Abstract: A persistent phosphor of formula I is provided, along with methods for making and using the phosphor: AxAlyO4:Euj, REk, Bm, Znn, Coo, Scp ??I wherein: A is Ba, Sr, Ca, or a combination of these metals; x is greater than about 0.75 and less than about 1.3; y is greater than or equal to about 1.6 and less than or equal to 2; j is greater than about 0.0005 and less than about 0.1; k is greater than about 0.0005 and less than about 0.1; m is greater than or equal to 0 and less than about 0.30; n is greater than 0 and less than about 0.10; o is greater than 0 and less than about 0.01; p is greater than 0 and less than about 0.05; and RE is Dy, Nd, or a combination thereof. Applications for such phosphors include use in toys, emergency equipment, clothing, and instrument panels, among others.

Abstract: A transparent, nano-composite material and methods for making structures from this material are provided. In one embodiment, the material is made from a polycrystalline matrix containing dispersed particles of a harder material. The particles are less then about 100 nm. In other embodiments, methods for making structures from the material are provided. In one aspect, the methods include blending precursor powders for the matrix and reinforcing phases prior to forming and sintering to make a final structure. In other aspects, a precursor powder for the matrix is pressed into a green shape, which is partially sintered and exposed to a solution containing a precursor for the reinforcing phase, prior to be sintered into the final material. In another aspect, the precursor powder for the matrix is coated with a sol-gel precursor for the reinforcing material, then pressed into a green shape and sintered to form the final structure.

Abstract: A persistent phosphor of formula I is provided, along with methods for making and using the phosphor: AxAlyO4:Euj,REk,Bm,Znn,Coo,Scp ??I wherein: A is Ba, Sr, Ca, or a combination of these metals; x is greater than about 0.75 and less than about 1.3; y is greater than or equal to about 1.6 and less than or equal to 2; j is greater than about 0.0005 and less than about 0.1; k is greater than about 0.0005 and less than about 0.1; m is greater than or equal to 0 and less than about 0.30; n is greater than 0 and less than about 0.10; o is greater than 0 and less than about 0.01; p is greater than 0 and less than about 0.05; and RE is Dy, Nd, or a combination thereof. Applications for such phosphors include use in toys, emergency equipment, clothing, and instrument panels, among others.

Abstract: A transparent, nano-composite material and methods for making structures from this material are provided. In one embodiment, the material is made from a polycrystalline matrix containing dispersed particles of a harder material. The particles are less then about 100 nm. In other embodiments, methods for making structures from the material are provided. In one aspect, the methods include blending precursor powders for the matrix and reinforcing phases prior to forming and sintering to make a final structure. In other aspects, a precursor powder for the matrix is pressed into a green shape, which is partially sintered and exposed to a solution containing a precursor for the reinforcing phase, prior to be sintered into the final material. In another aspect, the precursor powder for the matrix is coated with a sol-gel precursor for the reinforcing material, then pressed into a green shape and sintered to form the final structure.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention are directed toward nanocrystalline oxide-based phosphor materials, and methods for making same. Typically, such methods comprise a steric entrapment route for converting precursors into such phosphor material. In some embodiments, the nanocrystalline oxide-based phosphor materials are quantum splitting phosphors. In some or other embodiments, such nanocrystalline oxide based phosphor materials provide reduced scattering, leading to greater efficiency, when used in lighting applications.

