Abstract: A thermal preconcentrator unit and a method for concentrating chemical species. The thermal preconcentrator unit includes a thermoelectric device having a temperature controlled surface and a sorbent material configured to concentrate the chemical species. The sorbent material is disposed on and in thermal contact with the temperature controlled surface. The thermoelectric device is configured to cool and heat the temperature controlled surface to promote sorption and desorption of chemical species onto and from the sorbent material. The method provides a temperature controlled surface and exposes the chemical species to a sorbent material disposed on the temperature controlled surface to concentrate the chemical species thereon.

Abstract: A chemical sensor and a system and method for sensing a chemical species. The chemical sensor includes a plurality of nanofibers whose electrical impedance varies upon exposure to the chemical species, a substrate supporting and electrically isolating the fibers, and a set of electrodes connected to the plurality of fibers at spatially separated points to permit the electrical impedance of the plurality of fibers to be measured. The system includes the chemical sensor, an impedance measuring device coupled to the electrodes and configured to determine an electrical impedance of the plurality of fibers, and an analyzer configured to identify the chemical species based on a change in the electrical impedance. The method measures at least one change in an electrical impedance between spatially separated electrodes connected to a plurality of fibers upon exposure of the fibers to the chemical species, and identifies the chemical species based on the measured change in the electrical impedance.

Abstract: A filtration device including a filtration medium having a plurality of nanofibers of diameters less than 1 micron formed into a fiber mat in the presence of an abruptly varying electric field. The filtration device includes a support attached to the filtration medium and having openings for fluid flow therethrough. A device for making a filter material. The device includes an electrospinning element configured to electrospin a plurality of fibers from a tip of the electrospinning element, a collector opposed to the electrospinning element configured to collect electrospun fibers on a surface of the collector, and an electric field modulation device configured to abruptly vary an electric field at the collector at least once during electrospinning of the fibers. A method for making a filter material.

Abstract: Reduced VOC coatings are provided that include small amounts of modified hyperbranched polymers added and reduced solvents to reduce VOC levels by as much as 30% and more. The reduced VOC coatings have substantially improved flow and performance characteristics over comparable commercially available reduced VOC coatings.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing fibrous materials in which the apparatus includes an extrusion element configured to electrospin a substance from which the fibers are to be composed by an electric field extraction of the substance from a tip of the extrusion element, a collector disposed from the extrusion element and configured to collect the fibers, a chamber enclosing the collector and the extrusion element, and a control mechanism configured to control a gaseous environment in which the fibers are to be electrospun. The method includes providing a substance from which the fibers are to be composed to a tip of an extrusion element, applying an electric field to the extrusion element in a direction of the tip, controlling a gaseous environment about where the fibers are to be electrospun, and electrospinning the substance from the tip of the extrusion element by an electric field extraction of the substance from the tip into the controlled gaseous environment.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for electrospinning fibers in which the apparatus includes a spray head having a longitudinal axis and including at least one electrospinning element disposed in a peripheral wall of the spray head surrounding the longitudinal axis. The electrospinning element includes a passage by which a substance from which the fibers are to be electrospun is provided to a tip of the extrusion electrospinning element. The electrospinning element extends from the peripheral wall in a direction from the longitudinal axis and is configured to electrospin the fibers by electric field extraction of the substance from the tip of the extrusion electrospinning element.