Abstract: An effective sensor for indicating exposure to a toxic gas includes a non-conductive, inert substrate such as glass or polyethylene, a two-dimensional film of nanoparticles of a conductive metal such as silver or copper on the substrate and an electrode connected to each end of the film. When an electrical current passes through the film and the sensor is exposed to a toxic gas, changes in the electrical resistance of the film provides an indication of the presence of the toxic gas.

Abstract: A method for forming a conductive elastomer by applying or spray coating a conductive paste onto an elastomeric substrate using a reactive top coat to thin the conductive paste prior to spraying onto the substrate. The use of a reactive topcoat to thin the conductive paste avoids the need for hazardous volatile organic components as solvents to thin the conduct paste and improves the bonding of the conductive paste to the elastomeric substrate once the spray coating is cured.

Abstract: A conductor composition being able to easily secure the conductivity at the same level as an Ag bulk at low temperature process, a mounting substrate utilizing the conductor composition and a mounting structure utilizing the conductor composition are provided. In a mounting structure, wherein one or more electrodes (11) of a mounting substrate (10) and one or more surface mounting components (20) are connected through a conductor composition (30), and one or more surface wirings (14) of the mounting substrate (10), one or more inner-layer wirings (13) and one or more via conductors (12) are formed with the conductor composition, the conductor composition contains conductive particles with electrical conductivity, and the conductive particles are composed of low crystallized Ag fillers with the crystal size of 10 ?m or less.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a thin film multi-band antenna, which is formed by PVD-Roll to Roll process and is formed of metal-oxide, conductive polymer, conductive glue or CNT. In another aspect, the present invention discloses a manufacturing method of thin film antenna, comprising preparing gel, followed by coating the gel on a substrate to form a transparent thin film. Thermal process is performed to heat the thin film. The gel includes vinyl oxide and metal compounds, wherein the vinyl oxide includes PEO having In(NO)3.3H2O, In(Ac)3, SnCl2.2H2O, or Sn(C2O4) contained thereof.

Abstract: A composition that may be used to form an electronic circuit element includes metal nanoparticles in a metal nanoparticle solution, at least a low-polarity additive and a solvent. The low-polarity additive is either a styrenated terpene resin or a polyterpene resin. The composition may be used to form conductive features on a substrate by depositing the composition onto a substrate, and heating the deposited composition on the substrate to a temperature from about 80° C. to about 200° C. to form conductive features on the substrate.

Abstract: A composition that may be as an electronic circuit element includes a metal nanoparticle, an adhesion promoter compound and a solvent. The adhesion promoter compound may be a hydrolytic silane with at least one organic functional moiety. A method of forming conductive features on a substrate includes depositing a composition containing metal nanoparticles, an adhesion promoter compound and a solvent onto a substrate, and heating the deposited composition to a temperature from about 100° C. to about 200° C.

Abstract: A process is described for manufacturing gas diffusion electrodes, which process comprises: (a) treating an area of a pre-shrunk porous hydrophobic substrate so as to restrict the slurry deposited in step b) to the said area, preferably by forming a well in the area and/or treating the substrate in the area to render it less hydrophobic, e.g. by plasma treating the area; (b) dispensing a slurry of catalyst onto the said area, (c) removing liquid from the dispensed slurry, (d) treating the dried slurry to remove organic materials and e) cutting the catalyst and the underlying portion of substrate from the rest of the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a leadframe with a structure made of a base metal (105), wherein the structure consists of a chip mount pad (402) and a plurality of lead segments (403). Covering the base metal are, consecutively, a nickel layer (301) on the base metal, and a continuous layer of noble metal, which consists of a gold layer (201) on the nickel layer, and an outermost palladium layer (202) on the gold layer. A semiconductor chip (410) is attached to the chip mount pad and conductive connections (412) span from the chip to the lead segments. Polymeric encapsulation compound (420) covers the chip, the connections, and portions of the lead segments. In QFN devices with straight sides (501), the compound forms a surface (421) coplanar with the outermost palladium layer (202) on the un-encapsulated leadframe surfaces.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium includes forming an electrically conductive intermediate layer over a non-magnetic substrate; forming an aluminum-containing layer on the intermediate layer; forming a plurality of micro pits in the aluminum-containing layer; generating an alumina-containing layer by oxidizing the aluminum-containing layer and simultaneously forming nano holes in the alumina-containing layer originating from the micro pits to expose the intermediate layer; cleaning and drying the nano holes using a sub- and super-critical fluid; and depositing a magnetic metal selectively on the intermediate layer to form a magnetic recording layer having a plurality of magnetic recording elements. The method thus employs alumina nano holes (ANHs) to fill magnetic metal uniformly and selectively even for ANHs with a diameter not larger than 25 nm.

