Abstract: An anode structure for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that have a high-capacity are provided. The anode structure, which is made utilizing an anodic etching process, is of unitary construction and includes a non-porous region and a porous region including a top porous layer (Porous Region 1) having a first thickness and a first porosity, and a bottom porous layer (Porous Region 2) located beneath the top porous layer and forming an interface with the non-porous region. At least an upper portion of the non-porous region and the entirety of the porous region are composed of silicon, and the bottom porous layer has a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness, and a second porosity that is greater than the first porosity.

Abstract: Polymeric eye inserts are provided that may be dissolvable when placed in the cul-de-sac of the eye. These inserts may contain one or more polymers as well as a softener/plasticizer so that, when inserted into the eye, they may absorb tears, and dissolve and slowly release lubricant into the tear film to lubricate and protect the ocular surface for an extended duration of time. Increased retention time on the ocular surface for longer lasting relief may reduce dosing frequency and patient burden typically associated with topical drop usage. These polymeric eye inserts also may include one or more pharmaceutically active agents.

Abstract: An interfacial additive layer for decreasing the interfacial resistance/impedance of a silicon based electrode-containing device such as, for example, an energy storage device or a micro-resistor, is disclosed. The interfacial additive, which is composed of evaporated lithium fluoride, is formed between a silicon based electrode and a solid polymer electrolyte layer of the device. The evaporated lithium fluoride serves as ion conductive layer. The presence of such an interfacial additive layer increases the ion and electron mobile dependent performances at the silicon based electrode interface due to significant decrease in the resistance/impedance that is observed at the respective interface as well as the impedance observed in the bulk of the device.

Abstract: A catholyte-like material including a cathode material and an interfacial additive layer for providing a lithium ion energy storage device having low impedance is disclosed. The interfacial additive layer, which is composed of vapor deposited iodine, is present between the cathode material and an electrolyte layer of the device. The presence of such an interfacial additive layer increases the ion and electron mobile dependent performances at the cathode material interface due to significant decrease in the resistance/impedance that is observed at the respective interface as well as the impedance observed in the bulk of the device. The catholyte-like material of the present application can be used to provide a lithium ion energy storage device having high charge/discharge rates and/or high capacity.

Abstract: A device such as, for example, an energy storage device or a micro-resistor, is disclosed which includes a silicon based electrode in which decreased interfacial resistance/impedance throughout the charge-mobile region of the device is provided. The decreased interfacial resistance/impedance is provided by forming an interfacial additive composite layer composed of a molten lithium containing salt layer and a layer of a Li-salt containing conductive polymeric adhesive material between the silicon based electrode and a solid polymer electrolyte layer. The presence of such an interfacial additive composite layer increases the ion and electron mobile dependent performances at the silicon based electrode interface due to significant decrease in the resistance/impedance that is observed at the respective interface as well as the impedance observed in the bulk of the device.

Abstract: Making a rechargeable Lithium energy storage device begins by forming one or more trenches in a solid silicon substrate. One or more region interface precursors are deposited in the trench followed by one or more anode materials, one or more solid polymer electrolytes (SPE), and one or more cathode materials. Electrically cycling transforms the battery structures prior to full operation of the battery. Some, or all, of the process steps can be performed while the materials are within the trench, i.e. in-situ.

Abstract: An interfacial additive layer for decreasing the interfacial resistance/impedance of a silicon based electrode-containing device such as, for example, an energy storage device or a micro-resistor, is disclosed. The interfacial additive layer, which is composed of a molten lithium containing salt, is formed between a silicon based electrode and a solid polymer electrolyte layer of the device. The presence of such an interfacial additive layer increases the ion and electron mobile dependent performances at the silicon based electrode interface due to significant decrease in the resistance/impedance that is observed at the respective interface as well as the impedance observed in the bulk of the device.

Abstract: Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that have a high-capacity are provided. The lithium-ion batteries contain an anode structure that is of unitary construction and includes a non-porous region and a porous region including a top porous layer (Porous Region 1) having a first thickness and a first porosity, and a bottom porous layer (Porous Region 2) located beneath the top porous layer and forming an interface with the non-porous region. At least an upper portion of the non-porous region and the entirety of the porous region are composed of silicon, and the bottom porous layer has a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness, and a second porosity that is greater than the first porosity.

Abstract: Copper ionic conductor films and method of making the same are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a crystalline ionic conductor film includes: depositing a mixture of sources for components of the crystalline ionic conductor film onto a substrate, the components including: i) Cu, ii) a component A selected from: Rb, Cs, K, Na and/or Li, and iii) a component B selected from: F, Cl, Br and/or I; and annealing the mixture under conditions sufficient to form the crystalline ionic conductor film on the substrate having a formula: CuxAyBz, wherein 0<x<20, 0<y<10, and 0<z<30. A device having a crystalline ionic conductor film as an electrolyte and method of forming the device are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of acoustic waves for the manipulation and sorting of particles and cells. In an embodiment, there is provided a microfluidic device for manipulating a particle in a fluid suspension, the device comprising: (a) a substrate; (b) a channel defined in the substrate, the channel having an inlet for receiving the fluid suspension and an outlet for discharging the fluid suspension; and (c) an acoustic source configured to deliver a travelling surface acoustic wave transverse the flow of the fluid suspension in the channel, wherein the acoustic source is an interdigital transducer (IDT), the IDT comprises a plurality of concentric circular arcs having a tapered end directed at the channel, and the tapered end has an aperture of between 4 ?m and 150 ?m. In an alternative embodiment, the device comprises a second channel disposed intermediate the first channel and the acoustic source wherein the first and second channels are connected by a pumping channel.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for detecting physical interaction with an electronic device. Gyroscopic data may be received from gyroscopic sensors incorporated within the electronic device. A set of frequency bands may be defined for each axis of the plurality of axes. A frequency in which each value of the gyroscopic data is included in the gyroscopic data may be determined. The values associated with each frequency of a frequency band may be aggregated to generate a magnitude for the frequency band. A probability may be determined using the modified magnitude associated with each frequency band. If the probability exceeds a threshold then an indication that the user is physically interacting with the electronic device may be transmitted to a remote device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure and method for forming the same is disclosed. The structure incudes a silicon substrate having at least one trench disposed therein. An electrical and ionic insulating layer is disposed over at least a top surface of the substrate. A plurality of energy storage device layers is formed within the one trench. The plurality of layers includes at least a cathode-based active electrode having a thickness of, for example, at least 100 nm and an internal resistance of, for example, less than 50 Ohms/cm2. The method includes forming at least one trench in a silicon substrate. An electrical and ionic insulating layer(s) is formed and disposed over at least a top surface of the silicon substrate. A plurality of energy storage device layers is formed within the trench. Each layer of the plurality of energy storage device layers is independently processed and integrated into the trench.

