polymeric semiconductor, a photoactive homopolyanion, and a photoactive heteropolyion.

13. The composition of claim 12 wherein the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, tungsten trioxide, ruthenium dioxide, iridium dioxide, tin dioxide, strontium titanate, barium titanate, tantalum oxide, calcium titanate, iron (III) oxide, molybdenum trioxide, niobium pentoxide, indium trioxide, cadmium oxide, hafnium oxide, zirconium oxide, manganese dioxide, copper oxide, vanadium pentoxide, chromium trioxide, yttrium trioxide, silver oxide, and Ti x Zr 1-x O 2 wherein x is between 0 and 1; the metal sulfide is cadmium sulfide, zinc sulfide, indium sulfide, copper sulfide, tungsten disulfide, bismuth trisulfide, or zinc cadmium disulfide; the metal chalcogenite is zinc selenide, cadmium selenide, indium selenide, tungsten selenide, or cadmium telluride; the metal phosphide is indium phosphide; the metal arsenide is gallium arsenide; the non-metallic semiconductor is silicon, silicon carbide, diamond, germanium, germanium dioxide, or germanium telluride; the polymeric semiconductor is polyacetylene; the photoactive homopolyanion is W 10 O 32 −4 ; and the photoactive heteropolyion is XM 12 O 40 −n or X 2 M 18 O 62 −7 wherein x is Bi, Si, Ge, P or As, M is Mo or W, and n is an integer from 1 to 12.

14. The composition of claim 10 wherein the gas is selected from the group consisting of chlorine dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, dichlorine monoxide, hydrocyanic acid, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide and nitrous oxide.

15. The composition of claim 10 wherein the light is ultraviolet light or visible light.

16. A solid composition for photo-controlled generation and release of at least one gas comprising:

between about 50 wt. % and about 99.99 wt. % of a photocatalyst capable of being activated by light, and

between about 0.01 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of a solid containing anions capable of photo-oxidizing or reacting to generate at least one gas selected from the group consisting of chlorine dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, dichlorine monoxide, hydrocyanic acid, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide and nitrous oxide, the solid composition, when exposed to light, being capable of generating and releasing the gas from the solid for at least one week after activation of the photocatalyst and photo-oxidation or reaction of the anions.

17. The composition of claim 16 wherein the photocatalyst is selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal sulfide, a metal chalcogenite, a metal phosphide, a metal arsenide, a non-metallic semiconductor, a polymeric semiconductor, a photoactive homopolyanion, and a photoactive heteropolyion.

18. The composition of claim 17 wherein the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, tungsten trioxide, ruthenium dioxide, iridium dioxide, tin dioxide, strontium titanate, barium titanate, tantalum oxide, calcium titanate, iron (III) oxide, molybdenum trioxide, niobium pentoxide, indium trioxide, cadmium oxide, hafnium oxide, zirconium oxide, manganese dioxide, copper oxide, vanadium pentoxide, chromium trioxide, yttrium trioxide, silver oxide, and Ti x Zr 1-x O 2 wherein x is between 0 and 1; the metal sulfide is cadmium sulfide, zinc sulfide, indium sulfide, copper sulfide, tungsten disulfide, bismuth trisulfide, or zinc cadmium disulfide; the metal chalcogenite is zinc selenide, cadmium selenide, indium selenide, tungsten selenide, or cadmium telluride; the metal phosphide is indium phosphide; the metal arsenide is gallium arsenide; the non-metallic semiconductor is silicon, silicon carbide, diamond, germanium, germanium dioxide, or germanium telluride; the polymeric semiconductor is polyacetylene; the photoactive homopolyanion is W 10 O 32 −4 ; and the photoactive heteropolyion is XM 12 O 40 −n or X 2 M 18 O 62 −7 wherein x is Bi, Si, Ge, P or As, M is Mo or W, and n is an integer from 1 to 12.

19. The composition of claim 16 wherein the light is ultraviolet light or visible light.

20. A solid composition for photo-controlled generation and release of at least one gas comprising:

between about 50 wt. % and about 99.99 wt. % of a photocatalyst capable of being activated by light, and

between about 0.01 wt. % and about 50 wt. % of a solid containing chlorite or nitrite anions,

the solid composition, when exposed to light, being capable of generating and releasing chlorine dioxide or a nitrogen oxide from the solid for at least one week after activation of the photocatalyst and photo-oxidation or reaction of the anions.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 10, 2011
From: BARRIERSAFE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; MICROFLEX CORPORATION; FOODHANDLER INC.; MICROACTIVE CORP.
To: CIT HEALTHCARE LLC
Reel/Frame 027212/0135 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED ON REEL 018120 FRAME 0473 Recorded Nov 1, 2011
From: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
To: MICROACTIVE CORP.
Reel/Frame 027158/0283 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2010
From: MICROACTIVE CORP.
To: BARRIERSAFE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 024312/0593 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 16, 2006
From: MICROACTIVE CORP.
To: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Reel/Frame 018120/0473 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2005
From: BERNARD TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: MICROACTIVE CORP.
Reel/Frame 016883/0403 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2000
From: WELLINGHOFF, STEPHEN T.; DIXON, HONG
To: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Reel/Frame 010577/0847 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2000
From: KAMPA, JOEL J.; BARENBERG, SUMNER A.; GRAY, PETER N.; LELAH, MICHAEL D.
To: BERNARD TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 010577/0861 →