Abstract: In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method of processing a photovoltaic module structure including multiple layers, the method including: irradiating the photovoltaic module structure with a laser emission to target a specified layer with the laser emission using a specified wavelength of the laser emission; wherein the irradiating includes at least one of: delaminating at least a portion of the specified layer of the photovoltaic module structure from an adjacent layer amongst the multiple layers; or repairing a defect in the specified layer photovoltaic module structure; or both.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to methods for producing hydrophobic or superhydrophobic surfaces on an article. The method involves laser depositing hydrophobic materials on at least one surface of the article. By varying the laser parameters as well as the surface of the where the hydrophobic material is to be laser deposited, the hydrophobic properties of the surface can be modified. The starting substrate could be hydrophilic or superhydrophilic.

Abstract: In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein are methods for selectively removing a material from a surface of a substrate. The method involves applying a laser to the material to remove the material from the substrate. The laser thermally vaporizes the material or de-bonds the material from the substrate to produce particles, and the material particles can be subsequently removed and re-used in subsequent applications. The methods described herein provide an efficient process for removing materials from substrates that would otherwise be discarded.

Abstract: A laser sintering deposition method is provided for disposing lead selenide onto a substrate. The method includes: wet-milling a lead selenide ingot mixed with methanol into a colloidal slurry containing nanocrystals; separating the colloidal slurry into nanocrystal particles and the methanol; depositing the nanocrystal particles to a substrate; and emitting coherent infrared light onto the nanocrystal particles for fusing into a lead selenide crystalline film. Afterwards, the lead selenide film can be exposed to oxygen to form a lead selenite layer, and subsequently to iodine gas to produce a lead iodide layer onto the lead selenite layer.

Abstract: An infrared detection camera for the inspection of coated substrates. A corrosion sensing instrument is handheld, portable, battery powered, compact and lightweight. The camera performs nondestructive, real time imaging of corrosion and defects beneath painted metal or plastics or composite surfaces. The device includes a user-friendly computer interface for real time imaging and image storage capability and is typically used for detecting early stage corrosion beneath painted aircraft aluminum surfaces. The handheld device has a front “open air” imaging port which is designed to be placed in soft contact against the painted surface to be inspected by the instrument. The device includes an infrared camera and infrared lighting to capture an image of the surface. The captured image is transferred to a computer and analyzed to locate imperfections below a coating on a surface.

Abstract: An infrared detection camera for the inspection of coated substrates. A corrosion sensing instrument is handheld, portable, battery powered, compact and lightweight. The camera performs nondestructive, real time imaging of corrosion and defects beneath painted metal or plastics or composite surfaces. The device includes a user-friendly computer interface for real time imaging and image storage capability and is typically used for detecting early stage corrosion beneath painted aircraft aluminum surfaces. The handheld device has a front “open air” imaging port which is designed to be placed in soft contact against the painted surface to be inspected by the instrument. The device includes an infrared camera and infrared lighting to capture an image of the surface. The captured image is transferred to a computer and analyzed to locate imperfections below a coating on a surface.

Abstract: A composition and method for a microtexture hydrophobic or superhydrophobic coating. The microtexture coating includes a coating layer disposed on a substrate with hydrophobic or superhydrophobic particles dispersed on top of or partially embedded in the coating layer to form an outer layer. The outer layer exhibits water repellant properties. Use of the microtexture coating permits large scale, durable hydrophobic or superhydrophobic coating applications. The microtexture coating is a useful for application on wind turbines, airplanes, solar panels, windows, or cooling systems.

Abstract: A composition for a microtexture hydrophobic or superhydrophobic coating. The microtexture coating includes a coating layer disposed on a substrate with hydrophobic or superhydrophobic particles dispersed on top of or partially embedded in the coating layer to form an outer layer. The outer layer exhibits water repellant properties. Use of the microtexture coating permits large scale, durable hydrophobic or superhydrophobic coating applications. A method of applying a coating to a substrate creating a hydrophobic or superhydrophobic surface that includes applying a polymer material or an adhesive material to the substrate creating a polymer coating layer having a top surface; initially curing the applied coating layer for a specified amount of time allowing the coating layer to partially cure; and applying a solution, at a specified velocity, containing hydrophobic particles or superhydrophobic particles on top of the partially cured coating layer.

Abstract: A method and system for ultrasonic testing of adhesion within a sample, which provides ultrasonic bursts of different frequencies to the sample and maintains a predetermined phase difference between echoes returned from the sample and representative reference signals of the bursts supplied to the sample until a spectrum of the phase differences versus frequency is obtained and from which properties of the adhesion at an interface reflecting the echoes are derivable.

Abstract: A laser sintering deposition method for disposing lead selenide onto a substrate. The method includes: wet-milling a lead selenide ingot mixed with methanol into a colloidal slurry containing nanocrystals; separating the colloidal slurry into nanocrystal particles and the methanol; depositing the nanocrystal particles to a substrate; and emitting coherent infrared light onto the nanocrystal particles for fusing into a lead selenide crystalline film. Afterwards, the lead selenide film can be exposed to oxygen to form a lead selenite layer, and subsequently to iodine gas to produce a lead iodide layer onto the lead selenite layer.

Abstract: An infrared detection camera for the inspection of coated substrates. A corrosion sensing instrument is handheld, portable, battery powered, compact and lightweight. The camera performs nondestructive, real time imaging of corrosion and defects beneath painted metal or plastics or composite surfaces. The device includes a user-friendly computer interface for real time imaging and image storage capability and is typically used for detecting early stage corrosion beneath painted aircraft aluminum surfaces. The handheld device has a front “open air” imaging port which is designed to be placed in soft contact against the painted surface to be inspected by the instrument. The device includes an infrared camera and infrared lighting to capture an image of the surface. The captured image is transferred to a computer and analyzed to locate imperfections below a coating on a surface.

