Abstract: A vapor grown carbon fiber, each fiber filament of the carbonfiber having a branching degree of at least 0.15 occurrences/?m and a bulk density of 0.025 g/cm3 or less and a producing method of the carbon fiber by spraying a raw material solution containing a carbon source and a transition metallic compound into a reaction zone and subjecting the raw material solution to thermal decomposition, which is characterized in (1) spraying the raw material solution at a spray angle of 3° to 30° and (2) feeding a carrier gas through at least one site other than an inlet through which the raw material solution is sprayed, and a composite material comprising the carbon fiber.

Abstract: An information storage device includes a substrate and a shape memory alloy film established on the substrate. The shape memory alloy film may receive, supply, and store digital information. One or more thermoelectric modules is/are nanoimprinted between the substrate and the shape memory alloy film. The thermoelectric modules(s) is adapted to selectively erase at least some of the digital information from the shape memory alloy film.

Abstract: A thermal preconcentrator unit and a method for concentrating chemical species. The thermal preconcentrator unit includes a thermoelectric device having a temperature controlled surface and a sorbent material configured to concentrate the chemical species. The sorbent material is disposed on and in thermal contact with the temperature controlled surface. The thermoelectric device is configured to cool and heat the temperature controlled surface to promote sorption and desorption of chemical species onto and from the sorbent material. The method provides a temperature controlled surface and exposes the chemical species to a sorbent material disposed on the temperature controlled surface to concentrate the chemical species thereon.

Abstract: A thermal concentrator composition with optimized design and reduced thermal resistance as a means of enhancing heat transfer and energy conversion. The composition comprises a low thermal resistance coating and methods of achieving quantum regions of energy transfer and non-linear design features resulting from cost effective manufacturing methods applicable to the material composition. The thermal concentrator composition is selected principally from the group of surface coatings, preferably comprised of diamond coatings, which are critical to obtaining maximum thermal transfer through classical and such quantum means including tunneling, waves, and phonon conversions.

Abstract: A novel nano thermometer, which can be used for temperature measurement of a wide temperature range, in a micrometer size environment, and a method for producing the same. The nano thermometer is a carbon nanotube filled with a continuous columnar gallium, which enables measurement of environmental temperature by length change of the columnar gallium, and is produced by mixing Ga2O3 powder and carbon powder uniformly, and performing heat treatment for this mixed powder at a temperature range of 1200 to 1400° C. under an inert gas flow.