Abstract: An apparatus for curing thin films is disclosed. The apparatus includes a computer control system, a conveyance system, a flashlamp controller, and a flashlamp. The curing apparatus also includes a high average power, low-inductance cable connected between the flashlamp controller and the flashlamp. The low-inductance cable is smaller in diameter and is more flexible than the prior art and includes at least one liquid cooling line and multiple forward and return path wires interleaved in a regular hexagonal closed packed configuration such that every wire is adjacent to at least one cooling line and at least one wire of opposite polarity.

Abstract: A composite film is disclosed. The composite film includes a substrate, a thermal barrier layer located on top of the substrate, wherein the thermal barrier layer has a higher decomposition temperature than the substrate, and a thin film located on top of the thermal barrier layer, wherein the thin film is to be thermally processed by a pulsed light from a flashlamp.

Abstract: A method for drying a thin film stack having a thin film located on a substrate is disclosed. The thin film stack is conveyed past a flashlamp during which the thin film stack is irradiated with a composite light pulse from the flashlamp. The composite light pulse is composed of multiple micropulses. The time duration of the composite light pulse is shorter than a total thermal equilibration time of the thin film stack. In addition, when the thin film stack is being conveyed past the flashlamp, the thin film stack should move less than 10% of the length of the irradiating area in the conveyance direction during the delivery of the composite light pulse.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delaminating a polymer film from a carrier plate is disclosed. The carrier plate is at least partially transparent and has deposited on it a pixelated pattern layer of light-absorptive material, upon which is deposited a layer of light-reflective material. A polymer film, which is to be delaminated, is deposited on the light-reflecting material layer. Next, a pulsed light source is utilized to irradiate through the carrier plate from the side opposite the polymer film to heat the light-absorptive material layer. The heated areas of the light-absorptive material layer, in turn, heat the polymer film through conduction at the interface between the light-absorptive material layer and the polymer film, thereby generating gas from the polymer film by its thermal decomposition, which allows the polymer film to be released from the carrier plate.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to uses of novel nanomaterial composition and the systems in which they are used, and more particularly to nanomaterial compositions generally comprising carbon and a metal, which composition can be exposed to pulsed emissions to react, activate, combine, or sinter the nanomaterial composition. The nanomaterial compositions can alternatively be utilized at ambient temperature or under other means to cause such reaction, activation, combination, or sintering to occur.

Abstract: A method for producing an electrically conductive thin film on a substrate is disclosed. Initially, a reducible metal compound and a reducing agent are dispersed in a liquid. The dispersion is then deposited on a substrate as a thin film. The thin film along with the substrate is subsequently exposed to a pulsed electromagnetic emission to chemically react with the reducible metal compound and the reducing agent such that the thin film becomes electrically conductive.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to uses of novel nanomaterial composition and the systems in which they are used, and more particularly to nanomaterial compositions generally comprising carbon and a metal, which composition can be exposed to pulsed emissions to react, activate, combine, or sinter the nanomaterial composition. The nanomaterial compositions can alternatively be utilized at ambient temperature or under other means to cause such reaction, activation, combination, or sintering to occur.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delaminating a polymer film from a carrier plate is disclosed. The carrier plate is at least partially transparent and has deposited on it a pixelated pattern layer of light-absorptive material, upon which is deposited a layer of light-reflective material. A polymer film, which is to be delaminated, is deposited on the light-reflecting material layer. Next, a pulsed light source is utilized to irradiate through the carrier plate from the side opposite the polymer film to heat the light-absorptive material layer. The heated areas of the light-absorptive material layer, in turn, heat the polymer film through conduction at the interface between the light-absorptive material layer and the polymer film, thereby generating gas from the polymer film by its thermal decomposition, which allows the polymer film to be released from the carrier plate.

Abstract: A method for producing an electrically conductive thin film on a substrate is disclosed. Initially, a reducible metal compound and a reducing agent are dispersed in a liquid. The dispersion is then deposited on a substrate as a thin film. The thin film along with the substrate is subsequently exposed to a pulsed electromagnetic emission to chemically react with the reducible metal compound and the reducing agent such that the thin film becomes electrically conductive.

Abstract: A composite film is disclosed. The composite film includes a substrate, a thermal barrier layer located on top of the substrate, wherein the thermal barrier layer has a higher decomposition temperature than the substrate, and a thin film located on top of the thermal barrier layer, wherein the thin film is to be thermally processed by a pulsed light from a flashlamp.

