A method of making a nanostructured palladium thin film electrode is described. The method involves contacting a substrate with an aerosol comprising a solvent and a Pd(II) compound. The substrate is heated, and no hydrogen gas or an additional reducing agent is required to reduce the Pd(II) to form the deposited thin film. The nanostructured palladium thin film electrode is capable of detecting compounds such as hydrazine in an aqueous sample with a 10 nM limit of detection.

A method of making a nanostructured palladium thin film electrode is described. The method involves contacting a substrate with an aerosol comprising a solvent and a Pd(II) compound. The substrate is heated, and no hydrogen gas or an additional reducing agent is required to reduce the Pd(II) to form the deposited thin film. The nanostructured palladium thin film electrode is capable of detecting compounds such as hydrazine in an aqueous sample with a 10 nM limit of detection.

Among others, the present invention provides piezo-electric micro-devices for detecting at the microscopic level an electric, magnetic, electromagnetic, thermal, optical, acoustical, biological, chemical, physical, bio-chemical, bio-physical, physical-chemical, bio-physical-chemical, bio-mechanical, bio-electro-mechanical, electro-mechanical, or mechanical property of the biologic subject.

Among others, the present invention provides piezo-electric micro-devices for detecting at the microscopic level an electric, magnetic, electromagnetic, thermal, optical, acoustical, biological, chemical, physical, bio-chemical, bio-physical, physical-chemical, bio-physical-chemical, bio-mechanical, bio-electro-mechanical, electro-mechanical, or mechanical property of the biologic subject.

Methods and apparatus for examining a material are provided. One example method generally includes disposing the material in a dielectric contrast analysis structure, wherein the dielectric contrast analysis structure comprises a bulk dielectric substance and a plurality of receptacles in the bulk dielectric substance, wherein the material is disposed in one or more of the plurality of receptacles; exposing the dielectric contrast analysis structure to incident electromagnetic radiation; detecting resultant radiation from the exposed dielectric contrast analysis structure; and analyzing the detected resultant radiation to estimate at least one of a phase fraction and a phase distribution in the material. One example system generally includes an electromagnetic radiation source; a dielectric contrast analysis structure comprising a bulk dielectric substance and a plurality of receptacles in the bulk dielectric substance for receiving the material; and an electromagnetic radiation detector, wherein the analysis structure is between the radiation source and the detector.

Methods and apparatus for examining a material are provided. One example method generally includes disposing the material in a dielectric contrast analysis structure, wherein the dielectric contrast analysis structure comprises a bulk dielectric substance and a plurality of receptacles in the bulk dielectric substance, wherein the material is disposed in one or more of the plurality of receptacles; exposing the dielectric contrast analysis structure to incident electromagnetic radiation; detecting resultant radiation from the exposed dielectric contrast analysis structure; and analyzing the detected resultant radiation to estimate at least one of a phase fraction and a phase distribution in the material. One example system generally includes an electromagnetic radiation source; a dielectric contrast analysis structure comprising a bulk dielectric substance and a plurality of receptacles in the bulk dielectric substance for receiving the material; and an electromagnetic radiation detector, wherein the analysis structure is between the radiation source and the detector.

A system for determining one or more properties of one or more gases. The system comprises sensors configured to measure thermal conductivity and exothermic responses of a sample at multiple temperatures. Sensor responses to exposure to a gas sample at two or more temperatures are compensated and analyzed by a subsystem. The subsystem is configured to determine a thermal conductivity of the gas sample at each of the two or more temperatures and determine at least one component of the gas sample based at least in part on the thermal conductivity value of the sample at each of the two or more temperatures. Related systems and methods of determining one or more properties of a sample are also disclosed.

Contemplated methods and devices comprise performing electrochemical sample analysis in a multiplexed electrochemical detector having reduced electrical cross-talk. The electrochemical detector includes electrodes that share a common lead from a plurality of leads. The sample, which may be a liquid sample, is introduced into one or more sample wells and a signal is applied to at least one of the electrodes. A response signal is measured while simultaneously applying a substantially fixed potential to each of a remainder of the plurality of leads.

A method of detecting the extent of degradation of an oil is provided. The method may comprise the steps of analyzing samples of the oil when fresh and when used; calculating electrochemical property data of the fresh and used engine oil; determining whether the electrochemical property data correlates with the degradation marker data; and using the electrochemical property to detect the extent of degradation of the oil of a used sample of the oil. The method may be used for any suitable oil, including mineral oil, synthetic oil and blends (a.k.a. semi-synthetic). The method can be used to maximize oil usage by monitoring used oil quality over time so that the oil is replaced when necessary and not before. The method can also identify trends in oil degradation.

A method of detecting the extent of degradation of an oil is provided. The method may comprise the steps of analyzing samples of the oil when fresh and when used; calculating electrochemical property data of the fresh and used engine oil; determining whether the electrochemical property data correlates with the degradation marker data; and using the electrochemical property to detect the extent of degradation of the oil of a used sample of the oil. The method may be used for any suitable oil, including mineral oil, synthetic oil and blends (a.k.a. semi-synthetic). The method can be used to maximize oil usage by monitoring used oil quality over time so that the oil is replaced when necessary and not before. The method can also identify trends in oil degradation.