Abstract: Embodiments include a contact that includes a first contact member. The first contact member may have a base. A first material layer may overlie the base. A liquid metal layer may overlie the first material layer. A top surface of the first material layer may be configured to be wettable by a liquid metal of the liquid metal layer. The contact may include a second contact member. The second contact member may be positioned adjacent the first contact member in an open position and movable to a closed position in which a contact surface of the second contact member contacts and compresses the liquid metal layer.

Abstract: Directionally dependent optical effects are produced from faceted micrometer-scale substructures. The directionally dependent optical effects can appear as one specific color when viewed from one direction and another specific color when flipped and viewed from the opposing direction. The directionally dependent optical effects may appear reflective or transmissive from one direction and antireflective or opaque when flipped around.

Abstract: A power relay having an actuator with a microelectromechanical systems stator assembly and plunger assembly that moves along the central longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position, the plunger assembly including a plunger that includes a pair of ferromagnetic plates with a magnet situated therebetween, and a first ferromagnetic plate of the pair of ferromagnetic plates is situated between first and second ferromagnetic layers in the stator assembly and a second ferromagnetic plate of the pair of ferromagnetic plates is situated between the second and third ferromagnetic layers in the stator assembly. Contacts formed by the ferromagnetic plates and ferromagnetic layers may include an array of micromachined flexures or a stabilized liquid-solid electrical contact.

Abstract: A power relay having an actuator with a microelectromechanical systems stator assembly and plunger assembly that moves along the central longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position, the plunger assembly including a plunger that includes a pair of ferromagnetic plates with a magnet situated therebetween, and a first ferromagnetic plate of the pair of ferromagnetic plates is situated between first and second ferromagnetic layers in the stator assembly and a second ferromagnetic plate of the pair of ferromagnetic plates is situated between the second and third ferromagnetic layers in the stator assembly. Contacts formed by the ferromagnetic plates and ferromagnetic layers may include an array of micromachined flexures or a stabilized liquid-solid electrical contact.

Abstract: A contact is provided that includes a first contact member formed of material containing tungsten, the first contact member having an exposed surface and a first pocket opening to the exposed surface, the first pocket having a circumscribing side wall and a bottom wall that define an interior of the first pocket; a first metal layer on the bottom wall of the first pocket and having a top surface that is below the exposed surface of the first contact member; a liquid metal layer formed of a material containing a Galinstan alloy on the top surface only of the first metal layer and extending above the exposed surface of the first contact member, and the liquid metal layer is compliant and is displaced by pressure applied to the liquid metal layer and returns to an original shape in response to removal of the pressure on the liquid metal layer.

Abstract: Provided is a gated nanostructure device, which includes a thick film comprising a conducting nanoporous material between a source electrode and a drain electrode; and a gate electrode that modulates an electric current through the conducting nanoporous material between the source electrode and the drain electrode throughout a thickness of the thick film. The conducting nanoporous material includes an exposed portion, which is exposed to an external environment, and pores of the conducting nanoporous material are aligned at least partially between the source electrode and the drain electrode.

Abstract: An electrical contact is provided that includes a conductive base contact. The electrical contact may include a layer of a second material resistant to reaction with a liquid metal. The layer of second material may be bonded to the base contact. The electrical contact may include a layer of a third material. The third material may be a reaction product of a reactant metal with at least one metal of the liquid metal. The electrical contact may include a layer of the liquid metal that wets to a surface of the third material.

Abstract: An electrical contact is provided that includes a conductive base contact. The electrical contact may include a layer of a second material resistant to reaction with a liquid metal. The layer of second material may be bonded to the base contact. The electrical contact may include a layer of a third material. The third material may be a reaction product of a reactant metal with at least one metal of the liquid metal. The electrical contact may include a layer of the liquid metal that wets to a surface of the third material.

Abstract: A power relay having an actuator with a microelectromechanical systems stator assembly and plunger assembly that moves along the central longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position, the plunger assembly including a plunger that includes a pair of ferromagnetic plates with a magnet situated therebetween, and a first ferromagnetic plate of the pair of ferromagnetic plates is situated between first and second ferromagnetic layers in the stator assembly and a second ferromagnetic plate of the pair of ferromagnetic plates is situated between the second and third ferromagnetic layers in the stator assembly. Contacts formed by the ferromagnetic plates and ferromagnetic layers may include an array of micromachined flexures or a stabilized liquid-solid electrical contact.

Abstract: A contact is provided that includes a first contact member formed of material containing tungsten, the first contact member having an exposed surface and a first pocket opening to the exposed surface, the first pocket having a circumscribing side wall and a bottom wall that define an interior of the first pocket; a first metal layer on the bottom wall of the first pocket and having a top surface that is below the exposed surface of the first contact member; a liquid metal layer formed of a material containing a Galinstan alloy on the top surface only of the first metal layer and extending above the exposed surface of the first contact member, and the liquid metal layer is compliant and is displaced by pressure applied to the liquid metal layer and returns to an original shape in response to removal of the pressure on the liquid metal layer.

Abstract: A molecular dynamics system employing a spliced soft-core potential (the “MD/SSCP”) facilitates studying the arrangement of particles in an enclosure and/or near an interface. In some embodiments, the MD/SSCP initializes a three-dimensional representation containing the enclosure and the particles in a first arrangement. The MD/SSCP conducts a first simulation to transition the representation to a second arrangement, during which the particles are allowed to move through a wall of the enclosure while the SSCP is unengaged. The MD/SSCP conducts a second simulation to transition the representation to a third arrangement, during which it becomes more difficult for the particles to move through the wall of the enclosure while the SSCP is gradually engaged. The MD/SSCP conducts a third simulation to transition the representation to a fourth arrangement of the particles, during which it becomes almost impossible for the particles to move through the wall of the enclosure.

Abstract: Directionally dependent optical effects are produced from faceted micrometer-scale substructures. The directionally dependent optical effects can appear as one specific color when viewed from one direction and another specific color when flipped and viewed from the opposing direction. The directionally dependent optical effects may appear reflective or transmissive from one direction and antireflective or opaque when flipped around.

Abstract: Provided is a gated nanostructure device, which includes a thick film comprising a conducting nanoporous material between a source electrode and a drain electrode; and a gate electrode that modulates an electric current through the conducting nanoporous material between the source electrode and the drain electrode throughout a thickness of the thick film. The conducting nanoporous material includes an exposed portion, which is exposed to an external environment, and pores of the conducting nanoporous material are aligned at least partially between the source electrode and the drain electrode.

Abstract: A molecular dynamics system employing a spliced soft-core potential (the “MD/SSCP”) facilitates studying the arrangement of particles in an enclosure and/or near an interface. In some embodiments, the MD/SSCP initializes a three-dimensional representation containing the enclosure and the particles in a first arrangement. The MD/SSCP conducts a first simulation to transition the representation to a second arrangement, during which the particles are allowed to move through a wall of the enclosure while the SSCP is unengaged. The MD/SSCP conducts a second simulation to transition the representation to a third arrangement, during which it becomes more difficult for the particles to move through the wall of the enclosure while the SSCP is gradually engaged. The MD/SSCP conducts a third simulation to transition the representation to a fourth arrangement of the particles, during which it becomes almost impossible for the particles to move through the wall of the enclosure.