Abstract: A process for the production of an aerogel material comprises the following steps: a) preparation of a silicon oxide sol in an alcoholic solvent mixture; b) triggering of the gelation of the sol by adding base, whereby a gel is formed, and optionally aging of the gel; c) hydrophobicization of the optionally aged gel; d) removal of the solvent mixture by subcritical drying, whereby the aerogel material is formed. The silicon oxide sol formed in step a) comprises at least one acid-catalytically activatable hydrophobicization agent, wherein the volume fraction of the hydrophobicization agent in the sol is 5 to 60%. The hydrophobicization in step c) is induced as a result of release or addition of at least one hydrophobicization catalyst acting in combination with the hydrophobicization agent.

Abstract: The present application describes a joining method of a Carbon Nanotube-assembly (1) on a substrate (2), showing a reproducible controlled joining with partly carbidization of the carbon nanotubes. To solve this problem, the Carbon Nanotube-assembly (1) is fixed to the substrate (2) by an active brazing process, with the steps of: melting and subsequent wetting and spreading of an active brazing alloy (3) in form of a at least ternary alloy, comprising an amount of copper and at least one carbide forming element with an amount of at least 1 wt % onto the substrate (2), contacting of the Carbon Nanotube-assembly (1) with the active brazing alloy (3) on the substrate (2), followed by a heating step of the components (1, 2, 3) in vacuum or inert gas atmosphere to temperatures above the solidus temperature of the active brazing alloy (3) and between 800° C. and 900° C. corresponding brazing material and assembly are also claimed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a photoelectric conversion device comprising: at least one photoconversion element comprising at least one organic photoconversion layer or an inorganic layer comprising quantum dots or perovskites; at least a first grating structure arranged on a first side of the photoconversion element; and at least a second grating structure arranged on a second side of the photoconversion element; wherein said at least a first grating structure is arranged so as to direct a near-infra-red light portion of light incident on said first grating structure into said photoconversion element, the said at least a second grating structure being arranged to reflect at least a part of said near-infra-red light portion back into said photoconversion element and to pass visible light out of the photoelectric conversion device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved concrete elements, particularly to high-performance self-compacting concrete (HP-SCC); to cementitious compositions suitable for producing such concrete elements; to methods of manufacturing such concrete elements and such cementitious compositions; to the use of specific additives in concrete elements and cementitious mixtures. The inventive compositions comprise an effective amount of polymer fibers and of hydrogels. The inventive concrete elements show improved fire resistance, particularly towards explosive spalling.

Abstract: In order to produce a high performance thermally insulating rendering, a dry blend is provided that consists essentially of: —60 to 90 Vol.-% of a hydrophobized granular silica aerogel; —0.5 to 30 Vol.-% of a purely mineral binder; —0.2 to 20 Vol.-% of an open-porous water-insoluble or slowly water soluble additive having an accessible pore volume from 10 to 90 Vol.-%—up to 5 Vol.-% reinforcing fibers; and—up to 5 Vol.-% of processing additives. After mixing the dry blend with water, the slurry thus formed can be applied to a surface or shaped to a self-supporting body using an overpressure without adversely affecting the thermal insulation properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method according to which a profile consisting of a shape-memory alloy is placed into concrete, or a concrete to be reinforced is roughened on the outside, then profiles (2) consisting of a shape-memory alloy are fastened to the roughened outside (9) of the structure (6) and a cementitious matrix is applied to the roughened outside (9) to cover the profiles (2). After the cementitious matrix has set, said profiles (2) produce a contraction force and thus a tension as a result of the input of heat. The mortar covering layer (16) thereby acts as a reinforcement layer owing to the interlocking of the mortar covering layer (16) with the roughened outside (9) of the structure (6). The profiles (2) run in an outer mortar as a reinforcement layer (16) of the outside of a structure along the outside of the structure inside the mortar or reinforcement layer (16).

