Abstract: A method for electrically coupling a pad and a front face of a pillar, including shaping the front face pillar, the front face having at least partially a convex surface, applying a suspension to the front face or to the pad, wherein the suspension includes a carrier fluid, electrically conducting microparticles and electrically conducting nanoparticles, arranging the front face of the pillar opposite to the pad at a distance such that the carrier fluid bridges at least partially a gap between the front face of the pillar and the pad, evaporating the carrier fluid thereby confining the microparticles and the nanoparticles, and thereby arranging the nanoparticles and the microparticles as percolation paths between the front face of the pillar and the pad, and sintering the arranged nanoparticles for forming metallic bonds at least between the nanoparticles and/or between the nanoparticles and the front face of the pillar or the pad.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink composition suitable for applications onto solar cells. Specifically, the invention describes several compositions, using nickel/silicon alloys which have been found to be particularly effective contact metallization of emitter layers. The ratio of nickel to silicon in claimed invention is in the range of 0.1:1 to 1:0.1.

Abstract: A method for filling a via on a printed circuit board formulates a paste as a dispersion of copper particulate that includes nanocopper particles in a solvent and a binder and depositing the paste into a via cavity formed in the printed circuit board. Heating the paste-filled cavity removes most of the solvent. The method sinters the deposited paste in the via cavity, planarizes the sintered via, and overplates the filled via with copper.

Abstract: A fine particle comprising a core and a coating, wherein the coating comprises a substantially monomolecular layer of organic molecules. The fine particle being produced by a process comprising introducing a core material into a plasma stream, thereby vaporizing some or all of the core material; cooling the core material downstream from where the core material was introduced thereby creating particles of the core material; and coating the particles of the core material with organic molecules in an injection zone, wherein the injection zone is downstream of a region where the particles of core material are formed, or wherein the cooled particles of core material are coated with organic molecules in a coating chamber by applying a liquid coating material and/or a solution of coating material to the core material; where in the coating chamber is downstream of a region wherein the particles of core material are formed.

Abstract: A composition for forming a seed layer, the composition comprising: (a.) a first metal fine particle; and (b.) a metallic component selected from a metal oxide fine particle, an organic metal complex, a second metal fine particle, and combinations thereof, wherein the second metal fine particle has a greater affinity for oxygen than the first fine particle. A seed layer as defined, and a coating including a seed layer and the use of this coating. Further, the invention relates to a method of forming a seed layer comprising applying a composition comprising a first metal fine particle, and a metallic component selected from a metal oxide fine particle, an organic metal complex, a second fine metal particle, and combinations thereof, wherein the second metal fine particle has a greater affinity for oxygen than the first metal fine particle to a surface of a substrate, and setting the composition.

Abstract: Method for printing high resolution features on a substrate, the method comprising: depositing a nanoparticle ink, comprising metal/semi-metal nanoparticles and an adhesive compound, having a binder on a substrate; and applying a laser beam, directly on some or all of the deposited nanoparticle ink to define the print feature, wherein the laser beam is configured to remove the nanoparticle coating or binder thereby allowing the adhesive compound to bond to the nanoparticles and the laser beam is further configured to transform the ink to form a metal/semi-metal structure. The remaining uncured structure can be easily washed away using standard developer solutions such as sodium or potassium hydroxide.

Abstract: Apparatus for curing of nanoparticle material, the apparatus comprising: a receptacle for receiving a substrate upon which a laser of the nanoparticle ink has been placed; and a laser bar diode array comprising a first bar diode laser, the array configured to emit a laser as a continuous wave and to cure the deposited nanoparticle material.

Abstract: Oral hygiene compositions suitable for use as dentifrice compositions comprising a silicon abrasive agent are provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a pattern of a nanoparticle-based ink on a substrate has a printing apparatus that is energizable to deposit the nanoparticle-based ink in a pattern on a surface of the substrate. An illumination apparatus is energizable to direct a patterned illumination to cure the deposited ink pattern on the substrate, the illumination apparatus having an array having at least a first and a second laser diode, each laser diode coupled to a channel in a laser light coupling element through an optical fiber and having an illumination lens disposed to direct illumination from the coupling element onto the surface of the substrate. A transport apparatus is energizable to provide relative motion between the substrate and the illumination apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of fine particles, the process comprising introducing a susceptor material into a plasma stream thereby vaporising some or all of the susceptor material; cooling the susceptor material downstream from where the susceptor material was introduced, thereby creating particles of the susceptor material; applying energy selected from electromagnetic radiation of wavelength shorter than the optical band gap of the susceptor material, sound waves, photons, or a combination thereof, to the particles; and modifying the density of defects of the particles. Also described is a fine particle comprising a core comprising a susceptor material and a coating comprising functionality selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or combinations thereof, and a C6-C24 alkyl. A dispersion comprising a dispersed phase and a continuous phase, wherein the dispersed phased comprises a multiplicity of the fine particles.

