Abstract: In various aspects, provided are solid oxide fuel cells with an operational temperature of less than about 500° C. that can provide, in various embodiments, a power density of greater than about 0.1 W/cm2 and/or have an ionic conductivity of greater than about 0.00001 ohm?1 cm?1. In various embodiments, provided are solid oxide fuel cells comprising a solid oxide electrolyte layer that is both an electronic and ionic conductor. In various aspects, provided are methods of making solid oxide fuel cells. In various aspects, provided are solid oxide materials comprising a polycrystalline ceramic layer less than about 100 nm thick having a ionic conductivity of greater than about 0.00001 ohm?1 cm?1 at a temperature less than about 500° C.

Abstract: A method of forming a catalyst material includes coating agglomerates of catalyst support particles with an ionomer material. After coating the agglomerates of catalyst support particles, a catalyst metal precursor is deposited by chemical infiltration onto peripheral surfaces of the agglomerates of catalyst support particles. The catalyst metal precursor is then chemically reduced to form catalyst metal on the peripheral surfaces of the agglomerates of catalyst support particles.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to device, method, and system for separation and/or detection of biological cells and biomolecules using micro-channels, magnetic interactions, and magnetic tunnel junctions. The micro-channels can be integrated into a microfluidic device that may be part of an integrated circuit. Magnetic interactions used for the separation are created, in part, by magnetic stripes associated with the micro-channels. Detection of biological cells and biomolecules is effectuated by a magnetic tunnel junction sensor that comprises two ferromagnetic layers separated by a thin insulating layer. The magnetic tunnel junction sensor can be integrated into a silicon based device, such a microfluidic device, an integrated circuit, or a microarray to achieve rapid and specific separation and/or detection of biomolecules and cells.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a microelectronic package having a direct contact heat spreader, a package formed according to the method, a die-heat spreader combination formed according to the method, and a system incorporating the package. The method comprises metallizing a backside of a microelectronic die to form a heat spreader body directly contacting and fixed to the backside of the die thus yielding a die-heat spreader combination. The package includes the die-heat spreader combination and a substrate bonded to the die.

Abstract: A system includes an electrochemically functional membrane, and a support structure constructed and arranged so as to support the membrane while leaving within the membrane a chemically active area having an area utilization of at least about 50%. In some embodiments, the support structure may include a plurality of grids that are sized and shaped so that the contact area between the grids and the membrane is reduced to less than about 40%. In some embodiments, the support structure may include aerogels, for example PVA-reinforced CNT aerogels having a conductivity that is increased by pyrolysis. The system may be a gas separation system; a gas production system; a gas purification system; or an energy generation system such as an SOFC.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a microelectronic package having a direct contact heat spreader, a package formed according to the method, a die-heat spreader combination formed according to the method, and a system incorporating the package. The method comprises metallizing a backside of a microelectronic die to form a heat spreader body directly contacting and fixed to the backside of the die thus yielding a die-heat spreader combination. The package includes the die-heat spreader combination and a substrate bonded to the die.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to device, method, and system for separation and/or detection of biological cells and biomolecules using micro-channels, magnetic interactions, and magnetic tunnel junctions. The micro-channels can be integrated into a microfluidic device that may be part of an integrated circuit. Magnetic interactions used for the separation are created, in part, by magnetic stripes associated with the micro-channels. Detection of biological cells and biomolecules is effectuated by a magnetic tunnel junction sensor that comprises two ferromagnetic layers separated by a thin insulating layer. The magnetic tunnel junction sensor can be integrated into a silicon based device, such a microfluidic device, an integrated circuit, or a microarray to achieve rapid and specific separation and/or detection of biomolecules and cells.

Abstract: Three-dimensional stacked substrate arrangements with reliable bonding and inter-substrate protection.

Abstract: Three-dimensional stacked substrate arrangements with reliable bonding and inter-substrate protection.

Abstract: Three-dimensional stacked substrate arrangements with reliable bonding and inter-substrate protection.

Abstract: A method comprises creating an electrode by depositing alternating first and second layers on a substrate, and using the electrode to make a solid oxide fuel cell. The first layer comprises a metal, and the second layer comprises a non-metal, for example a ceramic material. The substrate may be moved between a first region containing the metal and substantially free of the non-metal, and a second region containing the non-metal and substantially free of the metal. The composition of the metal and/or the non-metal may be varied along the thickness of the layers. The deposited layers may be heated. A fuel cell may have a fuel cell electrode that comprises a substrate, and alternating first and second layers deposited on the substrate, where the first layer includes a metal and the second layer includes a non-metal. The fuel cell may be a solid oxide fuel cell.

