Abstract:
Improved nanotube devices and systems/methods for fabrication thereof are provided. The present disclosure provides systems/methods for depositing controlled numbers of nanotubes with specific properties at predefined locations for the fabrication of nanotube devices. The nanotube devices may be utilized in a range of applications. A bio-fuel cell system that does not require a proton exchange membrane separator and does not need a mediator to transfer charge is provided. This exemplary bio-fuel cell uses enzyme functionalized SWNTs for the anode/cathode. The absence of a membrane in the bio-fuel cell configuration opens up the possibility of other configurations that would otherwise be unfeasible. This includes a bio-fuel cell where the anode/cathode are on the same substrate. Since the electrodes can share the same substrate, the configuration may be integrated with a circuit device on the same substrate. An IC and its power source may be fabricated on the same silicon wafer.
Abstract:
A corrosion resistant coated fuel cell plate and method of making the same are embodied in a metal plate provided with a multilayered conductive coating and then with an overcoat which fills in fine scale porosities in the coating. In one preferred embodiment, the overcoating is amorphous graphite applied through a deposition process. In another preferred embodiment, overcoating is a thin layer of oxide created by chemical anodization process.
Abstract:
An active coating system capable of collecting, analyzing, managing and adapting to data and/or its environment in real time. An exemplary embodiment of our inventive active coating system is corrosion resistant and includes a flexible sensor layer, a switch layer and a visual display layer. Operationally, the flexible sensor layer senses particular environmental conditions and the visual display layer provides visual indication of the condition(s) sensed.
Abstract:
Actuators are described that operate as a result of double-layer charge injection in electrodes having very high gravimetric surface areas and gravimetric capacitances. The actuator output of the actuators may be a mechanical displacement that can be used to accomplish mechanical work. As a result of the non-faradaic process and the actuator materials utilized, such as carbon nanotubes, the actuators have improved work capacity, power density, cycle life, and force generation capabilities. Other benefits include low voltage operation and high temperature performance. The actuators also convert a mechanical energy input to an electrical energy output. The actuators may be used to control either thermal, electrical or fluid transport or cause either the switching, phase shift, or attenuation of electromagnetic radiation.
Abstract:
A cross-connect for a multi-ring, multi-channel telecommunications network, especially for a wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) optical network. Each of the interconnected rings is self-healing by provision of a redundant counter-rotating ring or excess capacity on pairs of counter-rotating rings. Because an interconnect between self-healing rings does not need to connect working to protection fibers, or similarly redundant fibers, the complexity of the interconnect can be substantially reduced. For several important architectures, the interconnect can be decomposed into one or two 3x3 interconnects. Further, a wide-sense non-blocking 3x3 interconnect can be advantageously implemented as four 2x2 switches, which may be a basic building block of optical switches. A novel algorithm is available to add new paths through such a 3x3 interconnect. The interconnect can be decomposed into one or two 4x4 interconnects when another pair of add/drop lines are added. Such an architecture provides full connectivity between user nodes connected to the add/drop lines and user nodes attached to the rings.
Abstract:
A boron filled hybrid nanotube and a method for producing and rendering boron filled hybrid nanotubes suitable for applications are provided. A mixture of a boron containing nanowire producing compound and catalysts is prepared and ground for a predetermined time period. The ground mixture is subjected to a vapor deposition process including passing an inert gas over the ground mixture after adding a nanotube producing compound to the ground mixture or after passing a reactant gas on the ground mixture in a reactor at a configurable reaction temperature and a configurable reaction pressure for a configurable reaction time to produce the boron filled hybrid nanotubes with enhanced mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. Each boron filled hybrid nanotube includes one or more boron based nanowires embedded within one or more single walled or multi-walled nanotubes. The boron filled hybrid nanotubes are further purified and functionalized using acids, and/or bases, and/or surfactants.
Abstract:
A nanotube device and a method of depositing nanotubes for device fabrication are disclosed. The method relates to electrophoretic deposition of nanotubes, and allows a control of the number of deposited nanotubes and positioning within a defined region.
Abstract:
A novel microwave-assisted process is described for the rapid removal of catalytic metal and non-desirable carbon impurities in fullerene, single wall, and multiple wall carbon nanotube preparations. The purification process is carried out at various programmed pressures, power levels and reaction times in a suspension of the nanocarbon moieties in the presence of strong acids (for example, a mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid), in weak acids (for example, acetic acid) and in the presence of chelating agents (for example, EDTA—ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid). In one embodiment, high metal removal efficiency of 70 to 90% is observed.
Abstract:
A nanotube device and a method of depositing nanotubes for device fabrication are disclosed. The method relates to electrophoretic deposition of nanotubes, and allows a control of the number of deposited nanotubes and positioning within a defined region.