Abstract: The present invention relates to a reusable water writing paper, as well as to its production process and an inkless printing device thereof. The reusable water writing paper is consisted of a substrate as structure-support material, a color-displaying component supported on the substrate, and an optional performance-enhancing additive, wherein the color-displaying component is an oxazoline-based hydrochromic dye, which can change color obviously to display characters and/or patterns after contacting with water, and revert to the initial color to disappear the displayed characters and/or patterns after the water is removed, thereby the water writing paper is reusable. The paper is not only suitable for the exercise of writing or drawing with a brush pen, but also can be used for daily writing with a pen. Furthermore, inkless printing also can be achieved by spraying water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reusable water writing paper, as well as to its production process and an inkless printing device thereof The reusable water writing paper is consisted of a substrate as structure-support material, a color-displaying component supported on the substrate, and an optional performance-enhancing additive, wherein the color-displaying component is an oxazoline-based hydrochromic dye, which can change color obviously to display characters and/or patterns after contacting with water, and revert to the initial color to disappear the displayed characters and/or patterns after the water is removed, thereby the water writing paper is reusable. The paper is not only suitable for the exercise of writing or drawing with a brush pen, but also can be used for daily writing with a pen. Furthermore, inkless printing also can be achieved by spraying water.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn toward a chemical or biological sensor that can comprise a semi-conducting nanowire and a chemical or biological sensing molecule tethered to the semi-conducting nanowire through a spacer group including a hydrophilic reactive group. In one embodiment, the semi-conducting nanowire can be part of an array of like or similar semi-conducting nanowires. Electrical leads can provide an electrical current to the array, and a signal measurement apparatus can be electrically coupled to the array, and can be configured for detecting changes in the electrical current of the array.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn toward a chemical or biological sensor that can comprise a semi-conducting nanowire and a chemical or biological sensing molecule tethered to the semi-conducting nanowire through a spacer group including a hydrophilic reactive group. In one embodiment, the semi-conducting nanowire can be part of an array of like or similar semi-conducting nanowires. Electrical leads can provide an electrical current to the array, and a signal measurement apparatus can be electrically coupled to the array, and can be configured for detecting changes in the electrical current of the array.

Abstract: A microfluidic device (100) for controllably moving a material of interest (102) includes a holding cavity (108) configured to hold the material of interest (102) and at least one actuator (120) configured to induce an activation material (116) to expand or contract. Expansion of the activation material (116) decreases the size of the holding cavity (108) to cause the material of interest (102) to be released from the holding cavity (108) and contraction of the activation material (116) increases the size of the holding cavity (108) to cause the material of interest (102) to be received into the holding cavity (108). The at least one actuator (120) is operable at multiple levels between a zero induction level to a maximum induction level on the activation material (116) to thereby controllably expand or contract the holding cavity (108) to release or receive a specified volume of the material of interest (102).

Abstract: A sensor array for sensing at least one of chemical moieties and biological moieties is provided. The sensor array comprises a plurality of working electrodes electrically associated with a reference electrode, each working electrode in combination with the reference electrode forming a transducer. Each working electrode is provided with a coating of a sensing element comprised of an ionizable moiety and a functional group sensitive to one of the chemical and/or biological moieties.

Abstract: Ceramic pigment-based, chemically-modified porous coatings can be used for enhancing image permanence of ink-jet image printing. Specifically, a porous coated media sheet, comprising a media substrate, having a porous coating coated thereon comprising a modified ceramic pigment including a fixer group and a stabilizer group, each covalently attached to the ceramic pigment is disclosed. Additionally, a method and system for preparing permanent ink-jet images is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method of capturing a skin print from skin having ridges and valleys. A skin print sensor having a return/supply contact and a plurality of contact pads is provided. A finger is applied to the skin print sensor and data is stored representative of contact pads in contact with skin ridges.

Abstract: A sensing method includes exposing a nano-transducer having a controlled surface to a sample including at least one species. Adsorption of the species on the nano-transducer is transduced to a measurable signal as a function of time. Desorption of the species from the nano-transducer is also transduced to a measurable signal as a function of time. A residence time of the at least one species adsorbed on the nano-transducer is extracted from the measurable signals. The adsorption and desorption each define an individual measurable event.

Abstract: A sensing method includes exposing a nano-transducer having a controlled surface to a sample including at least one species. Adsorption of the species on the nano-transducer is transduced to a measurable signal as a function of time. Desorption of the species from the nano-transducer is also transduced to a measurable signal as a function of time. A residence time of the at least one species adsorbed on the nano-transducer is extracted from the measurable signals. The adsorption and desorption each define an individual measurable event.

