Abstract: An energetic composition and a method of unzipping polymer binders are disclosed, which includes localizing a heat feedback just near the reaction front by unzipping polymer binders employed to a nanothermite. The energetic composition includes an unzipping polymer binder employed to high load fuel and oxidizer particles.

Abstract: A method for extracting shape information for particles with similar shape and corresponding system of a tandem differential mobility analyzer (DMA) and pulse field differential mobility analyzer (PFDMA) system, that executes at least generating a steady state aerosol concentration; passing aerosol flow from the aerosol concentration thru a bipolar charger to produce a known charge distribution; passing aerosol thru a DMA with set sheath and aerosol flows and a set voltage to generate a mono-mobility aerosol; passing mono-mobility aerosol thru a PFDMA system; and measuring mobility as a function of electric field by varying the duty cycle of the pulse in the PFDMA system. Alternatively, the method and system relate to separating particles with different shapes by adjusting the duty cycle of the pulse to reach a higher or lower electric field than in the DMA in which the mono-mobility aerosol was generated; and separating particles based on shape.

Abstract: Low temperature gas-phase methods for the preparation of faceted aluminum crystals are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing a mesoporous silica nanoparticle, a mesoporous silica nanoparticle, and applications thereof are provided. The method includes fractionating a mesoporous silica nanoparticle suspension to produce size-fractionated mesoporous silica nanoparticle. The method further includes etching the size-fractionated mesoporous silica nanoparticle to produce synthesized mesoporous silica nanoparticle having a hollow, porous morphology configured to receive one of a therapeutic agent and an imaging material. The etching includes differential etching of silica from areas of low polymeric density within the mesoporous silica nanoparticle and re-depositing of the silica in areas of higher polymeric density existing near the surface of the mesoporous silica nanoparticle. A target material is loaded into the synthesized mesoporous silica nanoparticle and a controlled released of the target material is provided by decreasing the physiological pH of the surface of the mesoporous silica nanoparticle.

Abstract: A method for extracting shape information for particles with similar shape and corresponding system of a tandem differential mobility analyzer (DMA) and pulse field differential mobility analyzer (PFDMA) system, that executes at least generating a steady state aerosol concentration; passing aerosol flow from the aerosol concentration thru a bipolar charger to produce a known charge distribution; passing aerosol thru a DMA with set sheath and aerosol flows and a set voltage to generate a mono-mobility aerosol; passing mono-mobility aerosol thru a PFDMA system; and measuring mobility as a function of electric field by varying the duty cycle of the pulse in the PFDMA system. Alternatively, the method and system relate to separating particles with different shapes by adjusting the duty cycle of the pulse to reach a higher or lower electric field than in the DMA in which the mono-mobility aerosol was generated; and separating particles based on shape.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube structures are formed by providing metal composite particles including a catalyst metal and a non-catalyst metal, where the catalyst metal catalyzes the decomposition of a hydrocarbon compound and the formation of carbon nanotube structures on surfaces of the particles. The metal composite particles are combined with the hydrocarbon compound in a heated environment so as to form carbon nanotube structures on the surfaces of the metal composite particles. The metal composite particles can be include iron and aluminum at varying amounts. The carbon nanotubes formed on the metal particles can remain on the metal particles or, alternatively, be removed from the metal particles for use in different applications.

Abstract: Low temperature gas-phase methods for the preparation of faceted aluminum crystals are disclosed.

Abstract: An in situ approach toward connecting and electrically contacting vertically aligned nanowire arrays using conductive nanoparticles is provided. The utility of the approach is demonstrated by development of a gas sensing device employing the nanowire assembly. Well-aligned, single-crystalline zinc oxide nanowires were grown through a direct thermal evaporation process at 550° C. on gold catalyst layers. Electrical contact to the top of the nanowire array was established by creating a contiguous nanoparticle film through electrostatic attachment of conductive gold nanoparticles exclusively onto the tips of nanowires. A gas sensing device was constructed using such an arrangement and the nanowire assembly was found to be sensitive to both reducing (methanol) and oxidizing (nitrous oxides) gases. This assembly approach is amenable to any nanowire array for which a top contact electrode is needed.

