Abstract: A method is provided for treating a surface of a porous material in an environment, the method comprising the steps of contacting a porous material with an organic gas in an environment having a pressure P1 and a temperature T1, wherein the organic gas is such that at the pressure P1 and at the temperature T1 it remains a gas when outside of the porous material but condenses as an organic liquid when in contact with the porous material, thereby filling pores of the porous material with the organic liquid, cooling down the filled porous material to a temperature T2 such that the organic liquid freezes within the pores, thereby sealing the pores with an organic solid, thereby providing a protected porous material, and performing a treatment on the surface.

Abstract: A metal composite, a method of preparing the metal composite, a metal-resin composite, and a method of preparing the metal-resin composite are provided. The metal composite comprises: a metal substrate comprising a first layer formed on a surface of the metal substrate and an anodic oxidation layer formed on the first layer. The first layer comprises a first pore having an average diameter of about 10 nanometers to about 1 millimeter, and the metal composite comprises aluminum alloy or aluminum. The anodic oxidation layer comprises a second layer contacted with the first layer of the metal substrate and a third layer formed on an outer surface of the second layer, and the second layer comprises a second pore having an average diameter of about 10 nanometers to about 800 microns, and the third layer comprises a third pore having an average diameter of about 10 nanometers to about 800 microns.

Abstract: A self-assembled pattern forming method in an embodiment includes: forming a guide pattern on a substrate; forming a layer of a first polymer; filling a first block copolymer; and phase-separating the first block copolymer. The guide pattern includes a first recessed part having a depth T and a diameter D smaller than the depth T, and a second recessed part having a width larger than double of the diameter D. The first block copolymer has the first polymer and a second polymer which are substantially the same in volume fraction. By phase-separating the first block copolymer, a cylinder structure and a lamellar structure are obtained.

Abstract: Methods for forming vias in glass substrates by laser drilling and acid etching are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method forming a via in a glass substrate includes laser drilling the via through at least a portion of a thickness of the glass substrate from an incident surface of the glass substrate. The method further includes etching the glass substrate for an etching duration to increase a diameter of an incident opening of the via and applying ultrasonic energy to the glass substrate during at least a portion of the etching duration. The applied ultrasonic energy has a frequency between 40 kHz and 192 kHz.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a surface of a porous material in an environment, the method comprising the steps of contacting a porous material with an organic gas in an environment having a pressure P1 and a temperature T1, wherein the organic gas is such that at the pressure P1 and at the temperature T1 it remains a gas when outside of the porous material but condenses as an organic liquid when in contact with the porous material, thereby filling pores of the porous material with the organic liquid, cooling down the filled porous material to a temperature T2 such that the organic liquid freezes within the pores, thereby sealing the pores with an organic solid, thereby providing a protected porous material, and performing a treatment on the surface.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a micromechanical structure, and a micromechanical structure. The micromechanical structure encompasses a first micromechanical functional layer, made of a first material, that comprises a buried conduit having a first end and a second end; a micromechanical sensor structure having a cap in a second micromechanical functional layer that is disposed above the first micromechanical functional layer; an edge region in the second micromechanical functional layer, such that the edge region surrounds the sensor structure and defines an inner side containing the sensor structure and an outer side facing away from the sensor structure; such that the first end is located on the outer side and the second end on the inner side.

Abstract: Methods of metal assisted chemical etching III-V semiconductors are provided. The methods can include providing an electrically conductive film pattern disposed on a semiconductor substrate comprising a III-V semiconductor. At least a portion of the III-V semiconductor immediately below the conductive film pattern may be selectively removed by immersing the electrically conductive film pattern and the semiconductor substrate into an etchant solution comprising an acid and an oxidizing agent having an oxidation potential less than an oxidation potential of hydrogen peroxide. Such methods can form high aspect ratio semiconductor nanostructures.