Abstract: A silver-coated material for a movable contact component includes an electrically conductive base member (1) that is comprised of copper or a copper alloy; an underlayer (2) that is comprised of nickel or a nickel alloy, and that has a thickness between 0.01 ?m and 0.5 ?m to coat on the electrically conductive base member; an intermediate layer (3) that is comprised of palladium, or a palladium alloy, or a silver tin alloy, and that has a thickness between 0.01 ?m and 0.5 ?m to coat on the underlayer; and an outermost surface layer (4) that is comprised of silver or a silver alloy, and that is formed on the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A conductive layer containing gold as a main component is formed on the upper surface of an insulating base. A gap is formed on the conductive layer. A plurality of leader electrodes are formed to oppose one another via the gap. An excess voltage protection material layer is formed to cover some parts of the respective leader electrodes and the gap, so as to obtain an anti-static part. This method enables an accurate formation of a narrow gasp. Thus, it is possible to manufacture an anti-static part having a low peak voltage, stable suppression characteristic of electrostatic discharge (ESD), and a high sulfide resistance.

Abstract: High-surface-area carbon nanostructures coated with a smooth and conformal submonolayer-to-multilayer thin metal films and their method of manufacture are described. The preferred manufacturing process involves the initial oxidation of the carbon nanostructures followed by immersion in a solution with the desired pH to create negative surface dipoles. The nanostructures are subsequently immersed in an alkaline solution containing non-noble metal ions which adsorb at surface reaction sites. The metal ions are then reduced via chemical or electrical means and the nanostructures are exposed to a solution containing a salt of one or more noble metals which replace adsorbed non-noble surface metal atoms by galvanic displacement. Subsequent film growth may be performed via the initial quasi-underpotential deposition of a non-noble metal followed by immersion in a solution comprising a more noble metal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making a conformal antenna on a surface by providing a composition comprising a polymer matrix and a plurality of metalized tubules and applying the composition to the surface as two parallel wires connected at their ends to make a closed loop with one of the parallel wires broken in the middle. Also disclosed is an alternate method for making a conformal antenna on a surface by spraying a first material comprising a polymer matrix onto the surface and simultaneously spraying a second material comprising a plurality of metalized tubules and a coagulant onto the surface, wherein the first and second materials mix together during the spraying.

Abstract: A silver-coated material for a movable contact component is provided, in which a conductive base member (1) composed of iron or an iron alloy is coated with an underlayer (2) composed of nickel or a nickel alloy of 0.005 to 0.5 ?m thick, the underlayer (2) is coated with an intermediate layer (3) composed of palladium, a palladium alloy or a silver tin alloy of 0.01 to 0.5 ?m thick and the intermediate layer (3) is coated with an outermost surface layer (4) composed of silver or a silver alloy.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head according to the present invention includes a heat-generating resistor layer, a first electrode layer, an insulating layer extending over the heat-generating resistive layers and the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer that has a first portion which extending through the insulating layer and which is electrically connected to the first electrode layer and also has a second portion which is not in contact with the insulating layer. The second portion has a space or a piece of resin disposed between the insulating layer and the second electrode layer.

Abstract: Precursor compositions in the form of a tape that can be transferred to a substrate and converted to an electronic feature at a relatively low temperature, such as not greater than about 200° C. The tape composition can be disposed on a carrier to form a ribbon structure that is flexible and can be handled in a variety of industrial processes.

Abstract: Disclosed are thick film silver compositions comprised of silver flake and organic medium useful in radio frequency identification devices (RFID). The invention is further directed to method(s) of antenna formation using RFID circuits or other circuits using polymer thick film (PTF).

Abstract: A conductive reflective film which is formed by calcining a substrate on which a composition containing metal nanoparticles is coated, the conductive reflective film including pores which appear on the film contact surface in the substrate side having an average diameter of 100 nm or less, an average depth of 100 nm or less in terms of position of the pores, and a number density of the pores of 30 pores/?m2 or less.

