Abstract: An apparatus including an optical resonator, and a method of using same. The optical limiter includes an optically absorbent material. The optical resonator supports a plurality of resonant transmission peaks at resonant frequencies defined by the cavity length. The optically absorbent material exhibits a saturable absorption response at a fundamental absorption peak located spectrally at a fundamental absorption peak frequency of the plurality of resonant transmission peaks. The optically absorbent material includes an absorptivity sufficient for strong cavity coupling, such that the fundamental absorption peak splits into a first upper vibration polariton transmission peak and a second lower polariton transmission peak separated by a Rabi splitting. The Rabi splitting is proportional to a square root of the absorptivity. The absorptivity varies with optical excitation of the optically absorbent material.

Abstract: A composition having: titania aerogel having titania nanoparticles and copper nanoparticles. Each of the copper nanoparticles is in contact with more than one of the titania nanoparticles. A method of: providing a titania aerogel, and forming or depositing copper nanoparticles onto the surface of the titania aerogel.

Abstract: An apparatus including an optical resonator, and a method of using same. The optical limiter includes an optically absorbent material. The optical resonator supports a plurality of resonant transmission peaks at resonant frequencies defined by the cavity length. The optically absorbent material exhibits a saturable absorption response at a fundamental absorption peak located spectrally at a fundamental absorption peak frequency of the plurality of resonant transmission peaks. The optically absorbent material includes an absorptivity sufficient for strong cavity coupling, such that the fundamental absorption peak splits into a first upper vibration polariton transmission peak and a second lower polariton transmission peak separated by a Rabi splitting. The Rabi splitting is proportional to a square root of the absorptivity. The absorptivity varies with optical excitation of the optically absorbent material.

Abstract: An article having a titanium, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, tantalum, aluminum, silicon, or stainless steel substrate, a RuO2 coating on a portion of the substrate; and a plurality of platinum nanoparticles on the RuO2 coating. The RuO2 coating contains nanoparticles of RuO2. A method of: immersing the substrate in a solution of RuO4 and a nonpolar solvent at a temperature that is below the temperature at which RuO4 decomposes to RuO2 in the nonpolar solvent in the presence of the article; warming the article and solution to ambient temperature under ambient conditions to cause the formation of a RuO2 coating on a portion of the article; and electrodepositing platinum nanoparticles on the RuO2 coating.

Abstract: A composition having: titania aerogel having titania nanoparticles and copper nanoparticles. Each of the copper nanoparticles is in contact with more than one of the titania nanoparticles. A method of: providing a titania aerogel, and forming or depositing copper nanoparticles onto the surface of the titania aerogel.

Abstract: A photoelectrode is disclosed having a conductive lead and a titania aerogel in electrical contact with the lead. The aerogel is coated with a photosensitive dye. The photoelectrode may be made by forming a film of a titania aerogel paste on a conductive substrate and coating the film with a dye.

Abstract: An article having a titanium, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, tantalum, aluminum, silicon, or stainless steel substrate, a RuO2 coating on a portion of the substrate; and a plurality of platinum nanoparticles on the RuO2 coating. The RuO2 coating contains nanoparticles of RuO2. A method of: immersing the substrate in a solution of RuO4 and a nonpolar solvent at a temperature that is below the temperature at which RuO4 decomposes to RuO2 in the nonpolar solvent in the presence of the article; warming the article and solution to ambient temperature under ambient conditions to cause the formation of a RuO2 coating on a portion of the article; and electrodepositing platinum nanoparticles on the RuO2 coating.

Abstract: This disclosure describes the first viable non-enzyme protein encapsulated within an aerogel. In this, a large excess of cyt c is added to a commercial buffered Au sol solution ( ) which results in the formation of a gold˜protein-protein superstructure in the absence of separation techniques which destroy the superstructure. The gold˜protein-protein superstructure is then nanoglued into a silica framework during the sol to gel transition. To form the gel, the Au˜cyt. c superstructure in buffered medium is added to a silica sol and the composite gels are washed with acetone followed by liquid carbon dioxide and then supercritically dried to form the aerogel. The biocomposite aerogels have a multiplicity of applications particularly in the realm of sensing and energy transformation.

Abstract: This disclosure describes the first viable non-enzyme protein encapsulated within an aerogel. In this, a large excess of cyt. c is added to a commercial buffered Au sot solution ( ) which results in the formation of a gold˜protein-protein superstructure in the absence of separation techniques which destroy the superstructure. The gold˜protein-protein superstructure is then nanoglued into a silica framework during the sol to gel transition. To form the gel, the Au-cyt. c superstructure in buffered medium is added to a silica sol and the composite gels are washed with acetone followed by liquid carbon dioxide and then supercritically dried to form the aerogel. The biocomposite aerogels have a multiplicity of applications particularly in the realm of sensing and energy transformation.

Abstract: This disclosure describes the first viable non-enzyme protein encapsulated within an aerogel. In this, a large excess of cyt. c is added to a commercial buffered Au sol solution ( ) which results in the formation of a gold˜protein-protein superstructure in the absence of separation techniques which destroy the superstructure.