Abstract: Described are methods for magnetically actuating microcantilevers and magnetically actuated and self-heated microcantilevers. Also described are methods for determining viscoelastic properties and thermal transition temperatures of materials.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing products having a metal surface by imparting microfeatures onto the metal surface. The method if further described as the steps of: creating a transfer tool from a microstructured intermediate fabricated from a microstructured prototype having microfeatures; and, transferring the microfeatures to said metal surface using the transfer tool.

Abstract: Provided herein are electron emission devices and device components for optical, electronic and optoelectronic devices, including cantilever-based MEMS and NEMS instrumentation. Devices of certain aspects of the invention integrate a dielectric, pyroelectric, piezoelectric or ferroelectric film on the receiving surface of a substrate having an integrated actuator, such as a temperature controller or mechanical actuator, optionally in the form of a cantilever device having an integrated heater-thermometer. Also provided are methods of making and using electron emission devices for a range of applications including sensing and imaging technology.

Abstract: A three-dimensional porous electrode architecture for a microbattery includes a substrate having first and second conductive patterns disposed thereon where the first and second conductive patterns are electrically isolated from each other, a three-dimensional porous cathode disposed on the first conductive pattern, and a three-dimensional porous anode disposed on the second conductive pattern. The porous cathode includes a first conductive scaffold conformally coated with a layer of a cathode active material and having a porosity defined by a network of interconnected pores, where the first conductive scaffold has a lateral size and shape defined by the first conductive pattern and porous side walls oriented substantially perpendicular to the substrate. The porous anode includes a second conductive scaffold conformally coated with a layer of an anode active material and having a porosity defined by a network of interconnected pores.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microcantilever capable of independently measuring and/or controlling the electrical potential and/or temperature of a surface with nanometer scale position resolution. The present invention also provides methods of manipulating, imaging, and/or mapping a surface or the properties of a surface with a microcantilever. The microcantilevers of the present invention are also capable of independently measuring and/or controlling the electrical potential and/or temperature of a gas or liquid. The devices and methods of the present invention are useful for applications including gas, liquid, and surface sensing, micro- and nano-fabrication, imaging and mapping of surface contours or surface properties.

Abstract: A method of making a three-dimensional porous device entails providing a substrate having a conductive pattern on a surface thereof, and depositing a colloidal solution comprising a plurality of microparticles onto the surface, where the microparticles assemble into a lattice structure. Interstices of the lattice structure are infiltrated with a conductive material, which propagates through the interstices in a direction away from the substrate to reach a predetermined thickness. The conductive material spans an area of the surface overlaid by the conductive pattern. The microparticles are removed to form voids in the conductive material, thereby forming a conductive porous structure having the predetermined thickness and a lateral size and shape defined by the conductive pattern.

Abstract: Methods and devices for dropwise condensation of a refrigerant vapor on a surface are provided. The surface and various aspects of the system are configured to ensure the surface is refrigerant repelling, enhances droplet mobility, increases condensation rate and/or increases heat transfer rate.

Abstract: Described are methods for magnetically actuating microcantilevers and magnetically actuated and self-heated microcantilevers. Also described are methods for determining viscoelastic properties and thermal transition temperatures of materials.

Abstract: Described are methods for magnetically actuating microcantilevers and magnetically actuated and self-heated microcantilevers. Also described are methods for determining viscoelastic properties and thermal transition temperatures of materials.

Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for sensing pulsed forces. Some of the described devices and methods are also useful for measuring infrared absorbances and compiling spectral and chemical maps of surfaces. Also described are microcantilever having reduced harmonic frequencies when operating in contact mode. Some of the described microcantilevers comprise an internal resonator configured to vibrate substantially independent of friction between the microcantilever tip and a surface when the microcantilever operates in contact mode. A number of the described devices and methods are useful for monitoring pulsed forces with enhanced sensitivity.

Abstract: Described are methods for magnetically actuating microcantilevers and magnetically actuated and self-heated microcantilevers. Also described are methods for determining viscoelastic properties and thermal transition temperatures of materials.

Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing extruded parts having microstructures comprising: a support structure; a hopper carried by the support structure for receiving feedstock; an extrusion chamber operatively associated with the hopper for receiving the feedstock from the hopper and melting the feedstock above a feedstock melting temperature; a die carried by the support structure having die microstructures disposed on an inner surface of the die, the die microstructures having a plurality of microfeatures each having an upper surface and a lower surface, the melted feedstock being forced through the die to produce an extrudate having extrudate microstructures; and, a cooling assembly wherein the extrudate microstructures of the pre-cooled extrudate have larger physical dimensions than that of the extrudate microstructures of the cooled extrudate.

Abstract: Described are methods for making microstructured flexible molds, for example useful for making microstructured metal objects in a casting process. Also described are casting methods for making microstructured epoxy objects. In some embodiments, the microstructured metal and epoxy objects are useful for embossing polymer sheets to form microstructured polymer sheets.

Abstract: Systems and methods of nanomaterial transfer are described. A method of nanomaterial transfer involving fabricating a template and synthesizing nanomaterials on the template. Subsequently, the nanomaterials are transferred to a substrate by pressing the template onto the substrate. In some embodiments, the step of transferring the nanomaterials involves pressing the template onto the substrate such that the nanomaterials are embedded below a surface layer of the substrate. In some embodiments, the temperature of the plurality of nanomaterials is raised to assist the transfer of the nanomaterials to the substrate.

Abstract: Described herein are flexible superhydrophobic films. Also described are methods for imparting superhydrophobicity to a variety of objects, for example objects having any shape or surface contours. For specific applications, the flexible superhydrophobic films include an adhesive backing layer, useful for attaching the film to objects. Some of the films described herein allow for selective control over the wettability of a surface by flexing the film, for example flexing the film results in a more wettable film, a less wettable film or a film having unchanged wettability. Flexible superhydrophobic films described herein also include films which maintain their superhydrophobicity when deformed into a concave or convex curvature.

Abstract: Described herein are casting and molding methods useful for making microstructured objects. By including a plurality of microfeatures on the surface of an object, other characteristics may be imparted to the object, such as increased hydrophobicity. Some of the casting and molding methods described herein further allow for manufacture of objects having both microfeatures and macro features, for example microfeatures on or within macro features or selected macro feature regions.

Abstract: A microstructure disposed on a surface carried by an object comprising: a first set of microfeatures carried by the object wherein said first set of microfeatures causes the surface of the object to exhibit physical properties differing from physical properties exhibited by a non-microstructured surface; and, a second set of microfeatures carried by said surface wherein said second set of microfeatures causes the surface of the object to exhibit physical properties differing from physical properties exhibited by the non-microstructured surface and by said first set of microfeatures.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a production part having microstructured features comprising the steps of fabricating a microstructured prototype having microstructured features, manufacturing a microstructured intermediate from the microstructured prototype so that the microstructured intermediate carries a negative of the microstructured features, attaching the microstructured intermediate to a manufacturing tool thereby providing microstructured features on a manufacturing tool, providing feedstock containing material from the group comprising of: metal, ceramic, binder, and any combination of these and manufacturing the production part from the feedstock, using the manufacturing tool and using a process from the group consisting of: compression molding, roll forming, stamping, embossing, extrusion injection molding, and any combination of these.

Abstract: In one aspect, provided herein is a single crystal silicon microcalorimeter, for example useful for high temperature operation and long-term stability of calorimetric measurements. Microcalorimeters described herein include microcalorimeter embodiments having a suspended structure and comprising single crystal silicon. Also provided herein are methods for making calorimetric measurements, for example, on small quantities of materials or for determining the energy content of combustible material having an unknown composition.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing products having a metal surface by imparting microfeatures onto the metal surface. The method if further described as the steps of: creating a transfer tool from a microstructured intermediate fabricated from a microstructured prototype having microfeatures; and, transferring the microfeatures to said metal surface using the transfer tool.