Abstract: This patent is provided a method for producing a porous polymer film using vanadium oxide nanowires, and a porous polymer film obtained from the method. The method allows control of a uniform pore size and density through a simple process including the steps of: adding an ion exchanger to deionized water to perform acidification and adding a vanadate compound thereto to grow vanadium oxide nanowires by a sol-gel process; mixing the resultant solution of grown nanowires with a polymer solution to provide a mixed solution of nanowires; pouring the mixed solution of nanowires to a mold, followed by drying and curing, to form a film; and etching the resultant film with an etching solution to remove the vanadium oxide nanowires.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell with enhanced mass transfer characteristics in which a highly hydrophobic porous medium, which is prepared by forming a micro-nano dual structure in which nanometer-scale protrusions with a high aspect ratio are formed on the surface of a porous medium with a micrometer-scale roughness by plasma etching and then by depositing a hydrophobic thin film thereon, is used as a gas diffusion layer, thereby increasing hydrophobicity due to the micro-nano dual structure and the hydrophobic thin film. When this highly hydrophobic porous medium is used as a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell, it is possible to reduce water flooding by efficiently discharging water produced by an electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell and to improve the performance of the fuel cell by facilitating the supply of reactant gases such as hydrogen and air (oxygen) to a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA).

Abstract: The present invention provides a porous medium with increased hydrophobicity and a method of manufacturing the same, in which a micro-nano dual structure is provided by forming nanoprotrusions with a high aspect ratio by performing plasma etching on the surface of a porous medium with a micrometer-scale surface roughness and a hydrophobic thin film is deposited on the surface of the micro-nano dual structure, thus significantly increasing hydrophobicity. When this highly hydrophobic porous medium is used as a gas diffusion layer of a fuel cell, it is possible to efficiently discharge water produced during electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell, thus preventing flooding in the fuel cell. Moreover, it is possible to sufficiently supply reactant gases such as hydrogen and air (oxygen) to a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), thus improving the performance of the fuel cell.

Abstract: The invention provides modified polysulfones substituted in one or more of the phenyl rings by functional groups and membranes composed of the modified polysulfones. Also provided are methods for the preparation of monodispersed nanoporous polymeric membranes. The membranes are useful for reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, and ultrafiltration, particularly for purification of water.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing nanostructures on a surface of a metal substrate is provided. The method includes forming the nanostructures by a forming step, which includes subsequently performing at least once the steps of anodizing the surface at a second voltage for forming at the surface a second oxidized metal layer comprising second pores, and performing an etching step on the surface for modifying the dimensions of the second pores. Prior to the forming step, the method comprises a substrate preparation step for enabling the forming a mix of different sized nanostructures during the forming step, the preparation step including the steps of anodizing the surface at a first voltage for forming at the surface an first oxidized metal layer comprising first pores, selectively etching the surface for extending the first pores into the metal underneath the first oxidized metal layer, and removing the first oxidized metal layer.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method includes: providing a structure having a first layer overlying a substrate, where the first layer includes a dielectric material having a plurality of pores; applying a filling material to a surface of the first layer; after applying the filling material, heating the structure to enable the filling material to at least partially fill the plurality of pores, where heating the structure results in residual filling material being left on the surface of the first layer; and after heating the structure, removing the residual filling material by applying a solvent wash.

Abstract: Provided is a particle that includes a first porous region and a second porous region that differs from the first porous region. Also provided is a particle that has a wet etched porous region and that does have a nucleation layer associated with wet etching. Methods of making porous particles are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing intravascular stents are disclosed wherein the intravascular stent has its inner surface treated to promote the migration of endothelial cells onto the inner surface of the intravascular stent. In particular, the inner surface of the intravascular stent has at least one groove formed therein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a first composition comprising a first block copolymer upon a substrate; where the first block copolymer comprises a first segment and a second segment that are covalently bonded to each other and that are chemically different from each other; where the first segment has a first surface free energy and where the second segment has a second surface free energy; and disposing a second composition comprising an second copolymer upon a free surface of the first block copolymer; where the second copolymer comprises a surface free energy reducing moiety; where the surface free energy reducing moiety has a lower surface free energy than the first surface free energy and the second surface free energy; the second copolymer further comprising one or more moieties having an affinity to the first block copolymer; where the surface free energy reducing moiety is chemically different from the first segment and from the second segment.

