Abstract: A superhydrophobic appliance is an elastomeric material with a surface having a multiplicity of re-entrant features. The elastomeric material can be a polydimethylsiloxane network. The superhydrophobic appliance can be formed by infusing a portion of a polydimethylsiloxane polymeric precursor partially into the pores of a porous membrane, curing to the polymeric network, and separating the membrane from the appliance to expose the superhydrophobic surface. The superhydrophobic surface can be subsequently modified to form a fluorinated surface that is oleophobic or superoleophobic in addition to being superhydrophobic.

Abstract: A paint that imparts a superhydrophobic surface on an object is a suspension of hydrophobic particles in a polymeric binder and a plasticizer in a solvent or mixed solvent. The particles are a metal oxide that is surface functionalized with a fluorinated alkyl silane or an alkyl silane. The binder is a mixture of PDVF and PMMA in a ratio of 3:1 to 10:1. The plasticizer is a mixture of triethylphosphate and perfluoro(butyltetrahydrofuran) or other perfluorinated hydrocarbon. Surfaces coated using this paint display contact angles in excess of 150° and resist abrasion.

Abstract: A superhydrophobic ceramic coating that is transparent and durable includes a dispersion of a multiplicity of silica nanoparticles stacked to form a topography that is rough that is infused with and conformally coated with a sol-gel glass matrix that has a fluoroalkyl silane or an alkyl silane monolayer on the surface of the coating. The silica nanoparticles do not scatter light to a large extent as they are sufficiently small and free of aggregation. The sol-gel glass is formed from a trialkoxysilane precursor and applied to the stacked silica nanoparticles to retain the rough topography of the deposited nanoparticles.

Abstract: A superhydrophobic and oleophobic thermoplastic article has a surface with a multiplicity of re-entrant structures extending from the article's surface where a conformal coating comprising a perfluoroalkane covers at least the distal portion of the re-entrant structures. The thermoplastic article can be prepared by contacting a heated thermoplastic and a mold with voids with a sufficient pressure to cause the thermoplastic to extend into the voids to form features that upon removal of the mold results in re-entrant structures. The surface having the re-entrant structures is conformally coated with a compound comprising a perfluoroalkane. Alternately microparticles or nanoparticles and a resin can be deposited on substrate and cured to adhere or mechanically fix the particles where a portion thereof forms re-entrant structures.

Abstract: An insect trap that is effective for Cimex I. comprises an area of rigid pillars and/or hooks where these features extend from a base. The density of the features can vary from being sufficient to inhibit the trajectory of an insect through the features or to reside and travel on the top of the features. The features can be of a thickness of less than or about that of the insect's legs and the height of the features is at least the height of the insect. The features can be of a height of about the cross-section of an insect's leg. The features can be of a thickness of four microns or less and provide a plastron surface such that the surface can be employed in conjunction with a holding chamber and oriented where a portion of the surface is vertical or inverted such that the insect's foot-tip cannot adhere to or be supported by the surface.

Abstract: A self-cleaning object comprises a substrate with a surface of a first material that has a high dielectric constant overlaid with an ultrathin layer of a second material with a lower dielectric constant than the first material. This self-cleaning object repels liquids or particulate solids that have a lower dielectric constant than the dielectric constant of the ultrathin layer. Another self-cleaning object comprises a substrate with a surface of a first material that has a very low dielectric constant overlaid with an ultrathin layer of a second material with a low dielectric constant that is higher than the first material. This self-cleaning object attracts gases and repels liquids or particulate solids.

Abstract: A sol to form an inorganic-organic hybrid coating having a thick highly transparent hard coating is described. The hybrid coating is formed from a combined aqueous sol with least one hydrolyzable silane and at least one hydrolyzable metal oxide precursor where the only organic solvents present are those liberated upon hydrolysis of the silanes and metal oxide precursors. In one embodiment an inorganic-organic hybrid coating is formed by combination of a sol, prepared by the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane and ?-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane with an excess of water, and a sol, prepared by the hydrolysis of titanium tetrabutoxide and ?-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane with a deficiency of water. A plastic substrate can be coated with the combined sol and the combined sol gelled to a thickness of at least 5 ?m with heating to less than 150° C.

