Abstract: Disclosed is a method of printing ultranarrow-gap lines of a functional material, such as an electrically conductive silver ink. The method entails providing a substrate having an interlayer coated on the substrate and printing the ultranarrow-gap lines by depositing ink on the interlayer of the substrate, the ink comprising the functional material and a solvent that swells the interlayer to cause the interlayer to bulge at edges of the ink to thereby define embankments that confine the ink.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of printing ultranarrow-gap lines of a functional material, such as an electrically conductive silver ink. The method entails providing a substrate having an interlayer coated on the substrate and printing the ultranarrow-gap lines by depositing ink on the interlayer of the substrate, the ink comprising the functional material and a solvent that swells the interlayer to cause the interlayer to bulge at edges of the ink to thereby define embankments that confine the ink.

Abstract: A microblind system has an array of overhanging stressed microblinds, each having an anchor portion attached a substrate and a mobile portion. The microblinds are responsive to electrostatic forces to mutate between a deployed configuration wherein the mobile portion obscure the substrate and a curled configuration wherein the mobile portion exposes the substrate. A transparent conductive layer permits the application of an electric field to the microblinds.

Abstract: A novel method of molecular imprinting is described. Using a modified soft lithography technique, a molecularly-imprinted chemical detection device comprising at least one molecularly-imprinted polymer capable of detecting at least one chemical target is produced. The device can be used in the field for in situ detection and quantification of chemical targets using standard surface analytical techniques.

Abstract: A novel method of molecular imprinting is described. Using a modified soft lithography technique, a molecularly-imprinted chemical detection device comprising at least one molecularly-imprinted polymer capable of detecting at least one chemical target is produced. The device can be used in the field for in situ detection and quantification of chemical targets using standard surface analytical techniques.

Abstract: There is provided herein a method and apparatus suitable for use in studying cell membrane related activities. Activities of interest include patch-clamp related studies of networks of cells on a solid substrate. Cells are grown, preferably in a patterned manner, on a substrate having microholes therein. Seals between the cells and the microholes are formed. Each microhole is attached to a channel. In many cases only one hole will be attached to a single channel, allowing examination of effects of a stimulus at a number of different points in a network of one or more cell types. This may be interest, for example, to those wishing to study interactions between neurons or neuromuscular junctions.

Abstract: A microblind system has an array of overhanging stressed microblinds, each having an anchor portion attached a substrate and a mobile portion. The microblinds are responsive to electrostatic forces to mutate between a deployed configuration wherein the mobile portion obscure the substrate and a curled configuration wherein the mobile portion exposes the substrate. A transparent conductive layer permits the application of an electric field to the microblinds.

Abstract: Many integrated circuits require a multilayer structure which contains layer of an organic or polymeric material with a patterned metallic layer on it. Laser patterning has many favourable characteristics but it also damages the organic or polymeric material. A novel method is disclosed that makes possible laser patterning of conductive metal electrode deposited on top of an organic and/or polymeric material without significant ablation of the organic and/or polymeric material. The method can achieve higher patterning resolution, resulting in higher quality integrated circuits. The method is based on the application of a thin coating of an inexpensive anti-reflector deposited on top of the desired metal electrode which in turn lies on the organic and/or polymeric material. The thin anti-reflecting coating allows the use of a lower fluence laser for ablation of metal layer without damaging the underlying organic and/or polymeric material.

Abstract: Many integrated circuits require a multilayer structure which contains layer of an organic or polymeric material with a patterned metallic layer on it. Laser patterning has many favorable characteristics but it also damages the organic or polymeric material. A novel method is disclosed that makes possible laser patterning of conductive metal electrode deposited on top of an organic and/or polymeric material without significant ablation of the organic and/or polymeric material. The method can achieve higher patterning resolution, resulting in higher quality integrated circuits. The method is based on the application of a thin coating of an inexpensive anti-reflector deposited on top of the desired metal electrode which in turn lies on the organic and/or polymeric material. The thin anti-reflecting coating allows the use of a lower fluence laser for ablation of metal layer without damaging the underlying organic and/or polymeric material.

Abstract: Many integrated circuits require a multilayer structure which contains layer of an organic or polymeric material with a patterned metallic layer on it. Laser patterning has many favourable characteristics but it also damages the organic or polymeric material. A novel method is disclosed that makes possible laser patterning of conductive metal electrode deposited on top of an organic and/or polymeric material without significant ablation of the organic and/or polymeric material. The method can achieve higher patterning resolution, resulting in higher quality integrated circuits. The method is based on the application of a thin coating of an inexpensive anti-reflector deposited on top of the desired metal electrode which in turn lies on the organic and/or polymeric material. The thin anti-reflecting coating allows the use of a lower fluence laser for ablation of metal layer without damaging the underlying organic and/or polymeric material.

Abstract: An Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) includes as active material a conjugated poly(N-alkyl-2,7-carbazole) derivative described by the formula: wherein n is an integer of about 3 to about 100, and R represents a substituant that is a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 22 carbon atoms, or poly(ethyleneoxy), cyano, aryl, amide or benzoyl. Such OLEDs have improved light emitting properties, especially in the blue and red regions of the spectrum.

Abstract: An Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) includes as active material a conjugated poly(N-alkyl-2,7-carbazole) derivative described by the formula: 1

Abstract: A field-emission display (FED) device has a cathodoluminiescent screen and an emitting assembly for selectively energizing pixels on the screen to form an image. The emitting assembly includes an array of emitters arranged in addressable rows, and controllable focusing/deflection arrangement associated with the respective emitters to permit emissions from the emitters in a group of addressed rows to be simultaneously directed onto a common energized pixel on the screen.

Abstract: A system for controlling the shape of a charged particle beam. The particle beam is emitted from a source (58) of the said particles. Said source is associated with a collecting electrode which collects the particles. The system comprises at least one resistive zone (56) and at least two control electrodes (52, 54). The resistive zone and the control electrodes are arranged substantially at the same level as the source. The control electrodes are also placed on either side of the resistive zone and serve to polarize the latter. The electrical resistance profile of the resistive zone is chosen in such a way that it has the potential distribution so that it is possible to obtain the desired shape of the beam from the source when the control electrodes are appropriately polarized.

Abstract: Ionization vacuum gauge comprising, like Bayard Alpert gauges, in a chamber (1) containing an extremely low pressure atmosphere, whose ultra-vacuum degree it is desired to be measured, an electron source cathode (2), a grid (3) for collecting these electrons and surrounding a collector (4) of ions resulting from the impact of the electrons on the gas molecules of the extremely low pressure atmosphere, wherein the electron source is a cold micropoint cathode.