Abstract: In a laminated ceramic electronic component in which, by directly carrying out a plating process on an outer surface of a component main body, an external electrode is formed thereon, an attempt is made to improve the adhesion strength between a plated film forming the external electrode and the component main body. A brazing material containing Ti is applied to at least one portion of a surface on which external electrodes of a component main body is formed, and by baking this brazing material, a metal layer containing Ti is formed. Moreover, the external electrodes are formed by a plating process so as to coat at least the metal layer, and a heating process is then carried out so as to cause counter diffusion between the metal layer and the plated film that is to form the external electrodes.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for depositing a film on one or more substrates include providing a reactor with at least one substrate disposed in the reactor. At least one metal precursor is provided and at least partially deposited on the substrate to form a metal containing film.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a thin film pattern on a substrate includes a bank forming step of forming banks in a predetermined pattern on said substrate, a first material disposing step of disposing first liquid droplets made of a function liquid between said banks to form a first pattern, a second material disposing step of disposing second liquid droplets made of a function liquid on said first pattern, and an intermediate drying step of removing at least a part of a solvent contained in said first liquid droplets between said first material disposing step and said second material disposing step.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrode having an electrochemical catalyst layer is disclosed. The method includes etching a surface of a substrate, followed by immersing the substrate in a solution containing surfactants to form a conditioner layer on the surface of the substrate, and immersing the substrate in a solution containing polymer-capped noble metal nanoclusters dispersed therein to form a polymer-protected electrochemical catalyst layer on the conditioner layer.

Abstract: Precursor compositions in the form of a tape that can be transferred to a substrate and converted to an electronic feature at a relatively low temperature, such as not greater than about 200° C. The tape composition can be disposed on a carrier to form a ribbon structure that is flexible and can be handled in a variety of industrial processes.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube columns each comprising carbon nanotubes can be utilized as electrically conductive contact probes. The columns can be grown, and parameters of a process for growing the columns can be varied while the columns grow to vary mechanical characteristics of the columns along the growth length of the columns. Metal can then be deposited inside and/or on the outside of the columns, which can enhance the electrical conductivity of the columns. The metalized columns can be coupled to terminals of a wiring substrate. Contact tips can be formed at or attached to ends of the columns. The wiring substrate can be combined with other electronic components to form an electrical apparatus in which the carbon nanotube columns can function as contact probes.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor, formed from a pair of magnetically free layers located on opposing sides of a non-magnetic layer, and method for its manufacture, are described. Biasing these free layers to be roughly orthogonal to one another causes them to be magnetostatically coupled in a weak antiferromagnetic mode. This enables the low frequency noise spectra of the two free layers to cancel one another.

Abstract: An electrical contact material includes a surface layer formed of a noble metal or an alloy containing the noble metal as a major constituent. An organic film having heat resistance is formed on a surface of the surface layer, and the organic film is formed of an organic compound having an ether bonding group. Accordingly, the electrical contact material has good corrosion resistance and sliding resistance.

Abstract: The present technology provides apparatuses for the detection of one or more target molecules. The apparatuses include a membrane having a nanochannel configured to allow passage of the target molecule, an electrical detection unit, and an optical detection unit. The apparatuses are capable of detecting the location of one or more target molecules, the time at which the molecules arrive at the location, as well as the identity of the molecules. Also disclosed are methods of making the apparatuses and methods of using the apparatuses to detect target molecules, including single biomolecules.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plated article that has a thin seed layer having uniform thickness, formed by electroless plating and allowing formation of ultrafine wiring, and that avoids the complicated formation of a bilayer of a barrier layer and a catalytic metal layer prior to forming the seed layer. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the plated article. The plated article has an alloy thin film formed on a substrate and having a catalytically active metal (A) for electroless plating and a metal (B) capable of undergoing displacement plating with a metal ion contained in an electroless plating solution, and a metal thin film formed on the alloy thin film by electroless displacement and reduction plating. The alloy thin film of the catalytically active metal (A) and the metal (B) capable of displacement plating has a composition comprising 5 at % to 40 at % of the metal (A).

Abstract: The present invention is related in general to chemical and biological detection and identification and more particularly to systems and methods for the rapid detection and identification of low concentrations of chemicals and biomaterials using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Abstract: Systems and methods include depositing one or more materials on a voltage switchable dielectric material. In certain aspects, a voltage switchable dielectric material is disposed on a conductive backplane. In some embodiments, a voltage switchable dielectric material includes regions having different characteristic voltages associated with deposition thereon. Some embodiments include masking, and may include the use of a removable contact mask. Certain embodiments include electrografting. Some embodiments include an intermediate layer disposed between two layers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of highly active silver deposited on carbon covered alumina catalyst, in controlling the microorganism in water.

