Abstract: Devices including graphene quantum dots yield extremely high performance THz bolometers, by measuring the current of hot electrons formed in the graphene source and drain electrodes of the device and propagating through the graphene quantum dot connected thereto. Devices may also include additional materials such as MoS2, as well as one or more gate electrodes to alter performance as needed.

Abstract: Optical devices that include one or more structures fabricated from polar-dielectric materials that exhibit surface phonon polaritons (SPhPs), where the SPhPs alter the optical properties of the structure. The optical properties lent to these structures by the SPhPs are altered by introducing charge carriers directly into the structures. The carriers can be introduced into these structures, and the carrier concentration thereby controlled, through optical pumping or the application of an appropriate electrical bias.

Abstract: A method of singulating semiconductor devices in the close proximity to active structures by controlling interface charge of semiconductor device sidewalls is provided that includes forming a scribe on a surface of a semiconductor devices, where the scribe is within 5 degrees of a crystal lattice direction of the semiconductor device, cleaving the semiconductor device along the scribe, where the devices are separated, using a coating process to coat the sidewalls of the cleaved semiconductor device with a passivation material, where the passivation material is disposed to provide a fixed charge density at a semiconductor interface of the sidewalls, and where the fixed charge density interacts with charge carriers in the bulk of the material.

Abstract: A method of immersing an electrode in an electroplating solution while under vacuum, to substantially eliminate air and/or other gas from microscopic holes, cavities or indentations in the electrode. A method of electroplating an electrode in an electroplating solution including the application of a vacuum to the electrode while it is immersed in the electroplating solution to thereby substantially eliminate air and/or other gas from microscopic holes, cavities or indentations in the electrode. The electroplating liquid may be applied to only one side of the electrode (“the wet side”) in which case, sufficient time is allowed to pass for the immersion liquid to fill the microscopic through-holes, cavities or indentations in the electrode. An enhancement of this mode is to force liquid through the microscopic holes from the wet side. A highly penetrating solvent may be used as an immersion liquid.

Abstract: A ligand design allows compact nanoparticle materials, such as quantum dots (QDs), with excellent colloidal stability over a wide range of pH and under high salt concentrations. Self-assembled biomolecular conjugates with QDs can be obtained which are stable in biological environments. Energy transfer with these ligands is maximized by minimizing distances between QDs/nanoparticles and donors/acceptors directly attached to the ligands or assembled on their surfaces.

Abstract: A composition comprising india stabilized gadolinia wherein the india stablilized gadolinia is an oxide with a direct substitution of the indium ion for the gadolinia ion resulting in a compound with the formula InxGd2-xO3.

Abstract: System and method for detecting cloud shadows over water from ocean color imagery received from remote sensors.

Abstract: A composite material formulated for slow release of a small molecule in seawater includes a porous inorganic oxide framework and micelles embedded within the pores of the framework. The micelles include a surfactant and a small molecule, the surfactant being present in the composite material at no more than 80 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight inorganic oxide, the composite material being stable in seawater for releasing the small molecule over at least 20 days.

Abstract: A source signal is converted into a time-variant temperature field with transduction into mechanical motion. In one embodiment, the conversion of a source signal into the time-variant temperature field is provided by utilizing a micro-fabricated fast response, bolometer-type radio frequency power meter. A resonant-type micromechanical thermal actuator may be utilized for temperature read-out and demodulation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for remotely detecting nuclear and non-nuclear materials such as chemical agents and gas-phase explosives are disclosed. Nuclear and non-nuclear materials may be detected by transmitting electromagnetic energy toward a remote target area, collecting scattered electromagnetic energy reflected from the remote target area, analyzing an absorption spectrum of the collected scattered electromagnetic energy, and detecting a presence of at least one nuclear or non-nuclear material in the remote target area based on the analyzed absorption spectrum.

Abstract: An apparatus for creating sheathed flow includes an inlet section comprising an array of tubes including at least one sheath inlet port and a sample inlet port, a flow focusing section downstream from the inlet section, an optical access section downstream from the flow focusing region and comprising opposing flat surfaces, and an outlet section downstream from the optical access section, wherein the apparatus is operable to create a sheathed flow around a fluid introduced into the sample inlet port and to maintain the sheathed flow through the optical access section. Applications of the apparatus and method include bead/particle counting, flow cytometry, waveguiding, and fluid control.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting nuclear material concealed within an enclosure are provided. An ionized air density is measured at one or more locations outside of the enclosure. The presence of the concealed nuclear material is detected, for each of the one or more locations, based on a characteristic of the measured ionized air density indicative of concealed nuclear materials.

Abstract: A source signal is converted into a time-variant temperature field with transduction into mechanical motion. In one embodiment, the conversion of a source signal into the time-variant temperature field is provided by utilizing a micro-fabricated fast response, bolometer-type radio frequency power meter. A resonant-type micromechanical thermal actuator may be utilized for temperature read-out and demodulation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an article having: a substrate and a RuO2 coating having nanoparticles of RuO2. Also disclosed herein is an article having: a substrate and a RuO2 coating. The coating is made by: immersing the substrate in a solution of RuO4 and a nonpolar solvent at a temperature that is below the temperature at which RuO4 decomposes to RuO2 and warming the substrate and solution to ambient temperature under ambient conditions to cause the formation of the coating.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition having a thermoset polymer and a plurality of hollow microsphere homogenously dispersed in the composition. The polymer is a cyanate ester thermoset, a phthalonitrile thermoset, a crosslinked acetylene thermoset, or a hydrosilation thermoset. Also disclosed herein is a method of: providing a thermosetting compound; adding microspheres to the thermosetting compound; and mixing the thermosetting compound while initiating crosslinking of the thermosetting compound.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition having: a polymer having a carbosilane or siloxane backbone and pendant hydrogen-bond acidic groups; and a filler material having polar groups. The polymer is not covalently bound to the filler material.

Abstract: Methods and systems for object identification and/or authentication.

Abstract: A spatially organized polymer nanostructured thin film and a ligand adsorbate attached to the polymer nanostructured thin film and, optionally, an additional material or materials attached to the ligand adsorbate. A method for forming a structure by: providing a spatially organized polymer nanostructured thin film and a ligand adsorbate, and adsorbing the ligand adsorbate onto the thin film and, optionally, binding additional material or materials to the ligand adsorbate.

Abstract: A polymer film comprising at least two layers, wherein each layer comprises a compound comprising the formula: wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected organic groups. A method of making a polymer film comprising the steps of: providing a monomer solution comprising one or more monomers comprising the formula: wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected organic groups; dispensing the monomer solution onto a substrate; heating the monomer solution on the substrate to polymerize the monomer; and repeating the steps of providing a monomer solution, dispensing, and heating one or more times, wherein the spin-coating is performed on top of the prior spin-coated layer.

Abstract: A method for depositing particles onto a substrate. In one embodiment, the method providing a plurality of particles in a solvent or a matrix of solvents to form a solution; freezing the solution to form a target having a surface; irradiating the target with a light of a wavelength in the infrared region which is resonant with a vibrational mode of the target so as to vaporize the particles in the target without decomposing the particles; and depositing the vaporized particles onto the substrate at a deposition rate to form a film of particles thereon, where the substrate is positioned such that the substrate and the target define a distance therebetween.