Abstract: A method for depositing a functional material on a substrate is disclosed. A plate having a first surface and a second surface is provided. A layer of light scattering material is applied onto the first surface of the plate, and a layer of reflective material is applied onto the second surface of the plate. After a group of wells has been formed on the second surface of the plate, a layer of light-absorbing material is applied on the second surface of the plate. Next, the wells are filled with a functional material. The plate is then irradiated with a pulse of light to heat the light-absorbing material in order to generate gas at an interface between the light-absorbing material and the functional material to release the functional material from the wells onto a receiving substrate.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to uses of novel nanomaterial composition and the systems in which they are used, and more particularly to nanomaterial compositions generally comprising carbon and a metal, which composition can be exposed to pulsed emissions to react, activate, combine, or sinter the nanomaterial composition. The nanomaterial compositions can alternatively be utilized at ambient temperature or under other means to cause such reaction, activation, combination, or sintering to occur.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delaminating a polymer film from a carrier plate is disclosed. The carrier plate is at least partially transparent and has deposited on it a pixelated pattern layer of light-absorptive material, upon which is deposited a layer of light-reflective material. A polymer film, which is to be delaminated, is deposited on the light-reflecting material layer. Next, a pulsed light source is utilized to irradiate through the carrier plate from the side opposite the polymer film to heat the light-absorptive material layer. The heated areas of the light-absorptive material layer, in turn, heat the polymer film through conduction at the interface between the light-absorptive material layer and the polymer film, thereby generating gas from the polymer film by its thermal decomposition, which allows the polymer film to be released from the carrier plate.

Abstract: A method for producing an electrically conductive thin film on a substrate is disclosed. Initially, a reducible metal compound and a reducing agent are dispersed in a liquid. The dispersion is then deposited on a substrate as a thin film. The thin film along with the substrate is subsequently exposed to a pulsed electromagnetic emission to chemically react with the reducible metal compound and the reducing agent such that the thin film becomes electrically conductive.

Abstract: A method for depositing a functional material on a substrate is disclosed. A plate having a first surface and a second surface is provided. A layer of light scattering material is applied onto the first surface of the plate, and a layer of reflective material is applied onto the second surface of the plate. After a group of wells has been formed on the second surface of the plate, a layer of light-absorbing material is applied on the second surface of the plate. Next, the wells are partially filled with a functional material. The plate is then irradiated with a pulse of light to heat the light-absorbing material between the bottom of the well and the functional material. This heats the gas in the tillage between the light absorbing material and the functional material to increase the pressure in gas to expel the functional material from the wells onto a receiving substrate.

Abstract: A method for depositing a functional material on a substrate is disclosed. An optically transparent plate having a first surface and a second surface with one or more wells is provided. After coating the second surface with a thin layer of light-absorbing material, the wells are filled with a functional material. The plate is then irradiated with a pulsed light to heat the layer of light-absorbing material in order to generate gas at an interface between the layer of light-absorbing material and the functional material to release the functional material from the wells onto a receiving substrate located adjacent to the plate.

Abstract: A method for forming thin film conductors is disclosed. A thin film precursor material is initially deposited onto a porous substrate. The thin film precursor material is then irradiated with a light pulse in order to transform the thin film precursor material to a thin film such that the thin film is more electrically conductive than the thin film precursor material. Finally, compressive stress is applied to the thin film and the porous substrate to further increase the thin film's electrical conductivity.

Abstract: An energetic material composite comprising fuel particles and a hydrated compound is disclosed. The energetic material composite is formed by dispersing fuel particles, which have a negative standard reduction potential relative to a standard hydrogen electrode, in a solvent containing dissolved hydrate, followed by a removal of solvent. When initiated, the fuel particles react with the water bound in the hydrated compound to release energy and hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A curing apparatus for thermally processing thin films on low-temperature substrates at high speeds is disclosed. The curing apparatus includes a strobe head, a strobe control module and a conveyor control module. The strobe control module controls the power, duration and repetition rate of a set of pulses generated by a flash lamp on the strobe head. The conveyor control module along with the strobe control module provide real-time synchronization between the repetition rate of the set of pulses and the speed at which the substrate is being moved under the strobe head, according to the speed information.

