Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Described is a doping technique that forms a stable amorphous silicon film and a stable polycrystalline silicon film at a low temperature and simultaneously that imparts conductivity in an atmospheric pressure environment. A method for producing a compound containing a bond between different elements belonging to Group 4 to Group 15 of the periodic table, the method including: applying, at a low frequency and atmospheric pressure, high voltage to an inside of an electric discharge tube obtained by attaching high-voltage electrodes to a metal tube or an insulator tube or between flat plate electrodes while passing an introduction gas, so as to convert molecules present in the electric discharge tube or between the flat plate electrodes into a plasma; and applying the plasma to substances to be irradiated, the substances to be irradiated being two or more elementary substances or compounds.

A method of manufacturing a plurality of through-holes in a layer of first material, for example for the manufacturing of a probe comprising a tip containing a channel. To manufacture the through-holes in a batch process, a layer of first material is deposited on a wafer comprising a plurality of pits a second layer is provided on the layer of first material, and the second layer is provided with a plurality of holes at central locations of the pits; using the second layer as a shadow mask when depositing a third layer at an angle, covering a part of the first material with said third material at the central locations, and etching the exposed parts of the first layer using the third layer as a protective layer.

Photoluminescent carbon nanoparticles and a method of preparing the same are described herein. A method of preparing photoluminescent carbon nanoparticles includes obtaining carbon nanodots, and treating the carbon nanodots with plasma.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Materials such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) and hydrocarbon-containing materials are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, or oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, bitumen, and coal to produce altered materials such as fuels (e.g., ethanol and/or butanol). The processing includes exposing the materials to an ion beam.

A method and apparatus for generation of fluorine gas (F.sub.2) in situ at the point of use is provided. The portable fluorine generator includes a dilution system disposed within a housing and operable to mix a feed gas comprising fluorine with an inert gas. The portable fluorine generator further includes a plasma reactor unit disposed within the housing and operable to separate fluorine from the feed gas comprising fluorine.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

A method of forming one or more protrusions on an outer surface of a polished face of a solid state material, said method including the step of applying focused inert gas ion beam local irradiation towards an outer surface of a polished facet of a solid state material in a way of protruding top surface material; wherein irradiated focused inert gas ions from said focused inert gas ion bean penetrate the outer surface of said polished facet of said solid state material; and wherein irradiated focused inert gas ions cause expansive strain within the solid state crystal lattice of the solid state material below said outer surface at a pressure so as to induce expansion of solid state crystal lattice, and form a protrusion on the outer surface of the polished face of said solid state material.

A method for manufacturing a broadband fluorescence amplification assembly comprising the steps of providing a vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) substrate that has been treated with a plasma and at least partially coated with a metal coating and a support structure, and supporting the VACNT substrate by the support structure. The support structure can include one of quartz or glass. The method can also include the steps of cleaning the support structure with an alcohol solution and/or exposing the support structure to one of a surface cleaning plasma or ozone. The method can further comprise the step of adhering the VACNT substrate to the support structure, wherein the step of adhering can include applying an adhesive material to at least a portion of the support structure. Additionally, the method can include the step of treating the VACNT substrate and the support structure with the plasma.