Abstract: A fibrous properties-switching article comprises a mat consisting of fibers having a fiber diameter of 2 microns or less. The fibers comprise a polymer, copolymer, polymer blend, or polymer network, wherein the fibers have a diameter of 2 gm or less. The surface and/or bulk property of the mat changes over a range of temperatures, wherein the polymer, copolymer, polymer blend, or polymer network undergoes a structural change over the range of temperatures. The fiber mat is formed by electrospinning. In an exemplary embodiment, a blend of polystyrene and poly((N-isopropyl acrylamide) (b1-PS/PNIPA) in dimethylformamide (DMF) is electrospun to form a mat consisting of fibers with a diameter less than 2 ?m that shows a transition from a superhydrophilic surface to a nearly superhydrophobic surface over a temperature range from 30° C. to 45° C.

Abstract: A sol to form an inorganic-organic hybrid coating having a thick highly transparent hard coating is described. The hybrid coating is formed from a combined aqueous sol with least one hydrolyzable silane and at least one hydrolyzable metal oxide precursor where the only organic solvents present are those liberated upon hydrolysis of the silanes and metal oxide precursors. In one embodiment an inorganic-organic hybrid coating is formed by combination of a sol, prepared by the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane and ?-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane with an excess of water, and a sol, prepared by the hydrolysis of titanium tetrabutoxide and ?-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane with a deficiency of water. A plastic substrate can be coated with the combined sol and the combined sol gelled to a thickness of at least 5 ?m with heating to less than 150° C.

Abstract: A sol to form an inorganic-organic hybrid coating having a thick highly transparent hard coating is described. The hybrid coating is formed from a combined aqueous sol with least one hydrolyzable silane and at least one hydrolyzable metal oxide precursor where the only organic solvents present are those liberated upon hydrolysis of the silanes and metal oxide precursors. In one embodiment an inorganic-organic hybrid coating is formed by combination of a sol, prepared by the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane and ?-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane with an excess of water, and a sol, prepared by the hydrolysis of titanium tetrabutoxide and ?-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane with a deficiency of water. A plastic substrate can be coated with the combined sol and the combined sol gelled to a thickness of at least 5 ?m with heating to less than 150° C.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention there are devices and processes for making ceramic nanofiber mats and ceramic filters for use in high temperature and in corrosive environments. The process for forming a ceramic filter can include electrospinning a preceramic polymer solution into a preceramic polymer fiber having a diameter from about 10 nm to about 1 micron and forming a preceramic polymer fiber web from the preceramic polymer fiber onto a collector. The process can also include pyrolyzing the preceramic polymer fiber web to form a ceramic nanofiber mat having a diameter less than the diameter of the preceramic polymer fiber, the ceramic nanofiber mat comprising one or more of an oxide ceramic and a non-oxide ceramic such that the ceramic fiber mat can withstand temperature greater than about 1000 ° C.

Abstract: A thermoplastic article has a surface with a multiplicity of re-entrant structures extending from the article's surface where a conformal coating comprising a perfluoroalkane covers at least the distal portion of the re-entrant structures to render the article superhydrophobic and oleophobic. A method to prepare the article having a superhydrophobic and oleophobic surface comprises contacting a heated thermoplastic and a mold with voids having at least one dimension of 100 nm to 10 ?m with a sufficient pressure to cause the thermoplastic to extend into the voids to form features that upon removal of the mold from the thermoplastic article results in re-entrant structures having at least one dimension of 100 nm to 5 ?m. The surface having the re-entrant structures is conformally coated with a compound comprising a perfluoroalkane.

