Abstract: Method of reducing background fluorescence and corresponding utensils are provided. Utensils such as those used for fluorescence measurements in many fields are coated by a coating comprising porous fractal ceramic layer(s). The ceramic layer is produced by reactive vapor deposition and comprises oxides of aluminum, titanium, tantalum, niobium, zirconium, silicon, thorium, cadmium or tungsten. The coating is configured to exhibit hemispherical reflectance of less than 2% over a range of wavelengths ranging from 0.1-10 ?m. The coating achieves high resolution by applying fine deposition and ablation patterns and due to its porousness, and is non-toxic and non-outgassing.

Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum enclosure which is defined by a wall having inner and outer surfaces, where the inner surface is in contact with the vacuum and the outer surface is in contact with ambient air. The vacuum enclosure is characterized by the presence therein of a getter for undesired gaseous contaminants. The getter includes a substrate (either integral with the inner surface or not) and, deposited thereon by vacuum deposition, a thin-layer laminate including at least one layer (?) of substance(s) such as platinum group metals and oxides thereof, and at least one porous hydrophilic layer (?). A corresponding layered structure having utility as a getter is also part of the invention.

Abstract: A printing plate comprises a substantially planar substrate, a porous non-anodic ungrained coating, having a thickness within the range of about 0.1 to about 30 microns and comprising at least one of metals, metal oxides and admixtures thereof, and an image recording layer, provided that where the porous coating consists essentially of oxide(s) only, it comprises at least one oxide of copper, magnesium, cadmium, aluminum, zirconium, hafnium, thorium, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum and (or) cobalt, and further provided that where the porous coating consists essentially of alumina only, it comprises specified pores. The invention also relates to an article of manufacture having a nanometric porous surface layer comprising at least one of metals, metal oxides and mixtures thereof, which comprises pores in the surface layer having a width in a range 0-100 nm, and wherein a major number of pores in this range have a width in a band of about 1 to about 30 nm.

Abstract: The invention relates to an article of manufacture which includes a substrate, and on at least one surface thereof, a porous coating which has a total thickness in the range of up to about 50 microns and which consists of a plurality of discrete adjacent strata, wherein each discrete stratum is porous, inclusive of porous interfaces, and is fabricated from at least one substance selected from the group consisting of metals and metal oxides. The article is made by vaporizing a metal under vacuum conditions, optionally in an oxidizing atmosphere, at predetermined intervals of time, such that a deposit of a desired total thickness is formed on the substrate as a coating consisting of a plurality of discrete adjacent strata.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar collector comprising a collector device and a heat-transfer device which includes a heat conductive conduit for heat-transfer fluid, the conduit being in physical contact with the collector device, characterized in that: the collector device comprises flexible metallic foil of which at least one side is adapted for exposure to solar radiation by the presence thereon of a heat absorptive coating; and the physical contact is maintained by tension effective to stretch the foil over the conduit. In an embodiment of the invention the tubes 5 of the conduit are arranged in one plane, the tension is maintained by bars 10 arranged in another plane, substantially parallel to the plain of the tubes. Foil 8 is placed so as to contact alternately with the tubes and with tension-maintaining bars 5.

Abstract: A vacuum enclosure which is defined by a wall having inner and outer surfaces, where the inner surface is in contact with the vacuum and the outer surface is in contact with ambient air, is characterized by presence therein of a getter for undesired gaseous contaminants, which comprises a substrate (either integral with the inner surface or not), and deposited thereon by vacuum deposition a thin-layer laminate including (?) at least one layer of substance(s) selected from the group consisting of platinum group metals and oxides thereof, and (?) at least one porous hydrophilic layer. A corresponding layered structure having utility as a getter is also part of the invention.

Abstract: Apparatus for collection of solar energy includes at least one heat-transfer collector device comprising (i) a hollow core, adapted for passage of heat transfer fluid, and (ii) a preferably detachable laminar metallic cover configured to wrap around the and be in close physical contact with at least part of an outer surface of the core, while the outer surface of the cover is adapted for exposure to solar radiation by the presence of a solar energy absorptive coating.

