Abstract: A low printing temperature thermoplastic filament composition for fused filament fabrication 3D printing is described. The filament includes polycaprolactone in an amount from 70 to 90 wt %, at least one thermoplastic polymer having a melting temperature between approximately 60° C. and approximately 90° C. in an amount from approximately 10 to 30 wt %, at least one antioxidant, and at least one plasticizing agent. This 3D printing filament can be printed out at temperatures below 100° C. and no heated print bed is needed, which saves energy and minimizes the complexity of 3D printer. Besides the low printing temperature, this 3D printing material is bio-friendly which makes it safe for household use.

Abstract: To fabricate a perovskite solar cell (PSC), a printable carbon electrode is formed on an uppermost layer, either a perovskite layer or an interface layer thereon, of a partially-completed PSC. A carbon ink is first prepared by dispersing carbon materials in a mixture of a polymer binder and a solvent. Then the carbon ink is screen-printed on the uppermost layer to form a wet film thereon. The wet film is baked with a baking temperature not exceeding 100° C. to evaporate the solvent to form the carbon electrode. Advantageously, the wet film is pressed with a pressure during baking such that the carbon electrode becomes denser and yields a lower sheet resistance when compared to one formed without being pressed. Preferably the pressure is at least 16,000 Pa. Experimental results show that the percentage reduction of sheet resistance can reach 40%.

Abstract: Synthetic aggregates are fabricated from greater than approximately 70 wt % waste starting materials. Starting materials may be selected from granulated ground blast furnace slag, waste concrete fines, or sewage sludge ash, and mixtures thereof. The starting materials are bound together by a hydraulic cementitious binder either added to the starting materials or formed in situ. The waste starting materials, binder, and water are formed into pellets and subjected to a hydraulic reaction and carbonation in an atmosphere of greater than approximately 50% carbon dioxide at temperatures less than approximately 100° C. The resulting synthetic aggregate has a crush strength after a period of hardening equal to or greater than approximately 0.5 MPa.

Abstract: Provided herein is a nanoparticle comprising a metal core and a polymer shell coating the metal core useful as a magnetic resonance contrast agent.

Abstract: A filtration barrier comprises at least one barrier layer which includes polymeric nanofibers interlaced with microfibers, and at least one substrate layer which includes polymeric microfibers. The filtration barrier can be made by electrospinning process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nanoemulsion for transdermal delivery. The presently claimed invention provides chemical formulations for preparing a nanoemulsion, and the methods for preparing the nanoemulsion. The nanoemulsion has desirable particle size for efficient transdermal delivery, and doesn't involve any organic solvent which is harmful to human skin. The corresponding fabrication method is simple.

Abstract: A method of designing and modifying electrode materials for a battery device is disclosed in this invention. The method includes constructing a first principle model for battery electrode material properties estimation and screening. The method also includes applying a structural and compositional modification on the first principle model. In some embodiments, the method includes developing a hybrid physical model to estimate the battery cell cycling behavior with the calculated and experimental parameters. The method and the simulation models have the advantage that both atomic level and physical structure will be considered for the battery electrode and its modified derivatives with small compositional or structural changes. Therefore, both the time consumption and accuracy for battery electrode material designing and modification for specific application requirements can be improved.

Abstract: The present invention provides transparent semiconducting films for constructing a translucent electrode that possess a high transparency and low sheet resistance. Further, the transparent semiconducting films have a high light diffusion property, which is capable to be a translucent front/back electrode in a light-emitting device for improving the light emission efficiency and a front/intermediate/back electrode in a multi-junction solar cell for improving the light trapping effect. Related fabrication method and how they are applied in different fields are also provided in the present invention.

Abstract: A high-workability, fire-resistant, anti-spalling concrete composition is provided. The concrete composition has a slump value of at least approximately 150 mm, a fire-resistant period of at least 4 hours, a compressive strength of at least 120 MPa at room temperature, and a compressive strength of at least 20 MPa at 700° C. The composition includes cement, fly ash, silica fume, aggregate particles having a particle size D90 of approximately 20 mm or less and superplasticizer. The composition includes fiber additives including steel fibers in an amount ranging between approximately 0.1% and approximately 0.4% by volume of the concrete composition and polypropylene fibers having a melting point of approximately 200° C. or less in an amount ranging between approximately 0.05% and 0.3% by volume of the concrete composition. Carbon nanotubes are also present in an amount ranging between approximately 0.1% and approximately 0.3% by volume of the concrete composition.

Abstract: Provided are wireless temperature sensors. A temperature sensor with a flexible, large-area printed thermistor can include an negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor for temperature sensing, a control circuitry for electrically connecting with the NTC thermistor and obtaining the temperature sensed by the NTC thermistor, a power source for providing power supply to the NTC thermistor and the control circuitry, and a frame element for supporting the NTC thermistor, the control circuitry and the power source, where the frame element is at least partially thermally insulated to establish thermal equilibrium within the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor can sense the temperature in a fast and accurate way due to fast thermal equilibrium established within the sensor.

