Abstract: Methods for preparing organic thin films on substrates, the method comprising the steps of providing a plurality of organic precursors in the vapor phase, and reacting the plurality or organic precursors at a sub-atmospheric pressure. Also included are thin films made by such a method and apparatuses used to conduct such a method. The method is well-suited to the formation of organic light emitting devices and other display-related technologies.

Abstract: Nanocomposite materials having at least two layers, each layer consisting of one metal oxide bonded to at least one graphene layer were developed. The nanocomposite materials will typically have many alternating layers of metal oxides and graphene layers, bonded in a sandwich type construction and will be incorporated into an electrochemical or energy storage device.

Abstract: In one aspect, semiconductor lasers are provided. A semiconductor laser described herein comprises substrate and a cavity formed on the substrate, the cavity comprising an asymmetric Mach-Zehnder (AMZ) interferometer structure positioned between two straight waveguide segments, the straight waveguide segments and first and second arms of the AMZ interferometer structure comprising epitaxial semiconductor layers, wherein the second arm of the AMZ interferometer structure has a temperature control architecture independent of the first arm.

Abstract: Single-mode quantum cascade lasers having shaped cavities of various geometries are provided. The shaped cavities function as monolithic coupled resonators, and permit single-mode operation of the lasers. A folded or hairpin-shaped cavity could be provided, having a plurality of straight segments interconnected with a curved segment. Additionally, a shaped cavity could be provided having a single straight segment interconnected at one end to a curved segment. The curved segment could also be tapered in shape, such that the width of the curved segment decreases toward one end of the curved segment. A laser which includes a shaped cavity having two interconnected, folded shaped cavities is also provided.

Abstract: This disclosure provides, among other things, a nanosensor comprising a substrate and one or a plurality of pillars extending from a surface of the substrate, where the pillars comprise a metallic dot structure, a metal disc, and a metallic back plane. The nanosensor comprises a molecular adhesion layer that covers at least a part of the metallic dot structure, the metal disc, and/or the metallic back plane and a capture agent bound to the molecular adhesion layer. The nanosensor amplifies a light signal from an analyte, when the analyte is specifically bound to the capture agent.

Abstract: Microstructures and nanostructures (100) consisting of a substrate (110), an array of pillars (120) capped by metallic disc (130), metallic dots (clusters or granules) (140) disposed on the sidewalls of the pillars, and a metallic backplane (150) that can interact to enhance a local electric field, the absorption of the light, and the radiation of the light are disclosed. Methods to fabricate the structures (100) are also disclosed. Applications of the structures to enhance the optical signals in the detection of molecules and other materials on a structure surface, such as fluorescence, photoluminescence and surface enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) are also disclosed.

Abstract: Phosphorus-based coatings having a plurality of phosphate moieties, a plurality of phosphonate moieties, or both, covalently bonded to an oxide surface of an implantable substrate exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics: (a) the surface phosphorus-containing group density of the coated regions of the substrate is at least about 0.1 nmol/cm2; (b) the phosphorus-based coating has a thickness of less than about 10 nm; or (c) the surface phosphorus-containing group density of the coated regions of the substrate is equal to or greater than the surface hydroxyl group density of the oxide surface of the substrate. Implantable devices embodying the coated substrates are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an organic photovoltaic cell includes providing a first electrode; depositing a series of at least seven layers onto the first electrode, each layer consisting essentially of a different organic semiconductor material, the organic semiconductor material of at least an intermediate layer of the sequence being a photoconductive material; and depositing a second electrode onto the sequence of at least seven layers. One of the first electrode and the second electrode is an anode and the other is a cathode. The organic semiconductor materials of the series of at least seven layers are arranged to provide a sequence of decreasing lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs) and a sequence of decreasing highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs) across the series from the anode to the cathode.

Abstract: A reconfigurable computer architecture is disclosed. The reconfigurable computer architecture has a plurality of logic elements, a plurality of connection switching elements, and a plurality of volatile and/or non-volatile configuration random access memories (RAMs). Each of the configuration RAMs is electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of logic elements or at least one of the connection switching elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to various embodiments of an environmentally beneficial method for reducing carbon dioxide. The methods in accordance with the invention include electrochemically or photoelectrochemically reducing the carbon dioxide in a divided electrochemical cell that includes an anode, e.g., an inert metal counterelectrode, in one cell compartment and a metal or p-type semiconductor cathode electrode in another cell compartment that also contains an aqueous solution of an electrolyte and a catalyst of one or more substituted or unsubstituted aromatic amines to produce therein a reduced organic product.

Abstract: An organic photovoltaic cell includes an anode and a cathode, and a plurality of organic semiconductor layers between the anode and the cathode. At least one of the anode and the cathode is transparent. Each two adjacent layers of the plurality of organic semiconductor layers are in direct contact. The plurality of organic semiconductor layers includes an intermediate layer consisting essentially of a photoconductive material, and two sets of at least three layers. A first set of at least three layers is between the intermediate layer and the anode. Each layer of the first set consists essentially of a different organic semiconductor material having a higher LUMO and a higher HOMO, relative to the material of an adjacent layer of the plurality of organic semiconductor layers closer to the cathode. A second set of at least three layers is between the intermediate layer and the cathode.

