IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,565,584
Granted Patent B2
US 12,565,584 · App. 17/498,268 · Granted Mar 3, 2026

Sequestering compositions and materials

Inventors: Kai Zhu (Littleton, CO); Tao Xu (Naperville, IL)
Assignees: Alliance for Energy Innovation, LLC; Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University
C08L71/02C07F9/3873C07F9/4006H10F19/00H10K85/50H02S40/38H10K30/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,565,584
App. No.
17/498,268
Granted
Mar 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a composition that includes a sequestering material capable of binding a target material, where the sequestering material includes a first component that includes at least one of a functional group, a molecule, an oligomer, or a polymer, and the target material includes at least one of an element, a chemical, and/or a compound. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the element may include at least one element from at least one of Rows 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Periodic Table and/or an inner transition metal.

Claims (31)

1 . A method comprising:

mixing a first component and a matrix material to form a sequestering material; and

applying a layer of the sequestering material to an electronic device comprising a perovskite layer comprising at least one of lead, tin, or bismuth, or a combination thereof, wherein:

the first component comprises at least one of a phosphonic group, a phosphate group, a phosphono group, a phosphor group, a phosphoryl group, a hydroxyl group, or a carboxylic acid group, or a combination thereof,

the matrix material comprises at least one of a polymer, an oligomer, an oxide, a glass, a silicone gel, or a combination thereof, and

the sequestering material is capable of binding at least one of lead, tin, or bismuth, or a combination thereof.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first component and the matrix material are present at a first ratio between about 0.001 grams of the first component per gram of the matrix material and about 100 grams of the first component per gram of the matrix material.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sequestering material is substantially transparent to light having a wavelength between about 300 nm and about 1200 nm.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sequestering material has a solubility product constant value, K sp , for the element between about 10 −60 and about 1.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sequestering material has a capacity to absorb water at a second ratio between about 0.01 grams of water per gram of the sequestering material and about 100 grams of water per gram of the sequestering material.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the element is present as Pb 2+ .

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a photovoltaic device, a light-emitting diode, a solar window, a sensor, a display, a detector, and a memristor.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sequestering material binds the element when the electronic device is damaged so that the element is contained within the electronic device.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sequestering material binds the element when the electronic device is submerged in water so that the element is contained within the electronic device.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sequestering material binds the element when the electronic device is damaged and submerged in water so that the element is contained within the electronic device.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein

the electronic device comprises:

a first conducting layer;

the perovskite layer; and

a second conducting layer, wherein:

the perovskite layer is positioned between the first conducting layer and the second conducting layer, and

applying the layer of sequestering material adjacent to at least one of the first conducting layer, the second conducting layer, or a combination thereof.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein applying comprises a first applying of the layer of the sequestering material to a first surface of the electronic device, resulting in the forming of a first sequestering layer on the first surface.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein applying further comprises a second applying of at least one of the matrix material, the first component, or a combination thereof to a second surface of the electronic device, resulting in the forming of a second sequestering layer on the second surface.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the first sequestering layer comprises P,P′-di(2-ethylhexyl) methanediphosphonic acid and the second sequestering layer comprises N,N,N′,N′-ethylenediaminetetrakis (methylenephosphonic acid) and poly(ethylene oxide).

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first component comprises at least one of P,P′-di(2-ethylhexyl) methanediphosphonic acid, N,N,N′,N′-ethylenediaminetetrakis (methylenephosphonic acid), or a combination thereof.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises at least one of poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethylene oxide), a polyacrylate, a derivative of a polyacrylate, or polyvinylpyrrolidone, or a combination thereof.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein applying comprises a doctor blade coating method.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein mixing comprises:

a first mixing of the matrix material with a solvent to form a first mixture in a liquid phase; and

a second mixing of the first component with the first mixture to form a second mixture in a liquid phase.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 16, 2025
From: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
To: ALLIANCE FOR ENERGY INNOVATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 073993/0276 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Mar 25, 2022
From: NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 059401/0682 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2021
From: XU, TAO
To: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 057938/0141 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2021
From: ZHU, KAI
To: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 057753/0187 →
Continuity (3)
Division 16736958 · Jan 8, 2020
Provisional Application 62853951 · May 29, 2019
Related Publication 20220024954A1 · Jan 27, 2022
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