Abstract: A lead frame is provided that includes a base metal, a plated layer provided on a part of the surface of the base metal, and a thermal history monitor portion that discolors under heat load applied thereto, provided at another part of the base metal surface. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes an assembly process including mounting a semiconductor chip on the lead frame, performing a wire bonding process thereby connecting the semiconductor chip and the lead frame, and encapsulating with a resin the wire-bonded semiconductor chip and the lead frame, and then performing an appearance check after the assembly process to inspect whether the thermal history monitor portion has discolored under heat load applied through the assembly process, thereby deciding whether an abnormality has emerged through the thermal history.

Abstract: A extreme low resistivity light attenuation anti-reflection coating structure includes a substrate, a coating module, and a composed protection coating layer. The coating module is formed on a front surface of the substrate. The coating module is composed of a plurality of Ti-based oxide coating layers and a plurality of metal coating layers that are alternately stacked with each other. The composed protection coating layer is formed on the coating module.

Abstract: Process of depositing nanoparticles of a metal or of an alloy of said metal, said metal being chosen from the metals from columns VIIIB and IB of the Periodic Table, dispersed on a substrate by chemical vapour deposition (CVD), from one or more precursors, in which the deposition is carried out in the presence of a gas comprising more than 50 vol % of a reactive oxidizing gas. Substrate comprising at least one surface, dispersed on which are nanoparticles made of a metal or of an alloy of metals, for example made of silver or a silver alloy. Use of the substrate to catalyse a chemical reaction, for example an NOx elimination reaction.

Abstract: An electrically conductive separator element and assembly for a fuel cell which comprises an electrically conductive substrate having a monoatomic layer coating overlying the substrate. The monatomic layer coating may comprise an electrically conductive material, for example, a noble metal, desirably Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Ir, Os and preferably Au. Methods of making such separator elements and assemblies are also provided.

Abstract: A material for contact components or battery components, which includes a metal sheet having a surface layer portion containing a first metal element, the metal sheet including a Cr-containing steel plate or a surface-treated steel plate, and at least a part of the first metal element on an outermost surface of the surface layer portion being substituted by a second metal element having a nobler standard electrode potential than the first metal element, the second metal element being deposited on the outermost surface in a state of a particulate metal, oxide, or hydroxide.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the solderability of a metallic surface is disclosed where the metallic surface is plated with a silver plate prior to soldering, which immersion silver plate is treated with an additive comprising a mercapto substituted or thio substituted silane compound. Preferred post treatments comprise 3-mercapto propyl trimethoxysilane and/or 3-oxtanoylthio-1-propyltriethoxy silane.

Abstract: A high shear method for making a conductive coating composition includes (a) adding with high shear agitation particles of one or more white metals having a melting point below 650° C. into a fluid with or without a reducing agent; and (b) adding with agitation silver particles into the fluid containing the particles of metals of step (a), wherein a polymer resin has been combined with the fluid.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for manufacturing thin film heaters includes an automated process for applying at least one layer of ink to a conductive substrate, and forming at least one electrically conductive electrode in electrical communication with the substrate by curing the ink. When an electrical current is applied to the thin film heater, current flowing through the substrate generates heat in the substrate. In alternate embodiments, a flexographic printing process is used to overlay two similar layers of ink on a carbon impregnated substrate and cure the ink to form at least one electrode conductor.

Abstract: A gas sensor including a gas sensor element having a first measurement chamber (16); a first pumping cell (11); a second measurement chamber (18) into which a gas to be measured having a controlled oxygen partial pressure is introduced; and a second pumping cell (13) having a second inner pump electrode (13b) and a second counterpart electrode (13c) pump electrode configured to detect a specific gas component. The second inner pump electrode is made of a material that contains, as a principal ingredient, two kinds of Pt particles having different particle sizes and whose particle size ratio measured by a sedimentation particle-size distribution ranges from 1.75 to 14.2. A mixing ratio between large Pt particles and small Pt particles has a mass ratio of 10/90 to 50/50. A 10 kHz-1 Hz resistance value across the second pumping cell at 600° C. is 150? or less.

