Abstract: An evaporative cooling system includes a porous ceramic body with a plurality of dry channels and a plurality of wet channels. The plurality of dry channels are configured to inhibit transfer of water vapor into the dry channels and include a barrier layer that includes a roughened layer with a features size less than 1000 nm and a hydrophobic chemical modification disposed on the roughened layer. The plurality of wet channels are configured to allow transfer of water vapor.

Abstract: A method and device for analyzing a gas are described. A method for analyzing a gas includes introducing the gas into a chamber according to a sniffing recipe, the chamber including a sensor, wherein the sniffing recipe comprises a sequence of actions and the sniffing recipe is either pre-defined, optimized or determined through machine learning, and detecting, over time and by the sensor, a characteristic indicative of a compound or compounds present in the gas. The use of sniffing sequences can provide active, dynamic odor/gas identification with adaptive or self-optimizing capabilities.

Abstract: Aspects of the present application provides for enhanced catalytic materials, which can feature multiple functional and/or catalytic species, and methods of their formation. The materials can include catalytic nanoparticles (NPs) partially embedded within a supporting matrix. Treatment of the material, e.g., thermal, optical, microwave, plasma, and/or chemical treatment, can lead to the formation of functionally, e.g., catalytic or co-catalytic, relevant chemical and structural/morphological species or features at the NP-matrix, NP-pore, and matrix-pore interfaces. The treated material is characterized by enhanced properties, e.g., greater mechanical stability.

Abstract: An evaporative cooling system includes a porous ceramic body with a plurality of dry channels and a plurality of wet channels. The plurality of dry channels are configured to inhibit transfer of water vapor into the dry channels and include a barrier layer that includes a roughened layer with a features size less than 1000 nm and a hydrophobic chemical modification disposed on the roughened layer. The plurality of wet channels are configured to allow transfer of water vapor.

Abstract: A co-assembly method for synthesizing inverse photonic structures is described. The method includes combining an onium compound with a sol-gel precursor to form metal oxide (MO) nanocrystals, where each MO nanocrystal has crystalline and amorphous content. The MO nanocrystals are combined with templating particles to form a suspension. A solvent is evaporated from the suspension to form an intermediate or compound product, which then undergoes calcination to produce an inverse structure.

Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments is a composition comprising a structural colorant comprising photonic particles comprising a metal oxide and from about 0.1% to about 50% w/w of an organic material.

Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments is a composition comprising a structural colorant comprising photonic particles comprising a metal oxide and a transition metal, the molar ratio of transition metal to metal oxide being less than about 2:1.

Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments is a method of preparing structural colorants comprising photonic particles, the method comprising varying the calcination temperature in the process to enable the tuning of pore size to obtain a wide variety of possible colors.

Abstract: Methods for forming an interconnected network of solid material and pores, with metal residing only at the air/solid interface of the interconnected network structure are described. In certain embodiments, nanoparticle decorated sacrificial particles can be used as sacrificial templates for the formation of a porous structure having an interconnected network of solid material and interconnected network of pores. The nanoparticles reside predominantly at the air/solid interface and allow further growth and accessibility of the nanoparticles at defined positions of the interconnected structure. SEM and TEM measurements reveal the formation of 3D interconnected porous structures with nanoparticles residing predominantly at the air/solid interface of the interconnected structure.

Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments is a liquid coating composition comprising a liquid medium and a structural colorant comprising photonic particles comprising a metal oxide, the photonic particles having silane functional groups on at least a portion of the external surface of the photonic particles.

Abstract: An evaporative cooling system includes a porous ceramic body with a plurality of dry channels and a plurality of wet channels. The plurality of dry channels are configured to inhibit transfer of water vapor into the dry channels and include a barrier layer that includes a roughened layer with a features size less than 1000 nm and a hydrophobic chemical modification disposed on the roughened layer. The plurality of wet channels are configured to allow transfer of water vapor.

Abstract: A pigment comprising a plurality of photonic crystal particles dispersed in a medium, each photonic crystal particles containing a plurality of spectrally selective absorbing components dispersed within each photonic crystal particle that selectively absorb electromagnetic radiation without substantially absorbing electromagnetic radiation near a resonant wavelength of each photonic crystal particle, wherein each photonic crystal particle has a predetermined minimum number of repeat units of a photonic crystal structure, wherein the predetermined minimum number of repeat units is related to the resonant wavelength, the full-width at half maximum of the resonant wavelength, and the refractive index contrast in the photonic crystal.

