Abstract: An apparatus comprises a housing defining a chamber that has a liquid disposed therein, and a sensor submerged in the liquid. The sensor comprises a porous conductive film on a substrate, and the film comprises chemiresistive semiconducting metal oxide structures. The sensor also comprises an electrode pair operably connected to the porous conductive film for generating electric current in the film and for detecting a change in an electrical property of the film. The apparatus can be used to detect, identify, and quantify ions and molecules in a liquid sample. Molecules and ions, in a liquid sample, that interact with the porous conductive film can cause a change in an electrical property of the film. The change in electrical property of the film can be correlated with the presence and amount of the molecules or ions.

Abstract: Thermoelectric devices and methods for making and using the devices and their intermediates are provided. Membrane-supported thermoelectric modules are fabricated by dispensing thermoelectric powder into select locations of a membrane to form electrically isolated columns of thermoelectric material. The powder is then sintered or fused to form thermoelectric elements, which are then electrically connected and combined with thermal interface films to form the modules. The modules are the building blocks of electrical current generating, thermoelectric cooling and heat scavenging thermoelectric devices.

Abstract: A tunable notch filter for operation in reflection mode comprises an antenna layer positioned on a transmissive substrate and a mirror layer positioned on a support substrate. The antenna layer and the mirror layer are positioned on opposite sides of a gap and facing each other, the gap having a gap distance. The notch filter is tuned by adjusting the gap distance between the antenna layer and the mirror layer. Tuning the notch filter to a selected state can cause the filter to selectively attenuate the reflection of at least some electromagnetic radiation that is incident on the transmissive substrate and enters the notch filter.

Abstract: A light field relay has an array of microlenses, an array of transducers, and an array of output optics. Microlenses focus one or more than one selected portions of an incident light field to separate corresponding transducers. Each corresponding transducer receives and transduces a single portion of focused light and emits the transduced light. Corresponding different output optics substantially collimate the transduced light and emit the substantially collimated light as an emitted light field. The light field relay may collect infrared light in one or more selected portions of an incident light field, transduce the infrared light to visible light, substantially collimate the transduced visible light, and emit a visible light field.

Abstract: Methods use a tunable notch filter for constructing a spectral map of electromagnetic radiation in a selected spectral band that is incident on a notch filter for a plurality of time periods. Electromagnetic radiation is passed by an electronically tuned notch filter to a detector array for the plurality of selected time periods, and the detector response is determined. For at least a first selected time period the notch filter is tuned to selectively attenuate the passing of one or more selected sub-bands of electromagnetic radiation in the selected spectral band. Information about the selectively attenuated radiation is determined and used along with information about the radiation passed to the detector array for each time period to construct a spectral map. Electronically tunable notch filters may be made with metamaterials such as patterned graphene.

Abstract: Thermoelectric devices have an electrically conductive connector for connecting thermoelectric modules. The electrically conductive connector is a compliant mechanism having a first connecting region and a second connecting region that are rigid bodies and an elastically deformable region that is a flexible member positioned between the first and second connecting regions. The electrically conductive compliant mechanism connector enables facile manufacture and assembly of thermoelectric devices of various sizes and shapes that are conformable to irregularly shaped objects and body parts.

Abstract: Methods use a tunable notch filter for constructing a spectral map of electromagnetic radiation in a selected spectral band that is incident on a notch filter for a plurality of time periods. Electromagnetic radiation is passed by an electronically tuned notch filter to a detector array for the plurality of selected time periods, and the detector response is determined. For at least a first selected time period the notch filter is tuned to selectively attenuate the passing of one or more selected sub-bands of electromagnetic radiation in the selected spectral band. Information about the selectively attenuated radiation is determined and used along with information about the radiation passed to the detector array for each time period to construct a spectral map. Electronically tunable notch filters may be made with metamaterials such as patterned graphene.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a housing defining a chamber that has a liquid disposed therein, and a sensor submerged in the liquid. The sensor comprises a porous conductive film on a substrate, and the film comprises chemiresistive semiconducting metal oxide structures. The sensor also comprises an electrode pair operably connected to the porous conductive film for generating electric current in the film and for detecting a change in an electrical property of the film. The apparatus can be used to detect, identify, and quantify ions and molecules in a liquid sample. Molecules and ions, in a liquid sample, that interact with the porous conductive film can cause a change in an electrical property of the film. The change in electrical property of the film can be correlated with the presence and amount of the molecules or ions.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of thermoelectric compositions and devices. Thermoelectric compositions comprise thermoelectric material in a flexible membrane that comprises structural material and voids. Thermoelectric subassemblies comprise thermoelectric material and electrical contact material along and on and surrounding structural material of the flexible membrane. Thermoelectric subassemblies can comprise thermoelectric elements positioned end-to-end in a flexible membrane that can be bent and positioned in a housing that can be adapted to accommodate various types of thermoelectric devices. Methods for making and using thermoelectric compositions, subassemblies, and devices are described.

