Abstract: A device having a substrate, a pair of ferromagnetic leads on a surface of the substrate, laterally separated by a gap, and one or more ferromagnetic microparticles comprising a conductive coating at least partially within the gap. The conductive coating forms at least part of an electrical connection between the leads. A molecular junction may connect the leads to the microparticle.

Abstract: A device having a substrate, a pair of ferromagnetic leads on a surface of the substrate, laterally separated by a gap, and one or more ferromagnetic microparticles comprising a conductive coating at least partially within the gap. The conductive coating forms at least part of an electrical connection between the leads. A molecular junction may connect the leads to the microparticle.

Abstract: A method of making a Schottky diode comprising the steps of: providing a single crystal diamond comprising a surface; placing the single crystal diamond in a CVD system; heating the diamond to a temperature of at least about 950° C.; providing a gas mixture capable of growing diamond film and comprising a sulfur compound through the CVD system; growing an epitaxial diamond film on the surface of the single crystal diamond; baking the diamond at a temperature of at least about 650° C. in air for a period of time that minimizes oxidation of the diamond; and fabricating a Schottky diode comprising the diamond film. A Schottky diode comprising an epitaxial diamond film and capable of blocking at least about 6 kV in a distance of no more than about 300 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A method of forming a nanocrystalline metal, comprising the steps of: providing a reaction mixture comprising a metal precursor and an alcohol solvent; continuously flowing the reaction mixture through a reactor; applying microwave or millimeter-wave energy to the reaction mixture; wherein the microwave or millimeter-wave energy is localized to the vicinity of the reaction mixture; and heating the reaction mixture with the microwave or millimeter-wave energy so that the alcohol solvent reduces the metal precursor to a metal; wherein the heating occurs in the reactor.

Abstract: A method for laser transfer and deposition of a rheological fluid wherein laser energy strikes a target substrate comprising a rheological fluid, causing a portion of the rheological fluid to evaporate and propel a jet of non-evaporated rheological fluid onto a receiving substrate.

Abstract: Displacement assays, under non-equilibrium conditions, are performed by flowing a liquid sample through a membrane having binding elements with binding sites saturated with a labelled form of the analyte. Analyte in the sample displaces, under non-equilibrium conditions, the labelled form of the analyte from the membrane. The displaced labelled form of the analyte may then be detected.

Abstract: A method for laser transfer and deposition of a rheological fluid wherein laser energy strikes a target substrate comprising a rheological fluid, causing a portion of the rheological fluid to evaporate and propel non-evaporated rheological fluid onto a receiving substrate.

Abstract: The invention comprises a networked polymer comprising the formula: wherein n≧1; wherein n is an average value obtained by averaging all repeating units of the networked polymer; wherein m≧1; wherein Y is a divalent group containing one or more acetylenic groups, one or more crosslinks, or both; wherein z is the average number of crosslinks per Y group; wherein Ar1 and Ar2 are independently selected aromatic groups; and wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, haloalkyl, haloaryl, and combinations thereof. The invention also includes prepolymers and precursors needed to make the networked polymer and processes for making all of the above. The invention also includes a ceramic composition made by pyrolysis of the networked polymer.

Abstract: A method of making an electronic device comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of wafers, each wafer comprising a bonding surface; etching one or more trenches into one or more bonding surfaces, the trenches substantially perpendicular to a preferred direction of diffusion along one or more of the bonding surfaces; rendering the bonding surfaces hydrophobic; and bonding the bonding surfaces together by direct wafer bonding. A semiconductor structure comprising a plurality of wafers, each wafer comprising a bonding surface, one or more bonding surfaces comprising one or more trenches substantially perpendicular to a preferred direction of diffusion along one or more of the bonding surfaces; and the bonding surfaces bonded together by a direct wafer bonding interface.

Abstract: A prepolymer, represented by the formula: wherein n is an average value grater than or equal to 0, Ar is an aromatic group, and each R10 is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, haloalkyl, haloaryl and mixtures thereof and each R11 is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, haloalkyl, haloaryl and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A transition metal-containing ceramic made by the process comprising the step of pyrolyzing an organometallic linear polymer containing at least one metallocenylene unit, at least one silyl or siloxyl unit, and at least one acetylene unit to form a ceramic; where the ceramic has a ceramic yield of at least about 75% by weight. A transition metal-containing ceramic made by the process comprising the steps of: forming an organometallic linear polymer containing at least one metallocenylene, at least one silyl or siloxyl unit, and at least one acetylene unit; crosslinking said linear polymer through the acetylene units, thereby forming a thermoset; and pyrolyzing said thermoset to form a ceramic; where the ceramic has a ceramic yield of at least about 75% by weight.

