Abstract: Systems and methods for applying electric fields during ultraviolet exposure of lubricant layers for hard disk media. One such method involves inserting a magnetic medium into a chamber, the magnetic medium including a lubricant on an outer surface thereof, and applying an electric field and an ultraviolet radiation to the lubricant within the chamber. Another such method involves inserting a magnetic medium into a chamber, depositing a lubricant on the medium within the chamber, and applying an electric field and an ultraviolet radiation to the lubricant within the chamber.

Abstract: A metal-based/diamond laser composite coating preparation method includes: first selecting high-hardness metal powder and diamond powder of a proper grain size and shape; then uniformly mixing the high-hardness metal powder and diamond powder via a ball-milling method; and finally preparing a composite coating on a substrate by synchronously combining laser texturing technology, laser thermal treatment technology and cold spraying technology. The thickness of the composite coating is greater than 1 mm, and the volume content of diamond in the coating is greater than 45%. A metal-based/diamond laser composite coating is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to form biocompatible energization elements are described. In some examples, the methods and apparatus to form the biocompatible energization elements involve forming cavities comprising active cathode chemistry. The active elements of the cathode and anode are sealed with a biocompatible material. In some examples, a field of use for the methods and apparatus may include any biocompatible device or product that requires energization elements.

Abstract: A direct write dispensing nozzle assembly and method of forming traces and twisted pairs via direct write dispensing. The method includes dispensing conductive material via an inner nozzle so as to form a conductive core. Non-conductive material may be dispensed via a peripheral nozzle surrounding the inner nozzle so as to form a non-conductive casing surrounding the conductive core. The first conductive core and the non-conductive casing may then be deposited on a substrate or other surface. The trace may be positioned on the substrate such that the non-conductive casing contacts a previously deposited trace. An additional conductive core may be dispensed within the non-conductive casing and the direct write dispensing nozzle assembly may be rotated so as to form a twisted pair.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for synthesizing a nanostructured composite material and to an implementation device associated with this process. The device (100) comprises a chamber (3) for synthesizing said material comprising a system (13, 13a, 13b) for depositing the matrix on a target surface (15); a system (1, 4, 5, 9) for generating a jet of nanoparticles in a carrier gas comprising an expansion chamber (1) equipped with an outlet orifice (7) for the nanoparticles toward the synthesis chamber (3, 3?) and, in addition, means (21, 22, 23) for adjusting the distance L between the outlet orifice (7) of the expansion chamber and the target surface (15).

Abstract: An apparatus and a process for modifying the surface energy of particles using a reactive gas or reactive energetic species generated in an excited and/or unstable gas stream is provided. The apparatus and process incorporates a process container, a portion of which is movable and having a shape in which the particles are tumbled during exposure to the energetic species. The resulting surface treatment allows the energy modified particles to be more easily dispersed in a liquid medium with a reduction in the occurrence of particle agglomeration or flocculation.

Abstract: A composition containing a cationic polymer obtained from a reaction product of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound and epihalohydrin; and a phosphorus compound. The composition can be used as a surface treatment for gold or gold alloy. The composition can seal pinholes on the surface of the gold or gold alloy.

Abstract: Disclosed are solar-reflective roofing and other building materials having high reflectance of near-infrared radiation and high transmission of radiation in the visible light range and a substantial emissivity so as to reduce the heat island effects experienced by the articles while also maintaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Also disclosed are related methods for fabrication of such materials.

Abstract: Provided is a method of making a composite ceramic material for a fuel cell. The composite ceramic material for the fuel cell forms a cored structure where perovskite ceramic particles having a small particle diameter surround lanthanum cobaltite particles having a large particle diameter. Lanthanum cobaltite is added as a starting material in a process of synthesizing the perovskite ceramic particles. The composite ceramic material for the fuel cell made according to this method improves an electric connection characteristic between a separation plate and a polar plate of the fuel cell, and is chemically and mechanically stable.

Abstract: A method of fabricating transition metal dichalcogenides includes a preparing step, a steaming step and a depositing step. The preparing step is performed for providing a transition metal substrate, a reactive gas and a solid chalcogenide. The steaming step is performed for heating the solid chalcogenide to generate a chalcogenide gas in a steaming space. The depositing step is performed for introducing the reactive gas into the chalcogenide gas to ionize the chalcogenide gas so as to generate a chalcogenide plasma in a depositing space. The depositing step is performed under a process vacuum pressure from low vacuum pressure to atmospheric pressure. The reactive gas and the chalcogenide gas are flowed from top to bottom through a top of the transition metal substrate. The loading substrate is heated at a loading substrate temperature, and the steaming space is different from the depositing space.

Abstract: The manufacturing of articles relies on the bonding of two or more components to form some forms of the articles, such as a shoe sole bonded with a shoe upper. The bonding may be achieved with an adhesive particulate that is applied to a surface of a substrate. The adhesive particulate is selectively fused to the substrate with a controlled energy source having multiple energy emitters individually controllable, such as a laser array. The selective application of laser energy allows for specific geometric structures of adhesive particulate to be formed on the substrate. The substrate having the fused adhesive particulate is mated with another component allowing the fused adhesive particulate to bond the first substrate and the second component.

