Abstract: A process for the electrochemical deposition of a semiconductor material, which process comprises: (i) providing a non-aqueous solvent; (ii) providing at least one precursor salt which forms a source of the constituent elements within the semiconductor material to be deposited; and (iii) electrodepositing the semiconductor material onto an electrode substrate using the precursor salt in the non-aqueous solvent, characterized in that: (iv) the semiconductor material is a p-block or a post-transition metal semiconductor material containing at least one p-block element or post-transition metal; and (v) the non-aqueous solvent is a halocarbon non-aqueous solvent.

Abstract: A process for the electrochemical deposition of a semiconductor material, which process comprises: (i) providing a non-aqueous solvent; (ii) providing at least one precursor salt which forms a source of the constituent elements within the semiconductor material to be deposited; and (iii) electrodepositing the semiconductor material onto an electrode substrate using the precursor salt in the non-aqueous solvent, characterised in that: (iv) the semiconductor material is a p-block or a post-transition metal semiconductor material containing at least one p-block element or post-transition metal; and (v) the non-aqueous solvent is a halocarbon non-aqueous solvent.

Abstract: A system for maintaining data connectivity in a satellite communications system including a satellite terminal with a ping mechanism, a satellite ground station, and a ping server, where the ping mechanism pings the ping server and restores data connectivity between the satellite terminal and the satellite ground station.

Abstract: Metal nanovoids are grown on a stretchable plastic film. The fabrication proceeds by assembling the template of a single layer of close packed silica spheres on a conducting substrate. A conducting layer is then electrochemically grown on top to form a master. An elastomeric precursor is then coated on the master (e.g. by spinning) and is cured before removal. The resulting plastic film is then coated with a thin (e.g. 20 nm) layer of noble metal (e.g. Au, Ag or Cu), to produce a flexible film. Applications for such tuneable structural color would be coating of injection molded artifacts, such as mobile phone covers, car bodies to form an iridescent skin, wall and fascia decorations, loudspeaker coatings, architectural tent coverings, and clothing.

Abstract: A system for maintaining data connectivity in a satellite communications system including a satellite terminal with a ping mechanism, a satellite ground station, and a ping server, where the ping mechanism pings the ping server and restores data connectivity between the satellite terminal and the satellite ground station.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell for testing the electrochemical behavior of a plurality of materials comprises: a first electrode; a counter-electrode bearing an electrochromic material having a visual or measurable property which changes in a manner proportional to the total charge passed through it; and an electrolyte between and in electrical contact with the first electrode and the counter-electrode; wherein one of the first electrode and the electrolyte comprises a plurality of regions, each region comprising a sample of material to be tested, the regions being, in the case of the first electrode, electrically connected to a common terminal. Such a cell can be used for a “combinatorial chemistry” approach to testing the properties of possible cell components.

Abstract: A nanoporous filter comprises a porous support having an essentially flat surface on which is deposited a nanoporous layer having a substantially regular pore structure and uniform pore size within the range from 1 to 50 nm.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte is provided, wherein: the cathode comprises mesoporous nickel having a periodic arrangement of substantially uniformly sized pores of cross-section of the order of 10?8 to 10?9 m; and the anode comprises a mesoporous material having a periodic arrangement of substantially uniformly sized pores of cross-section of the order of 10?8 to 10?9 m and selected from: carbon, cadmium, iron, a palladium/nickel alloy, an iron/titanium alloy, palladium or a mixed metal hydride.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte is provided, wherein: the cathode comprises mesoporous nickel having a periodic arrangement of substantially uniformly sized pores of cross-section of the order of 10?8 to 10?9 m; and the anode comprises a mesoporous material having a periodic arrangement of substantially uniformly sized pores of cross-section of the order of 10?8 to 10?9 m and selected from: carbon, cadmium, iron, a palladium/nickel alloy, an iron/titanium alloy, palladium or a mixed metal hydride.

