Abstract: A process for forming thermoelectric nanoparticles includes the steps of providing a core material and a bismuth containing compound in a reverse micelle; providing a tellurium containing compound either in or not in a reverse micelle; reacting the bismuth containing compound with the tellurium containing compound in the presence of a base, forming a composite thermoelectric nanoparticle having a core and shell structure.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a non-quarter wave multilayer structure having a plurality of alternating low index of refraction material stacks and high index of refraction material stacks. The plurality of alternating stacks can reflect electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet region and a narrow band of electromagnetic radiation in the visible region. The non-quarter wave multilayer structure, i.e. nLdL?nHdH??0/4, can be expressed as [A 0.5 qH pL(qH pL)N 0.5 qH G], where q and p are multipliers to the quarter-wave thicknesses of high and low refractive index material, respectively, H is the quarter-wave thickness of the high refracting index material; L is the quarter-wave thickness of the low refracting index material; N represents the total number of layers between bounding half layers of high index of refraction material (0.5 qH); G represents a substrate and A represents air.

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: A process for stabilizing a bioactive composition includes forming hydrogel matrix pores around protein molecules and reducing a water content within the hydrogel matrix pores while keeping the protein molecules biologically active.

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 method for producing a multi-layer photonic structure having at least one group of alternating layers of high index material and low index material may include, determining a characteristic property function for the multi-layer photonic structure, determining a thickness multiplier for the at least one group of alternating layers based on a comparison of the characteristic property function to a target profile, adjusting the characteristic property function with the determined thickness multiplier, and comparing an adjusted characteristic property function to the target profile, wherein, when the adjusted characteristic property function does not approximate the target profile, at least one additional group of layers is added to the multi-layer photonic structure.

Abstract: A process for designing and manufacturing an omnidirectional structural color (OSC) multilayer stack. The process can include providing a digital processor operable to execute at least one module and a table of index of refraction values corresponding to different materials that are usable for manufacturing an OSC multilayer stack. An initial design for the OSC multilayer stack can be provided and at least one additional layer is added to the initial design OSC multilayer stack to create a modified OSC multilayer stack. In addition, the thickness of each layer of the modified OSC multilayer stack is calculated using a merit function module until an optimized OSC multilayer stack has been calculated.

Abstract: Protein-polymer compositions and processes for their production are provided where the compositions have improved resistance to ultraviolet light induced weathering and associated loss of enzyme activity. The incorporation of both a sterically hindered amine and an ultraviolet light absorber at a concentration of at least 5% by weight produces a curable or cured composition with UV stabilized enzyme activity that can be used as a bioactive coating with improved stain removal properties.

Abstract: A process for producing particles from a thin film is provided. The process includes grinding the thin film using granules that afford for the particles to maintain a structure and/or one or more properties of the thin film. In addition, the process provides for a high recovery percentage of the source material.

Abstract: A paint composition is disclosed, the paint having a binder and an omnidirectional structural color pigment dispersed throughout the binder. The omnidirectional structural color pigment can be made from a plurality of flakes that have a multilayer structure, the pigment and the paint having a reflection band of less than 200 nanometers when viewed from angles between 0 to 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 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.

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: 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 stand-alone multilayer thin films is provided. The process includes providing a substrate, depositing a sacrificial layer onto the substrate and the depositing multilayer thin film onto the sacrificial layer. Thereafter, the substrate, sacrificial layer and thin film structure are exposed to chemical solutions. The chemical solution selectively reacts with the sacrificial layer to remove the sacrificial layer, thereby affording for an intact multilayer stand-alone thin film to separate from the substrate. The color and optical properties of the multilayer thin film are not affected by the removal of the sacrificial layer.

Abstract: A microbial fuel cell is provided according to embodiments of the present invention including electricigenic microbes containing at least about 0.075 milligrams of protein per square centimeter of the anode surface area. In particular embodiments, the electricigenic microbes are disposed on the anode such that at least about 90% of the portion of the anode surface area has a layer of electricigenic microbes, the layer greater than about 1 micron in thickness. This thickness is indicative of the layer including at least a first stratum of electricigenic microbes in direct contact with the anode and a second stratum of electricigenic microbes in direct contact with the first stratum such that the second stratum is in indirect contact with the anode.

Abstract: A process for stabilizing a bioactive composition includes forming hydrogel matrix pores around protein molecules and reducing a water content within the hydrogel matrix pores while keeping the protein molecules biologically active.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for identifying an article of manufacture may include: producing a plurality of multilayer photonic structures, wherein each of the plurality of multilayer photonic structures has a unique intensity profile; incorporating one of the plurality of multilayer photonic structures that produces the unique intensity profile into a coating; and generating an electronic code corresponding to the unique intensity profile of one of the plurality of multilayer photonic structures.

Abstract: Processes for preparation of a protein-polymer composite material are provided according to embodiments of the present invention which include providing an admixture of a polymer resin, a surfactant and a non-aqueous organic solvent. An aqueous solution containing bioactive proteins and substantially free of surfactant 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.