An apparatus, method, and system for post-processing a printed graphene ink pattern or other deposition on a substrate. A pulsed UV laser is tunable between various energy densities to selectively modify the printed ink or deposition in electrical or physical properties. In one example, radical improvements in electrical conductivity are achieved. In another example, controlled transformation from essentially 2D printed or deposited graphene to surface topology of 3D nanostructures are achieved. The 3D structures are beneficial in such applications as electrochemical sensors of different types and characteristics. In another example, hydrophobicity of the printed or deposited graphene can be manipulated starting from a hydrophilic to super hydrophobic surface.

A method for synthesizing a copper-silver alloy includes an ink preparation step, a coating step, a crystal nucleus formation step and a crystal nucleus synthesis step. In the ink preparation step, a copper salt particle, an amine-based solvent, and a silver salt particle are mixed, thereby preparing a copper-silver ink. In the coating step, a member to be coated is coated with the copper-silver ink. In the crystal nucleus formation step, at least one of a crystal nucleus of copper having a crystal grain diameter of 0.2 m or less and a crystal nucleus of silver having a crystal grain diameter of 0.2 m or less is formed from the copper-silver ink. In the crystal nucleus synthesis step, the crystal nucleus of copper and the crystal nucleus of silver are synthesized.

Vacuum-integrated photoresist-less methods and apparatuses for forming metal hardmasks can provide sub-30 nm patterning resolution. A metal-containing (e.g., metal salt or organometallic compound) film that is sensitive to a patterning agent is deposited on a semiconductor substrate. The metal-containing film is then patterned directly (i.e., without the use of a photoresist) by exposure to the patterning agent in a vacuum ambient to form the metal mask. For example, the metal-containing film is photosensitive and the patterning is conducted using sub-30 nm wavelength optical lithography, such as EUV lithography.

A method for producing metal structures includes an initiator composition comprising a photocatalytic substance being applied to a substrate. A precursor composition that can be reduced to a metal by the photocatalytic activity of the nanodusts is applied to the layer. A structure template is then applied, partially displacing the precursor composition, and then the substrate is illuminated. Structured metal structures are thus generated.

Flash Photo-Oxidation Device and Higher Order Structural Analysis is employed for higher order structural analysis of biomolecules. Biomolecular higher order structure (HOS) results from the confounded superimposition of a biomolecule's secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure and defines the manner in which a biomolecule presents itself and interacts with other biomolecules in living systems. A rapidly growing class of therapeutic drugs, known as biotherapeutics, comprises a variety of proteins, whose therapeutic properties are inherently linked and dependent upon their HOS. As such, HOS analysis of biotherapeutics is an important analytical requirement in the biopharmaceutical industry. The present invention provides new means and methods for the determination of biopharmaceutical HOS and associated conformation using improved devices and methodologies for flash photo-oxidation of proteins to determine their higher order biomolecular structure, and such is responsive to the increased demand for new and improved HOS analytical means in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Flash Photo-Oxidation Device and Higher Order Structural Analysis is employed for higher order structural analysis of biomolecules. Biomolecular higher order structure (HOS) results from the confounded superimposition of a biomolecule's secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure and defines the manner in which a biomolecule presents itself and interacts with other biomolecules in living systems. A rapidly growing class of therapeutic drugs, known as biotherapeutics, comprises a variety of proteins, whose therapeutic properties are inherently linked and dependent upon their HOS. As such, HOS analysis of biotherapeutics is an important analytical requirement in the biopharmaceutical industry. The present invention provides new means and methods for the determination of biopharmaceutical HOS and associated conformation using improved devices and methodologies for flash photo-oxidation of proteins to determine their higher order biomolecular structure, and such is responsive to the increased demand for new and improved HOS analytical means in the biopharmaceutical industry.

A process for depositing a coating on short fibres of carbon or silicon carbide from a coating precursor, the short fibres having a length of between 50 m and 5 mm, the process including at least heating the short fibres by placing a mixture including the fibres and a liquid phase of the coating precursor in a microwave field so as to bring the surface of the fibres to a temperature allowing the coating on the fibres from the coating precursor to be formed by calefaction.

A metal-plated carbon material includes: a carbon material; and a metal layer covering a surface of the carbon material, in which, in the metal layer, crystal grains forming the metal layer have an average crystal grain size of 110 nm or less. A method of manufacturing a metal-plated carbon material, includes: a metal complex fixation step of immersing a carbon material in a supercritical fluid or subcritical fluid containing an organometallic complex of a first metal; and a first energization deposition step of energizing the metal-complex-fixed carbon material in an electroless plating solution containing a second metal.

A metal-plated carbon material includes: a carbon material; and a metal layer covering a surface of the carbon material, in which, in the metal layer, crystal grains forming the metal layer have an average crystal grain size of 110 nm or less. A method of manufacturing a metal-plated carbon material, includes: a metal complex fixation step of immersing a carbon material in a supercritical fluid or subcritical fluid containing an organometallic complex of a first metal; and a first energization deposition step of energizing the metal-complex-fixed carbon material in an electroless plating solution containing a second metal.

The invention relates to methods of depositing silver onto a substrate using a dilute silver salt solution.