Abstract: In an anodized electrode which comprises a substrate, a vacuum deposited porous coating thereon comprising at least one substance selected from valve metals, valve metal oxides and mixtures thereof, and at least one ectrolytically produced anodized layer selected from valve metal oxides and mixtures thereof, the effective surface area is increased prior to deposition of the at least one anodized layer, e.g. by oxidizing the surface of the porous layer and removing thus formed oxide, and/or by roughening the surface of substrate mechanically, chemically and/or electrochemically, prior to vapor deposition.

Abstract: The invention relates an implant, which comprises a biologically compatible substrate, to which at least one moiety is bound by a ligand, the moiety being one which specifically binds to and selectively immobilizes, at least one known target present in body fluid. The moiety traps the target and thus enables undesired materials present in a body fluid to be destroyed locally in situ, or alternatively to be removed and destroyed ex vivo. A method for selectively removing from a mammalian body fluid in situ, at least one known target, also forms part of the invention.

Abstract: A composite membrane for separating components of fluid mixtures including either a porous, essentially continuous, vacuum-deposited ceramic layer, supported by a porous substrate, the ceramic layer comprising at least one oxide selected from aluminum, titanium, tantalum, niobium, zirconium, silicon, thorium, cadmium and tungsten oxides, wherein the average width of the substrate pores is greater than that of the ceramic layer pores, subject to stated conditions; or a multi-layer system of at least two such ceramic layers, disposed on at least one side of, and supported by, a porous substrate, the ceramic layers comprising at least one of the above-specified oxides, wherein between successive ceramic layers, there is disposed a vacuum-deposited metallic layer wherein the porosity and (or) average pore width of the metallic layer is less than those of the ceramic layer. The invention further relates to the application of similar membranes to TLC and column chromatography.

Abstract: The invention relates to an article of manufacture which includes a substrate, and on at least one surface thereof, a porous coating which has a total thickness in the range of up to about 50 microns and which consists of a plurality of discrete adjacent strata, wherein each discrete stratum is porous, inclusive of porous interfaces, and is fabricated from at least one substance selected from the group consisting of metals and metal oxides. The article is made by vaporizing a metal under vacuum conditions, optionally in an oxidizing atmosphere, at predetermined intervals of time, such that a deposit of a desired total thickness is formed on the substrate as a coating consisting of a plurality of discrete adjacent strata.

Abstract: A printing plate comprises a substantially planar substrate, a porous non-anodic ungrained coating, having a thickness within the range of about 0.1 to about 30 microns and comprising at least one of metals, metal oxides and admixtures thereof, and an image recording layer, provided that where the porous coating consists essentially of oxide(s) only, it comprises at least one oxide of copper, magnesium, cadmium, aluminum, zirconium, hafnium, thorium, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum and (or) cobalt, and further provided that where the porous coating consists essentially of alumina only, it comprises specified pores. The invention also relates to an article of manufacture having a nanometric porous surface layer comprising at least one of metals, metal oxides and mixtures thereof, which comprises pores in the surface layer having a width in a range 0-100 nm, and wherein a major number of pores in this range have a width in a band of about 1 to about 30 nm.

Abstract: A method for increasing the surface area of foil electrodes of electrolytic capacitors. A valve metal is deposited by evaporation on a valve metal foil in a low pressure inert atmosphere including oxygen at a pressure one to two orders of magnitude lower than the pressure of the inert gas. The resulting surface is fractal-like. The foil thus treated is suitable as such for use as a cathode. Prior to anodization to produce an anode, a discontinuous layer of a valve metal oxide is deposited on the foil, to preserve the high surface area of the fractal-like surface and otherwise promote the formation of a dielectric coating whose interface with the metal foil has a high surface area.