Abstract: Phase transitions (such as metal-insulator transitions) are induced in oxide structures (such as vanadium oxide thin films) by applying an electric field. The electric field-induced phase transitions are achieved in VO2 structures that scale down to nanometer range. In some embodiments, the optical and/or dielectric properties of the oxide structures are actively tuned by controllably varying the applied electric field. Applying a voltage to a single-phase oxide material spontaneously leads to the formation of insulating and conducting regions within the active oxide material. The dimensions and distributions of such regions can be dynamically tuned by varying the applied electric field and/or the temperature. In this way, oxide materials with dynamically tunable optical and/or dielectric properties are created.

Abstract: Three-dimensional stacked substrate arrangements with reliable bonding and inter-substrate protection.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a first component with a compliant interconnect bonded to a second component with a land pad by a metal to metal bond. In some embodiments, the first component may be a microprocessor die and the second component a package substrate.

Abstract: Phase transition devices may include a functional layer made of functional material that can undergo a change in conductance in response to an external stimulus such as an electric or magnetic or optical field, or heat. The functional material transitions between a conducting state and a non-conducting state, upon application of the external stimulus. A capacitive device may include a functional layer between a top electrode and a bottom electrode, and a dielectric layer between the functional layer and the top electrode. A three terminal phase transition switch may include a functional layer, for example a conductive oxide channel, deposited between a source and a drain, and a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode deposited on the functional layer. An array of phase transition switches and/or capacitive devices may be formed on a substrate, which may be made of inexpensive flexible material.

Abstract: Phase transitions (such as metal-insulator transitions) are induced in oxide structures (such as vanadium oxide thin films) by applying an electric field. The electric field-induced phase transitions are achieved in VO2 structures that scale down to nanometer range. In some embodiments, the optical and/or dielectric properties of the oxide structures are actively tuned by controllably varying the applied electric field. Applying a voltage to a single-phase oxide material spontaneously leads to the formation of insulating and conducting regions within the active oxide material. The dimensions and distributions of such regions can be dynamically tuned by varying the applied electric field and/or the temperature. In this way, oxide materials with dynamically tunable optical and/or dielectric properties are created.

Abstract: Three-dimensional stacked substrate arrangements with reliable bonding and inter-substrate protection.

Abstract: Thin films of vanadium oxide having exceptionally high metal-insulator transition properties are synthesized by RF sputtering. An Al2O3 substrate is placed in a sputtering chamber and heated to a temperature up to about 550 degrees Celsius. Ar and O2 gases are introduced into the sputtering chamber at the flow values of about 92.2 sccm and about 7.8 sccm respectively. A voltage is applied to create a plasma in the chamber. A sputtering gun with vanadium target material is ignited and kept at a power of about 250 W. The phase transition parameters of vanadium dioxide thin films, synthesized by RF sputtering, are modulated by exposing the vanadium dioxide thin film to UV (ultraviolet) radiation so as to induce a change in oxygen incorporation of the vanadium dioxide thin film.

Abstract: In various aspects, provided are substantially single phase ceramic membranes, gas separation devices based thereon, and methods of making the membranes. In various embodiments, the membranes and devices can be used for hydrogen production, such as in a fuel-cell.

Abstract: In various aspects, provided are methods for: (a) improving oxygen incorporation in a solid oxide layer less than about 1000 nm thick; (b) extending the on-set of mixed conduction in a solid oxide layer less than about 1000 nm thick; (c) modulating the electrical conductivity of oxide ion conducting layer less than about 1000 nm thick; (d) decreasing the conductivity of an oxide ion conducting layer less than about 1000 nm thick; (e) improving the performance of a solid oxide fuel cell; and (f) improving the performance of a gas separation device. In various embodiments, the methods comprise exposing oxygen to light having one or more wavelengths in the range between about 100 nm to about 365 nm and contacting the layer with the oxygen so exposed. In various embodiments, the methods provide the potential for tailoring the surface catalytic activity of oxygen-ion and mixed conductors used in various solid-state devices.