Abstract: A container for storing one or more items is disclosed. The container may include a surface defining a volume of the container and a label printed on the container. In various implementations, the label includes a substrate, a plurality of carbon-based sensors printed on the substrate, and one or more electrodes printed on the substrate. The sensors may be collectively configured to detect a presence of one or more analytes within the container. Each sensor may be configured to react with a unique group of analytes in response to an electromagnetic signal received from an external device. The electrodes may be configured to provide one or more output signals indicating the presence or absence of the one or more analytes within the container.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a tire formed of a body having multiple plies and a tread that surrounds the body. In some implementations, the plies and/or the tread include a resonator that generates a resonant signal in response to being activated by locally generated power or by an externally generated excitation signal. Multiple resonators formed of carbon-containing materials are distributed in the plies and/or tread to respond to changes to the tire by altering a characteristic of the resonant signal. Such alterations include frequency shifting of the resonant signal and/or attenuation of the resonant signal. The resonator can be configured to resonate at a first frequency when a structural characteristic of a respective ply or tread is greater than a level, and to resonate at a second frequency different than the first frequency when the structural characteristic of the respective ply or tread is not greater than the level.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a tire formed of a body having multiple plies and a tread that surrounds the body. In some implementations, the plies and/or the tread include a resonator that generates a resonant signal in response to being activated by locally generated power or by an externally generated excitation signal. Multiple resonators formed of carbon-containing materials are distributed in the plies and/or tread to respond to changes to the tire by altering a characteristic of the resonant signal. Such alterations include frequency shifting of the resonant signal and/or attenuation of the resonant signal. The resonator can be configured to resonate at a first frequency when a structural characteristic of a respective ply or tread is greater than a level, and to resonate at a second frequency different than the first frequency when the structural characteristic of the respective ply or tread is not greater than the level.

Abstract: Multi-component particles comprising inorganic nanoparticles distributed in an organic matrix and processes for making and using same. A flowing aerosol is generated that includes droplets of a precursor medium dispersed in a gas phase. The precursor medium contains a liquid vehicle and at least one precursor. At least a portion of the liquid vehicle is removed from the droplets of precursor medium under conditions effective to convert the precursor to the nanoparticles or the matrix and form the multi-component particles.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method of making multi-phase particles that include nanoparticulates and matrix, which maintains the nanoparticulates in a dispersed state. A flowing gas dispersion is generated that includes droplets of a precursor medium dispersed in a gas phase. The precursor medium contains liquid vehicle and at least a first precursor to a first material and a second precursor to a second material. The multi-phase particles are formed from the gas dispersion by removing at least a portion of the liquid vehicle from the droplets of precursor medium. The nanoparticulates in the multi-phase particles include the first material and the matrix in the multi-phase particles includes the second material.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method of making multi-phase particles that include nanoparticulates and matrix, which maintains the nanoparticulates in a dispersed state. A flowing gas dispersion is generated that includes droplets of a precursor medium dispersed in a gas phase. The precursor medium contains liquid vehicle and at least a first precursor to a first material and a second precursor to a second material. The multi-phase particles are formed from the gas dispersion by removing at least a portion of the liquid vehicle from the droplets of precursor medium. The nanoparticulates in the multi-phase particles include the first material and the matrix in the multi-phase particles includes the second material.

Abstract: A nanocomposite anode structure and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. The nanocomposite comprises a set of substantially dispersed nanoparticles configured to absorb and release lithium ions, wherein each nanoparticle of the set of nanoparticles comprises a core and a shell physically coupled to the core, the core further comprising a set of bonded silicon atoms, the shell further comprising a set of bonded carbon atoms, wherein a core diameter is less than 20 nm, and wherein the shell has a thickness of about 0.1 to about 2 nm. And a set of electrically coupled carbon particles substantially dispersed in the nanocomposite, wherein the set of carbon particles is further electrically coupled with the set of nanoparticles.

Abstract: A silicon nanoparticle fluid including a) a set of silicon nanoparticles present in an amount of between about 1 wt % and about 20 wt % of the silicon nanoparticie fluid; b) a set of HMW binder molecules present in an amount of between about 0 wt % and about 10 wt % of the silicon nanoparticle fluid; and c) a set of capping agent molecules, such that at least some capping agent molecules are attached to the set of silicon nanoparticles. Preferably, the silicon nanoparticle fluid is a shear thinning fluid.

Abstract: Multi-component particles comprising inorganic nanoparticles distributed in an organic matrix and processes for making and using same. A flowing aerosol is generated that includes droplets of a precursor medium dispersed in a gas phase. The precursor medium contains a liquid vehicle and at least one precursor. At least a portion of the liquid vehicle is removed from the droplets of precursor medium under conditions effective to convert the precursor to the nanoparticles or the matrix and form the multi-component particles.

Abstract: A particle collection apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a baghouse housing comprising an entrance port, a collection port, a baghouse configured between the entrance port and the collection port, and a vacuum port coupled to the baghouse. The apparatus also includes a collection mechanism coupled to the collection port; and, a compression mechanism coupled to the baghouse.

