Abstract: A molecular sensor includes a substrate defining a substrate plane, and a plurality of pairs of electrode sheets above or below the substrate at an angle to the substrate plane. The molecular sensor further includes a plurality of inner dielectric sheets between each electrode sheet in each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs, and an outer dielectric sheet between each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs.

Abstract: A molecular sensor includes a substrate defining a substrate plane, and a plurality of pairs of electrode sheets above or below the substrate at an angle to the substrate plane. The molecular sensor further includes a plurality of inner dielectric sheets between each electrode sheet in each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs, and an outer dielectric sheet between each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs.

Abstract: The present invention provides articles of manufacture comprising biocompatible nanostructures comprising significantly increased surface area for, e.g., organ, tissue and/or cell growth, e.g., for bone, tooth, kidney or liver growth, and uses thereof, e.g., for in vitro testing of drugs, chemicals or toxins, or as in vivo implants, including their use in making and using artificial tissues and organs, and related, diagnostic, screening, research and development and therapeutic uses, e.g., as drug delivery devices. The present invention provides biocompatible nanostructures with significantly increased surface area, such as with nanotube and nanopore array on the surface of metallic, ceramic, or polymer materials for enhanced cell and bone growth, for in vitro and in vivo testing, cleansing reaction, implants and therapeutics. The present invention provides optically transparent or translucent cell-culturing substrates.

Abstract: The invention provides articles of manufacture comprising biocompatible nanostructures comprising nanotubes and nanopores for, e.g., organ, tissue and/or cell growth, e.g., for bone, kidney or liver growth, and uses thereof, e.g., for in vitro testing, in vivo implants, including their use in making and using artificial organs, and related therapeutics. The invention provides lock-in nanostructures comprising a plurality of nanopores or nanotubes, wherein the nanopore or nanotube entrance has a smaller diameter or size than the rest (the interior) of the nanopore or nanotube. The invention also provides dual structured biomaterial comprising micro- or macro-pores and nanopores. The invention provides biomaterials having a surface comprising a plurality of enlarged diameter nanopores and/or nanotubes.

Abstract: A molecular sensor includes a substrate defining a substrate plane, and a plurality of pairs of electrode sheets above or below the substrate at an angle to the substrate plane. The molecular sensor further includes a plurality of inner dielectric sheets between each electrode sheet in each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs, and an outer dielectric sheet between each pair of electrode sheets of the plurality of pairs.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for fabricating clean, oxidation-free nanoparticles of electrically conducting metals and alloys using spark erosion techniques. In one aspect, a method includes dispersing bulk pieces of an electrically conducting material in a dielectric fluid with mechanical vibrations within a container; generating an electric field using electrodes in the dielectric fluid using by an electric pulse, in which the electric field creates a plasma in a volume existing between the bulk pieces that locally heats the bulk pieces to form structures within the volume, the dielectric fluid quenching the structures to form nanoparticles, and filtering the nanoparticles through a screen including holes of a size allowing nanoparticles of the size or smaller to pass through the screen to a region in the container, in which the dielectric fluid inhibits oxidation of the surface of the nanoparticles.

Abstract: In alternative embodiments, the invention provides articles of manufacture comprising biocompatible nanostructures comprising PolyEther EtherKetone (PEEK) surface-modified (surface-nanopatterned) to exhibit nanostructured surfaces that promote osseointegration and bone-bonding for, e.g., joint (e.g., knee, hip and shoulder) replacements, bone or tooth reconstruction and/or implants, including their use in making and using artificial tissues and organs, and related, diagnostic, screening, research and development and therapeutic uses, e.g., as primary or ancillary drug delivery devices. In alternative embodiments, the invention provides biocompatible nanostructures that promote osseointegration and bone-bonding for enhanced cell and bone growth and e.g., for in vitro and in vivo testing, restorative and reconstruction procedures, implants and therapeutics.

Abstract: Disclosed are nanostructured materials that reflect light in selected spectra incorporated in dark colored textiles or substrates. In one aspect, a light reflecting material includes a textile exhibiting a dark color and formed of a plurality of fibers, and nanostructures arranged on the fibers and formed of a plurality of nanoparticles, the nanostructures having a dimension size of substantially less than ½of a visible light wavelength, in which the nanostructures reflect light from the textile or substrate in at least one of infrared, near-infrared, or red visible light spectra.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cooling device which utilizes both thermoelectric and magnetocaloric mechanisms for enhanced cooling applications. The incorporation of a magnetocaloric mechanism into a thermoelectric device provides additional cooling on the cold side of the device, and may improve the device efficiency, which is useful for many industrial applications, including cooling of microelectronic devices. Embodiments of the invention provide a cooling device comprising a hot side, a cold side, at least one thermoelectric element, at least one magnetocaloric material, at least one permanent magnet, and at least one mechanical movement system. In some embodiments, the magnetocaloric component of the cooling device is optimized to provide enhanced cooling on the cold side of the cooling device.

Abstract: The invention provides products of manufacture, e.g., biomaterials and implants, for cartilage maintenance and/or formation in-vivo, in-vitro, and ex-vivo, using nanotechnology, e.g., using nanotube, nanowire, nanopillar and/or nanodepots configured on surface structures of the products of manufacture.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for fabricating and implementing optically absorbing coatings. In one aspect, an optically selective coating includes a substrate formed of a solar energy absorbing material, and a nanostructure material formed over the substrate as a coating capable of absorbing solar energy in a selected spectrum and reflecting the solar energy in another selected spectrum. A concentrating solar power (CSP) system includes heat transfer fluids (HTFs); thermal energy storage system (TES); and solar receivers in communication with HTFs and including a light absorbing coating layer based on cobalt oxide nanoparticles.

