Abstract: Composite materials comprising a mesoflower structure, methods of preparing the composite material, and methods of detecting heavy metal ion using the composite material are described herein. In some embodiments, a silica-coated gold mesoflower with a layer of silver quantum clusters may be capable of detecting Hg2+ ions in a sample at zeptomolar concentrations.

Abstract: Disclosed are nanocomposite-based biosensors. The biosensors include an electrode, a nanocomposite over the surface of the electrode, the nanocomposite comprising a population of carbon nanotubes and a population of magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in the population of carbon nanotubes, wherein the magnetic nanoparticles comprise a ferromagnetic metal or compound thereof, and one or more biomolecules over the surface of the electrode, wherein the biomolecules are capable of undergoing a redox reaction with a target molecule. Also disclosed are nanocomposites, modified electrodes, kits, and methods for using the biosensors.

Abstract: Methods of forming metal nanoparticle decorated carbon nanotubes are provided. The methods include mixing a metal precursor with a plurality of carbon nanotubes to form a metal precursor-carbon nanotubes mixture. The methods also include exposing the metal precursor-carbon nanotubes mixture to electromagnetic radiation to deposit metal nanoparticles on a major surface of the carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: Dendrimer-hydrazides are coupled to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for use in the visual detection of the presence of low levels of fluoride in a sample The dendrimers can have a phenyl core, a first generation of aralkyl ethers, and an optional second generation of aralkyl ethers. The compounds form gels with solvents. In the presence of fluoride ion, the gels undergo color changes and/or gel to liquid phase change.

Abstract: Methods for converting graphite oxide into graphene by exposure to electromagnetic radiation are described. As an example, graphene oxide may be rapidly converted into graphene upon exposure to converged sunlight.

Abstract: A luminescent nanocomposite comprising functionalized graphene and a luminescent moiety, its fabrication, and uses are described. The luminescent moiety is anchored non-covalently to the functionalized graphene. Luminescence properties of the nanocomposite may be modulated by choosing appropriate luminescent moieties such as native lactoferrin, native lactoferrin protected gold clusters, and so forth. Mechanical properties of the nanocomposite may be modulated by adding a biopolymer such as Chitosan. The nanocomposite may be used as a luminescent ink for encoding information, or a luminescent film for tagging articles of manufacture such as electronic waste components.

Abstract: Methods for the synthesis of metal quantum clusters within the framework of a porous gel matrix are described. For example, Ag25(glutathione)18 quantum clusters are synthesized in a cross-linked polyacrylamide gel matrix. The methods can be performed on large-scale and yields monodispersed metal quantum clusters.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a focused image of an object is provided. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of images of an object, estimating an initial depth profile of the object, estimating a parallax parameter and a blur parameter for each pixel in the plurality of images and generating a focused image and a corrected depth profile of the object using a posterior energy function. The posterior energy function is based on the estimated parallax parameter and the blur parameter of each pixel in the plurality of images.

Abstract: A method for generating an image is provided. The method includes estimating a high resolution image from a plurality of low resolution images and downsampling the estimated high resolution image to obtain estimates of a plurality of low resolution images. The method also includes generating a desired high resolution image based upon comparison of the downsampled low resolution images and the plurality of low resolution images.

Abstract: Nanocomposite adsorbent materials and methods for their preparation and use are described. As an example, a polyaniline-graphite nanoplatelet nanocomposite may be used to adsorb carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Metal-graphene nanocomposites, metal-oxide-graphene nanocomposites, and method for their preparation are described. According to some embodiments, a metal salt is combined with graphite oxide (GO) to form a metal salt-GO composite. The metal salt-GO composite is reduced to a metal-graphene or metal oxide-graphene nanocomposite material. The metals may be magnetic or non-magnetic. In some embodiments, the reduction is conducted via exposure to intensified electromagnetic radiation, such as focused solar radiation.

Abstract: Methods and systems for modeling a porous physical object for layered manufacturing are provided. A model of an object includes geometric and material porosity models, each of which are divided into two-dimensional layer representations. Each two-dimensional layer represents a cross-section of the geometric model and material porosity model of the object, respectfully. The material porosity layer representations specify a material porosity variation for the layer. Geometric and material porosity contours of the model are created by iso-Z surface extraction for each layer. Using the contours, a boundary constrained line representation of each two-dimensional layer representation is generated using continuous space-filling fractal curves to characterize the material porosity variation for each two-dimensional layer.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to a man-made object comprising a distinctive structure with a feature to identify the object, wherein the object has a size such that the object is observable under visible light, wherein the feature is embedded in or on the object and a size of the feature is such that the feature is not observable under visible light, wherein the feature comprises an attribute originating from the feature, and wherein the attribute defines the feature.

Abstract: Nanocomposite adsorbent materials and methods for their preparation and use are described. As an example, a polyaniline-graphite nanoplatelet nanocomposite may be used to adsorb carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Dendrimer-hydrazides are coupled to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for use in the visual detection of the presence of low levels of fluoride in a sample The dendrimers can have a phenyl core, a first generation of aralkyl ethers, and an optional second generation of aralkyl ethers. The compounds form gels with solvents. In the presence of fluoride ion, the gels undergo color changes and/or gel to liquid phase change.

Abstract: Raman emissions from a sample may be enhanced by using a microsphere to confine the impinging radiation into a photonic nanojet and thereby increase the intensity of the radiation that is striking the sample. The amount of enhancement may be improved by configuring the diameter and refractive index of the microspheres in conjunction with the dispersion and the wavelength of the radiation to increase the intensity of the beam of radiation in the photonic nanojet.

Abstract: Composite materials comprising functionalized graphenes, methods of preparing the composite materials, and methods of using the composite materials are described herein. A composite material comprising reduced graphene oxide, chitosan, and native lactoferrin show much higher antimicrobial activity versus individual reduced graphene oxide, chitosan, and native lactoferrin alone.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for forming a nanofluid coolant and structures including a nanofluid coolant. In an example, a method of forming a nanofluid coolant may comprise combining a compound with an acid and with purified water to form a solution. The compound may include manganese. The method may further include heating the solution and, after heating the solution, cooling the solution effective to form at least one precipitate that includes manganese and oxygen. The method may further include filtering the at least one precipitate to form a powder that includes manganese oxide nanotubes. The method may further include functionalizing the nanotubes by irradiating them with UV radiation. The method may further include combining the functionalized manganese oxide nanotubes with a polar solvent to form the nanofluid coolant.

Abstract: An integrated continuous-time active-RC filter comprises a set of opamp integrators with Operational Transconductance Amplifiers (OTAs). The filter further includes at least one assistant connected between the input and output of each of the integrators of the set to enhance the linearity and speed of the opamp integrators of the set. The assistant comprises a plurality of sets of transconductors connected in parallel to each other wherein each set of transconductors is formed by a pair of MOSFETs connected in series, with one MOSFET operating in the triode region and the other MOSFET operating in the saturation region. The assistant is configured to provide an assistant current to be injected into the source of each of the integrators in the set to enhance the linearity and speed of the opamp integrators of the set.

Abstract: Methods of forming a metal nanoparticle-graphene composite are provided. The methods include providing a functionalized hydrogen exfoliated wrinkled graphene (f-HEG) substrate and dispersing metal nanoparticles on a first major surface of the f-HEG substrate to form the metal nanoparticle-graphene composite.