Abstract: An electronically addressable display comprises a substrate, at least one polarization-type, electrical field switchable molecular colorant associated with the substrate, and an addressing device mounted for selectively switching the at least one molecular colorant between at least two visually distinguishable states. Electronic devices including the electronically addressable displays and methods of manufacturing the electronically addressable display are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention described herein includes a molecular switch, comprising: a donor subunit; an acceptor subunit; and an aromatic bridging subunit comprising one or more bridging groups for bonding the donor subunit to the aromatic bridging subunit and for bonding the acceptor subunit to the aromatic bridging subunit wherein the aromatic bridging subunit is conformable in a manner effective for polarizing and de-polarizing the molecular switch at a low electric field voltage.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for controllably moving a material of interest includes a holding cavity configured to hold the material of interest and at least one actuator configured to induce an activation material to expand or contract. Expansion of the activation material decreases the size of the holding cavity to cause the material of interest to be released from the holding cavity and contraction of the activation material increases the size of the holding cavity to cause the material of interest to be received into the holding cavity. The at least one actuator is operable at multiple levels between a zero induction level to a maximum induction level on the activation material to thereby controllably expand or contract the holding cavity to release or receive a specified volume of the material of interest.

Abstract: An optical sensor is provided, comprising (a) a silicon nanowire of finite length having an electrical contact pad at each end thereof; and (b) a plurality of self-assembled molecules on a surface of the silicon nanowire, the molecules serving to modulate electrical conductivity of the silicon nanowire by either a reversible change in dipole moment of the molecules or by a reversible molecule-assisted electron/energy transfer from the molecules onto the silicon nanowire. Further, a method of making the optical sensor is provided. The concept of molecular self-assembly is applied in attaching functional molecules onto silicon nanowire surfaces, and the requirement of molecule modification (hydroxy group in molecules) is minimal from the point view of synthetic difficulty and compatibility. Self-assembly will produce well-ordered ultra-thin films with strong chemical bonding on a surface that cannot be easily achieved by other conventional methods.

Abstract: A bistable molecular switch can have a highly conjugated first state and a less conjugated second state. The bistable molecular switch can be configured such that application of an electric field reversibly switches the molecular switch from the first state to the second state. Additionally, the bistable molecular switch can include a hydrophobic moiety and a hydrophilic moiety. Such molecular switches can be incorporated into a thin film as part of a molecular switch system which can include a layer of molecular switches between a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. The layer of molecular switches can have substantially all of the molecular switches having their hydrophilic moiety oriented in the same direction. An electric potential can then be induced between the first and second electrode layers sufficient to switch the molecular switches from the first or second state to the second or first state, respectively.

Abstract: Ceramic pigment-based, chemically-modified porous coatings can be used for enhancing image permanence of ink-jet image printing. Specifically, a porous coated media sheet, comprising a media substrate, having a porous coating coated thereon comprising a modified ceramic pigment including a fixer group and a stabilizer group, each covalently attached to the ceramic pigment is disclosed. Additionally, a method and system for preparing permanent ink-jet images is also provided.

Abstract: Molecular systems are provided for electric field activated switches, such as optical switches. The molecular system has an electric field induced band gap change that occurs via one of the following mechanisms: (1) molecular conformation change; (2) change of extended conjugation via chemical bonding change to change the band gap; or (3) molecular folding or stretching. Nanometer-scale reversible optical switches are thus provided that can be assembled easily to make a variety of optical devices, including optical displays.

Abstract: An optical sensor is provided, comprising (a) a silicon nanowire of finite length having an electrical contact pad at each end thereof; and (b) a plurality of self-assembled molecules on a surface of the silicon nanowire, the molecules serving to modulate electrical conductivity of the silicon nanowire by either a reversible change in dipole moment of the molecules or by a reversible molecule-assisted electron/energy transfer from the molecules onto the silicon nanowire. Further, a method of making the optical sensor is provided. The concept of molecular self-assembly is applied in attaching functional molecules onto silicon nanowire surfaces, and the requirement of molecule modification (hydroxy group in molecules) is minimal from the point view of synthetic difficulty and compatibility. Self-assembly will produce well-ordered ultra-thin films with strong chemical bonding on a surface that cannot be easily achieved by other conventional methods.

Abstract: A bistable molecular switch can have a highly conjugated first state and a less conjugated second state. The bistable molecular switch can be configured such that application of an electric field reversibly switches the molecular switch from the first state to the second state. Additionally, the bistable molecular switch can include a hydrophobic moiety and a hydrophilic moiety. Such molecular switches can be incorporated into a thin film as part of a molecular switch system which can include a layer of molecular switches between a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. The layer of molecular switches can have substantially all of the molecular switches having their hydrophilic moiety oriented in the same direction. An electric potential can then be induced between the first and second electrode layers sufficient to switch the molecular switches from the first or second state to the second or first state, respectively.

Abstract: An optical sensor is provided, comprising (a) a silicon nanowire of finite length having an electrical contact pad at each end thereof; and (b) a plurality of self-assembled molecules on a surface of the silicon nanowire, the molecules serving to modulate electrical conductivity of the silicon nanowire by either a reversible change in dipole moment of the molecules or by a reversible molecule-assisted electron/energy transfer from the molecules onto the silicon nanowire. Further, a method of making the optical sensor is provided. The concept of molecular self-assembly is applied in attaching functional molecules onto silicon nanowire surfaces, and the requirement of molecule modification (hydroxy group in molecules) is minimal from the point view of synthetic difficulty and compatibility. Self-assembly will produce well-ordered ultra-thin films with strong chemical bonding on a surface that cannot be easily achieved by other conventional methods.