A variety of homogeneous or layered hybrid nanostructures are fabricated by electric field-directed assembly of nanoelements. The nanoelements and the fabricated nanostructures can be conducting, semi-conducting, or insulating, or any combination thereof. Factors for enhancing the assembly process are identified, including optimization of the electric field and combined dielectrophoretic and electrophoretic forces to drive assembly. The fabrication methods are rapid and scalable. The resulting nanostructures have electrical and optical properties that render them highly useful in nanoscale electronics, optics, and biosensors.

An EWOD device includes a first and second substrate assemblies, and a spacer that spaces apart the first substrate assembly from the second substrate assembly to define a channel between them. The spacer defines fluid input ports that are in fluid communication with the channel, and the spacer is configured for directing fluid from the fluid input ports into the channel. The spacer has a combed spacer configuration to define the fluid input ports, including alternating teeth that extend into the channel from a base region, and the teeth isolate adjacent fluid input ports from each other. The spacer may contact only a portion of the first and second substrate assemblies to form a spacerless region within the EWOD device, and the spacer includes regions that are in contact with both the first and second substrate assemblies and extend into the channel to define a cell-gap of the channel.

Provided are systems and methods for the post-treatment of dry adhesive microstructures. The microstructures may be post-treated to comprise mushroom-like flaps at their tips to interface with the contact surface. In some aspects, a change in material composition of the microstructures in a dry adhesive may affect mechanical properties to enhance or diminish overall adhesive performance. For example, conductive additives can be added to the material to improve adhesive performance. In other aspects, microstructures comprising conductive material may allow for pre-load engagement sensing systems to be integrated into the microstructures.

A substrate for sensing, a method of manufacturing the substrate, and an analyzing apparatus including the substrate are provided. The substrate for sensing includes: a support layer; a plurality of metal nanoparticle clusters arranged on the support layer; and a plurality of perforations arranged among the plurality of metal nanoparticle clusters. The plurality of metal nanoparticle clusters each comprise a plurality of metal nanoparticles stacked in a three-dimensional structure. Each of the plurality of perforations transmits incident light therethrough.

The present invention discloses polymer surfaces with T-shaped microstructure and their fabrication method and applications. The polymer surfaces with the T-shaped microstructure are characterized in that T-shaped microposts arrange orderly on them, and nanobulges arrange orderly on the top surfaces of the micronails of the T-shaped microposts. A flexible insert is designed and manufactured according to the geometry of the T-shaped microposts, and nanogrooves are manufactured on the cavity surface of an injection mold according to the geometry of the nanobulges on the top surfaces of the micronails. The flexible insert is mounted on the injection mold cavity. An injection molding machine is used to inject the molten polymer into the injection mold cavity. Then the polymer surfaces with the T-shaped microposts, on the top surfaces of the micronails of which the nanobulges arrange orderly, are molded. The polymer surfaces with the T-shaped microstructure exhibit robust Cassie-Baxter state and moderate surface adhesion to water droplets, and can be used for quantitative collection, lossless transportation or micromixing of microdroplets.

An electrode array including a substrate. The electrode array includes a first plurality of electrodes disposed above a first zone of the substrate, wherein the first plurality of electrodes has a first range of spacing. The electrode array further includes a second plurality of electrodes disposed above a second zone of the substrate, wherein the second plurality of electrodes has a second range of spacing that is less than the first range of spacing.

A method of manufacturing and using micro assembler systems are described. A method of manufacturing includes disposing a first plurality of electrodes above a first zone of the substrate, wherein the first plurality of electrodes has a first range of spacing. The method further includes disposing a second plurality of electrodes above a second zone of the substrate, wherein the second plurality of electrodes has a second range of spacing that is less than the first range of spacing. A method of using micro assembler systems includes disposing a mobile particle at least partially submersed in an assembly medium above a substrate, a first plurality of electrodes and a second plurality of electrodes. The method further includes conducting a field through individual electrodes of the first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality of electrodes to generate electrophoretic forces or dielectrophoretic forces on the mobile particle.

The present invention relates to textile articles and clothing such as outdoor garments, indoor garments, and commercial protective wear exposed to contact mixtures of water and oil, swimwear and winter wear exposed to mixtures of water and air. At least part of these textile articles possess a surface provided with at least one of 1) a high surface area, 2) hierarchical pattern, 3) contact angles such that hydrophilic portion of a contact mixture possesses a high contact angle and the hydrophobic portion of a contact mixture possesses a low contact angle, and 4) hysteresis angle greater than 5 degrees. Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic contact mixtures of the present invention can be surfaces where water and or ice are present in combination with oil and or air. The textile articles of the present invention resist slippage on surfaces possessing hydrophobic/hydrophilic contact mixtures.

Aspects include methods of fabricating antibacterial surfaces for medical implant devices including patterning a photoresist layer on a silicon substrate and etching the silicon to generate a plurality of nanopillars. Aspects also include removing the photoresist layer from the structure and coating the plurality of nanopillars with a biocompatible film. Aspects also include a system for preventing bacterial infection associated with medical implants including a thin silicon film including a plurality of nanopillars.

Aspects include methods of fabricating antibacterial surfaces for medical implant devices including patterning a photoresist layer on a silicon substrate and etching the silicon to generate a plurality of nanopillars. Aspects also include removing the photoresist layer from the structure and coating the plurality of nanopillars with a biocompatible film. Aspects also include a system for preventing bacterial infection associated with medical implants including a thin silicon film including a plurality of nanopillars.