Abstract: Freeze indicators providing a visual indication of exposure of the freeze indicator to a freezing or near-freezing temperature and their manufacture are disclosed. The freeze indicators employ colloidal dispersions as active elements and include flexible freeze indicators, freeze indicators protected against drying out and freeze indicators employing core shell composites, for example gold coated pigments as active indicator elements. Also disclosed are: a combination freeze indicator and threshold temperature indicator; a combination threshold indicator and cumulative temperature indicator; and three-way combination indicators that can provide indications of cumulative past temperature exposure, exposure to freezing temperatures and exposure to a temperature above a threshold.

Abstract: Indicator inks, indicators formed by printing or otherwise utilizing the inks and host products utilizing the indicators are disclosed. Reactivity-enhancing adjuvants stimulate enhanced thermal reactivity of diacetylenic or other indicator agents capable of responding to ambient thermal conditions with a visual change signaling an end point. The diacetylenic or other agents may be sensitive or relatively insensitive to ambient temperatures. Use of a reactivity-enhancing adjuvant provides a useful means for adapting the reactivities of indicator agents to the response characteristics of prospective host products, for example perishables such as vaccines or fresh fish and maturables such as fruit, cheese and wine. Some exemplary adjuvants include low-temperature polymerization initiators, for example methyl ethyl ketone peroxide and polymerization accelerators, for example cobalt compounds. Such initiators and accelerators can also be used in combination.

Abstract: Coagulation spinning produces structures such as fibers, ribbons, and yarns of carbon nanotubes. Stabilization, orientation, and shaping of spun materials are achieved by post-spinning processes. Advantages include the elimination of core-sheath effects due to carbonaceous contaminants, increasing mechanical properties, and eliminating dimensional instabilities in liquid electrolytes that previously prohibited the application of these spun materials in electrochemical devices. These advances enable the application of coagulation-spun carbon nanotube fibers, ribbons, and yarns in actuators, supercapacitors, and in devices for electrical energy harvesting.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for the synthesis of 2-D and 3-D periodic porous silicon structures and composites with improved properties having the advantages of porous silicon and photonic bandgap materials. Photonic crystals comprise a two dimensionally periodic or three dimensionally periodic microporous structural matrix of interconnecting, crystallographically oriented, monodispersed members having voids between adjacent members, and said members additionally having randomly nanoporous surface porosity. The silicon nanofoam material shows enhanced and spectrally controlled/tunable photoluminescence and electroluminesce and finds use as transparent electrodes, high-lumonosity light emitting diodes (LEDs), wavelength division multiplexors, high-active-area catalyst supports, photonic bandgap lasers, silicon-based UV detectors, displays, gas sensors, and the like.

Abstract: Fiber spinning of two polymer compositions wherein one of the compositions contains carbon nanotubes produces structures such as fibers, ribbons, yarns and films of carbon nanotubes. The polymers are removed and stabilization of the carbon nanotube material is achieved by post-spinning processes. The advances disclosed herein enable the carbon nanotube composites to be used in actuators, supercapacitors, friction materials and in devices for electrical energy harvesting.

Abstract: Coagulation spinning produces structures such as fibers, ribbons, and yarns of carbon nanotubes. Stabilization, orientation, and shaping of spun materials are achieved by post-spinning processes. Advantages include the elimination of core-sheath effects due to carbonaceous contaminants, increasing mechanical properties, and eliminating dimensional instabilities in liquid electrolytes that previously prohibited the application of these spun materials in electrochemical devices. These advances enable the application of coagulation-spun carbon nanotube fibers, ribbons, and yarns in actuators, supercapacitors, and in devices for electrical energy harvesting.

Abstract: Coagulation spinning produces structures such as fibers, ribbons, and yarns of carbon nanotubes. Stabilization, orientation, and shaping of spun materials are achieved by post-spinning processes. Advantages include the elimination of core-sheath effects due to carbonaceous contaminants, increasing mechanical properties, and eliminating dimensional instabilities in liquid electrolytes that previously prohibited the application of these spun materials in electrochemical devices. These advances enable the application of coagulation-spun carbon nanotube fibers, ribbons, and yarns in actuators, supercapacitors, and in devices for electrical energy harvesting.

Abstract: Fiber spinning of two polymer compositions wherein one of the compositions contains carbon nanotubes produces structures such as fibers, ribbons, yarns and films of carbon nanotubes. The polymers are removed and stabilization of the carbon nanotube material is achieved by post-spinning processes. The advances disclosed herein enable the carbon nanotube composites to be used in actuators, supercapacitors, friction materials and in devices for electrical energy harvesting.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for the synthesis of 2-D and 3-D periodic porous silicon structures and composites with improved properties having the advantages of porous silicon and photonic bandgap materials. Photonic crystals comprise a two dimensionally periodic or three dimensionally periodic microporous structural matrix of interconnecting, crystallographically oriented, monodispersed members having voids between adjacent members, and said members additionally having randomly nanoporous surface porosity. The silicon nanofoam material shows enhanced and spectrally controlled/tunable photoluminescence and electroluminesce and finds use as transparent electrodes, high-lumonosity light emitting diodes (LEDs), wavelength division multiplexors, high-active-area catalyst supports, photonic bandgap lasers, silicon-based UV detectors, displays, gas sensors, and the like.

