Abstract: A method for making a photonic structure, including creating a first vapor stream of a first vapor material, the first vapor stream having a first non-uniform flux in at least one direction; and moving a substrate in at least a portion of the vapor stream. In addition, the method includes depositing the first vapor material on a first major surface of said substrate, and forming a first layer and a density gradient in the first layer during deposition. The first layer is disposed on and the density gradient is in a direction perpendicular to the first major surface.

Abstract: A lamp may include a waveguide having a solid dielectric body and may have a bulb disposed in the body. The bulb may be adapted to produce light when excited by the electromagnetic energy. The waveguide body may have at least a portion that is transmissive of light. The waveguide may be configured to guide electromagnetic energy received from a source, and may have one or more apertures adapted to allow light to exit the waveguide body.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly in accordance with a present invention includes a substrate including a reactant-permeable region and a non-permeable support region and a fuel cell carried by the substrate.

Abstract: Optical property normalization for a transparent electrical device is described. In an embodiment, an electrical device includes a plurality of laterally displaced regions that are substantially transparent. Each region of the plurality of regions includes a normalized surface that has an optical property that has a normalized value that is substantially the same, one to another. One of the regions includes a portion of an electrical component. Additionally, at least one of the regions includes beneath the normalized surface an additional surface and a spectral normalization structure. The additional surface has a value for the optical property that is not substantially the same as the normalized value. The spectral normalization structure is disposed with the additional surface such that the normalized surface of the at least one region exhibits the normalized value.

Abstract: Optical property normalization for a transparent electrical device is described. In an embodiment, an electrical device includes a plurality of laterally displaced regions that are substantially transparent. Each region of the plurality of regions includes a normalized surface that has an optical property that has a normalized value that is substantially the same, one to another. One of the regions includes a portion of an electrical component. Additionally, at least one of the regions includes beneath the normalized surface an additional surface and a spectral normalization structure. The additional surface has a value for the optical property that is not substantially the same as the normalized value. The spectral normalization structure is disposed with the additional surface such that the normalized surface of the at least one region exhibits the normalized value.

Abstract: A seal for a fuel cell includes a matrix of glass and an embedded phase that includes a metal. The seal is configured to absorb stresses by becoming structurally yieldable at operating temperatures of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A photonic-crystal filament is formed by mixing a slurry comprising particles of substantially uniform size and a precursor material for a desired metal, urging the slurry through an orifice to force the particles and precursor material into a combination having a desired crystallographic configuration, drying the combination emerging from the orifice, and sintering the precursor material.

Abstract: Photonic crystal structures are made by a method including steps of providing a substrate, depositing at least one planar layer to form a stack, each planar layer of the stack comprising two or more sublayers having different sublayer refractive indices, depositing a hard mask material, depositing an imprintable material over the hard mask material, patterning the imprintable material by imprinting an array of depressions, and directionally etching at the depressions a regular array of openings through the hard mask material and the stack.

Abstract: A self-assembled photonic crystal is formed using a template made by nanoimprint lithography. A layer of imprintable material is deposited on a substrate, a pattern is imprinted in the imprintable material to form a template (the pattern of the template being adapted to substantially constrain colloidal particles to a predetermined lattice), and colloidal particles are introduced onto the template, substantially filling the predetermined lattice.

Abstract: A fuel cell in accordance with a present invention includes a plurality of reactant channels.

Abstract: A method of forming a fuel cell electrode includes providing a substrate and at least one deposition device, developing a deposition characteristic profile having at least one porous layer based on pre-determined desired electrode properties, forming a film in accordance with the deposition characteristic profile by sputtering material from the deposition device while varying a relative position of the substrate in relation to the deposition device with respect to at least a first axis.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a first fuel cell capable of providing an electrical output, a second fuel cell capable of providing an electrical output, and a switch circuit that includes one or more switches for arranging the electrical output of the first fuel cell and the electrical output of the second fuel cell in parallel or series to thereby adjust electrical output efficiency and heat production.

Abstract: Optical property normalization for a transparent electrical device is described. In an embodiment, an electrical device includes a plurality of laterally displaced regions that are substantially transparent. Each region of the plurality of regions includes a normalized surface that has an optical property that has a normalized value that is substantially the same, one to another. One of the regions includes a portion of an electrical component. Additionally, at least one of the regions includes beneath the normalized surface an additional surface and a spectral normalization structure. The additional surface has a value for the optical property that is not substantially the same as the normalized value. The spectral normalization structure is disposed with the additional surface such that the normalized surface of the at least one region exhibits the normalized value.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a fuel cell support structure includes forming a plurality of pores through a substrate and actively controlling a shape or size of the pores formed through the substrate.

Abstract: A MEMS-based fuel cell has a substrate, an electrolyte in contact with the substrate, a cathode in contact with the electrolyte, an anode spaced apart from the cathode and in contact with the electrolyte, and an integral manifold for supplying either a fuel or an oxidant or both together, the integral manifold extending over at least a portion of the electrolyte and over at least one of the anode and cathode. Methods for making and using arrays of the fuel cells are disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel cell system in accordance with a present invention includes independently actuatable fuel cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly in accordance with a present invention includes at least one reactant path that extends at least once around the perimeter of the inner region of the assembly and has an upstream end associated with the outer region of the assembly and a downstream end associated with the inner region.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for applying crystalline materials to a substrate by applying a cation and an anion and crystallizing at least a portion of the reaction product of the cation and the anion. The application of at least one of the cation or the anion is actively controlled such that it is applied in a patternwise or blanketwise fashion.

Abstract: A seal for a fuel cell includes an alloy configured to absorb thermal and redox stresses transferred to the fuel cell by becoming structurally yieldable at operating temperatures of the fuel cell.

Abstract: In one of many possible embodiments, the present invention provides a fuel cell system including a fuel cell having a plurality of segmented anodes, each segmented anode measuring a minimal length sufficient to substantially consume or catalyze fuel introduced to the anode.