Abstract: A multi-layer photonic structure may include alternating layers of high index material and low index material having a form [H(LH)N] where, H is a layer of high index material, L is a layer of low index material and N is a number of pairs of layers of high index material and layers of low index material. N may be an integer?1. The low index dielectric material may have an index of refraction nL from about 1.3 to about 2.5. The high index dielectric material may have an index of refraction nH from about 1.8 to about 3.5, wherein nH>nL and the multi-layer photonic structure comprises a reflectivity band of greater than about 200 nm for light having angles of incidence from about 0 degrees to about 80 degrees relative to the multi-layer photonic structure. The multi-layer photonic structure may be incorporated into a paint or coating system thereby forming an omni-directional reflective paint or coating.

Abstract: Provided are processes for facilitating the removal of a biological stain is provided wherein a substrate or coating including a protease is capable of enzymatically degrading of one or more components of the biological stain to facilitate biological stain removal from the substrate or said coating.

Abstract: A multilayer stack displaying a red omnidirectional structural color. The multilayer stack includes a core layer, a semiconductor layer extending across the core layer, and a dielectric layer extending across the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer absorbs more than 70% of incident white light that has a wavelength less than 550 nanometers (nm). In addition, the dielectric layer in combination with the core layer reflects more than 70% of the incident white light with a wavelength greater than 550 nm. In combination, the core layer, semiconductor layer and dielectric layer form an omnidirectional reflector that reflects a narrow band of electromagnetic radiation with a center wavelength between 550-700 nm, has a width of less than 200 nm wide and a color shift of less than 100 nm when the reflector is viewed from angles between 0 and 45 degrees.

Abstract: A substrate or coating is provided that includes a protease with enzymatic activity toward a component of a biological stain. Also provided is a process for facilitating the removal of a biological stain is provided wherein an inventive substrate or coating including a protease is capable of enzymatically degrading of one or more components of the biological stain to facilitate biological stain removal from the substrate or said coating.

Abstract: A substrate or coating is provided that includes a lipase with enzymatic activity toward a component of a fingerprint. Also provided is a process for facilitating the removal of fingerprints is provided wherein an inventive substrate or coating including a lipase is capable of enzymatically degrading of one or more components of the fingerprint to facilitate fingerprint removal from the substrate or said coating. Applying heat to the substrate or coating increases the rate of fingerprint removal.

Abstract: A substrate or coating is provided that includes a protease with enzymatic activity toward a component of a biological stain. Also provided is a process for facilitating the removal of a biological stain is provided wherein an inventive substrate or coating including a protease is capable of enzymatically degrading of one or more components of the biological stain to facilitate biological stain removal from the substrate or said coating.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material is provided. The material can be a grain boundary modified nanocomposite that has a plurality of bismuth antimony telluride matrix grains and a plurality of zinc oxide nanoparticles within the plurality of bismuth antimony telluride matrix grains. In addition, the material has zinc antimony modified grain boundaries between the plurality of bismuth antimony telluride matrix grains.

Abstract: Bioactive coatings that are stabilized against inactivation by weathering are provided including a base associated with a chemically modified enzyme, and, optionally a first polyoxyethylene present in the base and independent of the enzyme. The coatings are optionally overlayered onto a substrate to form an active coating facilitating the removal of organic stains or organic material from food, insects, or the environment.

Abstract: The present invention provides an omnidirectional ultraviolet (UV)-infrared (IR) reflector. The omnidirectional UV-IR reflector includes a multilayer stack having at least three layers, the at least three layers having at least one first index of refraction material A1 and at least one second index of refraction layer B1. The at least one first index of refraction material layer and the at least one second index of refraction material layer can be alternately stacked on top of each other to provide the at least three layers. In addition, the at least one first index of refraction material layer and the at least one second index of refraction material layer each have a predefined thickness of dA1 and dB1, respectively, with the thickness dA1 not being generally equal to the dB1 thickness such that the multilayer stack has a non-periodic layered structure.

Abstract: Protein-polymer composite materials are provided according to embodiments of the present invention that include an admixture of a polymer resin, a surfactant and a non-aqueous organic solvent. An aqueous solution containing bioactive proteins is mixed with the admixture. The emulsion is mixed with a crosslinker to produce a curable composition. The curable composition is cured, thereby producing the protein-polymer composite material that is useful for facilitating removal of bioorganic stains.

Abstract: Bioactive coatings that are stabilized against inactivation by weathering are provided including a base associated with a chemically modified enzyme, and, optionally a first polyoxyethylene present in the base and independent of the enzyme. The coatings are optionally overlayered onto a substrate to form an active coating facilitating the removal of organic stains or organic material from food, insects, or the environment.

