Abstract: A method of fabricating a hydrophobic coating on a surface of a solid substrate which includes a layer-integrable material includes the steps of depositing a deformable layer of the layer-integrable material onto the surface of the solid substrate, forcibly embedding a plurality of particles within the deformable layer, and solidifying the deformable layer including the plurality of particles so as to be integral with the surface of the solid substrate. At least a portion of the plurality of particles is embedded at a threshold depth within the deformable layer prior to solidification.

Abstract: A device and system for enabling calibration of a structure includes at least one elongate strap having a lower temperature coefficient than the structure, and a length sufficient to encompass a circumference of an external surface of the structure, and at least one diffraction grating having a temperature coefficient at least as high as the structure, wherein the diffraction grating is coupled to the strap and is in direct contact with the external surface of the structure. Deformations in the external surface of the structure induce corresponding deformations in the diffraction grating.

Abstract: A method of preventing formation of a water and oil emulsion in a downhole formation containing oil, the method comprises preparing a dispersion of water and a plurality of non-functionalized nanoparticles, each nanoparticle in the plurality of nanoparticles having a size of at least 300 nanometers, and injecting the dispersion into contact with the oil downhole. Presence of the plurality of nanoparticles prevents formation of an emulsion between the injected water and the oil.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed relating to composite photonic materials used to design structures and detecting material deformation for the purpose of monitoring structural health of physical structures. According to one aspect, a composite structure is provided that includes a base material, an optical diffraction grating and one or more fluorophore materials constructed such that localized perturbations create a measurable change in the structure's diffraction pattern. An inspection device is also provided that is configured to detect perturbations in the composite structure. The inspection device is configured to emit an inspecting radiation into the structure and capture the refracted radiation and measure the change in the diffraction pattern and quantify the perturbation based on the wavelength and the angular information for the diffracted radiation.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a structure including a photonic material using a movable inspection apparatus includes irradiating a section of the structure, receiving radiation diffracted from a photonic material in the section of the structure, determining a deformation of the photonic material as a function of at least one of i) an intensity of the radiation received ii) a position of the radiation received and iii) a wavelength of the radiation received, and determining if a magnitude of the deformation is higher than a threshold. If the magnitude of the deformation is higher than the threshold data is stored concerning the deformation of the photonic material; contrarily, if the magnitude of the deformation is not higher than the threshold: the inspection at the location of the photonic material is stopped and the inspection apparatus is moved in order to inspect another section of the structure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a photonic structure on a surface of a solid substrate including a first material comprises depositing a deformable layer of the first material onto the surface of the solid substrate, embossing the deformable layer with a mold bear a photonic structure pattern and solidifying the deformable layer to be integral with the surface of the solid substrate with the mold in place to form permanent photonic structures in the solidified layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed relating to composite photonic materials used to design structures and detecting material deformation for the purpose of monitoring structural health of physical structures. According to one aspect, a composite structure is provided that includes a base material, an optical diffraction grating and one or more fluorophore materials constructed such that localized perturbations create a measurable change in the structure's diffraction pattern. An inspection device is also provided that is configured to detect perturbations in the composite structure. The inspection device is configured to emit an inspecting radiation into the structure and capture the refracted radiation and measure the change in the diffraction pattern and quantify the perturbation based on the wavelength and the angular information for the diffracted radiation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed relating to composite photonic materials used to design structures and detecting material deformation for the purpose of monitoring structural health of physical structures. According to one aspect, a composite structure is provided that includes a base material, an optical diffraction grating and one or more fluorophore materials constructed such that localized perturbations create a measureable change in the structure's diffraction pattern. An inspection device is also provided that is configured to detect perturbations in the composite structure. The inspection device is configured to emit an inspecting radiation into the structure and capture the refracted radiation and measure the change in the diffraction pattern and quantify the perturbation based on the wavelength and the angular information for the diffracted radiation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed relating to composite photonic materials used to design structures and detecting material deformation for the purpose of monitoring structural health of physical structures. According to one aspect, a composite structure is provided that includes a base material, an optical diffraction grating and one or more fluorophore materials constructed such that localized perturbations create a measureable change in the structure's diffraction pattern. An inspection device is also provided that is configured to detect perturbations in the composite structure. The inspection device is configured to emit an inspecting radiation into the structure and capture the refracted radiation and measure the change in the diffraction pattern and quantify the perturbation based on the wavelength and the angular information for the diffracted radiation.

Abstract: Corrosion-resistant coatings and methods of making and using the coatings are provided. The corrosion-resistant coating includes magnetic particles dispersed in a polymer matrix, where the polymer matrix is non-polar and at least partially hydrophobic and the magnetic particles contain an adhesion region comprising a ferromagnetic material, and a polymer interface region surrounding the adhesion region comprising a plurality of ligands, where each ligand comprises an anchoring end and a non-polar end. Methods of producing corrosion-resistant articles are also provided. The methods include applying a corrosion-resistant coating to an article and curing the coating.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed relating to composite photonic materials used to design structures and detecting material deformation for the purpose of monitoring structural health of physical structures. According to one aspect, a composite structure is provided that includes a base material, an optical diffraction grating and one or more fluorophore materials constructed such that localized perturbations create a measurable change in the structure's diffraction pattern. An inspection device is also provided that is configured to detect perturbations in the composite structure. The inspection device is configured to emit an inspecting radiation into the structure and capture the refracted radiation and measure the change in the diffraction pattern and quantify the perturbation based on the wavelength and the angular information for the diffracted radiation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed relating to composite photonic materials used to design structures and detecting material deformation for the purpose of monitoring structural health of physical structures. According to one aspect, a composite structure is provided that includes a base material, an optical diffraction grating and one or more fluorophore materials constructed such that localized perturbations create a measureable change in the structure's diffraction pattern. An inspection device is also provided that is configured to detect perturbations in the composite structure. The inspection device is configured to emit an inspecting radiation into the structure and capture the refracted radiation and measure the change in the diffraction pattern and quantify the perturbation based on the wavelength and the angular information for the diffracted radiation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed relating to composite photonic materials used to design structures and detecting material deformation for the purpose of monitoring structural health of physical structures. According to one aspect, a composite structure is provided that includes a base material, an optical diffraction grating and one or more fluorophore materials constructed such that localized perturbations create a measurable change in the structure's diffraction pattern. An inspection device is also provided that is configured to detect perturbations in the composite structure. The inspection device is configured to emit an inspecting radiation into the structure and capture the refracted radiation and measure the change in the diffraction pattern and quantify the perturbation based on the wavelength and the angular information for the diffracted radiation.

Abstract: A device in which the gripping action is achieved by a compliant membrane that adapts itself to the object to be lifted and then maintains such shape throughout the displacement of the object. The gripping force provided by the present invention is best suited for delicate objects, as it gently applies the gripping force necessary for displacement. This is accomplished through a chamber, a deformable membrane delimiting the chamber partially or entirely, and a means for changing the volume or shape of the chamber determined by the deformation of the membrane.