Abstract:
A reactive-adsorptive protective material having an activated carbon adsorbent for adsorbing chemical impurities, wherein nanoparticular entities are loaded into and onto a surface of said activated carbon adsorbent to further impart chemically reactive and biocidal properties onto the activated carbon for providing protection against chemical and biological agents in the atmosphere. Advantageously, a superior reactive-adsorptive material is provided having the ability to kill microorganisms in addition to the ability to neutralize and decompose chemical substances, while at the same time not diminishing the adsorptive/reactive capabilities and effectiveness of either the substrate carbon or the loaded nanoparticular entities used.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a method and apparatus (7) for the analysis of pharmaceutical specimens by nondestructively obtaining the molecular data for a chemical component on the surface or within the matrix of a pharmaceutical specimen (3).
Abstract:
A force scanning probe microscope, i.e. an FSPM (100) and associated method of making force measurements on a sample (116) includes a piezoelectric scanner (118) have a surface that supports sample (116) so as to move the sample (116) in three orthogonal directions. FSPM (100) also includes a displacement sensor (162) that measures movement of the sample (116) in a direction orthogonal to the surface and generates a corresponding position signal so as to provide closed loop position feedback. In addition, a probe (108) is fixed relative to the piezoelectric scanner (118), while a deflection detection apparatus (123) is employed to sense deflection of probe (108). FSPM also includes a controller (128) that generates a scanner drive signal based on the position signal, and is adapted to operate according to a user-defined input that can change a force curve measurement parameter during data acquisition.
Abstract:
A catalyst system and method for making carbon fibrils is provided which comprises a catalytic amount of an inorganic catalyst comprising nickel and one of the following substances selected from the group consisting of chromium; chromium and iron; chromium and molybdenum; chromium, molybdenum, and iron; aluminum; yttrium and iron; yttrium, iron and aluminum; zinc; copper; yttrium; ytrrium and chromium; and yttrium, chromium and zinc. In a further aspect of the invention, a catalyst system and method is provided for making carbon fibrils which comprises a catalytic amount of an inorganic catalyst comprising colbalt and one of the following substances selected from the group consisting of chromium; aluminum; zinc; copper; copper and zinc; copper, zinc, and chromium; copper and iron; copper, iron, and aluminum; copper and nickel; and yttrium, nickel and copper.
Abstract:
An apparatus for classifying polydisperse aerosols includes aerosol and sheath gas conduits for conducting a sample aerosol and a sheath gas toward a merger area. At the merger area the sheath gas and about ten percent of the sample aerosol merge, then travel through a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) and along a tubular electrode of the DMA. Selected particles, i.e. particles having electrical mobilities within a narrow range, pass through a collection aperture of the electrode. The DMA output, an aerosol consisting of the selected particles, is provided to a condensation particle counter or other device for determining the aerosol concentration. The remainder of the sample aerosol is conducted away from the merger area along a bypass flow conduit. The bypass flow and an improved aerodynamic design provide for a slit at the merger area that is sufficiently narrow to minimize unwanted electric field penetration at the slit and DMA entrance. An annular flow restriction feature in the bypass conduit promotes and maintains laminar, uniform-velocity flow near the slit. The collection aperture is located medially along the tubular electrode, to prevent electrical field fringing near the aperture.
Abstract:
An atomic force microscope and method of operation are provided and include a force sensing probe tip (48) adapted to be brought into close proximity with a sample surface (52), a scanning element (50) for generating relative movement between the probe tip and the sample surface, a device (62) for generating a magnetic field to cause deflection of the probe tip, a driver (73) for the device, the driver including a source of alternating current (66) and a source of a second current (74) of a controlled magnitude, and a detector (60) for detecting the position of the probe tip. In a preferred mode of operation, two signals, one of alternating current and the other of a fixed, but variable, current, are applied to cause a displacement of the time-average position of the probe tip.
Abstract:
A platinum/rhodium resistance thermal probe is used as an active device which acts both as a highly localized heat source and as a detector to perform localized differential calorimetry, by thermally inducing and detecting events such as glass transitions, meltings, recystallizations and thermal decomposition within volumes of material estimated at a few mu m . Furthermore, the probe is used to image variations in thermal conductivity and diffusivity, to perform depth profiling and sub-surface imaging. The maximum depth of the sample that is imaged is controlled by generating and detecting evanescent temperature waves in the sample.
Abstract:
An installation for the study of the surface of samples in a vacuum or controlled atmosphere, of the type comprising a main chamber in which is placed a microscopy stage support for at least one device, known as SXM, for microscopy, spectroscopy or engraving a sample surface, according to a process for carrying out the scanning of said surface using an electrically or light conducting microprobe, said installation being characterized in that the stage support can be disconnected from the main chamber and rotated around a central axis in order for an assembly of SXM devices arranged on the periphery of said stage to be used. The invention is applicable, in particular, to electron scanning tunnelling microscopy and/or spectroscopy, especially in ultrahigh vacuums, optic scanning tunnelling microscopy and/or spectroscopy, or to the engraving of nanometric structures using microlithographic optic and/or electronic processes.
Abstract:
A scanning probe microscope's probe tip dimensions as they exist or existed for a certain data or measurement are inferred based on probe activity taking place since a probe characterization procedure was performed. The inferred probe tip dimensions can be used to correct nanoscale measurements taken by the probe to account for changes in the probe's geometry such as wear.
Abstract:
A reactive and adsorptive (i.e., multi -functional protective) textile and methods for constructing and using same which possess at least chemically reactive and biocidal properties. Nanoparticles from different classes such as metal oxides, metal hydroxides, metal hydrates and POMs are incorporated into elements which can be utilized in a wide variety of protective materials. The nanoparticles may be treated to reduce water solubility or combined with halogens, alkali metals or secondary metal oxides to specifically engineer the nanoparticle to address a particular chemical or biocidal threat. In one aspect, a protective spatially-distributed biocidal interface is provided comprising a textile having interior structures, wherein protective nanoparticles bonded to said interior structures such that an article or portions of an article which are maintained in proximity to the textile are permitted to safely pass through a contaminated environment without dispersing the nanoparticles from protective proximity to the article.