An apparatus is described that selectively absorbs electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus includes a conducting surface, a dielectric layer formed on the conducting surface, and a plurality of conducting particles distributed on the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer can be formed from a material and a thickness selected to yield a specific absorption spectrum. Alternatively, the thickness or dielectric value of the material can change in response to an external stimulus, thereby changing the absorption spectrum.

An insulation structure for an appliance includes a cabinet having an outer wrapper and an inner liner, with an insulating cavity defined therebetween. Insulating powder material is disposed substantially throughout the insulating cavity. An insulating gas is disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein the insulating powder material is combined with the insulating gas and cooperatively defines a suspended state and a precipitated state. The suspended state is defined by the insulating gas in motion and the insulating powder being in an aeolian suspension within the insulating gas while in motion. The precipitated state is defined by the insulating gas being in a deposition state and the insulating powder being precipitated from the insulating gas and deposited within the insulating cavity.

Monodisperse carboxylate functionalized gold nanoparticles comprising a capping agent layer of pamoic acid and colloidal suspensions thereof are disclosed. These gold nanoparticles have an average particle size of greater than 15 nm or less than 8 nm and demonstrate significant fluorescent properties. In addition, a method for the size controlled preparation of these monodisperse carboxylate functionalized gold nanoparticles wherein pamoic acid acts as both a reducing and capping agent and wherein the size of the particles can be controlled by the pH of the process is disclosed. In addition, a method for the size controlled preparation of these monodisperse carboxylate functionalized gold nanoparticles utilizing seed mediated growth is disclosed.

Disclosed herein are devices and methods to provide a holographic optical element (HOE) having a modified shape and a structural attribute. At least one wavefront may be used to cause a first structure change in a material, used for the HOE, in a first shape. The material used for the HOE may be changed from the first shape to the modified shape to cause a second structure change in the material. The structural attribute in the material may be provided from a combination of the first structure change and the second structure change.

A system and method for providing fertilizer for crop production in an aqueous solution comprising nano-sized fertilizer particles, which are free of any chemical side chain and free any micelle to protect the nano-sized particle from re-agglomeration, suspended therein for improved uptake by the population of the crop.

Size-controlled ultra-small iron-based metal oxide nanoparticles, nanocolloids comprising the nanoparticles, and methods of making the nanoparticles. The method for making the iron-based nanoparticles include sequential mixing of an iron(III) salt, a metal (II) salt, a carboxylic acid, an amine, and an inorganic base in water at temperatures ranging from 25-80 C. Nanoparticles in the size ranging from 2 nm to 10 nm with a narrow size distribution are obtained with the method. The nanoparticles have an iron-based core surrounded by molecules such as a panel of different carboxylates, polycarboxylates, and amines. Depending on the hydrophilicity of the carboxylates used, the functional nanoparticulate colloid can be dispersed in either organic or aqueous solvents. The nanocolloids comprise the nanoparticles in a concentration ranging from 1-10 mg/ml, and are stable for at least several months.

An object is to form a hole having a desired size accurately and uniformly in a carbon nanomaterial used for a filter or the like, such as a graphene, a carbon nanotube, or a carbon nanohorn.

Provided is a method for perforating a carbon nanomaterial for forming a hole having a desired size in a carbon nanomaterial, characterized in that the carbon nanomaterial is heated and held at a low temperature in the air containing oxygen of 160 to 250 C. for a predetermined time and that a hole having a desired size is thereby formed uniformly in the carbon nanomaterial by controlling a length of heating time.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a magnetic iron oxide-graphene composite, a magnetic iron oxide-graphene composite prepared thereby and a composition for electromagnetic wave shielding including the same, and since graphene is prepared from a stage 1-GIC using FeCl.sub.3, magnetic particles in the form of FeO.sub.x are naturally formed on the surface of graphene during the preparation process. In addition, a magnetic material is formed on the surface of graphene while the defects of graphene are minimized, and thus the magnetic iron oxide-graphene composite prepared according to the present invention can be useful as an electromagnetic wave absorber.

The invention relates to a converter system, for instance for a light emitting device, comprising: a first material, which comprises, preferably essentially consists of an emitting material, emitting a color of interest, and is essentially free of sensitizer material, a second sensitizer material, which is essentially free of the first material and absorbs light (is excitable) in the wavelength range of interest and its emission spectrum overlaps at least partly with one or more excitation bands of the first material.

The invention relates to a converter system, for instance for a light emitting device, comprising: a first material, which comprises, preferably essentially consists of an emitting material, emitting a color of interest, and is essentially free of sensitizer material, a second sensitizer material, which is essentially free of the first material and absorbs light (is excitable) in the wavelength range of interest and its emission spectrum overlaps at least partly with one or more excitation bands of the first material.