Abstract: Chips and metallic nanostructure biosensors comprising a dielectric substrate and discontinuous and disordered metallic nanostructures of flat island shapes thereon are disclosed herein. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to catalysts for electrochemical water splitting, in particular catalysts useful for oxygen evolution at an anode in electrochemical water splitting. The disclosed catalysts compositions comprise a catalyst core component, a shell component, and optionally a catalyst outer component; wherein the catalyst core component comprises a composition having the chemical formula MxPy; where M is a transition metal; wherein x is a number from about 1 to about 20; wherein y is a number from about 1 to about 20; wherein the shell component comprises a conducting polymer; and wherein the catalyst outer component is a transition metal that is not the same as the transition metal M. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Disclose herein is a portable platform based on a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) is investigated for the orthogonal SAW sensor, integrating signal synthesis, gain control, phase/amplitude measurement, and data processing in a small, portable electronic system. The disclosed platform allows for simultaneous removal of non-specific binding proteins, and mixing, as well as improved incubation time.

Abstract: Perovskite oxides and catalysts containing the perovskite oxides are provided for the thermochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide. The perovskite oxides can exhibit large carbon monoxide production rates and/or low carbon monoxide production onset temperatures as compared to existing materials. Reactors are provided containing the perovskite oxides and catalysts, as well as methods of use thereof for the thermochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide.

Abstract: Disclose herein is a portable platform based on a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) is investigated for the orthogonal SAW sensor, integrating signal synthesis, gain control, phase/amplitude measurement, and data processing in a small, portable electronic system. The disclosed platform allows for simultaneous removal of non-specific binding proteins, and mixing, as well as improved incubation time.

Abstract: Disclose herein is a portable platform based on a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) is investigated for the orthogonal SAW sensor, integrating signal synthesis, gain control, phase/amplitude measurement, and data processing in a small, portable electronic system. The disclosed platform allows for simultaneous removal of non-specific binding proteins, and mixing, as well as improved incubation time.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to catalysts for electrochemical water splitting, in particular catalysts useful for oxygen evolution at an anode in electrochemical water splitting. The disclosed catalysts compositions comprise a catalyst core component, a shell component, and optionally a catalyst outer component; wherein the catalyst core component comprises a composition having the chemical formula MxPy; where M is a transition metal; wherein x is a number from about 1 to about 20; wherein y is a number from about 1 to about 20; wherein the shell component comprises a conducting polymer; and wherein the catalyst outer component is a transition metal that is not the same as the transition metal M. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Chips and metallic nanostructure biosensors comprising a dielectric substrate and discontinuous and disordered metallic nanostructures of flat island shapes thereon are disclosed herein. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: Perovskite oxides and catalysts containing the perovskite oxides are provided for the thermochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide. The perovskite oxides can exhibit large carbon monoxide production rates and/or low carbon monoxide production onset temperatures as compared to existing materials. Reactors are provided containing the perovskite oxides and catalysts, as well as methods of use thereof for the thermochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems containing a solar reactor having a mixture of plasmonic material and oxygen-conducting material that can convert carbon dioxide into a chemical feedstock.

Abstract: Metal enhanced luminescence using alloy nanoparticles offers additional degrees of freedom for tuning their optical properties by altering atomic composition and atomic arrangement when compared to pure metal nanoparticles such as gold and silver. Surface plasmon resonance wavelengths of silver-copper nanoparticles were tuned in the visible and near infrared region by changing annealing temperature. Strong emission enhancement of luminophores at the vicinity of the Ag—Cu nanoparticles was shown when the SPR spectrum was tuned to produce maximum spectral overlap. As the SPR spectrum can be easily tailored, this platform can be effectively used to enhance luminescence of different luminophores.