Abstract: A conductive paste for screen application to a substrate has a mixture of copper particles having a mean diameter between 1.0-5.0 micrometers and polymer-coated copper nanoparticles having a mean diameter from 10 nm to 100 nm. The ratio of the copper particles to the nanoparticles is between 2:1 and 5:1 by weight. The paste has a resin comprising a binder portion and a solvent portion, wherein the binder portion is about half of the resin by weight, and a plasticizer having a boiling point above about 200 degrees C., wherein the plasticizer is from 1-3% of the paste, by weight.

Abstract: A conductive paste for screen application has a mixture of copper flake having a mean diameter between 1.0-8.0 micrometers and copper nanoparticles having a mean diameter from 10 nm to 100 nm, wherein the ratio of the copper flake to the nanoparticles is between 2:1 and 5:1 by weight; and a resin comprising about half of a polymer having a molecular weight in excess of 10,000 and one or more solvents.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a pattern of a nanoparticle-based ink on a surface of a substrate has a surface conditioning apparatus for conditioning at least a portion of the surface for adhesion of the nanoparticle-based ink; a printing apparatus that is energizable to deposit the pattern of nanoparticle-based ink on the conditioned portion of the surface of the substrate; an illumination apparatus that is energizable to direct illumination energy to cure the deposited ink pattern on the substrate surface; and a transport apparatus that is energizable to provide relative motion between the substrate and the illumination apparatus.

Abstract: An ink composition for printing conductive layers on a variety of substrates is disclosed. The ink composition comprises polymer encapsulated copper nanoparticles, a primary glycol solvent, an alcohol and a diol monoether. The inventive ink is characterized by excellent jettability and freedom from nozzle-plate flooding. Ink surface tensions are in the range of 34 to 37 mN/m and viscosities are less than 41 cP.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a pattern of a nanoparticle-based ink on a substrate has a printing apparatus that is energizable to deposit the nanoparticle-based ink in a pattern on a surface of the substrate. An illumination apparatus is energizable to direct a patterned illumination to cure the deposited ink pattern on the substrate, the illumination apparatus having an array having at least a first and a second laser diode, each laser diode coupled to a channel in a laser light coupling element through an optical fiber and having an illumination lens disposed to direct illumination from the coupling element onto the surface of the substrate. A transport apparatus is energizable to provide relative motion between the substrate and the illumination apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a pattern of a nanoparticle ink on a substrate has a transport apparatus that is energizable to move the substrate in a direction and a printing apparatus that deposits the nanoparticle ink in a pattern on a surface of the moving substrate. An illumination apparatus directs a patterned illumination to cure the deposited ink pattern on the moving substrate, the illumination apparatus having a light source that generates light directed toward a uniformizer, a spatial light modulator energizable to form a patterned illumination from the uniformized light, and an illumination lens disposed to direct illumination from the spatial light modulator onto the surface of the moving substrate.

Abstract: A fine particle comprising a core and a coating, wherein the coating comprises a substantially monomolecular layer of organic molecules. The fine particle being produced by a process comprising introducing a core material into a plasma stream, thereby vapourising some or all of the core material; cooling the core material downstream from where the core material was introduced thereby creating particles of the core material; and coating the particles of the core material with organic molecules in an injection zone, wherein the injection zone is downstream of a region where the particles of core material are formed, or wherein the cooled particles of core material are coated with organic molecules in a coating chamber by applying a liquid coating material and/or a solution of coating material to the core material; where in the coating chamber is downstream of a region wherein the particles of core material are formed.

Abstract: A consumer care composition or a food composition comprising a mesoporous microparticulate material wherein at least some of the pores of the material are loaded with at least one ingredient and the loaded mesoporous microparticulate material is encapsulated by a capping layer is described.

Abstract: The present invention provides the use of nanoparticles of a compound of general formula MnXy, where M is (i) a metal selected from the group consisting of Calcium (Ca), Aluminium (Al), Zinc (Zn), Nickel (Ni), Tungsten (W) or Copper (Cu); or (ii) a non-metal selected from the group consisting of Silicon (Si), Boron (B) or Carbon (C); in which n is equal to 1, 2, or 3, and X is (iii) a non-metal selected from the group consisting of Oxygen (O), Nitrogen (N), or Carbon (C); or (iv) an anion selected from the group consisting of phosphate (PO43?), hydrogen phosphate (HPO42?), dihydrogen phosphate (H2PO4?), carbonate (CO3), silicate (SiO42?), sulphate (SO42?), nitrate (NO3?), nitrite (NO2?); in which y is equal to 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; for use in reducing and/or preventing virus transmission. Articles of protective clothing or filters are provided in which the fibres are coated with said nanoparticles for use in reducing and/or preventing virus transmission.

Abstract: Oral hygiene compositions suitable for use as dentifrice compositions comprising a silicon abrasive agent are provided.