Abstract: A method for making an integrated electrolytic capacitor wherein a substrate (40) is coated with at least one sequence of each of the following layers: a vacuum deposited film (42) having a high specific surface area, which is selected from the group consisting of valve metals and mixtures of valve metals with valve metal oxides; superimposed on the film having a high specific surface area, at least one dielectric film (46) comprising a substance selected from the group consisting of valve metal oxides, their complex oxides with at least one rare earth metal and their complex oxides with at least one alkaline earth metal; and a solid electrolyte film (48) superimposed on the at least one film.

Abstract: In an anodized electrode which comprises a substrate, a vacuum deposited porous coating thereon comprising at least one substance selected from valve metals, valve metal oxides and mixtures thereof, and at least one ectrolytically produced anodized layer selected from valve metal oxides and mixtures thereof, the effective surface area is increased prior to deposition of the at least one anodized layer, e.g. by oxidizing the surface of the porous layer and removing thus formed oxide, and/or by roughening the surface of substrate mechanically, chemically and/or electrochemically, prior to vapor deposition.

Abstract: A method for increasing the surface area of foil electrodes of electrolytic capacitors. A valve metal is deposited by evaporation on a valve metal foil in a low pressure inert atmosphere including oxygen at a pressure one to two orders of magnitude lower than the pressure of the inert gas. The resulting surface is fractal-like. The foil thus treated is suitable as such for use as a cathode. Prior to anodization to produce an anode, a discontinuous layer of a valve metal oxide is deposited on the foil, to preserve the high surface area of the fractal-like surface and otherwise promote the formation of a dielectric coating whose interface with the metal foil has a high surface area.

Abstract: A method for making an integrated electrolytic capacitor wherein a substrate (40) is coated with at least one sequence of each of the following layers: a vacuum deposited film (42) having a high specific surface area, which is selected from the group consisting of valve metals and mixtures of valve metals with valve metal oxides; superimposed on the film having a high specific surface area, at least one dielectric film (46) comprising a substance selected from the group consisting of valve metal oxides, their complex oxides with at least one rare earth metal and their complex oxides with at least one alkaline earth metal; and a solid electrolyte film (48) superimposed on the at least one film.

Abstract: A method for increasing the surface area of foil electrodes of electrolytic capacitors. A valve metal is deposited by evaporation on a valve metal foil in a low pressure inert atmosphere including oxygen at a pressure one to two orders of magnitude lower than the pressure of the inert gas. The resulting surface is fractal-like. The foil thus treated is suitable as such for use as a cathode. Prior to anodization to produce an anode, a discontinuous layer of a valve metal oxide is deposited on the foil, to preserve the high surface area of the fractal-like surface and otherwise promote the formation of a dielectric coating whose interface with the metal foil has a high surface area.

Abstract: A method for increasing the surface area of foil electrodes of electrolytic capacitors. A valve metal is deposited by evaporation on a valve metal foil in a low pressure inert atmosphere including oxygen at a pressure one to two orders of magnitude lower than the pressure of the inert gas. The resulting surface is fractal-like. The foil thus treated is suitable as such for use as a cathode. Prior to anodization to produce an anode, a discontinuous layer of a valve metal oxide is deposited on the foil, to preserve the high surface area of the fractal-like surface and otherwise promote the formation of a dielectric coating whose interface with the metal foil has a high surface area.

Abstract: A method for increasing the surface area of foil electrodes of electrolytic capacitors. A valve metal is deposited by evaporation on a valve metal foil in a low pressure inert atmosphere including oxygen at a pressure one to two orders of magnitude lower than the pressure of the inert gas. The resulting surface is fractal-like. The foil thus treated is suitable as such for use as a cathode. Prior to anodization to produce an anode, a discontinuous of a valve metal oxide is deposited on the foil, to preserve the high surface area of the fractal-like surface and otherwise promote the formation of a dielectric coating whose interface with the metal foil has a high surface area.