Abstract: A sample support plate (100) for a variety of possible applications, including MALDI mass spectrometry, is disclosed. A plurality of spatially separated sample recipient sites (101) are arranged on the surface of a substrate. The recipient sites are mutually separated by areas having a different wettability than the recipient sites. They are arranged in a plurality of rows consisting of a plurality of recipient sites whose centers are regularly spaced along a first direction with a predetermined periodicity (D1), the rows being regularly spaced along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction with a predetermined centerline distance (D2). Each recipient site has a maximum lateral dimension that is preferably smaller than the diameter of a beam spot (104) of a desorption laser beam (103).

Abstract: A method (200) and deposition zone apparatus (300) for fabricating thin-film optoelectronic devices (100), the method comprising: providing a potassium-nondiffusing substrate (110), forming a back-contact layer (120); forming at least one absorber layer (130) made of an ABC chalcogenide material, adding at least two different alkali metals, and forming at least one front-contact layer (150) wherein one of said at least two different alkali metals is potassium and where, following forming said front-contact layer, in the interval of layers (470) from back-contact layer (120), exclusive, to front-contact layer (150), inclusive, the comprised amounts resulting from adding at least two different alkali metals are, for potassium, in the range of 500 to 10000 ppm and, for the other of said at least two different alkali metals, in the range of 5 to 2000 ppm and at most ½ and at least 1/2000 of the comprised amount of potassium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved concrete elements, particularly to high-performance self-compacting concrete (HP-SCC); to cementitious compositions suitable for producing such concrete elements; to methods of manufacturing such concrete elements and such cementitious compositions; to the use of specific additives in concrete elements and cementitious mixtures. The inventive compositions comprise an effective amount of polymer fibres and of hydrogels. The inventive concrete elements show improved fire resistance, particularly towards explosive spalling.

Abstract: A Multi-pass optical cell (1) with an internal space (11) for laser spectroscopy is described, which is able to reduce or eliminate interference fringes appearing by performing laser absorption spectroscopy in the multi-pass optical cells (1) leading to improved absorption spectra. This is achieved by using a multi-pass optical cell (1) comprising an absorption mask (3) which is permanently or removable mountable in the internal space (11) in a rotatably fixed manner, where in a mask wall (30) a plurality of m apertures (300) is formed, in which the position of each aperture (300) is adapted to a predefinable propagation path of a main optical beam and/or the resulting reflection spot pattern (211) defined by the geometry of the multi-pass optical cell (1) and the used angle of incidence of an initial beam (20), so that each aperture (300) is traversable by the main optical beam from a first side (301) to a second side (302).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a graphene nanoribbon, which comprises: (a) providing at least one aromatic monomer compound which is selected from at least one polycyclic aromatic monomer compound, at least one oligo phenylene aromatic monomer compound, or combinations thereof, on a solid substrate, (b) polymerization of the aromatic monomer compound so as to form at least one polymer on the surface of the solid substrate, (c) at least partially cyclodehydrogenating the one or more polymers of step (b), wherein at least step (b) is carried out at a total pressure p(total) of at least 1×10?9 mbar; and a partial oxygen pressure p(O2) and partial water pressure p(H2O) which satisfy the following relation: p(O2)×p(H20)<3×10?14 mbar2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a graphene nanoribbon, comprising a repeating unit which comprises at least one modification, wherein the modification is selected from a heteroatomic substitution, a vacancy, a sp3 hybridization, a Stone-Wales defect, an inverse Stone-Wales defect, a hexagonal sp2 hybridized carbon network ring size modification, and any combination thereof.

Abstract: Conventionally, CdTe solar cells are grown in superstrate configuration where the light enters the photovoltaic device through a transparent substrate. Still, efficiencies of CdTe solar cells grown in substrate configuration have so far been considerably lower than those grown in superstrate configuration. This invention discloses a photovoltaic device (0) in substrate configuration and a process of making thereof with which efficiencies approaching those of superstrate devices can be reproducibly achieved. Furthermore, long term stability is expected to be better than in state of the art devices. This method is advantageous because the growth in substrate configuration offers several advantages like the growth on metal foils and a more precise control of the junction.