Abstract: A shell, a method of preparing the shell and an electronic product comprising the shell are provided. The shell may comprise: a metal shell body, a plastic part made of a resin, and an oxide layer formed between the metal body and the plastic part, joining the plastic part to the metal shell body, wherein the oxide layer contains corrosion pores having an average diameter of about 200 nm to about 2000 nm in the surface contacting the plastic part, and nanopores having a diameter of about 10 to 100 nm in the surface contacting the metal shell body, and a part of the resin is filled in the corrosion pore and corrosion pore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biomedical implant for use in a fluid shear stress environment of a subject. The biomedical implant of the present invention includes a patterned surface having a plurality of cellular niches. The cellular niches of the patterned surface are effective to maintain at least one localized layer of living cells within the plurality of cellular niches by decreasing fluid shear stress within the cellular niches as compared to fluid shear stress measured outside of the cellular niches, with the fluid shear stress measured outside of the cellular niches having a peak fluid shear stress of at least about 50 dynes per square centimeter (dynes/cm2). The present invention also relates to methods of making and using the biomedical implant. The present invention further relates to a biomedical implant system.

Abstract: A method of forming an aperture (e.g., a through via, a blind via, a trench, an alignment feature, etc.) within a substrate includes irradiating a substrate with a laser beam to form a laser-machined feature having a sidewall. The laser-machined feature is then processed to change at least one characteristic (e.g., the sidewall surface roughness, diameter, taper, aspect ratio, cross-sectional profile, etc.) of the laser-machined feature. The laser-machined feature can be processed to form the aperture by performing an isotropic wet-etch process employing an etchant solution containing HNO3, HF and, optionally acetic acid.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for recycling silica waste and a method for preparing nanoporous material and other valuable silica materials. More specifically, a method for preparing a nanoporous material by recycling silica-containing waste produced from a silica etching process in the synthesis of nanoporous carbon is provided. The present disclosure allows recycling of silica waste in an effective and environment-friendly manner, reduction of consumption of chemical materials, and reduction of chemical waste. Accordingly, the present disclosure enables effective preparation of various valuable nanoporous silica and other silica materials from silica waste released for production of various nanoporous materials.

Abstract: A method for forming a nanopore membrane includes forming an array of carbon nanotubes on a substrate that are disposed side by side in a direction perpendicular to a length of the carbon nanotubes. The array of carbon nanotubes are embedded in a patternable polymer material. The patternable polymer material is crosslinked over the array of carbon nanotubes. An adhesive layer is deposited on the polymer material having the array of carbon nanotubes to form a pad. The pad is rolled using a transfer rod to form a membrane with carbon nanotubes of the array, forming nanopores through the membrane such that as the pad is rolled the membrane increases in diameter.

Abstract: A microfilter having a hydrophilic surface and suited for size-based capture and analysis of cells, such as circulating cancer cells, from whole blood and other human fluids is disclosed. The filter material is photo-definable, allowing the formation of precision pores by UV lithography. Exemplary embodiments provide a device that combines a microfilter with 3D nanotopography in culture scaffolds that mimic the 3D in vivo environment to better facilitate growth of captured cells.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a pattern forming method includes: forming a functional layer having a functional group to cross-link a first polymer on a substrate; forming a diblock copolymer layer having the first polymer and a second polymer on the functional layer; self-assembling the diblock copolymer layer to form a self-assembled layer, the self-assembled layer having a first domain corresponding to the first polymer, and a plurality of second domains corresponding to the second polymer and surrounded by or interposed in the first domain; cross-linking the first polymer in the self-assembled layer with the functional group in the functional layer to form a bonding layer disposed in the self-assembled layer and bonded to the functional layer; and washing or etching the self-assembled layer to remain the bonding layer.