Abstract: A tunable notch filter for operation in reflection mode comprises an antenna layer positioned on a transmissive substrate and a mirror layer positioned on a support substrate. The antenna layer and the mirror layer are positioned on opposite sides of a gap and facing each other, the gap having a gap distance. The notch filter is tuned by adjusting the gap distance between the antenna layer and the mirror layer. Tuning the notch filter to a selected state can cause the filter to selectively attenuate the reflection of at least some electromagnetic radiation that is incident on the transmissive substrate and enters the notch filter.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a housing defining a chamber that has a liquid disposed therein, and a sensor submerged in the liquid. The sensor comprises a porous conductive film on a substrate, and the film comprises chemiresistive semiconducting metal oxide structures. The sensor also comprises an electrode pair operably connected to the porous conductive film for generating electric current in the film and for detecting a change in an electrical property of the film. The apparatus can be used to detect, identify, and quantify ions and molecules in a liquid sample. Molecules and ions, in a liquid sample, that interact with the porous conductive film can cause a change in an electrical property of the film. The change in electrical property of the film can be correlated with the presence and amount of the molecules or ions.

Abstract: A magnetoelastic sensor is provided for analyzing strain induced by a force causing mechanical deformation of a region of a substrate. The sensor includes a substrate that has a non-deformable region and a mechanically deformable region, the mechanically deformable region coupled to the non-deformable region by a linking structure. The sensor also has a transformer having a magnetic flux guide. The flux guide includes a magnetoelastic section having a magnetoelastic subsection configured to be strainable by deformation of the mechanically deformable region. In transformer embodiments, one or more drive coil and/or pickup coil has a width greater than the minimal width of the linking structure. Sensor embodiments include numerous configurations. The sensor is useful in methods for analyzing strain and force.

Abstract: Analyte filter arrays and methods for making an analyte filter array are provided. The arrays are formed using a dispersion of filter particles having selected moieties attached to the surface of the particles and a microarray having complementary moieties formed in an array on a substrate, such that each filter particle is attached to a selected region of the microarray. The moiety on the substrate may be RNA or DNA or other molecule. The substrate may be a surface of a detector array, a membrane that may be placed in registration with the detector array or a stamp used to transfer the filter array to a detector array.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a housing defining a chamber that has a liquid disposed therein, and a sensor submerged in the liquid. The sensor comprises a porous conductive film on a substrate, and the film comprises chemiresistive semiconducting metal oxide structures. The sensor also comprises an electrode pair operably connected to the porous conductive film for generating electric current in the film and for detecting a change in an electrical property of the film. The apparatus can be used to detect, identify, and quantify ions and molecules in a liquid sample. Molecules and ions, in a liquid sample, that interact with the porous conductive film can cause a change in an electrical property of the film. The change in electrical property of the film can be correlated with the presence and amount of the molecules or ions.

Abstract: Methods and sensors for detection and quantification of one or more analyte in a test sample are described. A response profile of a gas sensor to a control sample of a known interrogator gas is determined. The gas sensor is exposed to a test sample then to a second sample comprising the known interrogator gas, and a test sample response profile of the gas sensor is determined. One or more test sample sensor response profiles are compared with one or more control sensor response profiles for detecting, identifying, and quantifying one or more analytes in the test sample.

Abstract: Methods and sensors for detection and quantification of one or more analyte in a test sample are described. A response profile of an ion sensor to a control sample of a known interrogator ion is determined. The ion sensor is exposed to a test sample then to a second sample comprising the known interrogator ion, and a test sample response profile of the ion sensor is determined. One or more test sample sensor response profiles are compared with one or more control sensor response profiles for detecting, identifying, and quantifying one or more analytes in the test sample.

Abstract: A rectifier is provided for converting an oscillating electromagnetic field into a direct current and comprises an electrically conductive antenna layer configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation, an electrically conductive mirror layer configured to provide an electromagnetic mirror charge of the antenna layer, an electrically insulating tunnel barrier layer positioned between the antenna layer and the mirror layer, and an electronic circuit electrically connected between the conductive mirror layer and the conductive antenna layer. The rectifier employs a metamaterial configuration for room temperature rectification of radiation in regions of the electromagnetic spectrum comprising the MWIR and LWIR regions. Methods for use of the rectifier in rectifying and detecting radiation are described.

Abstract: Analyte filter arrays and methods for making an analyte filter array are provided. The arrays are formed using a dispersion of filter particles having selected moieties attached to the surface of the particles and a microarray having complementary moieties formed in an array on a substrate, such that each filter particle is attached to a selected region of the microarray. The moiety on the substrate may be RNA or DNA or other molecule. The substrate may be a surface of a detector array, a membrane that may be placed in registration with the detector array or a stamp used to transfer the filter array to a detector array.

Abstract: Methods and sensors for detection and quantification of one or more analyte in a test sample are described. A response profile of a gas sensor to a control sample of a known interrogator gas is determined. The gas sensor is exposed to a test sample then to a second sample comprising the known interrogator gas, and a test sample response profile of the gas sensor is determined. One or more test sample sensor response profiles are compared with one or more control sensor response profiles for detecting, identifying, and quantifying one or more analytes in the test sample.

Abstract: Methods and sensors for the detection, identification, and quantification of one or more gas species, including volatile organic compounds, in a test sample are described. Methods employ gas sensors comprising a diffusion matrix present on the sensor surface. A gas analyte in a test sample diffuses through the matrix and is detected upon interaction of the analyte with the sensor. A response profile of a gas sensor to a gas analyte in the test sample is compared to a control gas sensor response profile determined in a similar manner for a known gas species. Comparisons of test sample and control sample sensor response profiles enable detection, identification, and quantification of a gas species analyte in a test sample.