Abstract: A process to reduce step heights in planarization of thin film carriers in an encapsulation system. The improvements include using an adhesive tape having a thinner adhesive thickness and a stiffer tape for the film sealing the encapsulant on the carrier to result in a low step height surface transition between the carrier and the cured encapsulant. The composition of the encapsulant is modified to reduce the shrinkage upon curing of the encapsulant. The encapsulant may include an absorbent that absorbs the irradiation and cause the top surface to harden first compared to the bulk of the encapsulant, and/or a gas-emitting additive that creates gaseous products that expand upon irradiation to thereby reduce the shrinkage of the encapsulant upon curing. Alternatively, irradiation at very low incidence angle relative to the top surface of the encapsulant causes the top surface to harden before the bulk of the encapsulant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate including a nanoparticle lattice having uniform interparticle spacing. A system includes a nanoparticle lattice including a ordered pattern of individual nanoparticles, wherein the lattice nanoparticles are assembled by affinity binding.

Abstract: A slider in a disk drive is shock-protected with an overcoat layer of either metal or polymer directly on the areas of the slider that are prone to contact the disk when the slider is loaded off the platform, or when the slider is shocked while in operation over the data zone of the disk. The material used to form the layer absorbs shock and reduces wear, and is bonded or sputtered to the head in a region other than the pads of the air bearing surface. This region is typically the reactive ion etched (RIE) surface area and is slightly below the pads of the air bearing surface of the head. In an alternate version of the invention, the slider is protected by covering only the edges of the slider with a suitable material. Finally, the entire slider may be encased with the overcoating except for the pads of the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A packing material for a chromatography column is described. The packing material comprises a support structure. The packing material also comprises a stationary phase adjacent to the support structure and comprising a carbon nanotube material.

Abstract: A process to reduce step heights in planarization of thin film carriers in an encapsulation system. The improvements include using an adhesive tape having a thinner adhesive thickness and a stiffer tape for the film sealing the encapsulant on the carrier to result in a low step height surface transition between the carrier and the cured encapsulant. The composition of the encapsulant is modified to reduce the shrinkage upon curing of the encapsulant. The encapsulant may include an absorbent that absorbs the irradiation and cause the top surface to harden first compared to the bulk of the encapsulant, and/or a gas-emitting additive that creates gaseous products that expand upon irradiation to thereby reduce the shrinkage of the encapsulant upon curing. Alternatively, irradiation at very low incidence angle relative to the top surface of the encapsulant causes the top surface to harden before the bulk of the encapsulant.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices, systems and methods of their use are provided.

Abstract: A capillary for a mass spectrometry system is described. The capillary comprises a channel and a tip, and at least one of the channel and the tip comprises a nanowire material.

Abstract: The invention provides a substrate for use in an ion source of a mass spectrometer system. The substrate may be employed independently or in conjunction with an ion source or a mass spectrometry system. A substrate is provided having at least one pattern recognition site and a carbon nanotube adjacent to the pattern recognition site. Methods of making and ionizing samples using the pattern recognition site and carbon nanotube surface are also disclosed.

Abstract: A slider in a disk drive is shock-protected with an overcoat layer of either metal or polymer directly on the areas of the slider that are prone to contact the disk when the slider is loaded off the platform, or when the slider is shocked while in operation over the data zone of the disk. The material used to form the layer absorbs shock and reduces wear, and is bonded or sputtered to the head in a region other than the pads of the air bearing surface. This region is typically the reactive ion etched (RIE) surface area and is slightly below the pads of the air bearing surface of the head. In an alternate version of the invention, the slider is protected by covering only the edges of the slider with a suitable material. Finally, the entire slider may be encased with the overcoating except for the pads of the air bearing surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for limiting the growth of nanostructures, such as nanotubes, from a catalyst layer. More particularly, systems and methods are provided for growing nanostructures from the periphery of a catalyst layer. In certain embodiments, a catalyst layer from which nanostructures can be grown during a growth process, such as CVD or PECVD, is located on a substrate. The catalyst layer is covered with a covering layer such that the catalyst layer is sandwiched between the substrate and the covering layer. The resulting structure then undergoes a nanostructure growth process. Because the catalyst layer is sandwiched between the substrate and the covering layer, growth of nanostructures is limited to growth from nanoparticles located on the periphery of the catalyst layer. Thus, growth of nanostructures does not result from nanoparticles located in an interior region of the catalyst layer.