Abstract: A filter for filtering debris out of a fluid flowing along a fluid flow direction in a fluidic member of a sample separation device, the filter comprising a plurality of filter structures stacked along the fluid flow direction and each having pores with defined pore size, wherein the defined pore size of the stacked filter structures decreases along the fluid flow direction.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously detecting and separating a target analyte such as a protein or other macromolecule that includes providing a porous silicon matrix on the silicon substrate, exposing the porous silicon matrix to an environment suspect of containing the target analyte, observing optical reflectivity of the porous silicon matrix; and correlating the changes in the silicon substrate to the target analyte.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a microstructured molded object that is intended for culturing of biological cells. According to this method, a plastically deformable first porous film is prepared, as well as a deformable second film and a deformable sacrificial film. The first, second and sacrificial film are placed in a stack. Next, the sacrificial film is subjected to pressure to press the stack into a mold. The mold has recesses, such that deformed regions in the form of cavities are produced in the sacrificial film, the first film and the second film, and undeformed regions remain. During the pressing of the film stack into the mold, the first film and the second film are joined to each other, so that they form a composite film. At least portions of the deformed regions of the second film are etched so that sections of the second film are chemically dissolved.

Abstract: A pattern forming material contains a block copolymer or graft copolymer and forms a structure having micro polymer phases, in which, with respect to at least two polymer chains among polymer chains constituting the block copolymer or graft copolymer, the ratio between N/(Nc?No) values of monomer units constituting respective polymer chains is 1.4 or more, where N represents total number of atoms in the monomer unit, Nc represents the number of carbon atoms in the monomer unit, No represents the number of oxygen atoms in the monomer unit.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable biomedical implant is disclosed. The implant includes a tubular scaffold comprising a plurality of interconnected polymer struts. The interconnected polymer struts defines a plurality of deformable cells. The polymer struts have an average thickness of no more than 120 ?m. Methods for making the bioabsorbable biomedical implant, including the methods for making the polymer materials for the tubular scaffold, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Anodes including mesoporous hollow silicon particles are disclosed herein. A method for synthesizing the mesoporous hollow silicon particles is also disclosed herein. In one example of the method, a silicon dioxide sphere having a silicon dioxide solid core and a silicon dioxide mesoporous shell is formed. The silicon dioxide mesoporous shell is converted to a silicon mesoporous shell using magnesium vapor. The silicon dioxide solid core, any residual silicon dioxide, and any magnesium-containing by-products are removed to form the mesoporous, hollow silicon particle.

Abstract: A method for forming a lattice with precisely sized holes includes disposing cutter molecules with species attached about the periphery of each molecule on to the lattice. The method continues with the species cutting molecular bonds of the lattice so as to form precisely sized holes in the lattice. The edges of the holes may then be functionalized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an Anodized Aluminum Oxide nanoporous membrane integrated with micro channel and method of formation thereof. The invention further relates to formation of AAO pillars that are integrated in the membrane to create micro-channels to enhance mechanical stability and substantially reduce membrane thickness to nanometer range. This intrinsic configuration results in obviating the use of any external added material or support. The integrated membrane comprises of a substrate, plurality of alumina micro pillars that form respective micro-channels wherein the said pillars are attached with the substrate, nanoporous structure integrated with the pillars wherein the micro channel is formed between two consecutive pillars bound by the nanoporous structure surface and the substrate surface.

Abstract: In the present invention, a nanoporous membrane having a columnar structure is manufactured through a deposition technology used in a semiconductor process, and the size of a nanopore is adjusted by etching the lower surface of the manufactured nanoporous membrane or using a seed layer and a nanobead layer so that scaling up is available at a lowered process temperature and the size of the nanopore can be easily adjusted when manufacturing the nanoporous membrane having a columnar structure.