Abstract: A method for depositing a functional material on a substrate is disclosed. A plate having a first surface and a second surface is provided. A layer of light scattering material is applied onto the first surface of the plate, and a layer of reflective material is applied onto the second surface of the plate. After a group of wells has been formed on the second surface of the plate, a layer of light-absorbing material is applied on the second surface of the plate. Next, the wells are partially filled with a functional material. The plate is then irradiated with a pulse of light to heat the light-absorbing material between the bottom of the well and the functional material. This heats the gas in the tillage between the light absorbing material and the functional material to increase the pressure in gas to expel the functional material from the wells onto a receiving substrate.

Abstract: A method for depositing a functional material on a substrate is disclosed. An optically transparent plate having a first surface and a second surface with one or more wells is provided. After coating the second surface with a thin layer of light-absorbing material, the wells are filled with a functional material. The plate is then irradiated with a pulsed light to heat the layer of light-absorbing material in order to generate gas at an interface between the layer of light-absorbing material and the functional material to release the functional material from the wells onto a receiving substrate located adjacent to the plate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for producing a product based on faecals produced by animals, characterized in that faecals from mammals are wholly or partially dissolved using an oxidizing acid, solid acid-insoluble components are separated, if necessary, and the liquid component is neutralized with a base. Moreover, the invention relates to a plant for producing a product, the plant comprising a faecal reactor for receiving animal faecals, wherein the reactor is provided with means for supplying an oxidizing acid, possibly a separator unit for separating solid, acid-insoluble components, and a neutralizing reactor for neutralizing the part of the faecals dissolved by means of the oxidizing acid, wherein the neutralizing reactor is provided with means for supplying a base. The invention provides a substantially odorless product for use as fertilizer for a crop.

Abstract: An energetic material composite comprising fuel particles and a hydrated compound is disclosed. The energetic material composite is formed by dispersing fuel particles, which have a negative standard reduction potential relative to a standard hydrogen electrode, in a solvent containing dissolved hydrate, followed by a removal of solvent. When initiated, the fuel particles react with the water bound in the hydrated compound to release energy and hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A curing apparatus for thermally processing thin films on low-temperature substrates at high speeds is disclosed. The curing apparatus includes a strobe head, a strobe control module and a conveyor control module. The strobe control module controls the power, duration and repetition rate of a set of pulses generated by a flash lamp on the strobe head. The conveyor control module along with the strobe control module provide real-time synchronization between the repetition rate of the set of pulses and the speed at which the substrate is being moved under the strobe head, according to the speed information.

Abstract: A coating layer 12 is formed on a base film 10 by heat resistant resin having a Tg (glass transition temperature) of 120° C. or more, and more preferably 200° C. or more, and a functional thin film 14 is produced by printing ink composite including conductive particles on a surface of the coating layer 12 and thereby forming an ink layer. This functional thin film 14 is sintered by heating performed by photo irradiation, and a conductive layer is formed thereby.

Abstract: An energetic material composite comprising fuel particles and a hydrated compound is disclosed. The energetic material composite is formed by dispersing fuel particles, which have a negative standard reduction potential relative to a standard hydrogen electrode, in a solvent containing dissolved hydrate, followed by a removal of solvent. When initiated, the fuel particles react with the water bound in the hydrated compound to release energy and hydrogen gas.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to uses of novel nanomaterial composition and the systems in which they are used, and more particularly to nanomaterial compositions generally comprising carbon and a metal, which composition can be exposed to pulsed emissions to react, activate, combine, or sinter the nanomaterial composition. The nanomaterial compositions can alternatively be utilized at ambient temperature or under other means to cause such reaction, activation, combination, or sintering to occur.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to uses of novel nanomaterial composition and the systems in which they are used, and more particularly to nanomaterial compositions generally comprising carbon and a metal, which composition can be exposed to pulsed emissions to react, activate, combine, or sinter the nanomaterial composition. The nanomaterial compositions can alternatively be utilized at ambient temperature or under other means to cause such reaction, activation, combination, or sintering to occur.

Abstract: A method for thermally processing a minimally absorbing thin film in a selective manner is disclosed. Two closely spaced absorbing traces are patterned in thermal contact with the thin film. A pulsed radiant source is used to heat the two absorbing traces, and the thin film is thermally processed via conduction between the two absorbing traces. This method can be utilized to fabricate a thin film transistor (TFT) in which the thin film is a semiconductor and the absorbers are the source and the drain of the TFT.