Abstract: In a method and system for controllable electrostatic-directed deposition of nanoparticles from the gas phase on a substrate patterned to have p-n junction(s), a bias electrical field is reversely applied to the p-n junction, so that uni-polarly charged nanoparticles are laterally confined on the substrate by a balance of electrostatic, van der Waals and image forces and are deposited on a respective p-doped or n-doped regions of the p-n junction when the applied electric field reaches a predetermined strength. The novel controllable deposition of nanoparticles employs commonly used substrate architectures for the patterning of an electric field attracting or repelling nanoparticles to the substrates and offers the opportunity to create a variety of sophisticated electric field patterns which may be used to direct particles with greater precision.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing a mesoporous silica nanoparticle, a mesoporous silica nanoparticle, and applications thereof are provided. The method includes fractionating a mesoporous silica nanoparticle suspension to produce size-fractionated mesoporous silica nanoparticle. The method further includes etching the size-fractionated mesoporous silica nanoparticle to produce synthesized mesoporous silica nanoparticle having a hollow, porous morphology configured to receive one of a therapeutic agent and an imaging material. The etching includes differential etching of silica from areas of low polymeric density within the mesoporous silica nanoparticle and re-depositing of the silica in areas of higher polymeric density existing near the surface of the mesoporous silica nanoparticle. A target material is loaded into the synthesized mesoporous silica nanoparticle and a controlled released of the target material is provided by decreasing the physiological pH of the surface of the mesoporous silica nanoparticle.

Abstract: An in situ approach toward connecting and electrically contacting vertically aligned nanowire arrays using conductive nanoparticles is provided. The utility of the approach is demonstrated by development of a gas sensing device employing the nanowire assembly. Well-aligned, single-crystalline zinc oxide nanowires were grown through a direct thermal evaporation process at 550° C. on gold catalyst layers. Electrical contact to the top of the nanowire array was established by creating a contiguous nanoparticle film through electrostatic attachment of conductive gold nanoparticles exclusively onto the tips of nanowires. A gas sensing device was constructed using such an arrangement and the nanowire assembly was found to be sensitive to both reducing (methanol) and oxidizing (nitrous oxides) gases. This assembly approach is amenable to any nanowire array for which a top contact electrode is needed.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube structures are formed by providing metal composite particles including a catalyst metal and a non-catalyst metal, where the catalyst metal catalyzes the decomposition of a hydrocarbon compound and the formation of carbon nanotube structures on surfaces of the particles. The metal composite particles are combined with the hydrocarbon compound in a heated environment so as to form carbon nanotube structures on the surfaces of the metal composite particles. The metal composite particles can be include iron and aluminum at varying amounts. The carbon nanotubes formed on the metal particles can remain on the metal particles or, alternatively, be removed from the metal particles for use in different applications.

Abstract: Methods of producing nanoporous particles by spray pyrolysis of a precursor composition including a reactive precursor salt and a nonreactive matrix salt are provided, wherein the matrix salt is used as a templating medium. Nanoporous aluminum oxide particles produced by the methods are also provided.

Abstract: A new low temperature method for nanostructured metal and ceramic thin film growth by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) involves the use of a low pressure co-flow diffusion flame reactor to react alkali metal vapor and metal halide vapor to deposit metal, alloy and ceramic films. The reaction chemistry is described by the following general equation:(mn)Na+nMX.sub.m .fwdarw.(M).sub.n +(nm)NaXwhere Na is sodium, or another alkali metal (e.g., K, Rb, Cs), and MX.sub.m is a metal-halide (M is a metal or other element such as Si, B or C; X is a halogen atom, e.g., chlorine, fluorine or the like; and m and n are integers). This reaction chemistry is a viable technique for thin film growth. In one mode, using the precursors of sodium metal vapor, titanium tetrachloride (the limiting reagent), and either argon or nitrogen gases, titanium (Ti), titanium nitride (TiN), titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2), and titanium silicide (TiSi, Ti.sub.5 Si.sub.3, TiSi.sub.2, Ti.sub.5 Si.sub.

Abstract: A method of destroying halogenated compounds by a vapor phase chemical reaction using an alkali metal vapor, alkaline earth metal vapor, or a combination of the two, in a heated reactor to produce mineralized or solid products. The production of solid products, such as halide salts and particulate carbon, yields numerous advantages in the collection and disposal of the resulting products. The invention is especially useful for the destruction of chlorofluorocarbons.