Abstract: Water structure breakers are included with dispersants in high solids aqueous slurries to stabilize the aqueous solution structure over a long period of time. The incorporation of a dispersant and a water structure breaker effectively inhibits the viscosity increase typically associated with high solid slurries, such as ground calcium carbonate (GCC) slurries, The inclusion of a small amount of water structure breaker inhibits change in the solution structure over that of a typical slurry lacking the water structure breaker, allowing longer storage and distribution periods for such slurries.

Abstract: A sol to form an inorganic-organic hybrid coating having a thick highly transparent hard coating is described. The hybrid coating is formed from a combined aqueous sol with least one hydrolyzable silane and at least one hydrolyzable metal oxide precursor where the only organic solvents present are those liberated upon hydrolysis of the silanes and metal oxide precursors. In one embodiment an inorganic-organic hybrid coating is formed by combination of a sol, prepared by the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane and ?-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane with an excess of water, and a sol, prepared by the hydrolysis of titanium tetrabutoxide and ?-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane with a deficiency of water. A plastic substrate can be coated with the combined sol and the combined sol gelled to a thickness of at least 5 ?m with heating to less than 150° C.

Abstract: A composite hybrid coating having a thick highly transparent hard coating with excellent barrier properties is described. The hybrid coating is the gelled dispersion of nanoparticles in a sol with least one hydrolyzable silane and at least one hydrolyzable metal oxide precursor. In one embodiment a composite hybrid coating is formed by the curing of a dispersion formed by the addition of a suspension of boehmite nanoplatelets in a sol prepared by the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane, ?-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and titanium tetrabutoxide in ethanol. A plastic substrate can be coated with the dispersion and the dispersion gelled to a thickness of at least 5 ?m with heating to less than 150° C.

Abstract: Ultralyophobe interfaces that are substantially inert to contaminants, thereby resulting in surfaces that are hydrophobic and/or lyophobic. The substrates include a substrate surface and have a bonding layer and a plurality of flexible fibers bound to the bonding layer. The flexible fibers have an elastic modulus and an aspect ratio, wherein as the elastic modulus of the fiber increases, the aspect ratio increases such that the flexible fibers bend upon contact of a liquid surface.

Abstract: The present invention concerns metal oxide semiconductor nanoparticles with free radical scavenging activity, compositions comprising such nanoparticles, methods for their use, and methods for their production. In one aspect, the invention concerns a method for enhancing the survival or viability of transplanted cells, comprising administering an effective amount of metal oxide semiconductor nanoparticles to a target anatomical site of a subject before, during, or after administration of transplant cells to the subject. Preferably, the metal oxide nanoparticle is a cerium oxide (ceria) nanoparticle.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention there are devices and processes for making ceramic nanofiber mats and ceramic filters for use in high temperature and in corrosive environments. The process for forming a ceramic filter can include electrospinning a preceramic polymer solution into a preceramic polymer fiber having a diameter from about 10 nm to about 1 micron and forming a preceramic polymer fiber web from the preceramic polymer fiber onto a collector. The process can also include pyrolyzing the preceramic polymer fiber web to form a ceramic nanofiber mat having a diameter less than the diameter of the preceramic polymer fiber, the ceramic nanofiber mat comprising one or more of an oxide ceramic and a non-oxide ceramic such that the ceramic fiber mat can withstand temperature greater than about 1000° C.

Abstract: A photocatalyst nanocomposite which can be used to destroying biological agents includes a carbon nanotube core, and a photocatalyst coating layer covalently or ionically bound to a surface of the nanotube core. The coating layer has a nanoscale thickness. A method of forming photocatalytic nanocomposites includes the steps of providing a plurality of dispersed carbon nanotubes, chemically oxidizing the nanotubes under conditions to produce surface functionalized nanotubes to provide C and O including groups thereon which form ionic or covalent bonds to metal oxides, and processing a metal oxide photocatalyst sol-gel precursor in the presence of the nanotubes, wherein a nanoscale metal oxide photocatalyst layer becomes covalently or ionically bound to the nanotubes.