Abstract: A flow diverter is described and fabricated using ultra-thin porous thin-film Nitinol, and is configured for implantation to a treatment site within a vessel for significant reduction in an intra-aneurismal flow velocity and vorticity. Using small size pores in a coverage area of only 10%, a 90% reduction in flow velocity into a pseudo-aneurysm can be achieved, with an almost immediate cessation of flow into an anatomical feature such as aneurysm sac in vivo. The size of the holes can be tailored to be any shape and range in size from 1-400 ?m using photolithography and from 5-1000 nm using ebeam lithography.

Abstract: An absorption cell includes a first absorption layer formed of a first absorbent, and a second absorption layer formed of a second absorbent having a higher density than the first absorbent and coated on the surface of the first absorption layer so as to prevent generation of dust particles from the first absorption layer. The upper surface of the first absorption layer is coated with the second absorption layer formed of the high-density absorbent, thereby preventing generation of minute dust particles and thus preventing secondary contamination.

Abstract: A gas separation membrane, containing: a support; and a separating layer formed on the support, the separating layer containing a resin; the separating layer containing, at the side thereof opposite to the support, a hydrophilic modification treatment surface, the hydrophilic modification treatment surface involved in a layer having a film thickness of 0.1 ?m or less, and the hydrophilic modification treatment surface provided with a surface contact angle measured by using water thereon in the range of 60 degrees or less.

Abstract: Selective etching techniques are used to manufacture a basic filtration element, which can then be used as a basis for constructing various devices for different applications. In this process, sheets of etchable material are etched from one or both sides of that sheet to form channels in a premasked pattern, which controls the minimum opening of the filtration element. The desired channel opening is only limited by the capability of the photochemical etching system being used. Alternatively, a filter element may be made by rolling or extruding a first sheet to form a plurality of recessed areas bordered by lands, selectively etching or punching through the recessed pattern areas, and bonding a second sheet having a plurality of etched or punched through areas to the first sheet, and, aligning the etched through areas to the second sheet with the recessed areas of the first sheet.

Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell cathode electrode, comprising a porous skeletal medium, the surface of which medium is modified or otherwise arranged or constructed to induce enhanced activated behaviour, wherein the enhanced activated behaviour is induced by means of increasing the surface area for a given volume of the electrode and/or by increasing the number and/or availability of reactive sites on the electrode. A fuel cell having such a cathode electrode, a method of manufacturing such a cathode electrode, and use of such a cathode electrode in a fuel cell is also disclosed.

Abstract: Capsules and similar objects are made from materials having diamond (sp3) lattice structures, including diamond materials in synthetic crystalline, polycrystalline (ordered or disordered), nanocrystalline and amorphous forms. The capsules generally include a hollow shell made of a diamond material that defines an interior region that may be empty or that may contain a fluid or solid material. Some of the capsules include access ports that can be used to fill the capsule with a fluid. Capsules and similar structures can be manufactured by growing diamond on suitably shaped substrates. In some of these methods, diamond shell sections are grown on substrates, then joined together. In other methods, a nearly complete diamond shell is grown around a form substrate, and the substrate can be removed through a relatively small opening in the shell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to graphene windows and methods for making same. One method comprises selecting a high purity metal foil, growing a layer of graphene on a first face of the metal foil, patterning the second face of the graphene-modified foil with a polymer, wherein the second face of the graphene-modified foil has an exposed region and etching the second face of the graphene-modified foil in the exposed region until exposing the first layer of graphene.