Abstract: A palladium-boron composition and methods of making and using same are provided. In one aspect, the invention comprises an alloy comprising palladium and boron, the boron being in solid solution in the palladium and the alloy having a two-phase structure, wherein each phase of the two-phase structure has the same crystal structure as the other phase and has a different set of lattice parameters from the other phase such that the palladium is greatly hardened by the presence of the smaller phase crystals within the spaces between the larger phase crystals. The composition is carefully prepared by a process wherein palladium and an amount of boron sufficient to place the boron in solid solution, but insufficient to combine with the palladium, are placed together and repeatedly arc melted, cooled and turned over until sufficiently mixed.

Abstract: An aromatic ether oligomer or polyaromatic ether comprising the formula: wherein Ar is an independently selected divalent aromatic radical; formed by reacting a dihydroxyaromatic with a dihaloaromatic; and wherein the reaction is performed in the presence of a copper compound and cesium carbonate. The polyaromatic ether is formed when neither the dihydroxyaromatic nor the dihaloaromatic is present in an excess amount. The aromatic ether oligomer is formed by using an excess of either dihydroxyaromatic or dihaloaromatic. A phthalonitrile monomer comprising the formula: formed by reacting a 3- or 4-nitrophthalonitrile with a hydroxy-terminated aromatic ether oligomer. A thermoset formed by curing the phthalonitrile monomer. Processes for forming all the above.

Abstract: A recombinant protein that is a fusion protein containing a protein binding domain and a domain that is post-translationally modified to become lipid-tagged. This molecule has both a domain with highly specific binding capabilities and a domain which is very hydrophobic in nature. This type of molecule can be used to coat hydrophobic surfaces such as polystyrene easily and effectively for use in solid phase binding assays.

Abstract: A process for making a vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene networked polymer comprising the steps of: providing a poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) copolymer; mixing the copolymer with a peroxide and a coagent to form a curing mixture; and processing the curing mixture such that the peroxide, in combination with the coagent, crosslinks the copolymer to form a networked polymer.

Abstract: A high temperature superconducting composite rod, wire or tape is formed by filling the open cells of a reticulated foam structure made of silver, silver alloy, gold or gold alloy with a superconducting ceramic oxide or precursor, compacting the filled structure and forming it into a rod, wire or tape and heating it to melt and/or texture the superconducting ceramic oxide. The resulting composite has continuous ligaments of metal throughout a continuous region of superconducting ceramic oxide.

Abstract: The invention comprises a chemical composition with the structure shown below. The composition can be polymerized or pyrolyzed, forming transition metal nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed in a thermoset or carbon composition. The size of the nanoparticles can be controlled by manipulating the number and arrangement of functional groups in the composition and by changing the conditions of the polymerization or pyrolysis. The resulting thermosets and carbon compositions have useful magnetic, electric, mechanical, catalytic and/or optical properties.

Abstract: A torsional motor, comprising: a plurality of segments in the shape of a tube comprising an electroactive material with a poling along the length dimension with adjacent segments arranged with their respective polings in opposed directions; a plurality of conductors between the adjacent segments; a first one-way clutch; a second one-way clutch; a first rotor positioned relative to the first one-way clutch such that the angular displacement of the tube in one direction is transmitted by the first one-way clutch to the first rotor; and a second rotor positioned relative to the second one-way clutch such that the angular displacement of the tube in one direction is transmitted by the second one-way clutch to the second rotor.

Abstract: A linear polymer has repeating units represented by the formula wherein (a) n is an integer greater than or equal to 0, (b) x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and  represents an unconjugated acetylenic group when x is equal to 1 or conjugated acetylenic groups when x is greater than 1; (c) Ar is an aromatic group, and (c) R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, haloalkyl, haloaryl and mixtures thereof. The linear polymer may be thermally cured to form a crosslinked polymer.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for measuring the thickness of a coating material using ultrasonic signals. A broad band of frequencies is transmitted by a transducer towards a layer of coating layer on a substrate and a trailing signal is received from the coating layer/substrate interface while a leading backscattered signal from a fluid/coating layer is gated out. The trailing signal is deconvolved into a set of frequencies. The resonant frequency of the coating layer is determined as the frequency with the greatest amplitude. The thickness of the material is calculated as a function of the resonant frequency of the coating layer.