Abstract: A co-assembly method for synthesizing inverse photonic structures is described. The method includes combining an onium compound with a sol-gel precursor to form metal oxide (MO) nanocrystals, where each MO nanocrystal has crystalline and amorphous content. The MO nanocrystals are combined with templating particles to form a suspension. A solvent is evaporated from the suspension to form an intermediate or compound product, which then undergoes calcination to produce an inverse structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery self-lubricating polymers. Lubricating liquids with affinities to polymers can be utilized to get absorbed within the polymer and form a lubricant layer (of the lubricating liquid) on the polymer. The lubricant layer can repel a wide range of materials, including simple and complex fluids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and bodily fluids), restore liquid-repellency after physical damage, and resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion. Some exemplary applications where self-lubricating polymers will be useful include energy-efficient, friction-reduction fluid handling and transportation, medical devices, anti-icing, optical sensing, and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments.

Abstract: A structurally colored pigment is described that contains a plurality of photonic crystal particles dispersed in a medium, where each photonic crystal particles contains a plurality of spectrally selective absorbing components dispersed within the photonic crystal particle. In certain embodiments, each photonic crystal particle has a predetermined minimum number of repeat units of the photonic crystal structure. The structurally colored material provides improved reflectance, long-term stability, and control of the desired optical effects. The fabrication techniques described herein also provide high throughput and high yield allowing use in wide ranging applications from cosmetics, paints, signs, sensors, to packaging material.

Abstract: An evaporative cooling system includes a porous ceramic body with a plurality of dry channels and a plurality of wet channels. The plurality of dry channels are configured to inhibit transfer of water vapor into the dry channels and include a barrier layer that includes a roughened layer with a features size less than 1000 nm and a hydrophobic chemical modification disposed on the roughened layer. The plurality of wet channels are configured to allow transfer of water vapor.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces. Roughened (e.g., porous) surfaces can be utilized to lock in place a lubricating fluid, referred to herein as Liquid B to repel a wide range of materials, referred to herein as Object A (Solid A or Liquid A). Slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces outperforms other conventional surfaces in its capability to repel various simple and complex liquids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and blood), maintain low-contact-angle hysteresis (<2.5°), quickly restore liquid-repellency after physical damage (within 0.1-1 s), resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion, and function at high pressures (up to at least 690 atm). Some exemplary application where slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces will be useful include energy-efficient fluid handling and transportation, optical sensing, medicine, and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a volatile liquid mixture is described. The method includes providing a sensor, and placing the sensor within a chamber. The mixture is stored in the chamber for a duration sufficient to achieve a series of dynamic non-equilibrium mass-transfer processes: (1) spreading and wetting of the analyte on at least a portion of the bottom-inside surface of the chamber from the source of the injection, (2) evaporation of at least a portion of the analyte liquid into a vaporized analyte, (3) convection and/or diffusion of the vaporized analyte through the chamber to the sensor, and (4) sorption of the vaporized analyte on the sensor. The sensor detects, over time, a plurality of non-equilibrium spectral responses, each corresponding to at least one compositional change in the analyte liquid. The method further includes machine learning algorithms to measure or predict the compositional change and/or presence of contaminants.

Abstract: A self-healing, scratch resistant slippery surface that is manufactured by wicking a chemically-inert, high-density liquid coating over a roughened solid surface featuring micro and nanoscale topographies is described. Such a slippery surface shows anti-wetting properties, as well as exhibits significant reduction of adhesion of a broad range of biological materials, including particles in suspension or solution. Specifically, the slippery surfaces can be applied to medical devices and equipment to effectively repel biological materials such as blood, and prevent, reduce, or delay coagulation and surface-mediated clot formation. Moreover, the slippery surfaces can be used to prevent fouling by microorganisms such as bacteria.

Abstract: A system includes a device having a conduit having a proximal end having a proximal end radius, a distal end opposite the proximal end and having distal end radius, an inner surface connecting the proximal end and the distal end and forming a proximal angle at the ends, the inner surface having surface properties, and an outer surface connecting the ends; the distal end radius, the proximal end radius, the distal angle, the proximal angle, and the surface properties of the inner surface are selected to: allow entry of a first material to the distal, transport of the first material through the conduit along the inner surface toward the proximal end, and exit of the first material from the proximal end, and to resist entry of a second material into the proximal end; and the Young-Laplace pressure for the first material is less for the second material.