Micromachined ultrasonic transducers having a self-assembled monolayer formed on a surface of a sealed cavity are described. A micromachined ultrasonic transducer may include a flexible membrane configured to vibrate over a sealed cavity, and the self-assembled monolayer may coat some or all of the interior surfaces of the sealed cavity. During fabrication, the sealed cavity may be formed by bonding the membrane to a substrate such that the sealed cavity is between the membrane and the substrate. An access hole may be formed through the membrane to the sealed cavity and the self-assembled monolayer is formed on surface(s) of the sealed cavity by introducing precursors into the sealed cavity through the access hole.

Use of heterogeneous nucleation allows the localized reduction of metal salt and also cross-link the carbon precursor in the same region. This cross-linked matrix act as the secondary heterogeneous sites for spontaneous Nano particle synthesis and growth during the process of pyrolysis. Selectively creating heterogeneous sites and reducing the metal precursor using highly focused energy beams create various metal-carbon composites with controlled metal positioning. This is such a unique process where a pretreatment process will control the fabrication of complex metal-carbon composite nano and microstructures. This greatly simplifies the fabrication process, facilitating nanostructures like Nano metal bulbs, nanometal pointed nanogaps and metal sandwich structures with such process. With several advantages ranging from electronics, catalysis, optics and several other bio-functionalization technologies, this enables materials with unique and hybrid advantages. Moreover, fabrication of micro and Nano level structures provides a CMEMS and BIOMEMS relevant approach for wide range of applications.

A substantially planar self-folding film assembly to generate a folded three-dimensional assembly. The assembly includes a flexible support substrate, adhesive elements, and folding members. The folding members include a base, a folding region, and a hinge adjacent each folding region attached at the base to the flexible support substrate by at least one of the adhesive elements. An array of polymer actuators is co-extensive, or shaped to be not co-extensive, with each of the flexible folding members. Upon activation by a patterned light to heat conversion layer, each polymer actuator is designed and configured to provide a displacement of the corresponding flexible folding member about each hinge.

Compositions and methods of the present disclosure provide for staged assembly of nucleic acid microstructures made of an array of x number of polynucleotide tiles, where each of the polynucleotide tiles is a polygon configuration and is made from a single-stranded helical polynucleotide scaffold and a plurality of single-stranded polynucleotide staple strands of y number of unique staple sequences corresponding to the selected tile configuration, the y number of unique staple sequences capable of being constant for any value of x.

Methods of manufacturing a 3D micro-scale structure. A 2D net including a plurality of panels and a plurality of hinges is provided. The panels are arranged in a pattern. The hinges interconnect immediately adjacent ones of the panels within the pattern. An energy source remote from the 2D net is powered to deliver energy to the 2D net. The delivered energy triggers the 2D net to self-fold into a 3D micro-scale structure. The delivered energy creates an eddy current within at least one component of the 2D net, with the eddy current generating heat sufficient to melt at least one of the hinges. The melting hinge causes the corresponding panels to fold or pivot relative to one another. In some embodiments, the energy source is a microwave energy source. In other embodiments, the energy source delivers a magnetic field.

Use of heterogeneous nucleation allows the localized reduction of metal salt and also cross-link the carbon precursor in the same region. This cross-linked matrix act as the secondary heterogeneous sites for spontaneous Nano particle synthesis and growth during the process of pyrolysis. Selectively creating heterogeneous sites and reducing the metal precursor using highly focused energy beams create various metal-carbon composites with controlled metal positioning. This is such a unique process where a pretreatment process will control the fabrication of complex metal-carbon composite nano and microstructures. This greatly simplifies the fabrication process, facilitating nanostructures like Nano metal bulbs, nanometal pointed nanogaps and metal sandwich structures with such process. With several advantages ranging from electronics, catalysis, optics and several other bio-functionalization technologies, this enables materials with unique and hybrid advantages. Moreover, fabrication of micro and Nano level structures provides a CMEMS and BIOMEMS relevant approach for wide range of applications.

Methods of manufacturing a 3D micro-scale structure. A 2D net including a plurality of panels and a plurality of hinges is provided. The panels are arranged in a pattern. The hinges interconnect immediately adjacent ones of the panels within the pattern. An energy source remote from the 2D net is powered to deliver energy to the 2D net. The delivered energy triggers the 2D net to self-fold into a 3D micro-scale structure. The delivered energy creates an eddy current within at least one component of the 2D net, with the eddy current generating heat sufficient to melt at least one of the hinges. The melting hinge causes the corresponding panels to fold or pivot relative to one another. In some embodiments, the energy source is a microwave energy source. In other embodiments, the energy source delivers a magnetic field.

Block copolymer nanostructures such as nanosheets, nanoribbons, and nanotubes, are provided. The nanotructures are formed by the self-assembly of block copolymers during evaporation of solvent from a sol that has been disturbed, either i) internally by the introduction of relief (e.g. curvature) and/or the inclusion of nanoparticles in the sol; or ii) externally, e.g. by physical deformation of a semi-solid form of the sol, or a combination of internal and external disturbance. The nanostructures have uses in, for example, energy devices, electronics, sensors and drug delivery applications.

A system of flexural, actuating, and semiconducting elements of part-types necessary to assemble actuated robotic systems. These parts are joined with a common interface, interlocking with neighboring parts to form a regular lattice structure. Primary considerations for the design of the part interfaces include ease of assembly and the ability to transfer mechanical loads and electronic signals to neighboring parts. The parts are designed to be assembled vertically so structures can he built incrementally one part at a time. They can be easily fabricated at a range of length-scales using a variety of two-dimensional manufacturing processes. These processes include, for example, stamping and laminating, which enable high-throughput production. The simple mechanical interfaces between parts also enable disassembly allowing for reconfigurability and reuse. The interlocking nature of these assemblies allows loads to be distributed through many parallel load-paths.

Compositions and methods of the present disclosure provide for staged assembly of nucleic acid microstructures made of an array of x number of polynucleotide tiles, where each of the polynucleotide tiles is a polygon configuration and is made from a single-stranded helical polynucleotide scaffold and a plurality of single-stranded polynucleotide staple strands of y number of unique staple sequences corresponding to the selected tile configuration, the y number of unique staple sequences capable of being constant for any value of x.