An inductive sensor includes a core body, a coil wound on the core body, a cavity having a fixed volume within the core body, and an epoxy mixture filling a controlled portion of the fixed volume. The controlled portion of the fixed volume filled with the epoxy mixture controls an inductance of the sensor.

The present invention is directed to the syntheses of superparamagnetic nanoparticles and the incorporation of the nanoparticles as the magnetic component to form a strongly magnetic nanocomposite. The superparamagnetic nanoparticles possess no hysteresis and are too small to support eddy currents. The invention uses a ligand exchange procedure to produce aminated nanoparticles that are then cross-linked using epoxy chemistry. The result is a magnetic nanoparticle component that is covalently linked and well separated. By using this matrix-free approach, it is possible to substantially increase the magnetic nanoparticle fraction, while still maintaining good separation, leading to a superparamagnetic nanocomposite with strong magnetic properties and low magnetic losses.

In various embodiments magnetically actuated liquid crystals are provided as well as method of manufacturing such, methods of using the liquid crystals and devices incorporating the liquid crystals. In one non-limiting embodiment the liquid crystals comprise Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 nanorods where the nanorods are coated with a silica coating.

Disclosed are cermets for magnetic sensors. The disclosed cermets for magnetic sensors may include at least six carbides and at least one refractory metal. The carbides are selected from TiC, VC, ZrC, HfC, WC, NbC and TaC, the refractory metal is tungsten, the cermets for magnetic sensors operate in 1003000 K, the magnetic precision is between 99.699.9%, such that the cermets for magnetic sensors are suitable for the magnetic sensors to operate at high temperatures.

Proposed are a metal-substituted titanium oxide which has a composition other than conventional Ti.sub.3O.sub.5 while having a property of being able to undergo phase transition from a crystal structure in a paramagnetic metal state to a crystal structure of a nonmagnetic semiconductor upon application of pressure or light and which can also be used in fields other than conventional technical fields, and a method for producing a metal-substituted titanium oxide sintered body. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a metal-substituted titanium oxide having a crystal structure which does not undergo phase transition to a crystal structure having the properties of a nonmagnetic semiconductor even at 460 [K] or lower but maintains a paramagnetic metal state over the entire temperature range of 0 to 800 [K] and which undergoes phase transition to a crystal structure of a nonmagnetic semiconductor upon application of pressure or light, the metal-substituted titanium oxide having a composition in which some of Ti sites of Ti.sub.3O.sub.5 are substituted with any one of Mg, Mn, Al, V and Nb.

The invention is directed to hydrophilic and hydrophobic superparamagnetic nanoparticles and their use as contrast agents for NMR including agents that distinguish oil and water in NMR logging of geological formations containing oil or water. Methods of making these SPIONs are also described.

Provided is a composite member including: an inorganic matrix part made from an inorganic substance that includes at least one of a metal oxide or a metal oxide hydroxide as a main component, contains substantially no single metal and alloy, and is a diamagnetic substance or a paramagnetic substance; and a ferromagnetic material part that is present inside the inorganic matrix part, directly bonds with the inorganic substance making up the inorganic matrix part, and is made from a ferromagnetic substance. In the inorganic matrix part, particles of the inorganic substance are continuously present, and the inorganic matrix part has a larger volume ratio than that of the ferromagnetic material part.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to directed self-assembly (DSA) and, more particularly, to the DSA of electronic components using diamagnetic levitation.

An inductive sensor includes a core body, a coil wound on the core body, a cavity having a fixed volume within the core body, and an epoxy mixture filling a controlled portion of the fixed volume. The controlled portion of the fixed volume filled with the epoxy mixture controls an inductance of the sensor.

A battery cell, driven by heat, having a reservoir containing a redox couple electrolyte comprised of paramagnetic and diamagnetic ions. A magnet with a pole, projecting a non-uniform magnetic field unto the electrolyte, the magnetic field having a strong magnetic field area proximal to the magnetic pole and a weak magnetic field area distal to the magnetic pole. A positive electrode is placed in the strong magnetic field area and a negative electrode is placed in the weak magnetic field areas of the electrolyte. Ionic separation occurs as the paramagnetic ions drift to the strong magnetic field area, and the diamagnetic ions are repulsed from the magnetic pole and drift to the weak magnetic field area, causing voltage potential across the positive and negative electrodes. A circuit placed across the positive and negative electrodes of the battery draws electrons from the diamagnetic ions through the negative electrode and the electrical circuit to the positive electrode and into the paramagnetic ions. Paramagnetic ions in the strong field area reduce into converted diamagnetic ions as the paramagnetic ions receive electrons through the positive electrode, the converted diamagnetic ions repelled by the magnetic pole drift to the weak magnetic field area. Additionally, diamagnetic ions proximal to the weak magnetic field area oxidize into converted paramagnetic ions as the diamagnetic ions lose electrons through the negative electrode, the converted paramagnetic ions attracted to the magnetic pole drift to the strong magnetic field area.