Abstract: A method of purifying substances is described herein, particularly suitable for purifying silica and forming it into silicon oxide sheets or ribbons, or silicon sheets or ribbons. The method includes ion sweeping a sheet of a substance containing ionic impurities by providing an ionic driving force and a thermal driving force. Ions are swept to a collectable region of the sheet. A system is also provided for purifying substances including an ion sweeping sub-system for providing an ionic driving force to a sheet or ribbon, and a heating sub-system positioned and configured for heating the sheet or ribbon. Impurities swept to an edge, surface or both are then mechanically or chemically removed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition of matter based on lamellar materials, and method of deriving one or more predetermined number of layers of material from a bulk lamellar material. In one aspect of the present invention, a material comprising a predetermined number of one or more layers is provided. The one or more layers are layers of a lamellar material that are weakly bonded to each other. In further aspects of the present invention, methods are provided for forming a predetermined number of layers of a lamellar material.

Abstract: Probes and methods of making probes are provided, particularly probes or nano-tools having tip active areas of extremely small dimensions, e.g., on the order of one angstrom to a few nanometers. One method of making a nano-tool includes forming a composite including a tool layer less than 10 nm thick on a substrate layer, subtracting a region of the substrate layer at least partially through the thickness of the substrate layer, thereby exposing a well surface, and folding the composite so that portions of the tool layer surface diverge and portions of the well surface converge, wherein an outer crease of the folded tool layer is a nanotool active area.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a multichannel plate is provided. The method includes providing a N layers, each layer having an array of wells formed therein. The N layers are aligned and stacked. The stack of N layers are sliced along a first and second line of the array of wells. The first line of the array of wells provides a first surface corresponding to a first array of channel openings of the MCP, and the second line of said array of wells provides a second surface corresponding to a second array of channel openings of the MCP. This method provides several functional benefits compared to conventional methods. These include, but are not limited to: the ability to produce well known and well characterized channels; the ability to produce well known and well characterized periods between channels; the ability to produce channels having any desired secondary electron emission enabling material therein; the ability to fabricate the substrate and/or final MCP of silicon.

Abstract: A method for increasing the manufacturing yield for a vertically integrated device is disclosed. The devices are composed of one or more multiple layer die. The number of functioning layers of each multiple layer die is determined diagnostically. Each of said multiple layer die are sorted based on said number of functioning layers. Also disclosed are methods for combining sorted die, and methods for slicing sorted die, to form die with a desired number of known good layers.

Abstract: Practical applications of a class of nematic elastomer which has light avoidance characteristics are disclosed. Such practical applications include a switching device, a load carrying device and programmable mask. The use of different light sources, including the use of an autonomous device are further disclosed.

Abstract: A method for fabricating multi layer microelectromechanical and microfluidic devices is disclosed. Multi layer microelectromechanical and microfluidic devices are fabricated on a substrate with layers of predetermined weak and strong bond regions where deconstucted layers of devices at or on the weak bond regions. The layers are then peeled and subsequently bonded to produce a multi layer microelectromechanical and microfluidic devices. An arbitrary number of layers can be bonded and stacked to create either microelectromechanical or microfluidic device or a hyrbid type of device. Also disclosed are methods of creating edge interconnects and vias through the substrate to form interconnections between layers and devices thereon.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and apparatuses for analog molecules, particularly polymers, and molecular complexes with extended confirmations. In particular, the methods and apparatuses are used to identify sequence information in molecules or molecular ensembles which is subsequently used to determine structural information about the molecules. Further, provided herein are various methods of forming probes and films for making such probes of nanoscale dimension.

Abstract: A method of making a silicon sheet is disclosed. The method includes forming a thin glass sheet at semi-molten state. The glass sheet is exposed, at a semi-molten state, to a voltage across the thickness of the sheet. Impurities are cleaned at the surface, thereby leaving a silicon oxide sheet. The silicon oxide sheet is exposed to a reducing gas at a semi-molten temperature to reduce the oxide. A system for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Herein provided are polyelectrolyte membranes that block dendrite growth in rechargeable batteries, possess low inherent electrical resistance to be used as separators, possess high ionic conductivities, and block fuel crossover in direct fuel feeding fuel cells. Further provided are cost-effective processes for forming polyelectrolyte membranes. The herein described polyelectrolyte membranes are useful in electrochemical cells such as primary batteries, secondary batteries such as Ag—Zn, Ni—Zn, Ni-MH, Li polymer, and Li-ion; fuel cells including but not limited to metal air battery or fuel cells, proton exchange membrane hydrogen fuel cells, direct liquid feed fuel cell.