Abstract: A group of novel compounds containing one or more amino substituted DOPO (9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-phosphaphenthren-10-oxide) moieties. The compounds were found to have good flame retardant properties and also good thermal stability, which makes them particularly suitable as flame retardant additives for various thermoplastic polymers. In particular, they can be incorporated in a polyurethane foam.

Abstract: In order to improve the use of a medical support and compression stocking, it is proposed that the stocking (10) shall comprise a woven- or knitted-fabric-type base element (20) that is substantially tubular and that can be pulled over the lower leg of the wearer. Moreover, the stocking comprises at least one air chamber (30) that can be filled with air. The air chamber (30) is designed in a tubular shape along the length of the support and compression stocking. The stocking further comprises an electronic unit that is equipped with a micropump and a valve for the air supply, the micropump being provided with a valve, a current source, preferably a rechargeable battery and control electronics including a wireless data transfer unit. The pressure values of the at least one air chamber can be regulated by means of the data transfer unit and a software stored in the electronic unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a segmented graphene nanoribbon, comprising at least two different graphene segments covalently linked to each other, each graphene segment having a monodisperse segment width, wherein the segment width of at least one of said graphene segments is 4 nm or less and to a method for preparing it by polymerizing at least one polycyclic aromatic monomer compound and/or at least one oligo phenylene aromatic hydrocarbon monomer compound to form at least one polymer and by at least partially cyclodehydrogenating the one or more polymer.

Abstract: A method to fabricate thin-film photovoltaic devices (100) comprising a photovoltaic Cu(In,Ga)Se2 or equivalent ABC absorber layer (130), such as an ABC2 layer, deposited onto a back-contact layer (120) characterized in that said method comprises at least five deposition steps, wherein the pair of third and fourth steps are sequentially repeatable, in the presence of at least one C element over one or more steps. In the first step at least one B element is deposited, followed in the second by deposition of A and B elements at a deposition rate ratio Ar/Br, in the third at a ratio Ar/Br lower than the previous, in the fourth at a ratio Ar/Br higher than the previous, and in the fifth depositing only B elements to achieve a final ratio A/B of total deposited elements.

Abstract: A sample support plate (100) for a variety of possible applications, including MALDI mass spectrometry, is disclosed. A plurality of spatially separated sample recipient sites (101) are arranged on the surface of a substrate. The recipient sites are mutually separated by areas having a different wettability than the recipient sites. They are arranged in a plurality of rows consisting of a plurality of recipient sites whose centers are regularly spaced along a first direction with a predetermined periodicity (D1), the rows being regularly spaced along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction with a predetermined centerline distance (D2). Each recipient site has a maximum lateral dimension that is preferably smaller than the diameter of a beam spot (104) of a desorption laser beam (103).

Abstract: The invention relates to a deformable support element for use in a bed system, and to a bed system comprising the support elements. The bed system is suited in particular for use in the prevention of the development of decubitus by recumbent patients. The support element according to the invention consists of a support plate, flexible edge elements connected at each end to the support plate allowing for a directed movement of the end of the support plate out of an unloaded position, and one or more actuators beneath the support plate for deforming the support plate. The invention is advantageously characterized in that the support plate of the support element can take on a straight shape by the actuation of the actuator or actuators or can be deformed into an undulated shape or into a movement that is directed upward or downward.

Abstract: According to the invention, recuperation may be optimized for a hydraulically-operated gas exchange valve by provision of two fluid-filled pressure chambers and a movable regulating piston with two active faces each defining one of the pressure chambers. The pressure chambers are each connected to two hydraulic valves of which the first hydraulic valves may be pressurized from a first pressure reservoir and the second hydraulic valves may be connected to a base pressure reservoir. The first hydraulic valves may furthermore be connected to a second pressure reservoir. A control or regulation device switches the valves, from a rest position in a first accelerating phase and a braking phase.