Abstract: A method of forming conductive features on a substrate from a solution of metal nanoparticles by providing a depositing solution and liquid depositing the depositing solution onto a substrate. The depositing solution is then heated to a temperature below about 140° C. to anneal the first and second nanoparticles and remove any reaction by-products. The depositing solution may be comprised of a mixture of first metal nanoparticles and second metal nanoparticles or a combination of first metal nanoparticles and a soluble second metal nanopartical precursor. Furthermore, the average diameter of the first metal nanoparticles is about 50 nm to about 100 ?m and the average diameter of the second metal nanoparticles is about 0.5 nm to about 20 nm.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method of fabricating interferometric devices using lift-off processing techniques. Use of lift-off processing in the fabrication of various layers of interferometric modulators, such as an optical stack or a flex layer, advantageously avoids individualized chemistries associated with the plurality of materials associated with each layer thereof. Moreover, use of lift-off processing allows much greater selection in both materials and facilities available for fabrication of interferometric modulators.

Abstract: Provided are a substrate structure and method of forming the same. The method of forming the substrate structure may include etching a substrate to form an etched portion having a vertical surface, forming a diffusion material layer on the whole substrate or in part of the substrate; annealing the diffusion material layer to form a seed layer diffused downward toward the surface of the etched portion, and forming a metal layer on the seed layer. Accordingly, surface characteristics of the etched portion of the substrate may be enhanced by the seed layer, and therefore, a metal layer with improved adhesion and a uniform thickness may be formed on the vertical surface of the etched portion.

Abstract: Provided are silver-containing powders and a method and apparatus for manufacturing the silver-containing particles of high quality, of a small size and narrow size distribution. An aerosol is generated from liquid feed and sent to a furnace, where liquid in droplets in the aerosol is vaporized to permit formation of the desired particles, which are then collected in a particle collector. The aerosol generation involves preparation of a high quality aerosol, with a narrow droplet size distribution, with close control over droplet size and with a high droplet loading suitable for commercial applications.

Abstract: A powder of silver particles having an organic protective film, which has a broad particle size distribution of such that the CV value, as computed according to the following formula (1) in which the particle diameter is determined by TEM (transmission electromicroscopy), is at least 40%. The organic protective film comprises, for example, a fatty acid (oleic acid, etc.) having a molecular weight of from 100 to 1000 and an amine compound having a molecular weight of from 100 to 1000, and at least any one of the fatty acid and the amine compound has at least one unsaturated bond in one molecule.

Abstract: A process for printing conductive metal markings directly on a substrate under an ambient condition, including the steps of synthesizing or providing conductive the ink on a substrate to form conductive metallic nanoparticles into an ink; and printing the ink on a substrate to form conductive metallic markings on the substrate. The printed conductive metallic markings may form wires that behave as resonant RFID antenna applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to microscopic structures and methods of making and using the structures. A method of forming a microscopic structure of a material includes obtaining a solution (310) containing the material, establishing a flowing stream of the solution (310) in a capillary (104), wherein the capillary (104) has an inner dimension that is smaller than about 300 micrometers, and maintaining the stream until a layer is built up along an inner wall of the capillary (104) from material deposited from the flowing stream, thereby forming a microscopic structure.

Abstract: A conductive paste for grid electrodes in solar cells includes a conductive component, glass frit, and resin binder, wherein the conductive component is selected from the group consisting of (i) silver particles and metal particles selected from the group consisting of Pd, Ir, Pt, Ru, Ti, and Co, (ii) alloy particles comprising silver and metal selected from the group consisting of Pd, Ir, Pt, Ru, Ti, and Co, and (iii) silver particles and core-shell particles in which a metal selected from the group consisting of Pd, Ir, Pt, Ru, Ti, and Co is coated on the surface of silver or copper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing an aqueous-based dispersion of metal nanoparticles comprising: (a) providing an aqueous suspension of a metal salt; (b) pre-reducing the metal salt suspension by a water soluble polymer capable of metal reduction to form a metal nuclei; and (c) adding a chemical reducer to form metal nanoparticles in dispersion. The invention further relates to aqueous-based dispersions of metal nanoparticles, and to compositions such as ink comprising such dispersions.

Abstract: Methods for roll-to-roll deposition of optically transparent and high conductivity metallic thin films are disclosed. In general, a method according to the present invention comprises: (1) providing a flexible plastic substrate; (2) depositing a multi-layered conductive metallic film on the flexible plastic substrate by a thin-film deposition technique to form a composite film; and (3) collecting the composite film in continuous rolls. Typically, the thin conductive metallic film is an InCeO—Ag—InCeO film. Typically, the thin-film deposition technique is DC magnetron sputtering. Another aspect of the invention is a composite film produced by a method according to the present invention.