Abstract: Metal nanovoids are grown on a stretchable plastic film. The fabrication proceeds by assembling the template of a single layer of close packed silica spheres on a conducting substrate. A conducting layer is then electrochemically grown on top to form a master. An elastomeric precursor is then coated on the master (e.g. by spinning) and is cured before removal. The resulting plastic film is then coated with a thin (e.g. 20 nm) layer of noble metal (e.g. Au, Ag or Cu), to produce a flexible film. Applications for such tuneable structural colour would be coating of injection moulded artefacts, such as mobile phone covers, car bodies to form an iridescent skin, wall and fascia decorations, loudspeaker coatings, architectural tent coverings, and clothing.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device and a method of making the photovoltaic device. The device includes a metallic surface defining a plurality of voids for confining surface plasmons. The metallic surface is coated with a semiconductor to form a Schottky region at an interface between the metallic surface and the semiconductor within each void.

Abstract: An approach for adaptively providing network performance enhancing functions in a secure environment, such as a virtual private network, is disclosed. Traffic, for example, Internet Protocol (IP) packets, is received for transport over an access network (e.g., satellite network). Next, characteristics (e.g., latency) of the access network are determined. A connection (which supports the performance enhancing functions) is selectively established based on the determined characteristics for transport the received packets over the access network. An encrypted tunnel is provided over the established connection to transmit the received packets.

Abstract: A nanoporous filter comprises a porous support having an essentially flat surface on which is deposited a nanoporous layer having a substantially regular pore structure and uniform pore size within the range from 1 to 50 nm.

Abstract: An approach for supporting security in a communications network is disclosed. A network device includes a security peer that establishes a secure tunnel over a data network (e.g., satellite network) for transport of encrypted traffic. The device also includes a performance peer for establishing a connection supported by the secure tunnel. The performance peer includes a plurality of modules for providing respective performance enhancing functions to minimize performance impact of latency of the network.

Abstract: An approach for adaptively providing network performance enhancing functions in a secure environment, such as a virtual private network, is disclosed. Traffic, for example, Internet Protocol (IP) packets, is received for transport over an access network (e.g., satellite network). Next, characteristics (e.g., latency) of the access network are determined. A connection (which supports the performance enhancing functions) is selectively established based on the determined characteristics for transport the received packets over the access network. An encrypted tunnel is provided over the established connection to transmit the received packets.

Abstract: An approach for adaptively providing network performance enhancing functions in a secure environment, such as a virtual private network, is disclosed. Traffic, for example, Internet Protocol (IP) packets, is received for transport over an access network (e.g., satellite network). Next, characteristics (e.g., latency) of the access network are determined. A connection (which supports the performance enhancing functions) is selectively established based on the determined characteristics for transport the received packets over the access network. An encrypted tunnel is provided over the established connection to transmit the received packets.

Abstract: An approach for enhancing performance of an access network (e.g., a satellite network) in a secure environment (e.g., Virtual Private Network (VPN)) is disclosed. A plurality of connections is established with respective peer nodes over the network. Each of the peers is configured to provide performance enhancing functions for the network via the connections. The approach enables selection of one of the connections, such that the selected connection includes a secure tunnel to the peer associated with the selected connection.

Abstract: An approach for supporting security in a communications network is disclosed. A network device includes a security peer that establishes a secure tunnel over a data network (e.g., satellite network) for transport of encrypted traffic. The device also includes a performance peer for establishing a connection supported by the secure tunnel. The performance peer includes a plurality of modules for providing respective performance enhancing functions to minimize performance impact of latency of the network.

Abstract: An approach for adaptively providing network performance enhancing functions in a secure environment, such as a virtual private network, is disclosed. Traffic, for example, Internet Protocol (IP) packets, is received for transport over an access network (e.g., satellite network). Next, characteristics (e.g., latency) of the access network are determined. A connection (which supports the performance enhancing functions) is selectively established based on the determined characteristics for transport the received packets over the access network. An encrypted tunnel is provided over the established connection to transmit the received packets.

Abstract: A method of preparing a porous film comprises electrodepositing material from a mixture onto a substrate, the mixture comprising: (I) a source of metal, inorganic oxide, non-oxide semiconductor/conductor or organic polymer, (II) a solvent such as water; and (III) a structure-directing agent such as octaethylene glycol monododecyl ether in an amount sufficient to form an homogeneous lyotropic liquid crystalline phase in the mixture. Electrodepositing the film from a lyotropic liquid phase in this manner provides a porous film having a substantially regular structure and substantially uniform pore size. Following deposition, the porous film may be treated to remove the structure-directing agent.