IP Library Granted Patent US 12,525,638
Granted Patent B2
US 12,525,638 · App. 17/877,623 · Granted Jan 13, 2026

Method to embed ceramic nanoparticles into transparent polymer membranes

Inventor: Zachary David Hood (Bolingbrook, IL)
Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
H01M10/056H01M2300/0091
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,525,638
App. No.
17/877,623
Granted
Jan 13, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A polymer-ceramic composite membrane and methods of making the same. The composite membrane includes a polymer scaffold and a ceramic nanoparticle disposed within the polymer scaffold.

Claims (12)

1 . A method of making a polymer-ceramic composite membrane comprising:

forming an urethane polymer scaffold having a plurality of through-pores;

forming a ceramic nanoparticle/polymer composite by:

reacting ethylene oxide-functionalized monomers to a surface of a ceramic nanoparticle; and

reacting isocyanate-functionalized monomers with hydroxyl-terminated ethylene oxide subunits; and

integrating the ceramic nanoparticle/polymer composite into the polymer scaffold.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising electrically adsorbing lithium ions to a surface of ethylene oxide subunits prior to reacting the monomer with the hydroxl-terminated subunit.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the polymer scaffold comprises 3-D printing.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each through-pore of the plurality of through-pores has a diameter of 10-5000 nm.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a ceramic nanoparticle of the ceramic nanoparticle/polymer composite has a diameter of 3-100 nm.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a ceramic nanoparticle of the ceramic nanoparticle/polymer composite comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ), vanadium oxide (VO x ), and titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ).

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic nanoparticle/polymer composite comprises 0.5-30 wt % of ceramic nanoparticles.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2024
From: HOOD, ZACHARY
To: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
Reel/Frame 066037/0984 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded May 30, 2023
From: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 063796/0507 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240039035A1 · Feb 1, 2024
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