Abstract: A composition for the fabrication of reflective features using a direct-write tool is disclosed. The composition comprises metal nanoparticles having an average particle size less than 300 nm and which carry thereon a polymer for substantially preventing agglomeration of the nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles exhibit a metal-polymer weight ratio of 100:1 to 10:1. The composition further includes a vehicle for forming a dispersion with the metal nanoparticles. A number of electronic devices comprising a reflective layer formed from the composition are also disclosed. One example case provides an electronic device having a reflective electrode. The reflective electrode comprises a percolation network of the metal nanoparticles embedded in a matrix of the polymer and having an average particle size of less than 300 nm, wherein the reflective electrode is reflective in the visible light range and does not diffract incident light.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method of making multi-phase particles that include nanoparticulates and matrix, which maintains the nanoparticulates in a dispersed state. A flowing gas dispersion is generated that includes droplets of a precursor medium dispersed in a gas phase. The precursor medium contains liquid vehicle and at least a first precursor to a first material and a second precursor to a second material. The multi-phase particles are formed from the gas dispersion by removing at least a portion of the liquid vehicle from the droplets of precursor medium. The nanoparticulates in the multi-phase particles include the first material and the matrix in the multi-phase particles includes the second material.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus for producing a set of Group IV semiconductor nanoparticles from a precursor gas is disclosed. The apparatus includes an outer dielectric tube, the outer tube including an outer tube inner surface and an outer tube outer surface, wherein the outer tube inner surface has an outer tube inner surface etching rate. The apparatus also includes an inner dielectric tube, the inner dielectric tube including an inner tube outer surface, wherein the outer tube inner surface and the inner tube outer surface define an annular channel, and further wherein the inner tube outer surface has an inner tube outer surface etching rate. The apparatus further includes a first outer electrode, the first outer electrode having a first outer electrode inner surface disposed on the outer tube outer surface.

Abstract: A metal nanoparticle composition for the fabrication of conductive features. The metal nanoparticle composition advantageously has a low viscosity permitting deposition of the composition by direct-write tools. The metal nanoparticle composition advantageously also has a low conversion temperature, permitting its deposition and conversion to an electrical feature on polymeric substrates.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a printed circuit board comprising a substrate and an electrical circuit is provided. The circuit is formed by deposition of a plurality of electronic inks onto the substrate and curing of each of the electronic inks. The deposition may be performed using an ink-jet printing process. The inkjet printing process may include the step of printing a plurality of layers, wherein a first layer includes at least one electronic ink deposited directly onto the substrate, and wherein each subsequent layer includes at least one electronic ink deposited on top of at least a portion of a previous layer when the previous layer has been cured. One or more of the layers may include at least two of the electronic inks.

Abstract: A method of printing an ink on a wafer surface configured with a set of non-rounded peaks and a set of non-rounded valleys is disclosed. The method includes exposing the wafer including at least some non-rounded peaks and at least some of the non-rounded valleys in a region to an etchant. The method further includes depositing the ink on the region, wherein a set of rounded peaks and a set of rounded valleys are formed.

Abstract: A system and process for compensating for non-uniform surfaces of a substrate when direct printing traces is provided. The system and process provided herein measures the surface of a substrate and can determine whether the surface is substantially flat, rises or falls, or whether a mesa or valley is encountered. Depending on the surface feature (i.e., mesa, valley, falling or rising surface), the direct printing system can change the frequency of the printing timing signal, advance or retard the print timing signal, advance or retard the print data, or make repeated passes over certain areas. In addition, the process disclosed herein can determine whether two, three or all of the aforementioned steps for compensating for non-uniform substrates should be combined to most effectively and efficiently print on the non-uniform surface of the substrate as intended.

Abstract: A device for generating electricity from solar radiation is disclosed. The device includes a wafer doped with a first dopant, the wafer including a front-side and a back-side, wherein the front-side is configured to be exposed to the solar radiation. The device also includes a fused Group IV nanoparticle thin film deposited on the front-side, wherein the nanoparticle thin film includes a second dopant, wherein the second dopant is a counter dopant. The device further includes a first electrode deposited on the nanoparticle thin film, and a second electrode deposited on the back-side, wherein when solar radiation is applied to the front-side, an electrical current is produced.

Abstract: A metal nanoparticle composition for the fabrication of conductive features. The metal nanoparticle composition advantageously has a low viscosity permitting deposition of the composition by direct-write tools. The metal nanoparticle composition advantageously also has a low conversion temperature, permitting its deposition and conversion to an electrical feature on polymeric substrates.

Abstract: A Group IV based nanoparticle fluid is disclosed. The nanoparticle fluid includes a set of nanoparticles—comprising a set of Group IV atoms, wherein the set of nanoparticles is present in an amount of between about 1 wt % and about 20 wt % of the nanoparticle fluid. The nanoparticle fluid also includes a set of HMW molecules, wherein the set of HMW molecules is present in an amount of between about 0 wt % and about 5 wt % of the nanoparticle fluid. The nanoparticle fluid further includes a set of capping agent molecules, wherein at least some capping agent molecules of the set of capping agent molecules are attached to the set of nanoparticles.