Abstract: This process results in directed electroless plating of the metal to form discrete metal structures over the entire surface. Because the surface is pre-patterned with passivated regions inert to metal deposition, the metal is directed only to the unstamped regions. This allows the formation of unconnected metal structures without any chemical etching steps. These metallic arrays are varied in size, separation and shape by using gratings of different periodicities and blaze angles as the stamp templates. A variety of well-defined geometric patterns have been fabricated and imaged using scanning probe, scanning electron, and optical microscopies.

Abstract: This invention is directed to making chemical derivatives of carbon nanotubes and to uses for the derivatized nanotubes, including making arrays as a basis for synthesis of carbon fibers. In one embodiment, this invention also provides a method for preparing single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube by reacting single wall carbon nanotubes with fluorine gas and recovering fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes, then reacting fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes with a nucleophile. Some of the fluorine substituents are replaced by nucleophilic substitution. If desired, the remaining fluorine can be completely or partially eliminated to produce single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube. The substituents will, of course, be dependent on the nucleophile, and preferred nucleophiles include alkyl lithium species such as methyl lithium.

Abstract: Anti-bacterial peptides are provided which are derived from the bacteriophage SPO1.

Abstract: A process for assembling a series of DNA fragments generated by PCR into an ordered circular arrangement for replication and genetic work in cells. The PCR fragments are made with a modified nucleotide in the primers that can be removed with a DNA excision repair enzyme to generate a 3? overhang. The 3? overhangs are designed to allow directional annealing and thus sequential PCR fragments can be assembled by annealing the overhangs and subsequent ligation. Sequential addition of PCR fragments is facilitated by growing the chain on a solid support, and the assembled chain can be removed with a site specific recombinase if the first and last primers contain the recombinase site. The circularized assembled fragment can be directly used for cell transformation if the appropriate sequences are included, such as an origin of replication and a selectable marker.

Abstract: The present invention relates to incorporating metal nanoshells specifically designed to interact with triplet excitons in polymers. By interacting with triplet excitons, the rate of photo-oxidation can be slowed and the density of luminescence-quenching traps can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor that includes an optical device as a support for a thin film formed by a matrix containing resonant nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may be optically coupled to the optical device by virtue of the geometry of placement of the thin film. Further, the namoparticles are adapted to resonantly enhance the spectral signature of analytes located near the surfaces of the nanoparticles. Thus, via the nanoparticles, the optical device is addressable so as to detect a measurable property of a sample in contact with the sensor. The sensors include chemical sensors and thermal sensors. The optical devices include reflective devices and waveguide devices. Still further, the nanoparticles include solid metal particles and metal nanoshells. Yet further, the nanoparticles may be part of a nano-structure that further includes nanotubes.

Abstract: This invention is directed to making chemical derivatives of carbon nanotubes and to uses for the derivatized nanotubes, including making arrays as a basis for synthesis of carbon fibers. In one embodiment, this invention also provides a method for preparing single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube by reacting single wall carbon nanotubes with fluorine gas and recovering fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes, then reacting fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes with a nucleophile. Some of the fluorine substituents are replaced by nucleophilic substitution. If desired, the remaining fluorine can be completely or partially eliminated to produce single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube. The substituents will, of course, be dependent on the nucleophile, and preferred nucleophiles include alkyl lithium species such as methyl lithium.

Abstract: This work discloses a unicast, end-to-end network performance measurement process which is capable of determining internal network losses, delays, and probability mass functions for these characteristics. The process is based on using groups of closely-spaced communications packets to determine the information necessary for inferring the performance characteristics of communications links internal to the network. Computationally efficient estimation algorithms are provided.

Abstract: System and methods for determining an optimized transmit spectra (spectral distributions of transmission power) for a set of communications channels that experience cross-talk among themselves and for transmitting data on the channels. The transmit spectra are preferably constructed so that largely contiguous frequency bands are allocated to each signaling direction (upstream/downstream) on each communications channel and/or to each channel in the set of channels. In one embodiment, each communications channel is restricted to a maximum time-averaged power. The method preferably includes steps of determining the channel transfer functions of the communications channel, determining interference characteristics of the channels, calculating substantially optimal transmit spectra for the communications channels, and redistributing the frequency bins so that they are contiguously grouped in each transmit spectra. The contiguous groupings allow wider frequency bands for signaling in the channel.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the end derivatization of single-wall carbon nanotubes and to the introduction of endohedral groups to single-wall carbon nanotubes. In one embodiment, the single-wall carbon nanotubes are chemically derivatized at their ends (which may be made either open or closed with a hemi-fullerene dome). In another embodiment, the single-wall carbon nanotubes can be modified endohedrally, such as, for example, by including one or more metal atoms inside the structure or, alternatively, by loading the single-wall carbon nanotubes with one or more smaller molecules that do not bond to the structures.

