Abstract: A ceramic wall-flow filter for filtering particulate matter from gases and methods for manufacturing such wall-flow filters are disclosed. The filter includes an array of porous ceramic walls defining a pattern of end-plugged inlet and outlet cells, and heat absorbing elements disposed within at least some of the outlet cells such that a bulk heat capacity of the outlet cells is greater than a bulk capacity of the inlet cells. The heat absorbing elements increase a bulk heat capacity of the filter without substantially interfering with a flow of gas through the porous ceramic walls by allowing thinner walls. According to the method, during the step of extruding or thereafter, heat absorbing elements are formed within at least some of the outlet cells such that a heat capacity of the outlet cells is greater than the inlet cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to arrays comprising porous substrates for attachment of nucleic acids, polypeptides, membranes, or other biological or organic materials. In many embodiments, the arrays of the present invention have a flow-through configuration such that washing buffers or samples can access to the porous substrates from at least two sides of the arrays. The present invention also features arrays comprising UV-compatible porous substrates, arrays comprising three-dimensional membranes in sol-gels, and arrays comprising silica-based porous substrates prepared using a low-temperature fusion process.

Abstract: A magnetic photonic crystal for providing asymmetry of spatial frequencies in the propagation of light is provided. The crystal is formed from at least two materials having different indices of refraction which are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the crystal. And arranged in an array whose symmetry does not include a spatial inversion operator such that (x,y)==/=(?x,?y). One or more of the materials forming the array is magnetic such that the magnetic group representation of the array does not include time inversion as a symmetric operator. In operation, when the magnetic material forming the material is magnetized, the group velocity property of light propagated in one direction along the axis of the array is different from the group velocity property of light transmitted in an opposite direction through the array. The magnetic photonic crystal may be used, for example, as an optical memory device or a high speed modulator/demodulator.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb substrate for use in an automotive catalytic converter system which exhibits improved light-off performance by virtue of a high porosity of 45 to 75% while still maintaining a wall thickness of greater than 2.0 mil (0.0020 inch, 0.0508 mm), preferably 2.5 mil (0.0025 in., 0.0635 mm) to 7 mil (0.0070 in., 0.1778 mm), and more preferably 2.5 mil (0.0025 in., 0.0635 mm) to 3 mil (0.0030 in., 0.0762 mm). The median pore size is in the range of 2-10 micrometers, and a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) (25-800° C.) of less than 15×10?7/° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a curved honeycomb article having a first face, a second face, and a plurality of channels formed from the first face to the second face, each channel having a channel axis, the curved honeycomb article having a width of at least about 15 cm in at least one direction in the plane normal to a channel axis at its geometrical center, each channel having a virtual channel extension associated therewith, the virtual channel extensions defining a convergence area substantially smaller than the occluded area of the curved honeycomb article. Methods for making the curved honeycomb article and apparati using the curved honeycomb article are also disclosed.