Abstract: A toroidal microinductor comprises a nanocomposite magnetic core employing superparamagnetic nanoparticles covalently cross-linked in an epoxy network. The core material eliminates energy loss mechanisms in existing inductor core materials, providing a path towards realizing low form factor devices. As an example, both a 2 ?H output and a 500 nH input microinductors comprising superparamagnetic iron nanoparticles were modeled for a high-performance buck converter. Both modeled inductors had 50 wire turns, less than 1 cm3 form factors, less than 1 ?AC resistance and quality factors, Q's, of 27 at 1 MHz. In addition, the output microinductor had an average output power of 7 W and power density of 3.9 kW/in3.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the syntheses of superparamagnetic nanoparticles and the incorporation of the nanoparticles as the magnetic component to form a strongly magnetic nanocomposite. The superparamagnetic nanoparticles possess no hysteresis and are too small to support eddy currents. The invention uses a ligand exchange procedure to produce aminated nanoparticles that are then cross-linked using epoxy chemistry. The result is a magnetic nanoparticle component that is covalently linked and well separated. By using this ‘matrix-free’ approach, it is possible to substantially increase the magnetic nanoparticle fraction, while still maintaining good separation, leading to a superparamagnetic nanocomposite with strong magnetic properties and low magnetic losses.

Abstract: A method for creating nanoparticles directly from bulk metal by applying ultrasound to the surface in the presence of a two-part surfactant system. Implosive collapse of cavitation bubbles near the bulk metal surface generates powerful microjets, leading to material ejection. This liberated material is captured and stabilized by a surfactant bilayer in the form of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles can be produced regardless of the bulk metal form factor. The method is generally applicable of metals and alloys. The method can be applied to an environmentally important problem, the reclamation of gold from an electronic waste stream.

Abstract: The invention provides a green chemistry, aqueous method to synthesize gold nanoparticles directly from bulk gold sources. The method involves the ultrasonication of bulk gold in water in the presence of an alkythiol species and a quaternary ammonium surfactant. An organic bilayer forms on the surface of the gold which renders it susceptible to material ejection from the violent collapse of cavitation bubbles. This ejected material is stabilized in solution by the formation of an organic bilayer and can be easily separated. It can then be subjected to an aqueous digestive ripening step to give a gold nanoparticle ensemble with a well-defined plasmon resonance. This method is applicable to a number of different sources of bulk gold. The method can be applied to an environmentally important problem; the recovery of gold from electronic waste streams. For example, gold nanoparticles can be extracted directly from the surface of SIM cards, with no prior manipulation of the cards necessary.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the syntheses of superparamagnetic nanoparticles and the incorporation of the nanoparticles as the magnetic component to form a strongly magnetic nanocomposite. The superparamagnetic nanoparticles possess no hysteresis and are too small to support eddy currents. The invention uses a ligand exchange procedure to produce aminated nanoparticles that are then cross-linked using epoxy chemistry. The result is a magnetic nanoparticle component that is covalently linked and well separated. By using this ‘matrix-free’ approach, it is possible to substantially increase the magnetic nanoparticle fraction, while still maintaining good separation, leading to a superparamagnetic nanocomposite with strong magnetic properties and low magnetic losses.

Abstract: A method for creating nanoparticles directly from bulk metal by applying ultrasound to the surface in the presence of a two-part surfactant system. Implosive collapse of cavitation bubbles near the bulk metal surface generates powerful microjets, leading to material ejection. This liberated material is captured and stabilized by a surfactant bilayer in the form of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles can be produced regardless of the bulk metal form factor. The method is generally applicable of metals and alloys. The method can be applied to an environmentally important problem, the reclamation of gold from an electronic waste stream.

Abstract: The invention provides a green chemistry, aqueous method to synthesize gold nanoparticles directly from bulk gold sources. The method involves the ultrasonication of bulk gold in water in the presence of an alkythiol species and a quaternary ammonium surfactant. An organic bilayer forms on the surface of the gold which renders it susceptible to material ejection from the violent collapse of cavitation bubbles. This ejected material is stabilized in solution by the formation of an organic bilayer and can be easily separated. It can then be subjected to an aqueous digestive ripening step to give a gold nanoparticle ensemble with a well-defined plasmon resonance. This method is applicable to a number of different sources of bulk gold. The method can be applied to an environmentally important problem; the recovery of gold from electronic waste streams. For example, gold nanoparticles can be extracted directly from the surface of SIM cards, with no prior manipulation of the cards necessary.

Abstract: A programmable pH buffer comprises a copolymer that changes pKa at a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in water. The copolymer comprises a thermally programmable polymer that undergoes a hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic phase change at the LCST and an electrolytic polymer that exhibits acid-base properties that are responsive to the phase change. The programmable pH buffer can be used to sequester CO2 into water.

Abstract: A programmable pH buffer comprises a copolymer that changes pKa at a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in water. The copolymer comprises a thermally programmable polymer that undergoes a hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic phase change at the LCST and an electrolytic polymer that exhibits acid-base properties that are responsive to the phase change. The programmable pH buffer can be used to sequester CO2 into water.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system described herein includes a first group of photovoltaic modules that comprises a first plurality of microsystem enabled photovoltaic modules. A second group of photovoltaic modules comprises a second plurality of microsystem enabled photovoltaic modules, wherein the first group of photovoltaic modules are electrically connected in parallel to the second group of photovoltaic modules.

Abstract: Micron-size and sub-micron-size patterns on a substrate can direct the self-assembly of surface-bonded mixed polymer brushes to create nanoscale patterns in the phase-separated mixed polymer brush. The larger scale features, or patterns, can be defined by a variety of lithographic techniques, as well as other physical and chemical processes including but not limited to etching, grinding, and polishing. The polymer brushes preferably comprise vinyl polymers, such as polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate).

Abstract: A method for controlling the size of chemically synthesized magnetic nanoparticles that employs magnetic interaction between particles to control particle size and does not rely on conventional kinetic control of the reaction to control particle size. The particles are caused to reversibly agglomerate and precipitate from solution; the size at which this occurs can be well controlled to provide a very narrow particle size distribution. The size of particles is controllable by the size of the surfactant employed in the process; controlling the size of the surfactant allows magnetic control of the agglomeration and precipitation processes. Agglomeration is used to effectively stop particle growth to provide a very narrow range of particle sizes.

Abstract: A method for forming non-agglomerated brookite TiO2 nanoparticles without the use of expensive organic surfactants or high temperature processing. Embodiments of this invention use titanium isopropoxide as the titanium precursor and isopropanol as both the solvent and ligand for ligand-stabilized brookite-phase titania. Isopropanol molecules serve as the ligands interacting with the titania surfaces that stabilize the titania nanoparticles. The isopropanol ligands can be exchanged with other alcohols and other ligands during or after the nanoparticle formation reaction.

Abstract: A biological preconcentrator comprises a stimulus-responsive active film on a stimulus-producing microfabricated platform. The active film can comprise a thermally switchable polymer film that can be used to selectively absorb and desorb proteins from a protein mixture. The biological microfabricated platform can comprise a thin membrane suspended on a substrate with an integral resistive heater and/or thermoelectric cooler for thermal switching of the active polymer film disposed on the membrane. The active polymer film can comprise hydrogel-like polymers, such as poly(ethylene oxide) or poly(n-isopropylacrylamide), that are tethered to the membrane. The biological preconcentrator can be fabricated with semiconductor materials and technologies.