Abstract: A composition comprising mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles and free-radical producing enzyme (i.e., enzyme-bound mesoporous aggregates), wherein the mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles have mesopores in which the free-radical-producing enzyme is embedded. Methods for synthesizing the enzyme-bound mesoporous aggregates are also described. Processes that use said enzyme-bound mesoporous aggregates for depolymerizing lignin, removing aromatic contaminants from water, and polymerizing monomers polymerizable by a free-radical reaction are also described.

Abstract: A composition comprising mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles and free-radical producing enzyme (i.e., enzyme-bound mesoporous aggregates), wherein the mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles have mesopores in which the free-radical-producing enzyme is embedded. Methods for synthesizing the enzyme-bound mesoporous aggregates are also described. Processes that use said enzyme-bound mesoporous aggregates for depolymerizing lignin, removing aromatic contaminants from water, and polymerizing monomers polymerizable by a free-radical reaction are also described.

Abstract: A composition comprising mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles and free-radical producing enzyme (i.e., enzyme-bound mesoporous aggregates), wherein the mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles have mesopores in which the free-radical-producing enzyme is embedded. Methods for synthesizing the enzyme-bound mesoporous aggregates are also described. Processes that use said enzyme-bound mesoporous aggregates for depolymerizing lignin, removing aromatic contaminants from water, and polymerizing monomers polymerizable by a free-radical reaction are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides new nanoparticles that include a Group 4 metal oxide core and a coating surrounding the core, where the coating contains a ligand according to Formula (I), or a carboxylate thereof. The invention also provides new photoresist compositions that include a photoacid generator and a ligand acid or carboxylate thereof, where pKaPAG is lower than pKaLA. Methods for patterning a substrate using the inventive photoresist composition are also provided.

Abstract: Compound containing at least 15% inorganic content demonstrates liquid-like behavior and is distinct in exhibiting liquid-like behavior in the absence of solvent. In one case it is quaternary ammonium derivative of a heteropolyacid. In another case, it is a salt formed by reaction of heteropolyacid and polyethylene glycol alkylamine. In other cases, it is condensation product of oxide and quaternary ammonium cation where the balancing anion has a molecular weight greater than 200. In still other cases it is a salt formed by reaction of sulfonated silica or sulfonated fullerene and polyethylene glycol alkylamine. In still other cases, it is a neutral organic-inorganic hybrid which is PEG-functionalized silica nanoparticle or is a layered-nanoparticle obtained by hydrolytic polymerization of organosilane in nonpolar solvent.

Abstract: Nanoparticle functionalized membranes, where the surface of the membranes is nanoparticle functionalized. The nanoparticles closest to the membrane surface are covalently bonded to the membrane surface. For example, the membranes are forward osmosis, reverse osmosis, or ultrafiltration membranes. The membranes can be used in devices or water purification methods.

Abstract: A nanoscale ionic material composition, such as but not limited to a nanoscale ionic solid material composition, a nanoscale ionic gel material composition or a nanoscale ionic liquid material composition, may be prepared using an acid/base reaction directly between: (1) one of an acid functional and a base functional inorganic metal oxide nanoparticle core absent an organofunctional corona; and (2) a corresponding complementary one of a basic and acidic functional organic polymer material canopy. Desirably, the nanoscale ionic material composition is formed absent an intervening chemical functionalization process step with respect to the inorganic metal oxide nanoparticle core that provides the corona, such as but not limited to a silane coupling agent chemical functionalization process step with respect to the inorganic metal oxide nanoparticle core to provide the corona.

Abstract: A composition comprising mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles and free-radical producing enzyme (i.e., enzyme-bound mesoporous aggregates), wherein the mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles have mesopores in which the free-radical-producing enzyme is embedded. Methods for synthesizing the enzyme-bound mesoporous aggregates are also described. Processes that use said enzyme-bound mesoporous aggregates for depolymerizing lignin, removing aromatic contaminants from water, and polymerizing monomers polymerizable by a free-radical reaction are also described.

Abstract: Amine functional solid sorbents for carbon dioxide capture and sequestration may be prepared from metal oxide foam solid sorbent supports by treating an appropriate metal oxide foam solid sorbent support with an amine material. Desirable are metal oxide foam solid sorbent supports with a foam structure and morphology at least substantially absent hollow sphere, layered sphere, wormlike and amorphous structure and morphology components. The amine materials may be sorbed into the metal oxide foam solid sorbent support, or alternatively chemically bonded, such as but not limited to covalently bonded, to the metal oxide foam solid sorbent support.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to non-aggregating nanoparticles, including ligand capped metal oxide nanoparticles. Methods for their synthesis and methods for their use, for example, for improved immersion lithography processes, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to non-aggregating nanoparticles, including ligand capped metal oxide nanoparticles. Methods for their synthesis and methods for their use, for example, for improved immersion lithography processes, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A composite of a polyester, e.g., a polycarbonate, and a nanoclay (layered silicate) cation exchanged with a quaternized copolymer of styrene and 2-(dimethylamine) ethyl methacrylate is provided, the composite being useful for preparing injection molded objects and after injection molding being transparent and without coloration and has enhanced modulus and strength compared to neat polyester and does not have loss of elongation and toughness compared to neat polyester.

