Abstract: A large-aperture direct-view high-speed electro-optic shutter includes an electro-optic polymer material constructed to form a Pockels cell and an integrated photoconducting semiconductor switch. A chromophore-doped polymer material or chromophore copolymer, wherein the chromophore is oriented within the polymer material, exhibits a linear electro-optic effect when an electric field is applied to the device. In one embodiment, the polymer host material comprises one or more of a polycarbonate, amorphous polycarbonate, or polymethylmethacrylate polymer hosts. The optically active chromophore comprising one or more coumarin and coumarin derivatives, stilbene or tolane derivatives is incorporated within the polymer host, forming a guest-host polymer. In another embodiment, the chromophore is chemically bonded to the monomer that forms the polymer, resulting in an optically active copolymer.

Abstract: A metal-air battery has an anode in which the electrochemically active material is molybdenum. The molybdenum may be in the form of a bulk body of material or it may comprise a particulate material dispersed with or in another material. In some instances, the molybdenum may comprise a member of an alloy or mixture. Also disclosed is a modular battery system which may include the molybdenum-based anode material.

Abstract: A compositionally stratified multi-layer Ba1-xSrxTiO3 (BST) heterostructure material is described which includes a lower layer of crystallized Ba1-xSrxTiO3 perovskite oxide where x is in the range of 0.36-0.44, inclusive, deposited on a substrate; an intermediate layer of crystallized Ba1-xSrxTiO3 perovskite oxide where x is in the range of 0.23-0.27, inclusive, in contact with the lower layer; and an upper layer of crystallized Ba1-xSrxTiO3 perovskite oxide where x in the range of 0.08-0.13, inclusive, in contact with the intermediate layer. A phase shifter and/or preselector tunable device including a compositionally stratified multi-layer BST heterostructure material is described according to the present invention. Temperature sensitivity of an inventive phase shifter is reduced by at least 70% in the temperature interval of 20 to 90° C., inclusive, and by at least 14% in the temperature interval of ?10 to 20° C., inclusive, compared to a compositionally homogeneous 60/40 BST material.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane assembly for use in a fuel cell or other electrochemical device includes an ion exchange membrane, a base electrolyte reservoir configured and operable to maintain a volume of a basic electrolyte solution in contact with at least some of the first face of the membrane, and an acid electrolyte reservoir configured and operable to maintain a volume of an acidic electrolyte in contact with at least a portion of the second face of the membrane. The membrane may be a cation exchange membrane or an anion exchange membrane. Also disclosed are fuel cells which incorporate the electrolyte membrane assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating virtual topologies for a mobile ad hoc network comprising generating at least two nodes representing transmitters and/or receivers in the network; each of said at least two nodes having parameters (which may be for example, location, direction, velocity, receiving/transmitting capability); generating a bidirectional or unidirectional link between two nodes when appropriate; storing the specifications of the topology of the network in memory; whereby the stored topologies are adapted to be inputted into a test-bed system capable of emulating a mobile ad-hoc network. Optionally, the images of the nodes and links are displayed on a display and/or may be stored on a programmable storage medium.

Abstract: Compounds containing bibenzochalcogenophene structures are provided in which the chalcogenide is sulfur, selenium, or tellurium. The compounds are characterized by planarity, rigid conjugation structure and high charge mobility making them useful as organic semiconductor in optical devices, electronic devices and integrated devices like organic field effect transistors (OFET) for thin film transistor liquid crystal display (LCD), electrophoretic display such as electronic paper, organic light emitting diode (OLED) for flat panel displays, organic radio frequency identification (ORFID) tags, organic photovoltaic (OPV), sensor devices, and analog and digital electronics.

Abstract: Co-fabricating of vertical piezoelectric MEMS actuators that achieve large positive and negative displacements through operating electric fields in excess of the coercive field includes forming a large negative displacement vertical piezoelectric MEMS actuator, forming a bottom structural dielectric layer above a substrate layer; forming a bottom electrode layer above the structural dielectric layer; forming an active piezoelectric layer above the bottom electrode layer; forming a top electrode layer above the active piezoelectric layer; forming a top structural layer above the top electrode layer, wherein the x-y neutral plane of the negative displacement vertical piezoelectric MEMS actuator is above the mid-plane of the active piezoelectric layer, wherein the negative displacement vertical piezoelectric MEMS actuator is partially released from the substrate to allow free motion of the actuator; and combining the large negative displacement vertical piezoelectric MEMS actuator and a large positive displaceme

Abstract: A piezoelectric microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator includes a silicon substrate; an actuator beam comprising a first end region connected to the silicon substrate and a second end region connected to a mechanically compliant spring assembly; a first electrode over the silicon substrate; a piezoelectric layer above the first electrode; a second electrode over the piezoelectric layer; a conductive top structural layer above the second electrode, wherein a center half of the actuator beam is configured as a positive deflection region, and wherein both the first electrode and the second electrode supply voltage to both positive and negative deflection regions of the actuator beam.

Abstract: An alternative design is given for an optimized quantum cryptographic entangling probe for attacking the BB84 protocol of quantum key distribution. The initial state of the probe has a simpler analytical dependence on the set error rate to be induced by the probe than in the earlier design. The new device yields maximum information to the probe for a full range of induced error rates. As in the earlier design, the probe contains a single CNOT gate which produces the optimum entanglement between the BB84 signal states and the correlated probe states.

Abstract: A method of preparing a composite cathode active material having superior cell characteristics includes mixing and milling starting material, carbon and an organic complexing agent. The mixture is heated at a first temperature in an inert atmosphere to form a composite precursor, and then the precursor is ground and heated at a second temperature in an inert atmosphere to produce a carbon-containing composite cathode material having high electronic conductivity. The said composite cathode has a general formula of LiFe1?xMxPO4—C, within 0?x<1, M is selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, V, Cr, Mn and a mixture thereof.