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Photo-expanding Spiropyran Hydrogels
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2021-037
Short Description
Sulfonate-based, water-soluble spiropyran photoswitches can be covalently incorporated into hydrogel networks to trigger light-driven volumetric expansion, with reversible contraction under dark conditions. The technology enables photoresponsive hydrogels and soft materials with tunable actuation behavior using light,...
Published: 5/18/2026
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Updated: 5/18/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Hydrogel, Materials, Smart/Functional materials
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes
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Northwestern Startup: NuMat Technologies, Inc
Founded: 2011
Northwestern Inventor:
Omar Farha
Weinberg School of Arts & Sciences
Department of Chemistry
View Faculty Profile
Randall Q. Snurr
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Joseph T. Hupp
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Chemistry
View Faculty Profile
Numat...
Published: 5/5/2026
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Updated: 5/5/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Catalyst, Energy and Infrastructure, Environment, Materials, MOFs, Polymer, Startup with Northwestern IP
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Energy & Sustainability, Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes
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Northwestern Startup: Volexion, Inc.
Founded: 2018
Northwestern Inventor:
Mark Hersam
McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Sciences
Materials Science
Faculty Profile
Volexion is developing advanced cathode materials for lithium ion batteries that overcome key limitations to conventional technology, primarily enhanced battery performance at low temperatures and rapid charging...
Published: 5/5/2026
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Updated: 5/5/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Batteries, Energy and Infrastructure, Energy storage, Graphene, Lithium-ion, Materials, Startup with Northwestern IP
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Energy & Sustainability, Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes
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Northwestern Startup: Lilac Solutions
Founded: 2016Northwestern Inventor: Christopher WolvertonMcCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Lilac Solutions is developing new ion exchange materials to transform lithium extraction from brine resources.Lilac Solutions Website
Published: 5/5/2026
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Updated: 5/5/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Batteries, Energy and Infrastructure, Manufacturing/Processing, Materials, Startup with Northwestern IP, Sustainability, Sustainable Materials
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Energy & Sustainability
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Advanced Pulsed-Laser Synthesis for Metal Carbides
NU 2025-190
SHORT DESCRIPTION
A pulsed-laser synthesis method for making advanced metastable materials, including metal carbides and nitrides.
INVENTORS
Bryan Hunter*
Alexis Magana
Christopher Nowak
* Principal Investigator
NU 2025-190
IP STATUS
Provisional Application Filed (joint with Harvard University)
DEVELOPMENT...
Published: 4/22/2026
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Updated: 4/10/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Materials, Metals, Nanoparticle
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes
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Mixing associating polymers for obtaining self-stabilized thermothickening colloids
Self-stabilized thermoresponsive polymer suspensions for reversibly increading fluid viscosity at elevated temperatures
NU2019-015
INVENTORS
- Kenneth Shull*
- Yaoyao Chen
SHORT DESCRIPTION
For oil and gas, personal care, and adhesive applications, this low-cost thermoresponsive polymer technology delivers massive, reversible viscosity increases...
Published: 4/7/2026
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Updated: 4/7/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Materials
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes
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Programmable Protein Crystals for Advanced Catalytic and Structural Applications Through DNA-Directed Assembly
style="">SHORT DESCRIPTION
For protein engineering and biomaterial synthesis, this technology programs crystal structures by precisely positioning DNA ligands, offering enhanced control over crystal architecture.
INVENTORS
Chad Mirkin*, PhD
George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry, Northwestern University Weinberg...
Published: 3/19/2026
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Updated: 3/19/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Materials
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes
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Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of 2-Aryl Chromenes
NU 2014-029
INVENTORS
Karl Scheidt*
Bi-Shun Zeng
SHORT DESCRIPTION
This invention outlines an innovative asymmetric catalytic method for synthesizing 2-aryl-chromenes with high yield and enantioselectivity. Utilizing palladium catalysis with chiral phosphoramidite ligands, the process provides a robust and scalable route to generate chromene...
Published: 2/24/2026
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Updated: 2/19/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Catalyst, Chemicals, Manufacturing/Processing, Materials
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes
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Increasing the rigid Amorphous Fraction In Semi-Crystalline Homopolymers by Solid-State Shear Pulverization Leads to Major Reductions In Oxygen Permeability
Increasing Rigid Amorphous Fraction in Semi-Crystalline Polymers for Superior Oxygen Barrier Performance
NU 2012-033
INVENTORS
John Torkelson (School/Department)*
Philip Brunner
SHORT DESCRIPTION
For polymer manufacturers, this process uses solid-state shear pulverization to boost the rigid amorphous fraction, reducing oxygen permeability in...
Published: 12/9/2025
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Updated: 11/21/2025
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Materials
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes
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Novel 2-Imidazolyl-Pyrimidine Inhibitors for Neurodegenerative Disease Therapeutics
NU 2014-101
INVENTORS
Richard Silverman*
Paramita Mukherjee
SHORT DESCRIPTION
This invention introduces novel 2-imidazolyl-pyrimidine scaffolds that inhibit neuronal nitric oxide synthase. It offers potential for drug development targeting Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
BACKGROUND
Neurodegenerative disorders such as...
Published: 12/3/2025
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Updated: 11/18/2025
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Biomedical, Materials, Neurodegenerative disease, Neurologic disease, Neurology, Small molecule, Therapeutics
Category(s): Physical Sciences > Materials and Industrial Processes
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