Abstract: In one embodiment, carbon dioxide is converted into a chemical feedstock by providing a mixture of plasmonic material and oxygen-conducting material, exposing the mixture to sunlight so that solar energy is absorbed by the plasmonic material which then heats the oxygen-conducting material so that oxygen vacancies are generated, passing carbon dioxide through the mixture, and the oxygen-conducting material removing oxygen atoms from the carbon dioxide to form carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thickness shear mode (TSM) gas and organic vapor sensor having a visco-elastic polymer coating and a fundamental frequency greater than 20 MHz. The method begins by providing a piezoelectric crystal and milling a central region of the crystal. Milling the crystal creates a central oscillating region of reduced thickness surrounded by a thicker outer region. Two electrodes are then deposited in the oscillating region of the crystal—one on each side of the crystal. The oscillating region on both sides of the crystal and the electrodes are then coated with a polymer coating.

Abstract: A ring electrode design that produces a uniform mass sensitivity distribution across a TSM device is presented. A new technique and apparatus to measure this mass sensitivity distribution is also presented. Novel electrode geometries on thickness shear mode (TSM) quartz resonators achieve radial uniformity of mass sensitivity, how receptive the device is to mass loadings, and high frequency stability across the active sensing area of the sensor device. The device allows for absolute mass measurement down to the nanogram level. Fabricated devices utilizing model predictions were tested using this apparatus, and good agreement between theory and experiment is found.

Abstract: Shear-horizontal surface acoustic wave sensors with micro-cavities in the delay paths were studied using finite element methods. The microcavity devices are SAW delay path devices that have the delay path etched with square patterns at various wavelength dimensions and varying depths to increase the dispersion and bulk to surface wave conversion. Additionally the microcavities are filed with polystyrene to act as an inhomogeneous waveguide for further entrapment of wave energy near the device surface. The effects of micro-cavities and grooves on SAW propagation show significantly greater energy transmission than the other structures presented traditional sensors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hexagonal, delay line surface acoustic wave device fabricated on a a piezoelectric substrate, such as lithium tantalate, coated with an insulating waveguide on to which a sensing film, such as an anti-human Interleukin-6 biosensor film, is physically absorbed. The acoustic waves that propagate along the delay lines of the SAW device provide for detection of biological species along one delay line and simultaneously provide for removal of non-specifically bound protein along the remaining delay lines.

Abstract: A thickness shear mode (TSM) sensor having a visco-elastic polymer coating and a fundamental frequency greater than 20 MHz useful for organic vapor or gas detection. The TSM quartz resonators at a fundamental frequency of 96 MHz were evaluated for their performance in organic vapor sensing applications and results were compared with the performance of 10 and 20 MHz resonators. These devices were produced by chemical milling of AT-cut quartz. Seven test organic vapors were utilized at concentrations ranging from 0.2 volume percent to 13.7 volume percent in the vapor phase. In all cases, the rubbery polymer polyisobutylene was used as a sensing layer. Detailed results for various sensor parameters such as sensitivity, baseline noise and drift, limit of detection, response and recovery times, dynamic range, and repeatability for the 96 MHz device were compared with those for 10 and 20 MHz devices. The test case of benzene/polyisobutylene was chosen to make these detailed comparisons.

Abstract: A thickness shear mode (TSM) sensor having a visco-elastic polymer coating and a fundamental frequency greater than 20 MHz useful for organic vapor or gas detection. The TSM quartz resonators at a fundamental frequency of 96 MHz were evaluated for their performance in organic vapor sensing applications and results were compared with the performance of 10 and 20 MHz resonators. These devices were produced by chemical milling of AT-cut quartz. Seven test organic vapors were utilized at concentrations ranging from 0.2 volume percent to 13.7 volume percent in the vapor phase. In all cases, the rubbery polymer polyisobutylene was used as a sensing layer. Detailed results for various sensor parameters such as sensitivity, baseline noise and drift, limit of detection, response and recovery times, dynamic range, and repeatability for the 96 MHz device were compared with those for 10 and 20 MHz devices. The test case of benzene/polyisobutylene was chosen to make these detailed comparisons.

Abstract: The present invention provides a delay line SAW device fabricated on a lithium niobate substrate and coated with a bilayer of nanocrystalline or other nanomaterials such as nanoparticles or nanowires of palladiumn and metal free pthalocyanine which will respond to hydrogen gas in near real time, at low (room) temperature, without being affected by CO, O2, CH4 and other gases, in air ambient or controlled ambient, providing sensitivity to low ppm levels.