Abstract: An energetic material composite comprising fuel particles and a hydrated compound is disclosed. The energetic material composite is formed by dispersing fuel particles, which have a negative standard reduction potential relative to a standard hydrogen electrode, in a solvent containing dissolved hydrate, followed by a removal of solvent. When initiated, the fuel particles react with the water bound in the hydrated compound to release energy and hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A curing apparatus is disclosed. The curing apparatus includes a flash lamp and a lamp housing for containing the flash lamp with the flash lamp's longitudinal axis in parallel with the direction of motion of a moving substrate irradiated by the flash lamp. The lamp housing is capable of attaching to a second lamp housing to form a concatenated lamp housing having a common reflector cavity. The second lamp housing also holds a second flash lamp with the second flash lamp's longitudinal axis in parallel with the direction of the moving substrate under the second flash lamp.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to uses of novel nanomaterial composition and the systems in which they are used, and more particularly to nanomaterial compositions generally comprising carbon and a metal, which composition can be exposed to pulsed emissions to react, activate, combine, or sinter the nanomaterial composition. The nanomaterial compositions can alternatively be utilized at ambient temperature or under other means to cause such reaction, activation, combination, or sintering to occur.

Abstract: A method for forming printed conductors on a flexible substrate is disclosed. Initially, an inorganic matrix precursor is printed onto a flexible substrate. The inorganic precursor is then cured with a light pulse to form a porous inorganic matrix thin film. A polymer is subsequently infused into the porous inorganic matrix thin film to form a polymer infused inorganic matrix thin film.

Abstract: A method for thermally processing a minimally absorbing thin film in a selective manner is disclosed. Two closely spaced absorbing traces are patterned in thermal contact with the thin film. A pulsed radiant source is used to heat the two absorbing traces, and the thin film is thermally processed via conduction between the two absorbing traces. This method can be utilized to fabricate a thin film transistor (TFT) in which the thin film is a semiconductor and the absorbers are the source and the drain of the TFT.

Abstract: A curing apparatus for thermally processing thin films on low-temperature substrates at high speeds is disclosed. The curing apparatus includes a strobe head, a strobe control module and a conveyor control module. The strobe control module controls the power, duration and repetition rate of a set of pulses generated by a flash lamp on the strobe head. The conveyor control module along with the strobe control module provide real-time synchronization between the repetition rate of the set of pulses and the speed at which the substrate is being moved under the strobe head, according to the speed information.

Abstract: A method for thermally processing a minimally absorbing thin film in a selective manner is disclosed. Two closely spaced absorbing traces are patterned in thermal contact with the thin film. A pulsed radiant source is used to heat the two absorbing traces, and the thin film is thermally processed via conduction between the two absorbing traces. This method can be utilized to fabricate a thin film transistor (TFT) in which the thin film is a semiconductor and the absorbers are the source and the drain of the TFT.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally processing material on a low-temperature substrate using pulsed light from a flash lamp is disclosed. Material is conveyed past the flash lamp. The pulses of light are formed by Pulse Width Modulation to tailor the shape of the pulses to generate a thermal gradient in the substrate that enables the material to be heated beyond the maximum working temperature of the substrate without damage. Its shaped pulse rate is synchronized to the conveyance speed of a conveyance system. By using the information from a feedback sensor, the thermal gradient is recalculated to alter the shape of the pulses in real time for optimizing subsequent curings in real time without powering down the curing apparatus. The combined pulse shaping and synchronization allow a temperature profile to be tailored in the sample that is uniformly cured in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally processing material on a low-temperature substrate using pulsed light from a flash lamp is disclosed. Material is conveyed past the flash lamp. The pulses of light are formed by Pulse Width Modulation to tailor the shape of the pulses to generate a thermal gradient in the substrate that enables the material to be heated beyond the maximum working temperature of the substrate without damage. Its shaped pulse rate is synchronized to the conveyance speed of a conveyance system. By using the information from a feedback sensor, the thermal gradient is recalculated to alter the shape of the pulses in real time for optimizing subsequent curings in real time without powering down the curing apparatus. The combined pulse shaping and synchronization allow a temperature profile to be tailored in the sample that is uniformly cured in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: The current invention relates to the fields of ballistic and kinetic energy (KE) weapons. Specifically a novel apparatus and use of nanomaterials has been developed to make significant improvements over existing weapons. By incorporating nano-scale particles as a filler material for kinetic energy weapons several advancements are realized.

Abstract: A method for forming thin film conductors is disclosed. A thin film precursor material is initially deposited onto a porous substrate. The thin film precursor material is then irradiated with a light pulse in order to transform the thin film precursor material to a thin film such that the thin film is more electrically conductive than the thin film precursor material. Finally, compressive stress is applied to the thin film and the porous substrate to further increase the thin film's electrical conductivity.