Abstract: A slider in a disk drive is shock-protected with an overcoat layer of either metal or polymer directly on the areas of the slider that are prone to contact the disk when the slider is loaded off the platform, or when the slider is shocked while in operation over the data zone of the disk. The material used to form the layer absorbs shock and reduces wear, and is bonded or sputtered to the head in a region other than the pads of the air bearing surface. This region is typically the reactive ion etched (RIE) surface area and is slightly below the pads of the air bearing surface of the head. In an alternate version of the invention, the slider is protected by covering only the edges of the slider with a suitable material. Finally, the entire slider may be encased with the overcoating except for the pads of the air bearing surface.

Abstract: An ionization chamber for a mass spectrometry system is described. The ionization chamber comprises a housing defining an ionization region, and the housing comprises a carbon nanotube material.

Abstract: Contrast enhanced photolithography methods and devices formed by the same are described. In accordance with these methods, a photoresist layer is formed on a substrate. A contrast enhancing system including a solution or dispersion of a photobleachable dye is formed on the photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is exposed through an imaging pattern and through the contrast enhancing system to radiation having a wavelength between about 230 nm and about 300 nm. The contrast enhancing layer is removed, and the photoresist layer is developed to form a photoresist pattern on the substrate. The contrast enhancing system may be removed and the photoresist layer may be developed in a single process step or in different process steps.

Abstract: The invention provides a substrate for use in an ion source of a mass spectrometer system. The substrate may be employed independently or in conjunction with an ion source or a mass spectrometry system. A substrate is provided having at least one pattern recognition site and a carbon nanotube adjacent to the pattern recognition site. Methods of making and ionizing samples using the pattern recognition site and carbon nanotube surface are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus that produces analyte ions for detection by a detector. The apparatus includes a matrix based ion source having a target substrate including a carbon nanotube material for producing analyte ions, an ion transport system adjacent to the matrix based ion source for transporting analyte ions from the matrix based ion source; and an ion detector downstream from the ion transport system for detecting the analyte ions. The invention also provides a method for producing and detecting the analyte ions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controllably growing nanostructures, such as nanotubes, on a substrate, thus enabling the length and/or orientation of the nanostructures to be selectively controlled. A substrate's surface is selectively patterned to include topological structures, such as a blocking structure protruding from the surface and/or a recess in the surface, for influencing the nanostructure growth along the surface from a catalyst. The topological structures can be located to control the length and/or orientation of the nanostructures differently on different areas of the substrate. The topological structures may be of a substance that chemically inhibits growth of the nanostructure.

Abstract: A capillary for a mass spectrometry system is described. The capillary comprises a channel and a tip, and at least one of the channel and the tip comprises a carbon nanotube material that provides a hydrophobic surface.

Abstract: A slider in a disk drive is shock-protected with an overcoat layer of either metal or polymer directly on the areas of the slider that are prone to contact the disk when the slider is loaded off the platform, or when the slider is shocked while in operation over the data zone of the disk. The material used to form the layer absorbs shock and reduces wear, and is bonded or sputtered to the head in a region other than the pads of the air bearing surface. This region is typically the reactive ion etched (RIE) surface area and is slightly below the pads of the air bearing surface of the head. In an alternate version of the invention, the slider is protected by covering only the edges of the slider with a suitable material. Finally, the entire slider may be encased with the overcoating except for the pads of the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A method is provided for planarization of structures which minimizes step heights, reduces process steps, improves cleanliness, and provides increased ease of debond. Structures are placed with working surfaces facing down onto an adhesive layer such that structures remain fixed during heating. A bi-layer encapsulating film is used to achieve planarization. A carrier is bi-laminated with a thermoplastic film layer followed by a chemically inert protective polymer film layer that can withstand etch and cleaning processes. The thermoplastic layer is laminated on top of the carrier; the polymer layer is laminated on top of the joined thermoplastic layer and carrier. The carrier with bi-layer film is then placed onto the backside of the structures to resist chemical attack from the front side during photostrip and enable planarization. When heat is applied, the bi-layer encapsulating film melts and pushes the polymer layer into the gaps between structures thereby achieving complete planarization.

Abstract: Nanostructures and methods of making the same are described. In one aspect, a film including a vector polymer comprising a payload moiety is formed on a substrate. The film is patterned. Organic components of the patterned film are removed to form a payload-comprising nanoparticle.