Abstract: A substrate or coating is provided that includes a lipase with enzymatic activity toward a component of a fingerprint. Also provided is a process for facilitating the removal of fingerprints is provided wherein an inventive substrate or coating including a lipase is capable of enzymatically degrading of one or more components of the fingerprint to facilitate fingerprint removal from the substrate or said coating. Applying heat to the substrate or coating increases the rate of fingerprint removal.

Abstract: An omnidirectional structural color (OSC) having a non-periodic layered structure. The OSC can include a multilayer stack that has an outer surface and at least two layers. The at least two layers can include at least one first index of refraction material layer A1 and at least one second index of refraction material layer B1. The at least A1 and B1 can be alternately stacked on top of each other with each layer having a predefined thickness dA1 and dB1, respectively. The dA1 is not generally equal to the dB1 such that the multilayer stack has a non-periodic layered structure.

Abstract: A substrate or coating is provided that includes a lipase with enzymatic activity toward a component of a fingerprint. Also provided is a process for facilitating the removal of fingerprints is provided wherein an inventive substrate or coating including a lipase is capable of enzymatically degrading of one or more components of the fingerprint to facilitate fingerprint removal from the substrate or said coating. Applying heat to the substrate or coating increases the rate of fingerprint removal.

Abstract: A multi-layer photonic structure may include alternating layers of high index material and low index material having a form [H(LH)N] where, H is a layer of high index material, L is a layer of low index material and N is a number of pairs of layers of high index material and layers of low index material. N may be an integer ?1. The low index dielectric material may have an index of refraction nL from about 1.3 to about 2.5. The high index dielectric material may have an index of refraction nH from about 1.8 to about 3.5, wherein nH>nL and the multi-layer photonic structure comprises a reflectivity band of greater than about 200 nm for light having angles of incidence from about 0 degrees to about 80 degrees relative to the multi-layer photonic structure. The multi-layer photonic structure may be incorporated into a paint or coating system thereby forming an omni-directional reflective paint or coating.

Abstract: A multilayer stack displaying a red omnidirectional structural color. The multilayer stack includes a core layer, a semiconductor layer extending across the core layer, and a dielectric layer extending across the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer absorbs more than 70% of incident white light that has a wavelength less than 550 nanometers (nm). In addition, the dielectric layer in combination with the core layer reflects more than 70% of the incident white light with a wavelength greater than 550 nm. In combination, the core layer, semiconductor layer and dielectric layer form an omnidirectional reflector that reflects a narrow band of electromagnetic radiation with a center wavelength between 550-700 nm, has a width of less than 200 nm wide and a color shift of less than 100 nm when the reflector is viewed from angles between 0 and 45 degrees.

Abstract: Temporary active coatings that are stabilized against inactivation by weathering are provided including a base associated with a chemically modified enzyme, and, optionally a first polyoxyethylene present in the base and independent of the enzyme. The coatings are optionally overlayered onto a substrate to form an active coating facilitating the removal of organic stains or organic material from food, insects, or the environment.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a nanocomposite thermoelectric material having a plurality of nanoparticle inclusions. The process includes determining a material composition to be investigated for the nanocomposite thermoelectric material, the material composition including a conductive bulk material and a nanoparticle material. In addition, a range of surface roughness values for the insulating nanoparticle material that can be obtained using current state of the art manufacturing techniques is determined. Thereafter, a plurality of Seebeck coefficients, electrical resistivity values, thermal conductivity values and figure of merit values as a function of the range of nanoparticle material surface roughness values is calculated. Based on these calculated values, a nanocomposite thermoelectric material composition or ranges of compositions is/are selected and manufactured.

Abstract: A multi-layer photonic structure may include alternating layers of high index material and low index material having a form [H(LH)N] where, H is a layer of high index material, L is a layer of low index material and N is a number of pairs of layers of high index material and layers of low index material. N may be an integer ?1. The low index dielectric material may have an index of refraction nL from about 1.3 to about 2.5. The high index dielectric material may have an index of refraction nH from about 1.8 to about 3.5, wherein nH>nL and the multi-layer photonic structure comprises a reflectivity band of greater than about 200 nm for light having angles of incidence from about 0 degrees to about 80 degrees relative to the multi-layer photonic structure. The multi-layer photonic structure may be incorporated into a paint or coating system thereby forming an omni-directional reflective paint or coating.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a thermoelectric material having a plurality of grains and grain boundaries. The process includes determining a material composition to be investigated for the thermoelectric material and then determining a range of values of grain size and/or grain boundary barrier height obtainable for the material composition using current state of the art manufacturing techniques. Thereafter, a range of figure of merit values for the material composition is determined as a function of the range of values of grain size and/or grain boundary barrier height. And finally, a thermoelectric material having the determined material composition and an average grain size and grain boundary barrier height corresponding to the maximum range of figure of merit values is manufactured.