Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided. Use is made of a wick structure configured to receive a liquid and generate vapor in when such wick structure is heated by heat transferred from heat sources to be cooled off. A vapor channel is provided configured to receive the vapor generated and direct said vapor away from the wick structure. In some embodiments, heat conductors are used to transfer the heat from the heat sources to the liquid in the wick structure.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a solid state device for detecting neutrons. The device includes a semiconductor substrate having pores. The device also includes a p- or n-type doping layer formed on a surface of the pores. Moreover, a layer of fill material is formed on the p- or n-type doping layer. The present application also is directed to a method of making a solid state device. Further, the present application is directed to a method of detecting efficiency of solid state detector devices.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a solid state device for detecting neutrons. The device includes a semiconductor substrate having pores. The device also includes a p- or n-type doping layer formed on a surface of the pores. Moreover, a layer of fill material is formed on the p- or n-type doping layer. The present application also is directed to a method of making a solid state device. Further, the present application is directed to a method of detecting efficiency of solid state detector devices.

Abstract: A chemical sensor is provided. The sensor includes at least one lightguiding element having an optical core. The lightguiding element comprises a layer of graphene situated in sufficient proximity to the core to exhibit evanescent wave absorption of optical energy in at least one optical mode guided in the core.

Abstract: A deposition apparatus comprising a vaporizer chamber configured to hold a solid precursor of a dopant element therein. Gas input and output lines are connected to the vaporizer chamber and flow rate controllers are coupled to each of the gas input and output lines. The flow rate controllers are configured to adjust a rate of carrier gas flow into and out of the vaporizer chamber through the gas input and output lines. The vaporizer chamber has a temperature controller and pressure controller to produce vapors of the solid precursor in the vaporizer chamber that can be carried with the carrier gas flow through the output line.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a dispersion plate, a dispersion plate, the dispersion plate including input side openings connected to holes therein, the holes following a torturous path through the dispersion plate and configured to deliver dopants through output side openings of the dispersion plate.

Abstract: A chemical sensor is provided. The sensor includes at least one lightguiding element having an optical core. The lightguiding element comprises a layer of graphene situated in sufficient proximity to the core to exhibit evanescent wave absorption of optical energy in at least one optical mode guided in the core.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided. Use is made of a wick structure configured to receive a liquid and generate vapor in when such wick structure is heated by heat transferred from heat sources to be cooled off. A vapor channel is provided configured to receive the vapor generated and direct said vapor away from the wick structure. In some embodiments, heat conductors are used to transfer the heat from the heat sources to the liquid in the wick structure.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for increasing the concentration of a chemical substance in a fluid comprise a micro-fluidic elongated channel formed in a substrate, with the channel being in fluid-flow communication with an ambient region along its elongated dimension. In general, the fluid includes first and second chemical substances having different vapor pressures. The apparatus includes an evaporation controller for increasing the evaporation rate of the fluid from the channel into the ambient region, thereby increasing the concentration of the lower vapor pressure (LVP) substance in the portion of the fluid remaining in the channel and increasing the concentration of the higher vapor pressure (HVP) substance in the portion of the fluid evaporated into the ambient region.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for increasing the concentration of a chemical substance in a fluid comprise a micro-fluidic elongated channel formed in a substrate, with the channel being in fluid-flow communication with an ambient region along its elongated dimension. In general, the fluid includes first and second chemical substances having different vapor pressures. The apparatus includes an evaporation controller for increasing the evaporation rate of the fluid from the channel into the ambient region, thereby increasing the concentration of the lower vapor pressure (LVP) substance in the portion of the fluid remaining in the channel and increasing the concentration of the higher vapor pressure (HVP) substance in the portion of the fluid evaporated into the ambient region.

Abstract: A method comprising forming a structural element 115 on a surface 620 of a layer 510 via an electroless plating of nickel or cobalt 130 onto the surface, the layer being rigidly fixed to an underlying substrate 110. The method also comprises etching away a portion of the layer such that a part of the structural element is able to move with respect to the substrate.

Abstract: A method comprising forming a structural element 115 on a surface 620 of a layer 510 via an electroless plating of nickel or cobalt 130 onto the surface, the layer being rigidly fixed to an underlying substrate 110. The method also comprises etching away a portion of the layer such that a part of the structural element is able to move with respect to the substrate.