Abstract: A self-regenerating chitosan based filter medium for disinfecting and purifying organic pollutants and other pollutants in a gas or liquid is disclosed herein. Porosity and surface charge of said filter medium is manipulative/tunable by varying one or more of the following parameter(s): concentration of chitosan, crosslinking density, amount of copolymers and additives, freezing temperature, freezing profile, and/or types of crosslinker used. The present filter medium is capable of self-regenerating under exposure to ultra-violet light for sufficient time and removing over 90% of the pollutants from each influent flowing through the filter medium.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention provides a coating composition for an antimicrobial coating, and a method for synthesizing the coating composition. A coating method for deposition of the antibacterial coating is also provided. The antimicrobial coating of the present invention is effective in providing antimicrobial function, easy to be manufactured, stable and durable.

Abstract: The present invention provides photopolymer compositions for 3D printing which have low viscosity, proper curing rate, low volume shrinkage, and low ash content. Such compositions may be used in 3D printing for direct investment casting of products and rapid prototyping.

Abstract: The present application provides a method of continuous flow synthesis of core/shell quantum dots doped polymer mats (QD-MAT), including mixing a first core precursor with a second core precursor and feeding the reaction mixture into a first furnace to obtain quantum dot cores; feeding a first shell precursor and a second shell precursor into a second furnace and simultaneously injecting the quantum dot cores to obtain core/shell quantum dots; mixing the core/shell quantum dots with a polymer solution to obtain a QD-polymer composite; and introducing the QD-polymer composite to an electrospinning system to fabricate the core/shell quantum dots doped polymer mats. The present application also provides a method of correcting emission spectrum of light emitting devices with the core/shell quantum dots doped polymer mats with light diffusing properties which can be used to replace the diffuser layer of light emitting devices.

Abstract: The present application provides a sublimation ink which is capable of being transferred to natural fiber fabrics, such as cotton and linen, in addition to synthetic fabrics, such as polyester, nylon, etc., and shows significantly improved color fastness. The sublimation ink may include a resin containing at least one active hydrogen, a crosslinking agent having at least two isocyanate (—NCO) groups, and one or more colorants. The sublimation ink may also include one or more carriers, binders, thickeners, and/or solvents. An image can be printed on a transfer medium (e.g. paper) at room temperature with the sublimation ink using conventional offset printer so that the sublimation ink remains inactive. The image can be subsequently transferred onto any desired fabrics under heat and pressure, in which the sublimation ink is activated and bonds the colorant to the fabrics with excellent color effect.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for forming a lightweight, low shrinkage and hydrophobic cementitious matrix, and a method for preparing thereof. The present cementitious matrix formed by the composition is lightweight, hydrophobic (or water repelling) and with low shrinkage which is useful in building and construction industry as non-structural wall resistant to water, heat and sound entry. The present invention also provides a method of preparing the composition and the cementitious matrix formed from the composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biodegradable microdepot delivery system for topical delivery of active ingredients through the skin surface of a subject. The configuration, dimension, and chemical composition of the microdepots allow a relatively short dissolution time of less than 5 minutes while insertion ratio of the microdepots can reach more than 60%, some of which can even reach about 97%, under exertion of a relatively low pressing force. The present invention also provides a method for fabricating the biodegradable microdepot delivery system and a polymeric solution for forming the same.

Abstract: A nano-modified dry-mixed alkali-activated cementitious, or one-part geopolymer cement (OPgC), material with high early strength is provided for rapid repair of cement-based infrastructure components. The OPgC may include an aluminosilicate rich material, an alkali material and a nano-modifier, and optionally include other functional admixtures and fibers. The OPgC can be freshly mixed with water to obtain a repairing material. The OPgC may mix with water and fine or coarse aggregate to form mortar or concrete. The OPgC can be an alternative binding matrix for the development of an environmentally friendly and cost effective rapid repair material.

Abstract: Novel low-pressure nanofiltration membrane composites for rejecting organic compounds are prepared by interfacial polymerization on a microporous hollow fiber supporting membrane. The interfacial polymerization reaction is carried out using an essentially monomeric polyamine reactant having at least two amine functional groups per molecule, and an essentially monomeric amine-reactive polyfunctional aromatic or cycloaliphatic acyl halide having at least two acyl halide groups per molecule. The composite can be fabricated by stepwise polymerization reactions with different reactant recipes at each step.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal photo-alignment layer that is composed of polymer stabilized azo dyes is provided, where a polymer network is introduced in the photo-alignment layer for stabilization. The photo-alignment layer is realized based on a two-step irradiation to first achieve molecule alignment to form the photo-alignment layer and then stabilize this layer. To realize the photo-alignment layer, a pre-determined surface of the substrate is first coated with a film of mixture. The mixture comprises an azo dye and a monomer preferably mixed in an optimal concentration of 0.67 wt/wt. The azo dye and the monomer have light-absorption peaks at different wavelengths such that photo-alignment of the azo-dye molecules and stabilization of the photo-alignment layer by polymerization of the monomer are achievable by two separate exposures of light to the film.