Abstract: A method for producing a polarizing element includes: forming particulate materials of a metal halide on a glass substrate; forming a protective film that covers the particulate materials in a non-plasma environment; stretching the particulate materials by heating and stretching the glass substrate; and forming acicular metal particles by reducing the metal halide constituting the stretched particulate materials.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of an absorption cell includes preparing a first absorption layer formed of a mixture of a first absorbent and a second absorbent having a higher density than the first absorbent; coating the surface of the first absorption layer with a protective layer formed of a low-carbonizing point material and the second absorbent so as to prevent generation of dust particles from the first absorption layer; and removing the low-carbonizing point material from the protective layer so as to form a second absorption layer including a plurality of pore parts through which a fluid flows to the first absorption layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for making a thermoacoustic element. In the method, a graphene film is arranged on a metal substrate. A nonmetal substrate is stacked with the graphene film located on the metal substrate to form a laminate structure. The graphene film is sandwiched between the nonmetal substrate and the metal substrate. The metal substrate is removed from the stacked structure. A number of through-holes are formed in the nonmetal substrate. The graphene film is exposed through the plurality of through-holes.

Abstract: A device according to one embodiment includes a porous membrane having a surface charge and pore configuration characterized by a double layer overlap effect being present in pores of the membrane, where the porous membrane includes functional groups that preferentially interact with either cations or anions. A device according to another embodiment includes a porous membrane having a surface charge in pores thereof sufficient to impart anion or cation selectivity in the pores. Additional devices, systems and methods are also presented.

Abstract: The present application relates to a porous thin film having holes, wherein the holes are formed in the top part and/or the bottom part of the thin film and the holes are linked to the pores of the thin film; and the present invention also relates to a production method for a porous thin film having holes, comprising the use of a particle alignment layer as a mold.

Abstract: A microporous carbon matrix material composition for use in supercapacitor electrodes may be produced by depositing carbon on a sacrificial zeolite template via one of several methods (e.g., hydrothermal or solvo-thermal deposition, sub-atmospheric vapor phase deposition, or high-pressure infiltration of hydrocarbon vapors). The deposition produces a carbon-coated zeolite intermediary. A surface layer of carbon formed on the carbon-coated zeolite intermediary may then be refined and the refined carbon-coated zeolite intermediary may be etched to produce a microporous carbon matrix having a substantially uniform structure and substantially aligned pores. In some embodiments, the carbon-coated zeolite intermediary may be annealed after deposition.

Abstract: A mold of an embodiment of the present invention has a surface that has a shape which is inverse of a surface shape of a moth-eye structure. This surface has a plurality of protrusions, a plurality of ridges extending between the plurality of protrusions via saddle portions, and a plurality of holes, each of which is defined by at least any three of the plurality of protrusions and ridges extending between the at least any three of the plurality of protrusions, and an average distance between centers of adjacent holes, p, and an average depth of the saddle portions, r, satisfy the relationship of 0.15?r/p?0.60.

Abstract: An article having a nanostructured surface and a method of making the same are described. The article can include a substrate and a nanostructured layer bonded to the substrate. The nanostructured layer can include a plurality of spaced apart nanostructured features comprising a contiguous, protrusive material and the nanostructured features can be sufficiently small that the nanostructured layer is optically transparent. A surface of the nanostructured features can be coated with a continuous hydrophobic coating. The method can include providing a substrate; depositing a film on the substrate; decomposing the film to form a decomposed film; and etching the decomposed film to form the nanostructured layer.

Abstract: Particles having a property of absorbing carbon at a particular temperature or higher are deposited on a graphene. The particles are heated to a temperature equal to the particular temperature or higher to make the particles absorb carbon from portions of the graphene under the particles. The particles are removed. Consequently, a graphene nanomesh is obtained.

Abstract: The present application relates to a hydrogen ion transport membrane, which is formed by using a porous thin film having a plurality of holes which are regularly aligned, a membrane for generating hydrogen, and a method for manufacturing the hydrogen ion transport membrane and the membrane for generating hydrogen.

Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor component includes forming an n-doped layer in a p-doped layer of the semiconductor component, wherein the n-doped layer comprises at least one of: a sieve-like layer or a network-like layer. The method also includes porously etching the p-doped layer between the material of the n-doped layer to form a top electrode, and forming a cavity below the n-doped layer.