Abstract: A method of making a cubic halide scintillator material includes pressing a powder mixture of cubic halide and at least one activator under conditions of pressure, temperature, residence time and particle size effective to provide a polycrystalline sintered cubic halide scintillator having a pulse height resolution of from about 7% to about 20%. The conditions include a temperature ranging from about ambient temperature up to about 90% of the melting point of the cubic halide, a pressure of from about 30,000 psi to about 200,000 psi, a pressing residence time of from about 5 minutes to about 120 minutes and an average cubic halide particle size of from about 60 micrometers to about 275 micrometers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multifunctional catalyst system comprising a substrate; and a catalyst pair disposed upon the substrate; wherein the catalyst pair comprises a first catalyst and a second catalyst; and wherein an average particle or domain spacing between particles or domains comprising the first catalyst or the second catalyst is about 10 to about 1,000 nanometers. Disclosed herein too is a process comprising selectively functionalizing a substrate to form a functionalized substrate; reacting a first catalyst to a first region of the functionalized substrate; and reacting a second catalyst to a second region of the functionalized substrate; wherein an average particle or domain spacing between particles or domains comprising the first catalyst or the second catalyst is about 10 to about 1,000 nanometers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multifunctional catalyst system comprising a substrate; and a catalyst pair disposed upon the substrate; wherein the catalyst pair comprises a first catalyst and a second catalyst; and wherein the first catalyst initiates or facilitates the reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide while the second catalyst initiates or facilitates the conversion of carbon monoxide to an organic compound. Disclosed herein is a method comprising reducing carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide in a first reaction catalyzed by a first catalyst; and reacting carbon monoxide with hydrogen in a second reaction catalyzed by second catalyst; wherein the first catalyst and the second catalyst are disposed upon a single substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is method for making a wire comprising contacting a first end of a first superconducting wire with a second end of a second superconducting wire, wherein the superconducting wire comprises a superconducting filament having a superconducting composition comprising magnesium diboride; heating the first end of the first superconducting wire with the second end of the second superconducting wire at a point to form a joint, wherein the superconducting filament having the superconducting composition is in continuous electrical contact with any other part of the superconducting filament after the formation of the joint.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward methods of making hierarchically-ordered complex structures and composites thereof. Such structures are generally ordered on multiple length scales. Typically, at least one length scale comprises mesoscale dimensionality. Such methods generally utilize an organized, directionally-oriented combination of multiple fields to fabricate such structures and articles of manufacture made by the above-described methods, and in applications using such articles manufactured by the above-described process. The present invention is also directed toward novel composites, structures, and articles of manufacture made by the above-described processes. In some embodiments, such structures are composites of two or more such hierarchically-ordered complex substructures.

Abstract: A ceramic structure having a scaffold with at least one opening and at least one porous filler material at least partially filling the at least one opening is described. The porous ceramic filler includes a plurality of pores. The pores have an average size in a range from about 2 nm to about 100 nm. The plurality of pores includes at least one pore architecture. For each pore architecture, the average pore size does not vary by more than about 100% when the average pore size is in a range from about 2 nm to about 50 nm, and the average pore size does not vary by more than about 50% when the average pore size is greater than about 50 nm. The plurality of pores includes at least two pore architectures when the porous filler material is silica. Also described is a method of making the ceramic structure.

Abstract: A mesoporous material is described. It includes a network of interconnected pores within an L3 phase structure. The pores include pore walls of a silicate material functionalized with at least one metal cation—usually a transition metal. Articles which include the mesoporous material are also disclosed, along with methods for making the mesoporous material.

Abstract: Cerium-doped alkaline-earth hafnium oxide scintillator compositions have at least one alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr, Ca, and combinations thereof. The scintillator compositions can be formed into a shape having porosity less than about 0.05 percent for improved transparency. The alkaline earth metal can be partially substituted with divalent and/or trivalent ions other than cerium. Hafnium can be partially substituted with divalent, trivalent, and/or tetravalent ions. The scintillators are characterized by high light output, short decay time, and high radiation stopping power. The scintillators can be used as detector elements in PET systems.

Abstract: Cerium-doped alkaline-earth hafnium oxide scintillator compositions have at least one alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr, Ca, and combinations thereof. The scintillator compositions can be formed into a shape having porosity less than about 0.05 percent for improved transparency. The alkaline earth metal can be partially substituted with divalent and/or trivalent ions other than cerium. Hafnium can be partially substituted with divalent, trivalent, and/or tetravalent ions. The scintillators are characterized by high light output, short decay time, and high radiation stopping power. The scintillators can be used as detector elements in PET systems.

Abstract: Scintillator compositions useful for the detection of high-energy radiation, such as X, &bgr;, or &ggr; radiation, contain alkali and rare earth pyrotungstates. In particular, the pyrotungstate is a double tungstate containing an oxide of an alkali metal selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb, and Cs and an oxide of a rare-earth element selected from the group consisting of Y, Gd, La, and Lu. The scintillators are characterized by high light output, reduced afterglow, short decay time, and high X-ray stopping power.

Abstract: Scintillator compositions useful for the detection of high-energy radiation, such as X, &bgr;, or &ggr; radiation, contain alkali and rare earth pyrotungstates. In particular, the pyrotungstate is a double tungstate containing an oxide of an alkali metal selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb, and Cs and an oxide of a rare-earth element selected from the group consisting of Y, Gd, La, and Lu. The scintillators are characterized by high light output, reduced afterglow, short decay time, and high X-ray stopping power.