The invention provides a mechanically flexible, electrically conductive, and optically transparent silver nanowire film and demonstrates its specific application in light transmission controlling devices.

Synthetic brochosomes can be prepared by disposing a monolayer of first polymer microspheres on a substrate and forming a layer of metal on the monolayer of the first polymer microspheres. A monolayer of second polymer microspheres is then disposed on the layer of metal to form a template. The second polymer microspheres are smaller than the first polymer microspheres. A brochosome material is then electrodeposited on the template. The brochosome material is selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal oxide, a polymer or a hybrid thereof. The first polymer microspheres and the second polymer microspheres are then removed to form a coating of synthetic brochosomes of the brochosome material on the substrate.

In examples, a system comprises a member to receive a mechanical force, and a sensor to sense the mechanical force. The sensor is mounted on the member using a set of nanoparticles and a set of nanowires coupled to the set of nanoparticles.

A method for decontamination of nitroarenes including fabricating an exemplary nanomotor and chemically reducing nitroarenes of an acidic solution using the exemplary nanomotor. Fabricating the exemplary nanomotor may include depositing a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles on an Au nanosheet and depositing a plurality of zinc (Zn) nanoparticles on the plurality of magnetic nanoparticles. Chemically reducing the nitroarenes of the acidic solution may include generating hydrogen bubbles in the acidic solution by adding the exemplary nanomotor to the acidic solution and guiding the exemplary nanomotor in the acidic solution by applying a magnetic force to the exemplary nanomotor. Generating the hydrogen bubbles in the acidic solution may include reducing hydrogen ions in the acidic solution through a chemical reaction between the hydrogen ions and the plurality of Zn nanoparticles.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) forests or sheets coated and/or bonded at room temperature with one or more coatings were measured to produce thermal resistances that are on par with conventional metallic solders. These results were achieved by reducing the high contact resistance at CNT tips and/or sidewalls, which has encumbered the development of high-performance thermal interface materials based on CNTs. Resistances as low as 4.90.3 mm.sup.2-K/W were achieved for the entire polymer-coated CNT interface structure.

The platability improver of the present invention comprises heterophasic-polymer particles having a coefficient of variation in particle diameter of 40%-90%. It is preferable that the proportion of polymer particles each having a particle diameter of 0.05 m or larger be 80% by volume or more with respect to all the heterophasic-polymer particles and the proportion of polymer particles each having a particle diameter of 0.05 m or larger but smaller than 0.15 m be 10%-60% by volume with respect to all the heterophasic-polymer particles.

The invention provides a mechanically flexible, electrically conductive, and optically transparent silver nanowire film and demonstrates its specific application in light transmission controlling devices.

Embodiments of the invention provide a method of forming a metal matrix composite including introducing a plurality of nanoparticles into a flow of metal material, and mixing of at least a partial portion of the flow of metal material with at least some of the plurality of nanoparticles to form a mixture of the metal material and at least some of the nanoparticles. The method further includes forming a metal matrix composite from the mixture, where the metal matrix composite includes a bulk region and an outer surface including a plurality of hydrophobic regions dispersed within a hydrophilic surface region. Further, the plurality of hydrophobic regions is formed or derived from the plurality of nanoparticles, and the hydrophobic regions have a first diameter, and an average spacing between the hydrophobic regions is a second diameter, where the first and second diameters are about 100 nm to 400 nm.

According to an embodiment, a method of processing a material for a catalyst includes establishing an electrical potential on a porous electrode. Core particles are directed through the porous electrode. A layer of metal is deposited on the core particles as the particles pass through the porous electrode. According to an embodiment, an example assembly for processing a material for a catalyst includes a housing that establishes a path for particles to move through the housing. A porous electrode is situated within the housing for permitting core particles to move through the porous electrode. A layer of metal can be deposited on the core particles as the particles pass through the porous electrode.

A virtual adhesion method is provided. The virtual adhesion method includes increasing a magnetic characteristic of an initial structure, supporting the initial structure on a surface of a substrate, generating a magnetic field directed such that the initial structure is forced toward the surface of the substrate and forming an encapsulation, which is bound to exposed portions of the surface, around the initial structure.