Abstract: A sensor is disclosed. A representative sensor includes a silicon substrate having a porous silicon region. A portion of the porous silicon region has a front contact is disposed thereon. The contact resistance between the porous silicon region and the front contact is between about 10 ohms and 100 ohms.

Abstract: A post-etch treatment for enhancing and stabilizing the photoluminescence (PL) from a porous silicon (PS) substrate is outlined. The method includes treating the PS substrate with an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution and then treating the PS substrate with an alcohol. Alternatively, the post-etch method of enhancing and stabilizing the PL from a PS substrate includes treating the PS substrate with an aqueous hydrochloric acid and alcohol solution. Further, the PL of the PS substrate can be enhanced by treating the PS substrate with a dye. Furthermore, the PS substrate can be metallized to form a PS substrate with resistances ranging from 20 to 1000 ohms.

Abstract: Tin oxide nanostructures and methods of fabricating tin oxide nanostructures are disclosed. Representative nanostructures include SnO2 nanowires, SnO2 nanoribbons, and SnO2 nanotubes. Another representative nanostructure includes a nanostructure having a rutile crystal lattice and an orthorhombic crystal superlattice. The nanostructure can include, but is not limited to, SnO2 nanowires, SnO2 nanoribbons, and SnO2 nanotubes.

Abstract: A nanowire, nanosphere, metallized nanosphere, and methods for their fabrication are outlined. The method of fabricating nanowires includes fabricating the nanowire under thermal and non-catalytic conditions. The nanowires can at least be fabricated from metals, metal oxides, metalloids, and metalloid oxides. In addition, the method of fabricating nanospheres includes fabricating nanospheres that are substantially monodisperse. Further, the nanospheres are fabricated under thermal and non-catalytic conditions. Like the nanowires, the nanospheres can at least be fabricated from metals, metal oxides, metalloids, and metalloid oxides. In addition, the nanospheres can be metallized to form metallized nanospheres that are capable as acting as a catalyst.

Abstract: A post-etch treatment for enhancing and stabilizing the photoluminescence (PL) from a porous silicon (PS) substrate is outlined. The method includes treating the PS substrate with an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution and then treating the PS substrate with an alcohol. Alternatively, the post-etch method of enhancing and stabilizing the PL from a PS substrate includes treating the PS substrate with an aqueous hydrochloric acid and alcohol solution. Further, the PL of the PS substrate can be enhanced by treating the PS substrate with a dye. Furthermore, the PS substrate can be metallized to form a PS substrate with resistances ranging from 20 to 1000 ohms.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a system for lithiating alloys. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for performing vapor deposition of a lithium alloy on a substrate comprising the steps of vaporizing a mass of lithium and controllably heating a lithium-soluble element, such as magnesium. The method further includes the step of disposing the lithium-soluble element in the lithium vapor, wherein the lithium vapor promotes the vaporization of the lithium-soluble element to create a combined vapor having intimately mixed constituencies from both the lithium and lithium-soluble element. Finally, the method includes the step of disposing a temperature controlled substrate in the combined vapor, whereby the combined vapor is deposited on the substrate. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for depositing lithium onto an aluminum element surface.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a system for lithiating alloys. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for performing vapor deposition of a lithium alloy on a substrate comprising the steps of vaporizing a mass of lithium and controllably heating a lithium-soluble element, such as magnesium. The method further includes the step of disposing the lithium-soluble element in the lithium vapor, wherein the lithium vapor promotes the vaporization of the lithium-soluble element to create a combined vapor having intimately mixed constituencies from both the lithium and lithium-soluble element. Finally, the method includes the step of disposing a temperature controlled substrate in the combined vapor, whereby the combined vapor is deposited on the substrate. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for depositing lithium onto an aluminum element surface.

Abstract: A chemical process yielding laser amplification and oscillation in the visible and ultraviolet spectral ranges comprising the steps of chemically reacting metal polymers with halogen atoms to form a lasing medium comprised of electronically excited metal dimer molecule which produces laser amplification and, by providing a mirror configuration which makes use of the inverted population, through multiple reflection allows for laser oscillation by the repeated passage of light through the inverted gain medium.

Abstract: A process for increasing the efficiency of a chemical process yielding stimulated emission of visible radiation via fast near resonant intermolecular energy transfer comprising the steps of reacting a first metal vapor with a reactant to form a metastable state of a metal oxide or metal halide and transferring the energy from the metastable state to receptor metal atoms by means of near resonant energy transfer to form electronically excited receptor metal atoms in an inverted configuration by using highly volatile precursor compounds to provide the receptor metal atoms, by introducing a quenchant gas during the energy transfer step, or by introducing CO.sub.2 laser photons during the energy transfer step.

Abstract: A laser oscillator at 535 nm produced by a chemical process yielding stimulated emission of visible radiation via fast near resonant intermolecular energy transfer comprising the steps of reacting a reaction with a first metal vapor to form metastable states of metal oxides or metal halides, transferring the energy from the metastable states to receptor metal atoms by means of near resonant energy transfer to form electronically excited receptor metal atoms in an inverted configuration, and, through multiple reflection, allowing for the repeated passage of light through the inverted gain medium so as to produce oscillation.

Abstract: A chemical process yielding stimulated emission of visible radiation via fast rear resonant intermolecular energy transfer comprising the steps of reacting a first metal or semimetal vapor with a reactant to produce a metastable excited state reaction product and transferring energy stored in the metastable excited state of the reaction product to a second metal or semimetal vapor by means of near resonant energy transfer to form electronically excited receptor atoms in a population inversion relative to a lower level of excitation of the receptor atoms. In the preferred form of the process, the first metal or semimetal vapor is a group IIIA or IVA element. The second metal or semimetal vapor is of a group IIA or IVA element and the reactant is either ozone, nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide or a halide.

Abstract: A chemical laser comprising means for producing metal trimers, means for dissociating halogen molecules, a reaction chamber, and means for delivering the metal trimer and halogen atoms into the reaction chamber to form electronically excited metal dimer molecules in sufficient concentration to create a population inversion and laser amplification.