Abstract: Actuators are described that operate as a result of double-layer charge injection in electrodes having very high gravimetric surface areas and gravimetric capacitances. The actuator output of the actuators may be a mechanical displacement that can be used to accomplish mechanical work. As a result of the non-faradaic process and the actuator materials utilized, such as carbon nanotubes, the actuators have improved work capacity, power density, cycle life, and force generation capabilities. Other benefits include low voltage operation and high temperature performance. The actuators also convert a mechanical energy input to an electrical energy output. The actuators may be used to control either thermal, electrical or fluid transport or cause either the switching, phase shift, or attenuation of electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: Coagulation spinning produces structures such as fibers, ribbons, and yarns of carbon nanotubes. Stabilization, orientation, and shaping of spun materials are achieved by post-spinning processes. Advantages include the elimination of core-sheath effects due to carbonaceous contaminants, increasing mechanical properties, and eliminating dimensional instabilities in liquid electrolytes that previously prohibited the application of these spun materials in electrochemical devices. These advances enable the application of coagulation-spun carbon nanotube fibers, ribbons, and yarns in actuators, supercapacitors, and in devices for electrical energy harvesting.

Abstract: Disclosed are mechanochemical processes for the synthesis of high performance electroceramics from organometallic precursors, and compositions resulting from the processes.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are described for the preparation of piezoelectric ceramic-polymer composites having improved properties for application in piezoelectric devices. These composites consist of piezoelectric particles embedded in a polymer matrix. The improvements of this invention result from discoveries of the effects of particle size, particle size dispersity, volumetric loading levels, ceramic dielectric constant, and polymer dielectric constant on performance. Various improved devices based on these compositions are also described.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for forming polyaniline films on a substrate and to composite articles formed by said process.

Abstract: A dual-pane thermal window unit comprises two non-intersecting or, preferably, substantially parallel, spaced window panes, mounted in a window frame, a first of the panes having affixed thereto a first wall of an electro-optical liquid crystal cell providing a selected light transmittance, and a second of said panes delimiting, with a second wall of said cell, a space providing a thermal break. Each of the first and second walls comprises an electrically conductive film composed of plastic and having sufficient supporting strength to maintain the structural integrity of the cell. The window is light weight, economical to manufacture and efficient and reliable in operation.

Abstract: A dual-pane thermal window unit comprises two non-intersecting or, preferably, substantially parallel, spaced window panes, mounted in a window frame, a first of the panes having affixed thereto a first wall of an electro-optical liquid crystal cell providing a selected light transmittance, and a second of said panes delimiting, with a second wall of said cell, a space providing a thermal break. Each of the first and second walls comprises an electrically conductive film composed of plastic and having sufficient supporting strength to maintain the structural integrity of the cell. The window is light weight, economical to manufacture and efficient and reliable in operation.

Abstract: Superconducting ceramic layers are made by first electrochemically depositing metal layers containing embedded particulate matter, followed by oxidation of the precursor layer to form the desired superconducting ceramic. The embedded particulate matter may (a) furnish required constituent metals for the superconductor, (b) be a superconductor itself, which may be the same as or different from the superconductor to be formed, or (c) provide adjuvant substances for improving the properties (e.g., electrical or mechanical) of the superconducting layer being formed.

Abstract: A dual-pane thermal window unit comprises two non-intersecting or, preferably, substantially parallel, spaced window panes, mounted in a window frame, a first of the panes having affixed thereto a first wall of an electro-optical liquid crystal cell providing a selected light transmittance, and a second of said panes delimiting, with a second wall of said cell, a space providing a thermal break. Each of the first and second walls comprises an electrically conductive film composed of plastic and having sufficient supporting strength to maintain the structural integrity of the cell. The window is light weight, economical to manufacture and efficient and reliable in operation.

Abstract: A cell has a body containing at least one electroactive material. The body has both a positive electrical connecting means and a negative electrical connecting means on each of opposite ends of said body. Each of the negative and positive electrical connecting means is positioned such that the cell can be alternatively directly connected electrically in series or in parallel to form a battery power source.

Abstract: A window unit has at least one pane a face, of which is coated with a transparent conductive polymer layer that is reflective and absorptive in an infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, transparent in the visible region of the spectrum, and has a transparency ratio greater than 2. The window unit minimizes radiative heat transfer and maximizes the transmission of visible light therethrough.