Abstract: The present invention is directed to III-V semiconductor trench MOSFETs comprising a buried field shield. The invention is further directed to an etch and regrowth method for forming this buried field shield. For example, in III-V trench MOSFETs with an n-type substrate, the region can be formed by an etch into the drift (n-type) and regrowth of p-type semiconductor to form the buried field shield in the trench area and a body/channel outside the trench area. With a narrow trench feature size, the regrowth will planarize enabling subsequent source epitaxy (n-type) without requiring ex-situ processing between body/channel and source growths, eliminating the need for additional masking of the regrowth.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices and systems for rapidly producing high resolution images of magnetic fields in a sample. The devices and systems employ diamond chips with color centers that fluoresce in the presence of magnetic fields. The high resolution is due to the use of one of three excitation methods. The first method employs modulation of an acoustic surface wave, which increases/decreases the sensitivity of the color centers to magnetic fields. The second and third methods employ arrays of magnetic field coils and electrode pairs, respectively, which again increase/decrease the sensitivity of the color centers to magnetic fields. The color centers are preferably nitrogen vacancies in the diamond chips.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a mediated metal-sulfur flow battery. This battery format that is readily scalable to grid-scale levels at low cost, while maintaining battery safety by physically separating the anode and cathode. As an example, the marriage of a redox-targeting scheme to an engineered Li solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) enables a scalable, high efficiency, membrane-less Li—S redox flow battery. Redox mediators can be sued to kick-start the initial reduction of solid S into soluble polysulfides on the cathode side and final reduction of polysulfides into solid Li2S, precluding the need for conductive carbons. On the anode side, a LiI and LiNO3 pretreatment and additive strategy encourages a stable SEI and lessens capacity fade, avoiding the need for ion-selective separators.

Abstract: A container holds radioactive material. A sub-criticality controller protects the radioactive material from reaching a criticality from contact with the water. The sub-criticality controller includes a metallic composition having at least one metal component and at least one borate component bonded to the at least one metal component. The metallic composition forms a new borate that absorbs neutrons when the metallic composition contacts water in the case of an incident.

Abstract: Various embodiments include an actuated projectile launcher, including: a base structure; a projectile support, and a holding area from which a projectile launches; propulsion wheels selectively driven to rotate; and support arms, each supporting at a first end thereof a separate one of the propulsion wheels and being supported at an opposed second end thereof by the base structure. The support arms are configured to move the propulsion wheels between an expanded position and a contracted position, in which the propulsion wheels are closer to one another in the contracted position as compared to the expanded position. The movement of the propulsion wheels toward the contracted position brings the propulsion wheels into engagement with the projectile and drives the projectile from the holding area.

Abstract: A method and system for dispersing stored energy in an energy storage system to delay or arrest propagation of thermal runaway and thermally-induced cascading failures. The system includes a plurality of battery sub-assemblies and DC-DC converters connected to a shared DC bus through which energy may be exchanged. The system may be interfaced to an AC power grid or DC power system through an additional power converter. The method of dispersing stored energy uses this system to charge and discharge sub-assemblies such that the system is less susceptible to propagation of thermal runaway. The method determines, based on awareness of current system state, battery types, and electrical and thermal structure, the sequence of charging and discharging actions to best inhibit thermal runaway while preserving the system's ability to perform subsequent energy redistribution.

Abstract: A compact drill assembly, a drilling system and a method for automatically drilling small diameter holes of arbitrary depth. The compact drill assembly includes a housing having a geometry that allows insertion into the confined space and a rotatable drilling spindle that includes an actuated locking collet assembly arranged and disposed to selectively secure and release a composite bit. A bit conveying arrangement is configured to convey the composite bit along the non-confined dimension and along the confined dimension through the actuated locking collet assembly. A drill drive is arranged and disposed to advance the rotatable drilling spindle along the confined dimension. The method includes conveying a composite bit along the non-confined dimension and along the confined dimension through the compact drill assembly and advancing the composite bit along the confined dimension to drill into a surface along an edge of the confined space.

Abstract: The present invention also provides for a method to deconstruct a biomass: the method comprising: (a) introducing a solvent to a biomass to dissolve at least part of solid biomass in the solvent, wherein the solvent comprises (i) a metal salt, and (ii) an ionic liquid (IL) or deep eutectic solvent (DES), or mixture thereof, to form a solubilized biomass mixture; (b) optionally introducing an enzyme and/or a microbe to the composition such that the enzyme and/or microbe produce a biofuel and/or chemical compound from the solubilized biomass; and, (c) optionally the biofuel and/or chemical compound is separated from the composition.

Abstract: A method for training an artificial neural network including classifiers for material characterization. The method includes obtaining functional data having phase and amplitude, registering functional data by phase-amplitude separation and statistical analysis on the phase-amplitude separated data with an elastic distance to produce aligned functional data, performing dimensional reduction on the aligned functional data to produce a dimensional representation of the functional space, performing, by a computer system, a training operation to train an artificial neural network based on the dimensional representation of the functional space. A method and system for material characterization is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and compositions (e.g., engineered hosts) are disclosed for use in converting biomass to 3-hydropropionic acid. In particular embodiments, the methods include use of an engineered Rhodosporidium yeast, such as R. toruloides, the engineered R. toruloides having the RT04_8975 gene deleted from its genome, combined with a lignocellulosic hydrolysate, sourced, for example, from a biomass. A promoter for enhancing transport of 3HP is also incorporated by addition to the R. toruloides genome, for example, by modified lithium acetate transformation.

