Abstract: Low temperature synthesis, growth and doping methods and resulting materials are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method for material transformation includes providing a target material comprising carbon and/or hydrocarbon. The method also includes placing the target material within a fluid comprising a hydrogen source. Further, the method includes applying energy to the target material such that at least some of the target material is transformed to the same material with new beneficial bonding configuration.

Abstract: Cellulosic material is treated by atmospheric-pressure (AP) plasma to enhance processes for extracting sugars from cellulosic material and fermenting sugars into alcohols or other chemicals. In one example, the AP plasma treatment is utilized to improve the release, activation or production of glucose and conversion of glucose to ethanol. The AP plasma treatment may be performed in conjunction with other processes such as depolymerization or degradation, for example hydrolysis, as well as fermentation. The AP plasma treatment may be performed as a substitute for pretreatment processes such as steam explosion, and in some implementations is sufficiently effective to serve as a substitute for hydrolytic processes or at least as an enhancement to hydrolytic processes or other depolymerization or degradation processes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biocompatible coating comprising calcium phosphate that is functionally graded across the thickness of the coating. The coating, which preferably includes hydroxyapatite, is particularly useful for coating implants, such as dental or orthopedic implants. The functionally graded coating is generally crystalline near the interface with the surface of the implant, with crystallinity and crystal diameter decreasing toward the outer layer of the coating. The invention further provides methods for preparing a coated implant comprising a functionally graded calcium phosphate coating thereon.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the at least partial removal of one or more polymeric coating layers from a coated substrate having at least one coated surface. The method includes generating at least one reactive species in an ionized gas stream discharged at atmospheric pressure; and placing the coated surface in the ionized gas stream. The at least one reactive species reacts with the one or more polymeric coating layers such that one or more coating layers is at least partially removed from the coated surface of the substrate at atmospheric pressure.