Abstract: Device having first wick evaporator including first membrane and plurality of first thermally-conductive supports. First membrane has upper and lower surfaces. First membrane also has plurality of pores with upper pore ends at upper surface of first membrane and with lower pore ends at lower surface of first membrane. Each of first thermally-conductive supports has upper and lower support ends. Upper support ends of first thermally-conductive supports are in contact with first membrane. Each of first thermally-conductive supports has longitudinal axis extending between the upper and lower support ends, average cross-sectional area along axis, and membrane support cross-sectional area at upper support end, the membrane support cross-sectional area effectively being smaller than average cross-sectional area. First thermally-conductive supports are configured to conduct thermal energy from lower support ends of first thermally-conductive supports to first membrane.

Abstract: A device 100 comprising a substrate 115 having crystal-support-structures 110 thereon, and a III-V crystal 210. The III-V crystal is on a single contact region 140 of one of the crystal-support-structures. An area of the contact region is no more than about 50 percent of a surface area 320 of the III-V crystal.

Abstract: An apparatus that comprises a membrane having a plurality of fluid-support-structures and openings located between the fluid-support-structures. The fluid-support-structures have at least one dimension that that is about 1 millimeter or less. The apparatus also comprises a wicking material positioned adjacent to a surface of the membrane. When a fluid locatable on a surface of the fluid-support-structures penetrates the fluid-support-structures, at least a portion of the fluid passes through the openings and into the wicking material.

Abstract: A device 100 comprising a substrate 115 having crystal-support-structures 110 thereon, and a III-V crystal 210. The III-V crystal is on a single contact region 140 of one of the crystal-support-structures. An area of the contact region is no more than about 50 percent of a surface area 320 of the III-V crystal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed wherein a battery comprises at least one electrode formed from a graphitic carbon nanostructured surface wherein the nanostructured surface consists of a plurality of nanoposts formed from graphitic carbon such that the graphitic nanoposts serve both as an operational feature (i.e., dielectric/electrode) and control feature of the battery itself. In one embodiment, the nanostructured surface consists of a plurality of nanoposts wherein a select portion of each nanopost is formed to serve as the dielectric of the nanostructured battery, and the balance of each nanopost is utilized to impart the control features to the nanostructured battery.

Abstract: A mechanical switch includes a pair of conducting contacts, metal located on and between the conducting contacts, a heater, and an electro-mechanical actuator. The heater is operable to apply heat that melts the metal. The electro-mechanical actuator is capable of moving one or both of the conducting contacts in a manner that causes the metal to either start physically bridging the conducting contacts or to stop physically bridging the conducting contacts.

Abstract: A cell-array battery is disclosed having end-of-life cells that can be activated at the end of a battery's life to, illustratively, neutralize the toxic chemicals inside the battery. In one embodiment, neutralization of the electrolyte in the battery is achieved through immobilization of the electrolyte at the end of the life of the battery by, for example, a vitrification process. Using electrowetting techniques, the electrolyte is made to contact a neutralizing substance between the nanostructures in one or more end-of-life cells, thus causing a reaction that results in the electrolyte becoming immobilized by, for example, a polymer substance. In a second illustrative embodiment, when the electrolyte contacts the substance between the nanostructures in one or more end-of-life cells, the chemical composition of the electrolyte is changed into a less toxic chemical compound, thus neutralizing the electrolyte.

Abstract: Device having first wick evaporator including first membrane and plurality of first thermally-conductive supports. First membrane has upper and lower surfaces. First membrane also has plurality of pores with upper pore ends at upper surface of first membrane and with lower pore ends at lower surface of first membrane. Each of first thermally-conductive supports has upper and lower support ends. Upper support ends of first thermally-conductive supports are in contact with first membrane. Each of first thermally-conductive supports has longitudinal axis extending between the upper and lower support ends, average cross-sectional area along axis, and membrane support cross-sectional area at upper support end, the membrane support cross-sectional area effectively being smaller than average cross-sectional area. First thermally-conductive supports are configured to conduct thermal energy from lower support ends of first thermally-conductive supports to first membrane.