Abstract: A disclosed switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker, includes a transistor switch circuit connected between a power input terminal and a load terminal, and, connected to the power input terminal and bypassing the transistor switch circuit, a switchable bypass leg that is optically switched by a series-connected photoconductive semiconductor switch (PCSS). The transistor switch circuit includes at least one cascade of three or more series-connected transistors, and at least one resistor network configured to divide a voltage from a voltage source across a cascade of series-connected transistors. Operating the switch apparatus includes detecting whether a sensed electric current is in a fault condition, opening the transistor switch circuit upon detecting a fault condition, and then closing the PCSS so that the electric current is diverted onto a switchable bypass path. The opening of the transistor switch circuit comprises turning OFF a normally-ON transistor switch circuit.

Abstract: A vertical gallium nitride (GaN) PN diode uses epitaxial growth of a thick drift region with a very low carrier concentration and a carefully designed multi-zone junction termination extension to achieve high voltage blocking and high-power efficiency. An exemplary large area (1 mm2) diode had a forward pulsed current of 3.5 A, an 8.3 m?-cm2 specific on-resistance, and a 5.3 kV reverse breakdown. A smaller area diode (0.063 mm2) was capable of 6.4 kV breakdown with a specific on-resistance of 10.2 m?-cm2, when accounting for current spreading through the drift region at a 45° angle.

Abstract: A method for circuit modification for fault mitigation including: obtaining a netlist defining a circuit; inserting at least one saboteur circuit into a first net of the netlist; configuring an FPGA to implement the first net and the at least one saboteur circuit; activating a first of the at least one saboteur circuits; determining whether the first net experiences a fault; and upon determining that the first net experiences a fault, modifying the first net by inserting at least one redundant circuit into the first net.

Abstract: A sensor discriminator for detecting a gaseous substance includes a power source, a discrimination module, a sensor simulator that simulates a metal organic framework under at least one simulation condition, a simulation circuitry electrically coupling the sensor simulator to the power source and the discrimination module, and a discriminator circuitry that electrically couples the power source and the discrimination module to a gas capture probe. The discrimination module compares a discrimination pulse and a simulation pulse from the power source after the discrimination pulse passes through a metal organic framework of the gas capture sensor and the simulation pulse passes through a simulation component of the sensor simulator. The discrimination module causes a discriminator output that includes the comparison of the discrimination pulse to the simulation pulse.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of providing a biomass residuum and compositions thereof. In particular examples, the biomass residuum includes one or more high value amino acids, even after removal of mixed alcohol components. In particular, the methods include implementing pre-treatment conditions and employing fermentation conditions including modified organisms.

Abstract: Devices employing Brillouin interactions that can be modified by acoustoelectric (AE) interactions, thereby enabling control over the devices' nonlinear optical susceptibility, are described. Modification of the phonon dissipation rates through application of quasistatic electric fields in the semiconductor can improve the performance of Brillouin photonic devices. These AE Brillouin interactions allow for local control of the phonon phase velocity and thus the Brillouin scattering frequencies, providing an electronic means to compensate for inhomogeneous broadening that occurs over large length scales. Moreover, these AE Brillouin interactions allow Brillouin scattering processes to employ phonon coherence lengths that can achieve parity with and even exceed those of the photons, enabling fully coherent three-wave parametric-like processes.

Abstract: A harmonic drive assembly and fluid-powered linear motors with both axial pistons are rotary piston arrangements incorporating the harmonic drive assembly are disclosed. The motors may be used in downhole drilling applications, but the drive assembly and/or motors may be used in other applications. The assembly, motors and methods use advanced harmonic drives, advanced helical drives, and combinations thereof with 1) motors with axial pistons and reciprocating linear rings to convert reciprocative axial motion to continuous rotary motion, and 2) motors with rotary pistons and reciprocating linear rings to rectify reciprocative rotary motion to continual rotary motion to improve performance over prior configurations. Axial pistons provide a robust simple solution for generating rotation; Rotational pistons provide increased torque generation as the torque generated is proportional to motor length. Since downhole drills are long, a high-torque motor can be produced using this method.

Abstract: Chemical wave systems that utilize chemical compounds with nonlinear chemical wave behavior can be used to detect or sense material changes such as a change in a radiation source. Such chemical systems include autocatalysis that produce self-sustaining spatial and/or temporal fluctuations in chemical attributes such as species concentrations, pH, and/or redox state. Through application of the chemical compounds with wave behavior into engineered geologic environments, such as those for containment of a liquid or solid, the chemical wave behavior may be triggered or modified by perturbations, including intrusion into the environment. The chemical wave behavior is an indicator of the said perturbation and monitored by various means tailored to the type of chemical waves. The chemical waves can have a type of “fingerprint” based on their wave behavior that lasts beyond a transient disturbance that could later be discerned by measurement of the chemical wave attributes.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a composition for ionizing a target comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of nanoparticles bound to a surface of the substrate, which allows one to directly extract undesired contaminants during passive sample drying without require manual interventions, such as washing and vortexing.

Abstract: A structure includes a substrate and a coating applied over the substrate, the coating containing particles sized between 30 and 250 micrometers. A proportion of the particles to the carrier is between 40 and 70 by volume percentage. In response to excitation of the structure by a controllable excitation source, a first instrument monitors behavior of the particles to determine a first condition of the structure thereby. In response to an absence of excitation of the structure by the controllable excitation source, a second instrument monitors behavior of the particles to determine a second condition of the structure thereby.