Abstract: A Lithium energy storage device comprising a cathode, electrolyte, anode, and substrate. The materials contained in the anode and electrolyte region are electrochemically altered during initial formation and exposed to current cycles to create a lower impedance composite anode. The resulting composite anode bottom is a bi-layer comprising: i. a lithium metal layer and ii. a silicon-based interphase layer. The bi-layer acts as a barrier to inhibit Lithium ions from entering or leaving a Lithium saturated substrate, once the interphase surface is formed and the substrate is saturated with Lithium ions. This prevents cell failure from large volume changes/stresses during charge/discharge cycles and enables a significant decrease in cell impedance to enable better rechargeable cell performance.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor includes forming at least one trench in a silicon substrate. The at least one trench provides an energy storage device containment feature. An electrical and ionic insulating layer(s) is formed on a top surface of the substrate and sidewalls of the trench. A plurality of vias is formed through a base of the trench. The plurality of vias is filled with a metal material. A trench base current collector at the base of the trench and backside current collector at the backside of the substrate are formed from the metal material. These current collectors enable electric and thermal conductive planarization and device isolation through the substrate. A plurality of energy storage device layers is formed over the trench base current collector, and a topside current collector is formed over the plurality of energy storage device layers. A protective encapsulation layer may then be formed.

Abstract: An electrochemical fluid sensor for a downhole production tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean is provided. The wellbore has a downhole fluid therein. The electrochemical fluid sensor includes a sensor housing positionable in the downhole tool, a sensing solution positionable in the housing (the sensing solution including a mediator reactive to target chemicals), a gas permeable membrane to fluidly isolate the downhole fluid from the sensing solution (the gas permeable membrane permitting the passage of gas to the sensing solution), and a plurality of electrodes positioned about the housing a distance from the gas permeable membrane to measure reaction by the sensing solution whereby downhole parameters may be determined.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for detecting physical interaction with an electronic device. Gyroscopic data may be received from gyroscopic sensors incorporated within the electronic device. A set of frequency bands may be defined for each axis of the plurality of axes. A frequency in which each value of the gyroscopic data is included in the gyroscopic data may be determined. The values associated with each frequency of a frequency band may be aggregated to generate a magnitude for the frequency band. A probability may be determined using the modified magnitude associated with each frequency band. If the probability exceeds a threshold then an indication that the user is physically interacting with the electronic device may be transmitted to a remote device.

Abstract: A method for measuring an influence of an ophthalmic lens design is disclosed. The method comprises splitting an optical light beam into a wavefront measurement light path and a wavefront modulation light path; implementing the ophthalmic lens design in an adaptive optics device positioned in the wavefront modulation light path; and obtaining ocular biometric data in the ocular biometric and wavefront measurement light path to measure the influence of the ophthalmic lens design. Also disclosed are an apparatus and a system for measuring an influence of an ophthalmic lens design along with a method for assembling the device and system. The ocular biometric device may be an interferometer and the adaptive optics device may comprise one or more wavefront shapers.

Abstract: The invention provides a pump for dispensing a plurality of fluids at predetermined volumes to a common location and a method of using the pump to deliver such plurality of fluids. The pump comprises one or more first syringe units, each first syringe unit comprising a first plunger and a first chamber within which the first plunger slides. A first inlet channel is fluidly connected to the first chamber of each first syringe unit and configured to receive the first fluid. The pump also comprises one or more second syringe units, each second syringe unit comprising a second plunger and a second chamber within which the second plunger slides. A second inlet channel is fluidly connected to the second chamber of each second syringe unit and configured to receive the second fluid.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming at least one trench in a non-porous silicon substrate, the at least one trench providing an energy storage device containment feature. The method also includes forming an electrical and ionic insulating layer disposed over a top surface of the non-porous silicon substrate. The method further includes forming, in at least a base of the at least one trench, a porous silicon layer of unitary construction with the non-porous silicon substrate. The porous silicon layer provides at least a portion of a first active electrode for an energy storage device disposed in the energy storage device containment feature.

Abstract: Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that have a high-capacity are provided. The lithium-ion batteries contain an anode structure that is of unitary construction and includes a non-porous region and a porous region including a top porous layer (Porous Region 1) having a first thickness and a first porosity, and a bottom porous layer (Porous Region 2) located beneath the top porous layer and forming an interface with the non-porous region. At least an upper portion of the non-porous region and the entirety of the porous region are composed of silicon, and the bottom porous layer has a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness, and a second porosity that is greater than the first porosity.