Abstract: A method for treating a Cu thin sheet is provided. The method comprises the steps of: supplying a slurry in which a diffusion bonding aid (DBA), such as Ni powder, and a reinforcing material (RM), such as a carbide base metal compound, are dispersed in a solvent to a predetermined portion on a Cu or Cu base alloy thin sheet, drying the supplied slurry, and applying a laser to induce melting, solidification, and fixation, so as to form a buildup layer. In the method, the weight ratio of DBA to RM is specified to be 80:20 to 50:50, and the median diameters D50 of both DBA and RM employed fall within 0.1 to 100 ?m, the median diameter D50 of DBA is larger than the median diameter D50 of RM, and both the distribution ratio D90/D10 of DBA and the distribution ratio D90/D10 of RM are 4.0 or less.

Abstract: The pretreatment method for carbon nanotube formation according to the present invention comprises a first plasma treatment process in which catalytic metal fine particles are formed by applying plasma to a catalytic metal layer and atomizing the catalytic metal, and a second plasma treatment process in which the catalytic metal fine particles are activated by applying plasma of a gas mixture, in which a hydrogen-containing gas and a nitrogen gas are mixed, to the catalytic metal fine particles. A co-catalyst layer formed of nitride such as TiN and TaN is preferably disposed below the catalytic metal layer. The co-catalyst layer is nitrated by the plasma of the gas mixture including the hydrogen-containing gas and the nitrogen gas and the activation ratio of the catalytic metal fine particles is increased.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating an electromechanical transducer film. The method includes treating a surface of a first electrode to be liquid-repellent, the first electrode being formed on one surface of a substrate, irradiating the surface of the first liquid-repellent electrode with an energy ray while moving an irradiation position in accordance with a shape of the electromechanical transducer film to be formed and a shape of an alignment mark to be formed, and forming the alignment mark by applying an application liquid to an area including a portion irradiated with the energy ray in accordance with the shape of the alignment mark in the irradiating step, the application liquid being applied by an inkjet method.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering liquid precursor in a substrate processing system include supplying liquid precursor using a first valve in fluid communication with a liquid precursor source; supplying purge gas using a second valve in fluid communication with a purge gas source; arranging a third valve having a first input port in fluid communication with an output port of the first valve and a second input port in fluid communication with an output port of the second valve; arranging an input port of a first divert injector valve in fluid communication with an output port of the third valve; and operating the first valve, the second valve, the third valve and the first divert injector valve in first, second, third and fourth modes.

Abstract: A soft-landing (SL) instrument for depositing ions onto substrates using a laser ablation source is described herein. The instrument of the instant invention is designed with a custom drift tube and a split-ring ion optic for the isolation of selected ions. The drift tube allows for the separation and thermalization of ions formed after laser ablation through collisions with an inert bath gas that allow the ions to be landed at energies below 1 eV onto substrates. The split-ring ion optic is capable of directing ions toward the detector or a landing substrate for selected components. The inventors further performed atomic force microscopy (AFM) and drift tube measurements to characterize the performance characteristics of the instrument.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a patterned structure includes a deposition facility for depositing an electrically conductive material on a cylindrical surface of a transfer roll, a supply facility for providing a flexible substrate with a carrier layer, a press-roll for pressing the flexible substrate with the carrier layer against the surface of the transfer roll, the press-roll being positioned in the rotation direction of the transfer roll with respect to a position where the first deposition facility deposits the substance on the transfer roll, and being arranged for embedding the deposited substance in said carrier layer, wherein the adhesion between the printed substance and the cylindrical surface of the transfer roll is less than the adhesion between the printed substance and said carrier layer, a transport facility for releasing the flexible substrate with the carrier layer embedding the substance as the patterned structure from the transfer roll.

Abstract: At least one monomer selected from thiophenes and their derivatives is oxidatively polymerized with an oxidizing agent in a solvent mainly composed of water in the presence of a polyanion as a dopant. This conductive polymer microparticle dispersion is manufactured by using, as the polyanion, a polystyrene sulfonic acid and/or its salt each having a Hazen color number in the range of 10 to 1000, inclusive, when the hue of a 2% aqueous solution thereof is measured by the APHA method.

Abstract: A first polymer latex and second polymer latex can be mixed to form a dried primer layer on a substrate to adhere patterned materials having fine lines. The first polymer latex comprises a first polymer and a first surfactant such that a dried coating of the first polymer latex has a surface polarity of at least 50%. The second polymer latex comprises a second polymer and a second surfactant such that a dried coating of the second polymer latex has a surface polarity of less than or equal to 27%. Moreover, a dried coating of the mixture has a surface polarity of at least 15% and up to and including 50%. Primed substrates are useful for preparing electrically-conductive articles having electrically-conductive fine lines directly on a dried primer layer by applying a patterned material to a substrate. Such articles can be used as touch screen displays in various electronic devices.

Abstract: A method for forming an inorganic or hybrid organic/inorganic barrier layer on a substrate, comprising condensing a vaporized metal alkoxide to form a layer atop the substrate, and contacting the condensed metal alkoxide layer with water to cure the layer is provided.