A method for transferring an assembly of oriented nanowires from a fluid to a substrate surface, comprising: providing (FIG. 2A) a fluid to a container, said fluid comprising a first liquid (11), a second liquid (12) and a plurality of nanowires (25), wherein the first and second liquids phase separate into a sub phase, a top phase, and an interface (13) between the sub phase and the top phase; wherein the nanowires are functionalized to align vertically into a nanowire aggregate at the interface; wherein the fluid is provided with a substance in a composition configured to change the composition of the top phase or the composition of the sub phase to counteract bulging of the interface (FIG. 2B); and bringing the nanowire aggregate into contact with a substrate surface such that a majority of the nanowires are aligned with respect to each other on the substrate.

A method for transferring an assembly of oriented nanowires from a fluid to a substrate surface, comprising: providing (FIG. 2A) a fluid to a container, said fluid comprising a first liquid (11), a second liquid (12) and a plurality of nanowires (25), wherein the first and second liquids phase separate into a sub phase, a top phase, and an interface (13) between the sub phase and the top phase; wherein the nanowires are functionalized to align vertically into a nanowire aggregate at the interface; wherein the fluid is provided with a substance in a composition configured to change the composition of the top phase or the composition of the sub phase to counteract bulging of the interface (FIG. 2B); and bringing the nanowire aggregate into contact with a substrate surface such that a majority of the nanowires are aligned with respect to each other on the substrate.

An apparatus and method for producing a coated analytic substrate using a compact and portable automated instrument located in the laboratory setting at the point of use which can consistently produce one or a plurality of coated analytic substrates “on demand” for using the analytic substrate immediately after coating, preferably without a step of rinsing the coated analytic substrate before use. The apparatus preferably uses applicator cartridges having a reservoir containing the coating compositions used to form the coatings. Preferably the cartridges are removable and interchangeable to facilitate the production of individual analytic substrates having different coatings or different coating patterns. These coated analytic substrates have superior specimen adhesion characteristics due to the improved quality of the coatings applied by the coating apparatus and due to the quickness with which the coated analytic substrates can be used in the lab after production.

An apparatus and method for producing a coated analytic substrate using a compact and portable automated instrument located in the laboratory setting at the point of use which can consistently produce one or a plurality of coated analytic substrates “on demand” for using the analytic substrate immediately after coating, preferably without a step of rinsing the coated analytic substrate before use. The apparatus preferably uses applicator cartridges having a reservoir containing the coating compositions used to form the coatings. Preferably the cartridges are removable and interchangeable to facilitate the production of individual analytic substrates having different coatings or different coating patterns. These coated analytic substrates have superior specimen adhesion characteristics due to the improved quality of the coatings applied by the coating apparatus and due to the quickness with which the coated analytic substrates can be used in the lab after production.

A method and an apparatus for forming a particle layer are provided. The layering method includes injecting particles in an injection zone defined at a gas-liquid interface between a carrier liquid and an ambient gas, and controlling a flow of the carrier liquid along the gas-liquid interface to carry the particles downstream along a particle flow path from the injection zone to a layer formation zone. The method also includes accumulating the particles in the layer formation zone to gradually form the particle layer on the gas-liquid interface, and withdrawing the particle layer from the layer formation zone. The particle layer formed by the layering method and apparatus can be used to fabricate a three-dimensional object by additive manufacturing.

This invention relates to method and system for forming a film. The method including providing a trough containing water defining an air-water interface between air and the water; providing a solution containing a material of interest; and electrospraying the solution onto the air-water interface of water to form a film of the material of interest at the air-water interface. The system includes a trough containing water defining an air-water interface between air and the water; and means for spreading a solution containing a material of interest onto the air-water interface of water by electrospray, to form a film of the material of interest at the air-water interface. The spreading means comprises an electrospraying device.

Provided herein are methods and systems for the custom-printing of an item including, e.g., a) accepting customer request data for a workpiece and customer request data for a graphic design to cover at least a portion of the workpiece; b) accepting workpiece identifier data from a workpiece database based on the customer request data; c) accepting print design data from a print design database based on the customer request data for a graphic design; d) associating the print design data with the workpiece identifier data; e) printing the print design data onto a hydrofilm portion; f) placing the hydrofilm portion onto a fluid surface in a dip tank; g) applying an activator to the hydrofilm portion to yield an activated hydrofilm portion; and h) dipping the workpiece into the dip tank, whereby the activated hydrofilm portion is bonded to the workpiece as a result of the dipping.

Provided herein are methods and systems for the custom-printing of an item including, e.g., a) accepting customer request data for a workpiece and customer request data for a graphic design to cover at least a portion of the workpiece; b) accepting workpiece identifier data from a workpiece database based on the customer request data; c) accepting print design data from a print design database based on the customer request data for a graphic design; d) associating the print design data with the workpiece identifier data; e) printing the print design data onto a hydrofilm portion; f) placing the hydrofilm portion onto a fluid surface in a dip tank; g) applying an activator to the hydrofilm portion to yield an activated hydrofilm portion; and h) dipping the workpiece into the dip tank, whereby the activated hydrofilm portion is bonded to the workpiece as a result of the dipping.

A fluidized-bed coating method includes: immersing at least part of a workpiece in a powder coating material contained in a fluidized-bed vessel while air is introduced from a bottom of the fluidized-bed vessel at an average air flow rate of 5 mm/min or higher and 20 mm/min or lower per unit area of the bottom so that a floating ratio of the powder coating material is 5% or higher and 20% or lower, the workpiece having a temperature higher than or equal to a softening temperature of the powder coating material and lower than or equal to a melting temperature of the powder coating material; taking the workpiece out of the powder coating material; and heating the powder coating material attached to the workpiece.

A fluidized-bed coating method includes: immersing at least part of a workpiece in a powder coating material contained in a fluidized-bed vessel while air is introduced from a bottom of the fluidized-bed vessel at an average air flow rate of 5 mm/min or higher and 20 mm/min or lower per unit area of the bottom so that a floating ratio of the powder coating material is 5% or higher and 20% or lower, the workpiece having a temperature higher than or equal to a softening temperature of the powder coating material and lower than or equal to a melting temperature of the powder coating material; taking the workpiece out of the powder coating material; and heating the powder coating material attached to the workpiece.