Abstract: Polymer (e.g., poly(ethylene oxide) or polystyrene is intercalated into galleries of 2:1 layered silicate in the absence of solvent to provide composite where the polymer does not demonstrate melting or glass transition. In a variation, polymer (e.g., polyamide) matrix containing layers of silicate of height less than 1 nanometer is produced by delaminating layers of silicate during the intercalation.

Abstract: New lithium ion conducting materials comprise porphyrin rings. These materials function as sites through which the lithium ion passes. In one aspect of the invention, an electrolyte composition consists essentially of a major amount of a lithium porphyrin complex and a minor amount of a polymer binder. In another aspect, an electrolyte composition consists essentially of aligned and spaced lithium porphyrin complex rings, wherein alignment and spacing of the porphyrin rings is achieved through the use of ladder type polymers, comb-like polymers, or crystalline polymers.

Abstract: Polymer (e.g., poly(ethylene oxide) or polystyrene is intercalated into galleries of 2:1 layered silicate in the absence of solvent to provide composite where the polymer does not demonstrate melting or glass transition. In a variation, polymer (e.g., polyamide) matrix containing layers of silicate of height less than 1 nanometer is produced by delaminating layers of silicate during the intercalation.

Abstract: An epoxy-silicate nanocomposite is prepared by dispersing an organically modified smectite-type clay in an epoxy resin together with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA), and curing in the presence of either nadic methyl anhydride (NMA), and/or benzyldimethyl amine (BDMA), and/or boron trifluoride monoethylamine (BTFA) at 100.degree.-200.degree. C. Molecular dispersion of the layered silicate within the crosslinked epoxy matrix is obtained, with smectite layer spacings of 100 .ANG. or more and good wetting of the silicate surface by the epoxy matrix. The curing reaction involves the functional groups of the alkylammonium ions located in the galleries of the organically modified clay, which participate in the crosslinking reaction and result in direct attachment of the polymer network to the molecularly dispersed silicate layers. The nanocomposite exhibits a broadened T.sub.s at slightly higher temperature than the unmodified epoxy.

Abstract: Low porosity titania forms containing only a small amount of hydroxyl groups and possessing a high refractive index which are property stable regardless of humidity level and which prohibit electrical and gas leakage and optical loss, are obtained in a sol-gel process by rapidly heating to curing temperature, e.g. at a rate of 8000.degree. C./min. One application provides more stable, longer-lasting sol-gel prepared optical interference filters. Other applications provide capacitors with high capacitance and optical planar waveguides.

Abstract: Low porosity titania forms containing only a small amount of hydroxyl groups and possessing a high refractive index which are property stable regardless of humidity level and which prohibit electrical and gas leakage and optical loss, are obtained in a sol-gel process by rapidly heating to curing temperature, e.g. at a rate of 8000.degree. C./min. One application provides more stable, longer-lasting sol-gel prepared optical interference filters. Other applications provide capacitors with high capacitance and optical planar waveguides.

Abstract: A substantially stoichiometric film of titanium nitride is provided by heating a substrate upon which a solution containing titanium has been applied at a substantially ambient temperature to provide a gel-film containing titanium on the surface of the substrate in an ammonia atmosphere. The substrate is heated to a temperature at which the titanium in the titanium-containing gel-film is substantially completely transformed to a substantially stoichiometric titanium nitride film, and at a rate of temperature change that is great enough to prevent the formation of nonstoichiometric titanium nitride compounds or other undesired titanium compounds in the resulting titanium nitride film. The invention is particularly suited for use in microelectronic devices.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the production of organic-inorganic composite bodies demonstrating electrical insulating characteristics consisting essentially of lithium and/or sodium water-swelling crystals selected from the group of fluorhectorite, hydroxyl hectorite, boron fluorphlogopite, hydroxyl boron phlogopite, and solid solutions among those and between those and other structurally-compatible species selected from the group of talc, fluortalc, polylithionite, fluorpolylithionite, phlogopite, and fluorphlogopite, wherein the Li.sup.30 and/or Na.sup.+ ions from the interlayer of said lithium and/or sodium water-swelling mica crystals have been exchanged with an organic polycation, the galleries of said crystals containing an organic polymer exhibiting very low permittivity resulting from the transformation of the organic polycation. The preferred organic polycation is a poly(p-xylene-.alpha.