Abstract: This invention is directed to making chemical derivatives of carbon nanotubes and to uses for the derivatized nanotubes, including making arrays as a basis for synthesis of carbon fibers. In one embodiment, this invention also provides a method for preparing single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube by reacting single wall carbon nanotubes with fluorine gas and recovering fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes, then reacting fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes with a nucleophile. Some of the fluorine substituents are replaced by nucleophilic substitution. If desired, the remaining fluorine can be completely or partially eliminated to produce single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube. The substituents will, of course, be dependent on the nucleophile, and preferred nucleophiles include alkyl lithium species such as methyl lithium.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the fluorination (or derivatization with alternative chemical species) of fullerene carbon nanocages as an efficient way to (a) facilitate synthesis of endohedral complexes by a significant reduction or elimination of the barriers for the entry of guest-ions, -atoms or molecules, and (b) to preserve the chemical stability of final product.

Abstract: A power system having an extended life and a system and method for extending the life of a battery powered device. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a plurality of power sources and an alternate energy source. The method also comprises measuring the voltage of the power sources and the alternate energy source. The method further comprises selecting a power source to provide voltage to the device, wherein the selected power source provides voltage to the device. In addition, the method comprises optionally charging any power source that is providing voltage to the device. Moreover, the method is repeated after a variable delay. Further embodiments include switching to providing the voltage to the device from a power source while charging another power source.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic III-V semiconductor material and method for nonthermally recording information on the same. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a ferromagnetic III-V semiconductor material, wherein the semiconductor material comprises at least one Group III element, at least one Group V element, and a dopant. In addition, the method comprises exposing the ferromagnetic material to laser pulses to produce transient carriers. Further embodiments include the dopant comprising manganese.

Abstract: This invention is directed to making chemical derivatives of carbon nanotubes and to uses for the derivatized nanotubes, including making arrays as a basis for synthesis of carbon fibers. In one embodiment, this invention also provides a method for preparing single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube by reacting single wall carbon nanotubes with fluorine gas and recovering fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes, then reacting fluorine derivatized carbon nanotubes with a nucleophile. Some of the fluorine substituents are replaced by nucleophilic substitution. If desired, the remaining fluorine can be completely or partially eliminated to produce single wall carbon nanotubes having substituents attached to the side wall of the nanotube. The substituents will, of course, be dependent on the nucleophile, and preferred nucleophiles include alkyl lithium species such as methyl lithium.

Abstract: A fullerene-antibiotic conjugate including at least one antibiotic molecule per fullerene moiety. The fullerene may comprise C60 and the antibiotic may comprise vancomycin or may be selected from the group consisting of penicillins, cephalosporins, quinolones, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, lincosamines, carbepenems, conobactams, aminoglycosides, glycopeptides, tetracyclines, sulfonamides, rifampin, oxazolidonones, and streptogramins. The conjugate preferably includes at least two and more preferably at least three antibiotic molecules per C60 center. A method for making a fullerene(C60)-antibiotic conjugate, comprises: synthesizing a linker precursor (I); reacting the linker precursor (I) with C60 via a Bingel-reaction, to produce a fullerene-linker conjugate (II); hydrolyzing the fullerene-linker conjugate (II), resulting in a desired derivative of C60 (III); and reacting the derivative (III) with a desired antibiotic to produce a fullerene-antibiotic conjugate (IV).

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a method for producing single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) catalyst supports and compositions thereof. In one embodiment, SWNTs or SWNT structures can be employed as the support material. A transition metal catalyst is added to the SWNT. In a preferred embodiment, the catalyst metal cluster is deposited on the open nanotube end by a docking process that insures optimum location for the subsequent growth reaction. The metal atoms may be subjected to reductive conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward methods of crosslinking carbon nanotubes to each other using microwave radiation, articles of manufacture produced by such methods, compositions produced by such methods, and applications for such compositions and articles of manufacture. The present invention is also directed toward methods of radiatively modifying composites and/or blends comprising carbon nanotubes with microwaves, and to the compositions produced by such methods. In some embodiments, the modification comprises a crosslinking process, wherein the carbon nanotubes serve as a conduit for thermally and photolytically crosslinking the host matrix with microwave radiation.

Abstract: A method for functionalizing the wall of single-wall or multi-wall carbon nanotubes involves the use of acyl peroxides to generate carbon-centered free radicals. The method allows for the chemical attachment of a variety of functional groups to the wall or end cap of carbon nanotubes through covalent carbon bonds without destroying the wall or endcap structure of the nanotube. Carbon-centered radicals generated from acyl peroxides can have terminal functional groups that provide sites for further reaction with other compounds. Organic groups with terminal carboxylic acid functionality can be converted to an acyl chloride and further reacted with an amine to form an amide or with a diamine to form an amide with terminal amine. The reactive functional groups attached to the nanotubes provide improved solvent dispersibility and provide reaction sites for monomers for incorporation in polymer structures. The nanotubes can also be functionalized by generating free radicals from organic sulfoxides.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward methods of crosslinking carbon nanotubes to each other using microwave radiation, articles of manufacture produced by such methods, compositions produced by such methods, and applications for such compositions and articles of manufacture. The present invention is also directed toward methods of radiatively modifying composites and/or blends comprising carbon nanotubes with microwaves, and to the compositions produced by such methods. In some embodiments, the modification comprises a crosslinking process, wherein the carbon nanotubes serve as a conduit for thermally and photolytically crosslinking the host matrix with microwave radiation.