Abstract: An economical and environmentally friendly method for improving the characteristics of photolithographically patterned multilayers or single-layer thin films to be used as the bottom electrode of tunnel junctions involving applying an argon plasma treatment after the liftoff step, followed by an optional deposition to improve the adhesion of the photoresist during the subsequent photolithography step necessary for completing the cross junction-shaped tunnel junction. The invention results in a bottom electrode with tapered edges and a smooth surface that significantly increases the yield and stability of tunnel junction.

Abstract: A scratch testing apparatus comprises a lightweight frame assembly and a test specimen support stage that may hold a test specimen (i.e., the material to be subjected to a scratch test) and may be horizontally moved along slide rails mounted to the frame assembly. A stylus is mounted to a load block and points toward the test specimen support stage to enable the stylus (under load from the load block) to impart a scratch to the surface of the specimen during a scratch test. A load assembly is pivotably mounted to the frame and pivotably supports the load block and stylus, with a moveable counterweight assembly positioned at an opposite end of the load assembly. The position of the counterweight may be varied along the load assembly so as to modify the amount of force exerted by the load block, and thus by the stylus, on the surface of the test specimen, even during the conduct of a scratch test.

Abstract: A device for delivering metal powder in an electrochemical 3d printing operation including a screw conveyor for carrying metal powder from a powder hopper to a vertical delivery channel, and a simultaneously reciprocating and rotating mixer needle located in said vertical delivery channel to deliver the powder through a nozzle in a controllable and adjustable fashion.

Abstract: A system and method comprising the steps of: depositing a first electrode metal on an insulating substrate or layer; creating a trench component, in which said trench component comprises a section of said first electrode metal or both first electrode metal and insulating substrate or layer with a depth based on at least one of, a molecular device element, a trenched bottom electrode, and a liftoff molecular device (TBELMD) to be produced; insulating said first electrode metal from a predetermined material deposited in said trench component; and depositing a second electrode metal on said predetermined material deposited in said trench component.

Abstract: A scratch testing apparatus comprises a lightweight frame assembly and a test specimen support stage that may hold a test specimen (i.e., the material to be subjected to a scratch test) and may be horizontally moved along slide rails mounted to the frame assembly. A stylus is mounted to a load block and points toward the test specimen support stage to enable the stylus (under load from the load block) to impart a scratch to the surface of the specimen during a scratch test. A load assembly is pivotably mounted to the frame and pivotably supports the load block and stylus, with a moveable counterweight assembly positioned at an opposite end of the load assembly. The position of the counterweight may be varied along the load assembly so as to modify the amount of force exerted by the load block, and thus by the stylus, on the surface of the test specimen, even during the conduct of a scratch test.

Abstract: A detection method and sensors are provided for the rapid detection of chemicals, biological and non-biological, and a wide range of viruses using magnetic tunnel junction-based molecular spintronics devices (MTJMSD) that produce unique magnetic resonance signals before and after interacting with target chemical, biochemical, viral, and other molecular agents.

Abstract: A system and method for simulating the spatial and temporal magnetic properties of configurable nanoscale magnetic molecules is provided comprising steps for simulating molecular spintronics devices (MSD) of different shapes involving thousands of magnetic atoms and molecules, representing complex magnetic molecules as a device element in MSD to use MCSMSD, defining a wide range of magnetic molecule-magnetic electrode interactions in MSD, studying the magnetic anisotropy effect in MSD simulation, studying the effect of electrons in the magnetic electrodes and fluctuations controlling the active molecule population in MSD simulation, studying the effect of defects within insulator competing with magnetic molecules, and harnessing parallel processing capabilities in desktop computers.

Abstract: A system and method comprising the steps of: depositing a first electrode metal on an insulating substrate or layer; creating a trench component, in which said trench component comprises a section of said first electrode metal or both first electrode metal and insulating substrate or layer with a depth based on at least one of, a molecular device element, a trenched bottom electrode, and a liftoff molecular device (TBELMD) to be produced; insulating said first electrode metal from a predetermined material deposited in said trench component; and depositing a second electrode metal on said predetermined material deposited in said trench component.

Abstract: A system and method for fabricating at least one of, a molecular device element and a TBELMD including depositing a first electrode material on an insulating substrate or layer, performing a photolithography process in the first electrode material, creating a trench component in the first electrode material with the photolithography process, determining a section of the electrode material to remove based on at least one of, a molecular device element and a TBELMD to be produced, removing the section of said first electrode material, oxidizing a portion of the first electrode material, creating a first insulator part from the oxidized portion of the first electrode material, in which the oxidized portion of the first electrode material includes at least a first electrode metal surface, depositing a second electrode material, and bridging the first and second electrode material.

Abstract: A pumpless solar energy-based air heater includes a body housing a chamber surrounded by a heat conducting medium; an intake pipe to draw cool air into the chamber; and one or more exit pipes to push warm air out from the chamber, the one or more exit pipes having one or more structures within the interior of the one or more exit pipes to create a low friction factor for the air flowing upwards in the exit pipe while creating a high friction factor for the air attempting to move downward, thereby ensuring air flow in an upward direction; a pressure difference is created between an entry point of the intake pipe and an end point of the one or more exit pipes, thereby eliminating the need for a pump or a fan.

Abstract: A system and method for fabricating at least one of, a molecular device element and a TBELMD including depositing a first electrode material on an insulating substrate or layer, performing a photolithography process in the first electrode material, creating a trench component in the first electrode material with the photolithography process, determining a section of the electrode material to remove based on at least one of, a molecular device element and a TBELMD to be produced, removing the section of said first electrode material, oxidizing a portion of the first electrode material, creating a first insulator part from the oxidized portion of the first electrode material, in which the oxidized portion of the first electrode material includes at least a first electrode metal surface, depositing a second electrode material, and bridging the first and second electrode material.

Abstract: A pumpless solar energy-based air heater includes a body housing a chamber surrounded by a heat conducting medium; an intake pipe to draw cool air into the chamber; and one or more exit pipes to push warm air out from the chamber, the one or more exit pipes having one or more structures within the interior of the one or more exit pipes to create a low friction factor for the air flowing upwards in the exit pipe while creating a high friction factor for the air attempting to move downward, thereby ensuring air flow in an upward direction; a pressure difference is created between an entry point of the intake pipe and an end point of the one or more exit pipes, thereby eliminating the need for a pump or a fan.