Abstract: A receiver configured to receive wave packets encoded with data via a nonlinear channel is disclosed. The receiver includes an input configured to receive the wave packets from the non-linear channel. The receiver also includes a processor configured to generate a transfer matrix from the received wave packets and find the representation of the transfer matrix as ratios of polynomials and compute the non-linear Fourier spectrum in which the data has been embedded. The receiver may also include a demodulator configured to demodulate the non-linear Fourier spectrum to recover the data. Periodic boundary conditions may be selected. Boundary conditions may be selected based on a non-periodic vanishing signal. The received wave packets may be configured as solitons. The nonlinear channel may be an optical channel.

Abstract: Radio frequency (RF) energy is used to quickly heat the yolk portion of a shell egg. An anode and corresponding cathode are applied to each individual egg. As the egg is selectively and systematically rotated, RF energy and a stream of cooling fluid (preferably water) are simultaneously applied to the egg. This initiates pasteurization of the egg yolk while maintaining a low temperature in the heat-sensitive albumen (egg white) thus preventing denaturation of the albumen. Immediately after the RF yolk heating process, the egg is placed in a hot water bath designed to rapidly pasteurize the albumen as well as to minimize heat loss from the yolk and pasteurize any portion of the yolk that is not already pasteurized through the RF yolk heating process.

Abstract: A spectroscopic sensor and a spectroscopic method of determining a concentration of a sample are disclosed. The sensor is used in connection with a sample cell containing a sample. The sensor includes a coherent light source configured to transmit an interrogation light beam along an optical sample path directed towards the sample. The sensor also includes an in-line reference cell located in the sample path. The sensor also includes a detector having outputs responsive to absorption signals from the sample and the in-line reference cell. The sensor also includes a processor configured to isolate the reference absorption signals from the in-line reference cell and sample absorption signals from the sample cell and generate calibration information based on the reference absorption signals and determine a concentration of the sample based on the sample absorption signals.

Abstract: A microfluidic device to produce polymersomes having three coaxial passageways of increasing size with fluid flowing in one direction. The first and smallest passageway contains the content of the polymersome, the middle passageway contains a block copolymer, and the largest and outer passageway contains an aqueous medium or water. The device can produce polymersomes with control of size and membrane thickness. The device will allow quantitative loading of the polymersomes in high quantities. The device is robust and easily assembled and has the ability to independently control the three streams involved in making the polymersomes.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging apparatus for EUV spectroscopy, EUV microscopy, EUV lithography, and x-ray imaging. This new imaging apparatus could, in particular, make significant contributions to EUV lithography at wavelengths in the range from 10 to 15 nm, which is presently being developed for the manufacturing of the next-generation integrated circuits. The disclosure provides a novel adjustable imaging apparatus that allows for the production of stigmatic images in x-ray imaging, EUV imaging, and EUVL. The imaging apparatus of the present invention incorporates additional properties compared to previously described objectives. The use of a pair of spherical reflectors containing a concave and convex arrangement has been applied to a EUV imaging system to allow for the image and optics to all be placed on the same side of a vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A hole-blocking silicon/titanium-oxide heterojunction for silicon photovoltaic devices and methods of forming are disclosed. The electronic device includes at least two electrodes having a current path between the two electrodes. The electronic device also includes a heterojunction formed of a titanium-oxide layer deposited over a Si layer and being disposed in the current path. The heterojunction is configured to function as a hole blocker. The first electrode may be electrically coupled to the Si layer and a second electrode may be electrically coupled to the titanium-oxide layer. The device may also include a PN junction disposed in the Si layer, in the current path. The device may also include an electron-blocking heterojunction on silicon in the current path.

Abstract: A dual-modulation Faraday rotation spectroscopic (FRS) system is disclosed. The FRS system uses an FRS sample cell configured to subject a sample to a low frequency modulated magnetic field. The system includes a polarized laser light source configured to generate a high frequency wavelength-modulated light beam incident on the sample, the high frequency wavelength-modulated light beam being modulated at a higher frequency than the low frequency modulated magnetic field. A polarizer is configured to receive from the sample a transmitted light beam having a modulated polarization having a polarization rotation and translate the modulated polarization of the transmitted light beam into an intensity modulated beam. A photodetector is configured to detect the intensity modulated beam and generate a photodetector signal. A dual demodulator is coupled to the photodetector and is configured to demodulate the photodetector signal.

Abstract: A first product may be provided that comprises a substrate having a first surface, a first side, and a first edge where the first surface meets the first side; and a device disposed over the substrate, the device having a second side, where at least a first portion of the second side is disposed within 3 mm from the first edge of the substrate. The first product may further comprise a first barrier film that covers at least a portion of the first edge of the substrate, at least a portion of the first side of the substrate, and at least the first portion of the second side of the device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cobalt complexes containing terdentate pyridine di-imine ligands and their use as efficient and selective dehydrogenative silylation and crosslinking catalysts.