Abstract: An infrared detection camera for the inspection of coated substrates. A corrosion sensing instrument is handheld, portable, battery powered, compact and lightweight. The camera performs nondestructive, real time imaging of corrosion and defects beneath painted metal or plastics or composite surfaces. The device includes a user-friendly computer interface for real time imaging and image storage capability and is typically used for detecting early stage corrosion beneath painted aircraft aluminum surfaces. The handheld device has a front “open air” imaging port which is designed to be placed in soft contact against the painted surface to be inspected by the instrument. The device includes an infrared camera and infrared lighting to capture an image of the surface. The captured image is transferred to a computer and analyzed to locate imperfections below a coating on a surface.

Abstract: A method and system for ultrasonic testing of adhesion within a sample, which provides ultrasonic bursts of different frequencies to the sample and maintains a predetermined phase difference between echoes returned from the sample and representative reference signals of the bursts supplied to the sample until a spectrum of the phase differences versus frequency is obtained and from which properties of the adhesion at an interface reflecting the echoes are derivable.

Abstract: An infrared detection camera for the inspection of coated substrates. A corrosion sensing instrument is handheld, portable, battery powered, compact and lightweight. The camera performs nondestructive, real time imaging of corrosion and defects beneath painted metal or plastics or composite surfaces. The device includes a user-friendly computer interface for real time imaging and image storage capability and is typically used for detecting early stage corrosion beneath painted aircraft aluminum surfaces. The handheld device has a front “open air” imaging port which is designed to be placed in soft contact against the painted surface to be inspected by the instrument. The device includes an infrared camera and infrared lighting to capture an image of the surface. The captured image is transferred to a computer and analyzed to locate imperfections below a coating on a surface.

Abstract: A composition and method for a microtexture hydrophobic or superhydrophobic coating. The microtexture coating includes a coating layer disposed on a substrate with hydrophobic or superhydrophobic particles dispersed on top of or partially embedded in the coating layer to form an outer layer. The outer layer exhibits water repellant properties. Use of the microtexture coating permits large scale, durable hydrophobic or superhydrophobic coating applications. The microtexture coating is a useful for application on wind turbines, airplanes, solar panels, windows, or cooling systems.

Abstract: An infrared detection camera for the inspection of coated substrates. A corrosion sensing instrument is handheld, portable, battery powered, compact and lightweight. The camera performs nondestructive, real time imaging of corrosion and defects beneath painted metal or plastics or composite surfaces. The device includes a user-friendly computer interface for real time imaging and image storage capability and is typically used for detecting early stage corrosion beneath painted aircraft aluminum surfaces. The handheld device has a front “open air” imaging port which is designed to be placed in soft contact against the painted surface to be inspected by the instrument. The device includes an infrared camera and infrared lighting to capture an image of the surface. The captured image is transferred to a computer and analyzed to locate imperfections below a coating on a surface.

Abstract: An infrared detection camera for the inspection of coated substrates. A corrosion sensing instrument is handheld, portable, battery powered, compact and lightweight. The camera performs nondestructive, real time imaging of corrosion and defects beneath painted metal or plastics or composite surfaces. The device includes a user-friendly computer interface for real time imaging and image storage capability and is typically used for detecting early stage corrosion beneath painted aircraft aluminum surfaces. The handheld device has a front “open air” imaging port which is designed to be placed in soft contact against the painted surface to be inspected by the instrument. The device includes an infrared camera and infrared lighting to capture an image of the surface. The captured image is transferred to a computer and analyzed to locate imperfections below a coating on a surface.

Abstract: A method for the replication of a textured surface of a master is disclosed, in which the textured surface of the master is comprised of micron-scale cones having nano- or micro-scale surface features. Alternatively, the master may be comprised of micron-scale structures, nano-scale structures, and micron scale structures having nano-scale surface features. Replication can be achieved through a molding or embossing technique. Using these technique, the textured surface of the master is faithfully replicated onto the surface of the replica. A number of representative materials and additional processing steps are also disclosed. The replicated texture exhibits many useful properties, including enhanced hydrophobicity and reduced light reflection properties, making the disclosed method a simple and attractive alternative to existing texturing techniques.

Abstract: An infrared detection camera for the inspection of coated substrates. A corrosion sensing instrument is handheld, portable, battery powered, compact and lightweight. The camera performs nondestructive, real time imaging of corrosion and defects beneath painted metal or plastics or composite surfaces. The device includes a user-friendly computer interface for real time imaging and image storage capability and is typically used for detecting early stage corrosion beneath painted aircraft aluminum surfaces. The handheld device has a front “open air” imaging port which is designed to be placed in soft contact against the painted surface to be inspected by the instrument. The device includes an infrared camera and infrared lighting to capture an image of the surface. The captured image is transferred to a computer and analyzed to locate imperfections below a coating on a surface.

Abstract: The surface of a material is textured and by exposing the surface to pulses from an ultrafast laser. The laser treatment causes pillars to form on the treated surface. These pillars provide for greater light absorption. Texturing and crystallization can be carried out as a single step process. The crystallization of the material provides for higher electric conductivity and changes in optical and electronic properties of the material. The method may be performed in vacuum or a gaseous environment. The gaseous environment may aid in texturing and/or modifying physical and chemical properties of the surfaces. This method may be used on various material surfaces, such as semiconductors, metals and their alloys, ceramics, polymers, glasses, composites, as well as crystalline, nanocrystalline, polycrystalline, microcrystalline, and amorphous phases.