Abstract: A strain gated transistor and associated methods are shown. In one example, a transistor channel region includes a metal dichalcogen layer that is stressed to improve electrical properties of the transistor.

Abstract: A nanofiber based micro-structured material including metal fibers with metal oxide coatings and methods are shown. In one example, nanofiber based micro-structured material is used as an electrode in a battery, such as a lithium ion battery, where the nanofibers of micro-structured material form a nanofiber cloth with free-standing, core-shell structure.

Abstract: A method of making a porous material is provided. The method includes: preparing a mixture including a sugar, a polymer, and at least one soluble metal source, in water; heating the mixture to obtain a gelled material; thermally curing the gelled material to obtain a cured material; and annealing at least a part of the cured material to obtain a porous material that includes metal nanoparticles, where the metal nanoparticles include at least one metal from the at least one soluble metal source. The porous material can include: sheets of multilayer graphene layers; metal nanoparticles dispersed among the sheets and encapsulated by layers of graphene; and macropores, mesopores or micropores, or any combination thereof, throughout the porous material and on its surface. Methods of using the porous material to separate contaminants from water are also provided.

Abstract: A coated substrate including a thin film of a transition metal dichalcogenide and associated methods are shown. In one example, the substrate is a semiconductor wafer. In one example, the thin film is atomically thin, and the substrate is a number of centimeters in diameter. In one example a crystalline structure of the thin film is substantially 2H hexagonal.

Abstract: A carbonized mushroom tissue electrode material and methods are shown. In one example, carbonized mushroom tissue is used as an electrode in a battery, such as a lithium ion battery. A battery, comprising: a first electrode, including: carbonized tissue from a mushroom; a second electrode; and an electrolyte in contact with both the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A coated sulfur particle and methods are shown. In one example, the coated sulfur particles are used as an electrode in a battery, such as a lithium ion battery.

Abstract: A silicon based micro-structured material and methods are shown. In one example, the silicon based micro-structured material is used as an electrode in a battery, such as a lithium ion battery, we have successfully demonstrated the first synthesis of a scalable carbon-coated silicon nanofiber paper for next generation binderless free-standing electrodes for Li-ion batteries that will significantly increase total capacity at the cell level. The excellent electrochemical performance coupled with the high degree of scalability rriake this material an idea candidate for next-generation anodes for electric vehicle applications. C-coated SiNF paper electrodes offer a highly feasible alternative to the traditional slurry-based approach to Li-ion battery electrodes through the elimination of carbon black, polymer binders, and metallic current collectors.

Abstract: A silicon based micro-structured material and methods are shown. In one example, the silicon based micro-structured material is used as an electrode in a battery, such as a lithium ion battery.

Abstract: A silicon based micro-structured material and methods are shown. In one example, the silicon based micro-structured material is used as an electrode in a battery, such as a lithium ion battery. A battery, comprising: a first electrode, including a number of porous silicon spheres; a second electrode; and an electrolyte in contact with both the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A hybrid nanostructured surface and methods are shown. In one example the hybrid nanostructured surface is used to form one or more electrodes of a battery. Devices such as lithium ion batteries are shown incorporating hybrid nanostructured surfaces.

Abstract: A method for quick and easy identification of layer thickness and uniformity of entire large-area graphene samples on arbitrary substrates utilizing fluorescence quenching microscopy in which a polymer mixed with fluorescent dye is applied onto the graphene, then viewing the sample under a fluorescence microscope. A large-scale, high-resolution montage image of the sample is obtained for histogram-based segmentation based on contrast relative to the substrates.

Abstract: An energy device including a paper based substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a graphene oxide and carbon nanotube composite deposited onto at least the top surface. The energy device can be used as an electrode in, for example, a supercapacitor.

Abstract: A binder-free hybrid carbon nanotube and graphene nanostructure can be formed via a two-step chemical vapor deposition process. The method can include forming at least one graphene layer onto a surface of a conductive substrate by chemical vapor deposition temperature using a first mixture of methane and hydrogen and growing a plurality of carbon nanotubes onto the surface of the at least one graphene layer by chemical vapor deposition using a second mixture of ethylene and hydrogen to form the binder-free hybrid carbon nanotube and graphene nanostructure.

Abstract: A silicon oxide nanotube electrode and methods are shown, that are fabricated via single step hard-template growth method and evaluated as an anode for Li-ion batteries. SiOx nanotubes exhibit a highly stable reversible capacity with no capacity fading. Devices such as lithium ion batteries are shown incorporating silicon oxide nanotube electrodes.

Abstract: A metal oxide anchored graphene and carbon nanotube hybrid foam can be formed via a two-step process. The method can include forming at least one graphene layer and a plurality of carbon nanotubes onto a surface of a porous metal substrate by chemical vapor deposition to form a coated porous metal substrate, and depositing a plurality of metal oxide nanostructures onto a surface of the coated porous metal substrate to form the metal oxide anchored graphene and carbon nanotube hybrid foam.

Abstract: A coated substrate including a thin film of a transition metal dichalcogenide and associated methods are shown. In one example, the substrate is a semiconductor wafer. In one example, the thin film is atomically thin, and the substrate is a number of centimeters in diameter. In one example a crystalline structure of the thin film is substantially 2H hexagonal.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a graphene film are disclosed. An example method can include providing a substrate, heating the substrate between about 600° C. and about 1100° C. in a chamber, and introducing a carbon source into the chamber at a temperature between about 600° C. and about 1100° C. for about 10 seconds to about 1 minute. The method can further include cooling the substrate to about room temperature to form the graphene film Methods of fabricating pillared graphene nano structures and graphene based devices are also provided.

Abstract: A method for quick and easy identification of layer thickness and uniformity of entire large-area graphene samples on arbitrary substrates utilizing fluorescence quenching microscopy in which a polymer mixed with fluorescent dye is applied onto the graphene, then viewing the sample under a fluorescence microscope. A large-scale, high-resolution montage image of the sample is obtained for histogram-based segmentation based on contrast relative to the substrates.

Abstract: An electrochemical apparatus 1 permits electric-field-assisted fluidic assembly of objects 2 on a patterned silicon substrate 11 by means of electrical addressing. Charged objects 2 such as beads and live cells are moved electrokinetically, like as in electrophoresis, through a solution, typically water 3, towards a micro-patterned charged semiconductor electrode, such as a silicon electrode 11 patterned with silicon dioxide, silicon nitride or agarose gel. The charged objects 2 are thus localized and assembled, most typically into arrays of multiple or single particles, in accordance with the patterning of the electrode 11. Correlating with theoretical predictions, negatively charged polystyrene beads of 20 ?m diameter, or live mammalian cells of 20-30 ?m diameter, can be assembled and disassembled on 100 ?m feature size micro-patterned substrates by means of electrical addressing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are single reactant components immobilized over single electrodes and methods of making and using thereof. Devices, such as biosensors, comprising the single reactant components immobilized over single electrodes are also disclosed. Assays using the single reactant components immobilized over single electrodes are disclosed as well as databases comprising signature pattern vectors for reactant components.