Abstract: The present invention relates to fluidic systems, including switches for fluidic systems. The switches of the present invention may be particularly applicable to microfluidic systems. The switches of the invention may include a switching region having more than one position corresponding to more than one aspect ratio. Alternatively, the switches of the invention may include multiple inlets and a system for the selective supply of carrier fluid. The present invention also relates to a method of controlling a fluid in a microfluidic system and may be performed using the switches of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for transporting a gas to an electrode in a fuel cell is provided, whereby the gas is dissolved in an emulsion comprising a fluorinated hydrocarbon, a surfactant and an aqueous electrolyte with a pH of at most 4 or at least 9, and the emulsion is contacted with the electrode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fluidic systems and, in particular, fluidic arrays and methods for using them to promote interaction of materials. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a microfluidic system. The microfluidic system includes a first fluid path and a second fluid path segregated from the first fluid path by a first convection controller at a first contact region, wherein at least one of the first fluid path and the second fluid path has a cross-sectional dimension of less than about 1 millimeter. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of promoting interaction. In another aspect, the invention relates to a device and method for performing titrations.

Abstract: A method of forming microstructures. An article including a metal atom precursor is disproportionally exposed to electromagnetic radiation in an amount and intensity sufficient to convert some of the precursor to elemental metal. Additional conductive material may then be deposited onto the elemental metal to produce a microstructure.

Abstract: A fuel cell is described that includes (a) a first electrode; (b) a second electrode; and (c) a channel contiguous with at least a portion of the first and the second electrodes. When a first liquid is contacted with the first electrode, a second liquid is contacted with the second electrode, and the first and the second liquids flow through the channel, a multistream laminar flow is established between the first and the second liquids. Electronic devices containing such electrochemical cells and methods for their use are also described.

Abstract: A method of forming microstructures. An article including a metal atom precursor is disproportionally exposed to electromagnetic radiation in an amount and intensity sufficient to convert some of the precursor to elemental metal. Additional conductive material may then be deposited onto the elemental metal to produce a microstructure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a variety of techniques for altering a surface using fluid flow. Generally, the invention involves creating adjacent components of a fluid stream exhibiting laminar flow, the first and second components mixing only via diffusion and being free of turbulent mixing. The first and second components are made to flow adjacent first and second portions, respectively, of a surface, and the first and second portions of the surface can be altered, selectively, using the components of the fluid stream. For example, at the first portion of the surface etching, plating, biological deposition, or the like can be carried out, while at the second portion of the surface a different situation can exist. At the second portion the same interaction can be effected as at the first portion, but to a different extent, or a different interaction or no interaction at all can be effected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fluidic systems, including switches for fluidic systems. The switches of the present invention may be particularly applicable to microfluidic systems. The switches of the invention may include a switching region having more than one position corresponding to more than one aspect ratio. Alternatively, the switches of the invention may include multiple inlets and a system for the selective supply of carrier fluid. The present invention also relates to a method of controlling a fluid in a microfluidic system and may be performed using the switches of the present invention.

Abstract: A method of forming microstructures. An article including a metal atom precursor is disproportionally exposed to electromagnetic radiation in an amount and intensity sufficient to convert some of the precursor to elemental metal. Additional conductive material may then be deposited onto the elemental metal to produce a microstructure.