Abstract: In alternative embodiments, the invention provides articles of manufacture comprising biocompatible nanostructures comprising PolyEther EtherKetone (PEEK) surface-modified (surface-nanopatterned) to exhibit nanostructured surfaces that promote osseointegration and bone-bonding for, e.g., joint (e.g., knee, hip and shoulder) replacements, bone or tooth reconstruction and/or implants, including their use in making and using artificial tissues and organs, and related, diagnostic, screening, research and development and therapeutic uses, e.g., as primary or ancillary drug delivery devices. In alternative embodiments, the invention provides biocompatible nanostructures that promote osseointegration and bone-bonding for enhanced cell and bone growth and e.g., for in vitro and in vivo testing, restorative and reconstruction procedures, implants and therapeutics.

Abstract: The invention provides articles of manufacture comprising biocompatible nanostructures comprising nanotubes and nanopores for, e.g., organ, tissue and/or cell growth, e.g., for bone, kidney or liver growth, and uses thereof, e.g., for in vitro testing, in vivo implants, including their use in making and using artificial organs, and related therapeutics. The invention provides lock-in nanostructures comprising a plurality of nanopores or nanotubes, wherein the nanopore or nanotube entrance has a smaller diameter or size than the rest (the interior) of the nanopore or nanotube. The invention also provides dual structured biomaterial comprising micro- or macro-pores and nanopores. The invention provides biomaterials having a surface comprising a plurality of enlarged diameter nanopores and/or nanotubes.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel electrolytes, and techniques for making and devices using such electrolytes, which are based on compressed gas solvents. Unlike conventional electrolytes, disclosed electrolytes are based on “compressed gas solvents” mixed with various salts, referred to as “compressed gas electrolytes.” Various embodiments of a compressed gas solvent includes a material that is in a gas phase and has a vapor pressure above an atmospheric pressure at a room temperature. The disclosed compressed gas electrolytes can have wide electrochemical potential windows, high conductivity, low temperature capability and/or high pressure solvent properties.

Abstract: Techniques, apparatus, materials and systems are described for providing solar cells. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a high efficiency dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The DSSC includes three-dimensional nanostructured electrodes. The three-dimensional nanostructured electrodes can include a cathode; an electrolyte; and anode that includes TiO2 nanotubes arranged in a three-dimensional structure; and a photosensitive dye coated on the anode.

Abstract: The present invention provides articles of manufacture comprising biocompatible nanostructures comprising significantly increased surface area for, e.g., organ, tissue and/or cell growth, e.g., for bone, tooth, kidney or liver growth, and uses thereof, e.g., for in vitro testing of drugs, chemicals or toxins, or as in vivo implants, including their use in making and using artificial tissues and organs, and related, diagnostic, screening, research and development and therapeutic uses, e.g., as drug delivery devices. The present invention provides biocompatible nanostructures with significantly increased surface area, such as with nanotube and nanopore array on the surface of metallic, ceramic, or polymer materials for enhanced cell and bone growth, for in vitro and in vivo testing, cleansing reaction, implants and therapeutics. The present invention provides optically transparent or translucent cell-culturing substrates.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing switchable dispensing and/or delivery of scented substances. In one aspect, a device includes a cartridge structured to include one or more chambers containing one or more scented substances contained in a corresponding chamber, a housing structured to include a compartment to hold the cartridge, an opening to allow the scented substances to dispense to an outer environment from the device, and one or more transporting channels formed between the compartment and the opening, in which each of the one or more transporting channels is configured to accelerate a scented substance from the corresponding chamber to the opening, and an actuator switch arranged in a corresponding transporting channel and operable to move between an open position and a closed position based on an applied signal to selectively allow passage of the scented substance from the corresponding transporting path.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing and fabricating electrochemical solar cells including dye-sensitized and perovskite-sensitized solar cells. In one aspect, a dye-sensitized solar cell device includes a cathode including a metal mesh structure that is optically transmissive and electrically conductive, an anode including a metal base layer that is optically opaque and electrically conductive, one or more layers of a semiconductive oxide coupled to the anode, the one or more layers of the semiconductive oxide including nanostructures having a photosensitive dye material coating, in which the anode generates photoelectric energy based on absorption of light by the photosensitive dye material, and an electrolyte of a substantially transparent substance and formed between the cathode and the one or more layers of a semiconductive oxide.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for slicing and shaping materials using magnetically guided chemical etching. In one aspect, a method includes forming a pattern on a substrate by a mask, depositing a catalytic etcher layer on the patterned substrate, a magnetic guide layer on the etcher layer, and a protection layer on the guide layer, etching the substrate by applying an etching solution to the substrate that chemically reacts with the etcher layer and etches material from the substrate at exposed regions not covered by the mask, steering the composite etching structure into the substrate during the etching by an applied magnetic field that creates a force on the guide layer to direct the etching, in which the steering defines the shape of the sliced regions of the etched substrate, and removing the etched material, the mask, and the composite etching structure to produce a sliced material structure.

Abstract: The invention provides articles of manufacture comprising biocompatible nanostructures comprising nanotubes and nanopores for, e.g., organ, tissue and/or cell growth, e.g., for bone, kidney or liver growth, and uses thereof, e.g., for in vitro testing, in vivo implants, including their use in making and using artificial organs, and related therapeutics. The invention provides lock-in nanostructures comprising a plurality of nanopores or nanotubes, wherein the nanopore or nanotube entrance has a smaller diameter or size than the rest (the interior) of the nanopore or nanotube. The invention also provides dual structured biomaterial comprising micro- or macro-pores and nanopores. The invention provides biomaterials having a surface comprising a plurality of enlarged diameter nanopores and/or nanotubes.