Abstract: A lithography device includes one or more conductive strips monolithically embedded within an insulative structure. A method of manufacturing a lithography device includes monolithically forming a conductive strip through an insulative structure. Monolithically forming such a device includes forming the conductive strip on an mixed conductive-insulative layer, and embedding the conductive-insulative layer layer within the insulative structure. Such a device may readily be manufactured, is reliable, and is capable of various lithography applications and other applications requiring sub-micron and nano-scale electrode devices and electrode arrays.

Abstract: An optical transistor is disclosed. The optical transistor consists of a high speed photodetector region incident to a light intensity modulating region which separates a drain and source region. The disclosed optical transistor is able to exhibit high speed performance with good signal isolation and high amplification gain.

Abstract: A method of producing an iridescent reflecting surface on an object is presented. Flakes of dry non metallic reflecting material such as cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material are applied to the surface so that the flakes are parallel with the surface and bound with a binder to the surface.

Abstract: An energy conversion system is provided including at least one energy conversion device. A reservoir container is provided for storing a quantity of fuel and a quantity of exhaust. The reservoir container includes a container body including at least two chambers of inversely variable volume disposed within said container body for respectively storing a quantity of fuel and receiving a quantity of exhaust, and a structure for decreasing the volume of the first chamber while concurrently increasing the volume of the second chamber. The auxiliary container is in fluid communication with the at least one energy conversion device, the first chamber and the second chamber. The auxiliary container is configured for receiving a quantity of fuel from the first chamber, providing said quantity of fuel to the at least one energy conversion device, receiving a quantity of fuel partially converted from said energy conversion device, and returning a portion of said partially converted fuel to said energy conversion device.

Abstract: The controllable electroporation system and method described herein allows control over the size, the number, the location, and the distribution of aqueous pores, thus increasing flexibility of use. The herein described system and method for controllable electroporation generally employs at least two actuating sub-systems and sub-processes. One sub-system and sub-process employs a relatively broad effect in order to weaken the membrane, a broad effect sub-system. Another sub-system and sub-process employs a relatively narrow effect in order to localize the position of the pore in the membrane, a narrow effect sub-system.

Abstract: Electronic memory devices fabricated using nanolithography techniques enables rapid and reliable storage of data on a substrate. One such device includes a memory access head, which includes a conductive member and an insulative member. The conductive member includes a proximal conductive tip, a distal conductive tip, and a body portion. The body portion is embedded in the insulative member. The device further includes a substrate adjacent to the distal conductive tip, an electrolyte disposed between the distal conductive tip and the substrate; and a microchip in communication with the proximal conductive tip.

Abstract: Transparent conductive inks are provided. The conductive ink generally comprises flakes of electrically conductive material mixed with an ink carrier material. This invention shows that by making electrically conductive materials into pre-annealed flat flakes or platelets and mixing them in a suitable fluid, the prior art problems are solved, making it possible for electrically conductive inks to be conveniently used for general purpose applications exploiting their remarkable conductive properties. This is an electrically conductive ink, which is applied at room temperature, and no further annealing or treatment by the user is needed, since the conductive platelets are already annealed.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell is produced from a multiple layer substrate. The multiple layer substrate generally includes a first layer suitable for having photovoltaic cells formed therein or thereon, wherein the selectively attached or bonded to a second layer. A method to form a photovoltaic cell or a plurality of photovoltaic cells generally comprises selectively adhering a first layer to a second substrate.

Abstract: A material for protection against injurious ambient light composed of a binder mixed with non metallic reflective flakes is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing an iridescent reflecting surface on an object is presented. Flakes of dry non metallic reflecting material such as cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material are applied to the surface so that the flakes are parallel with the surface and bound with a binder to the surface.