Abstract: An inorganic membrane having an improved pore structure. The membrane has a mean pore size of up to about 100 nm and a mean particle size in a range from about 10 nm to about 100 nm. In one embodiment, the membrane comprises ?-alumina and is formed by providing a coating slip comprising ?-alumina; applying the coating slip to a support surface to form a coating layer; drying the coating layer; and firing the dried coating layer at a temperature of at least about 1000° C. to convert at least a portion of the ?-alumina to ?-alumina and form the inorganic membrane.

Abstract: Methods for making tin oxide films comprising nano-whiskers comprises providing a solution comprising a tin precursor and a solvent; preparing aerosol droplets of the solution; and applying the aerosol droplets to a heated glass substrate, converting the tin chloride to tin oxide to form a tin oxide film on the glass substrate, wherein the tin oxide film comprises nano-whiskers.

Abstract: Wall flow membrane filters, fabricated by masking a first subset of the channels at one or both ends of a honeycomb body comprising an array of open-ended through-channels separated by porous channel walls, applying a membrane-forming composition to the porous channel walls of a second subset of the channels, curing the membrane-forming composition to provide a wall-adhering fluid-permeable membrane; and then plugging the first subset of channels at a first end of the body and the second subset of channels at a second end of the body, are useful in exhaust systems of improved particulate filtration efficiency for gasoline direct injection or diesel engines.

Abstract: An inorganic membrane having an improved pore structure. The membrane has a mean pore size of up to about 100 nm and a mean particle size in a range from about 10 nm to about 100 nm. In one embodiment, the membrane comprises ?-alumina and is formed by providing a coating slip comprising ?-alumina; applying the coating slip to a support surface to form a coating layer; drying the coating layer; and firing the dried coating layer at a temperature of at least about 1000° C. to convert at least a portion of the ?-alumina to ?-alumina and form the inorganic membrane.

Abstract: A porous structure sealed at both ends for use in a gas separation module; and a method for separating components of a gas stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a uniform membrane coating to a substrate, such as a honeycomb structure, having a plurality of through-channels, wherein the through-channels have an average diameter of less than or equal to 3 mm. The method includes providing a liquid precursor comprising membrane-forming materials to the substrate and applying a pressure differential across the substrate. The pressure differential causes the liquid precursor to travel uniformly through the through-channels, depositing the membrane-forming materials on the walls of the through-channels and forming the membrane on the walls of the through-channels. The apparatus includes a chamber capable of holding the substrate and of maintaining a pressure differential across the plurality of through-channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a uniform membrane coating to a substrate, such as a honeycomb structure, having a plurality of through-channels, wherein the through-channels have an average diameter of less than or equal to 3 mm. The method includes providing a liquid precursor comprising membrane-forming materials to the substrate and applying a pressure differential across the substrate. The pressure differential causes the liquid precursor to travel uniformly through the through-channels, depositing the membrane-forming materials on the walls of the through-channels and forming the membrane on the walls of the through-channels. The apparatus includes a chamber capable of holding the substrate and of maintaining a pressure differential across the plurality of through-channels.

Abstract: Dye sensitized solar cells having conductive metal oxide layers with nano-whiskers and methods of making the dye sensitized solar cells having conductive metal oxide layers with nano-whiskers are described. The method for making a dye sensitized solar cell comprises providing a conductive metal oxide layer comprising nano-whiskers, applying a porous semi-conducting layer on the conductive metal oxide layer, applying a dye to at least a portion of the porous semi-conducting layer, and applying an electrolyte adjacent to at least a portion of the dye.

Abstract: Article comprising a substrate; and a conductive metal oxide film adjacent to a surface of the substrate, wherein the conductive metal oxide film has an electron mobility (cm2/V-s) of 35 or greater are described. Photovoltaic devices comprising conductive metal oxide films are also described.

Abstract: Methods for making tin oxide films comprising nano-whiskers comprises providing a solution comprising a tin precursor and a solvent; preparing aerosol droplets of the solution; and applying the aerosol droplets to a heated glass substrate, converting the tin chloride to tin oxide to form a tin oxide film on the glass substrate, wherein the tin oxide film comprises nano-whiskers.

Abstract: A porous structure sealed at both ends for use in a gas separation module; and a method for separating components of a gas stream.

Abstract: An oxygen-ion conducting membrane structure comprising a monolithic inorganic porous support, optionally one or more porous inorganic intermediate layers, and an oxygen-ion conducting ceramic membrane. The oxygen-ion conducting hybrid membrane is useful for gas separation applications, for example O2 separation.

Abstract: Methods for coating a glass substrate as it is being drawn, for example, during fusion draw or during fiber draw are described. The coatings are conductive coatings which can also be transparent. The conductive thin film coated glass substrates can be used in, for example, display devices, solar cell applications and in many other rapidly growing industries and applications.

Abstract: Methods for coating a glass substrate are described. The coatings are conductive metal oxide coatings which can also be transparent. The conductive thin film coated glass substrates can be used in, for example, display devices, solar cell applications and in many other rapidly growing industries and applications.

Abstract: A particulate filter is provided having a filter body with at least one porous wall, and a porous coating on the wall, the coating having a median pore diameter less than 20 microns and a coating pore size deviation of less than 3 times the coating median pore diameter, and the coating having an average thickness of less than 50 microns. A method of manufacturing a particulate filter is also disclosed which includes providing a filter body with at least one porous wall, and depositing particles onto the wall, the particles having a mean particle diameter of less than about 30 microns.

Abstract: Methods for coating a glass substrate as it is being drawn, for example, during fusion draw or during fiber draw are described. The coatings are conductive metal oxide coatings which can also be transparent. The conductive thin film coated glass substrates can be used in, for example, display devices, solar cell applications and in many other rapidly growing industries and applications.

Abstract: Inorganic membrane structures of high stability, high permeability, and large surface area. Zeolite membranes can be disposed onto an intermediate pore size modification layer which reduces the pore size of the inorganic porous support. The intermediate pore size modification layer minimizes the defects in the zeolite membrane and provides a more continuous and uniform zeolite membrane. The inorganic membrane structure can be in the form of a honeycomb monolith. The applications for the zeolite membranes include, for example, membrane ultra-filtration of gas or liquid fluids, biological assays and cell culture surfaces.

Abstract: Inorganic porous substrates and methods of making inorganic porous substrates utilizing nanoparticles deposited onto a base substrate are described. The inorganic porous substrates are useful for biological applications, for example, biomolecule attachment such as DNA, RNA, protein and the like. The inorganic porous substrates are also useful for cell growth applications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a uniform membrane coating to a substrate, such as a honeycomb structure, having a plurality of through-channels, wherein the through-channels have an average diameter of less than or equal to 3 mm. The method includes providing a liquid precursor comprising membrane-forming materials to the substrate and applying a pressure differential across the substrate. The pressure differential causes the liquid precursor to travel uniformly through the through-channels, depositing the membrane-forming materials on the walls of the through-channels and forming the membrane on the walls of the through-channels. The apparatus includes a chamber capable of holding the substrate and of maintaining a pressure differential across the plurality of through-channels.

Abstract: An apparatus useful for electrostatic deposition (ESD) of aerosol particles and methods of depositing the aerosol particles onto a substrate are disclosed. The ESD apparatus and the method of the present invention are useful for electrostatically depositing nanoparticles produced by gas-phase synthesis onto a substrate where the velocity of the flow of aerosol can be controlled.