4304results about "Surface reaction electrolytic coating" patented technology

Devices, systems and methods of using same where hybrid substrate materials are provided with a substantially uniform surface to provide uniformity of properties, including interaction with their environments. Uniform surfaces are applied as coatings over, e.g., hybrid metal / silica, metal / polymer, metal / metal surfaces to mask different chemical properties of differing regions of the surface and to afford a protective surface for the hybrid structure.

A photo-electricity generating device is produced through the steps of: immersing an electrode and an electroconductive substrate in an aqueous solution comprising nitrate ions and zinc ions, supplying a current passing through a gap between the electrode and the electroconductive substrate to form a first zinc oxide layer on the electroconductive substrate, etching the first zinc oxide layer, and forming a semiconductor layer on the zinc oxide layer. The zinc oxide layer may preferably be formed in two zinc oxide layers under different electrudeposition conditions. In this case, the etching step may preferably be performed between steps for forming these zinc oxide layers. The zinc oxide layer is provided with an unevenness at its surface suitable for constituting a light-confining layer of a resultant photo-electricity generating device.

Electrocatalyst powders and methods for producing electrocatalyst powders, such as carbon composite electrocatalyst powders. The powders have a well-controlled microstructure and morphology. The method includes forming the particles from an aerosol of precursors by heating the aerosol to a relatively low temperature, such as not greater than about 400° C.

The present invention provides articles of manufacture comprising biocompatible nanostructures comprising significantly increased surface area for, e.g., organ, tissue and / or cell growth, e.g., for bone, tooth, kidney or liver growth, and uses thereof, e.g., for in vitro testing of drugs, chemicals or toxins, or as in vivo implants, including their use in making and using artificial tissues and organs, and related, diagnostic, screening, research and development and therapeutic uses, e.g., as drug delivery devices. The present invention provides biocompatible nanostructures with significantly increased surface area, such as with nanotube and nanopore array on the surface of metallic, ceramic, or polymer materials for enhanced cell and bone growth, for in vitro and in vivo testing, cleansing reaction, implants and therapeutics. The present invention provides optically transparent or translucent cell-culturing substrates. The present invention provides biocompatible and cell-growth-enhancing culture substrates comprising elastically compliant protruding nanostructure substrates coated with Ti, TiO2 or related metal and metal oxide films.

An advanced coating for parts used in plasma processing chamber. The advanced coating is formed over an anodized surface that has not been sealed. After the coating is formed, the coated area is masked, and the remaining anodized surface is sealed. The porous and rough structure of the anodized but un-sealed aluminum enhances adhesion of the coating. However, to prevent particle generation, the exposed anodized surface is sealed after formation of the coating. The coating can be of yttria, formed by plasma enhanced atomic deposition techniques which results in a dense and smooth coating.

Methods of forming a nano-scale electronic and optoelectronic devices include forming a substrate having a semiconductor layer therein and a substrate insulating layer on the semiconductor layer. An etching template having a first array of non-photolithographically defined nano-channels extending therethrough, is formed on the substrate insulating layer. This etching template may comprise an anodized metal oxide, such as an anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) thin film. The substrate insulating layer is then selectively etched to define a second array of nano-channels therein. This selective etching step preferably uses the etching template as an etching mask to transfer the first array of nano-channels to the underlying substrate insulating layer, which may be thinner than the etching template. An array of semiconductor nano-pillars is then formed in the second array of nano-channels. The semiconductor nano-pillars in the array may have an average diameter in a range between about 8 nm and about 50 nm. The semiconductor nano-pillars are also preferably homoepitaxial or heteroepitaxial with the semiconductor layer.

A device, system and method for diagnosing and treating gastric disorders is provided. A functional device resides within the patient's stomach and is secured to the stomach wall by an attachment device. The functional device may be a sensor for sensing various parameters of the stomach or stomach environment, or may be a therapeutic delivery device. The functional device in one embodiment provides a device, system and method for gastric electrical stimulation where stimulating electrodes are secured to the wall of the stomach by the attachment device or otherwise. A preferred device includes: at least one stimulating electrode in electrical contact with the stomach wall; an electronics unit containing the electronic circuitry of the device; and an attachment mechanism for attaching the device to the stomach wall. The functional devices may be programmed to respond to sensed information or signals. An endoscopic delivery system delivers the functional device through the esophagus and into the stomach where it is attached the stomach wall. The endoscopic instruments attach or remove the attachment devices and functional devices from the stomach and may be used to assist in determining the optimal attachment location.

A TBC system suitable for protecting the surface of a substrate subjected to a hostile thermal environment. The TBC system comprises a bond coat on the substrate surface, an alumina scale on the bond coat, and a multilayer TBC comprising a thermal-sprayed first ceramic layer on the alumina scale and a thermal-sprayed second ceramic layer overlying the first ceramic layer. The first ceramic layer consists essentially of partially stabilized zirconia so as to comprise the tetragonal and cubic phases of zirconia. The second ceramic layer consists essentially of fully stabilized zirconia so as to consist essentially of the cubic phase of zirconia. The second ceramic layer is also characterized by having vertical microcracks that extend through the thickness thereof. The second ceramic layer is thicker and more erosion resistant than the first ceramic layer.

Provided according to embodiments of the invention are nanostructured surfaces that include a substrate; and an array of metallic nanopillar islands on the substrate, wherein each metallic nanopillar island includes a metal base layer on the substrate and a plurality of metallic nanopillars on the metal base layer, and wherein portions of the substrate between adjacent metallic nanopillar islands are free of the metal base layer. Also provided according to some embodiments of the invention are nanostructured surfaces that include a non-conductive substrate; and at least one nanoelectrode defined within the non-conductive substrate, wherein the at least one nanoelectrode is sized and / or shaped to immobilize an analyte or a probe molecule. Also provided are apparatuses and methods for SERS and detection of analytes or biological binding by EDL capacitance.

A method is described for catalyst-induced growth of carbon nanotubes, nanofibers, and other nanostructures on the tips of nanowires, cantilevers, conductive micro / nanometer structures, wafers and the like. The method can be used for production of carbon nanotube-anchored cantilevers that can significantly improve the performance of scaning probe microscopy (AFM, EFM etc). The invention can also be used in many other processes of micro and / or nanofabrication with carbon nanotubes / fibers. Key elements of this invention include: (1) Proper selection of a metal catalyst and programmable pulsed electrolytic deposition of the desired specific catalyst precisely at the tip of a substrate, (2) Catalyst-induced growth of carbon nanotubes / fibers at the catalyst-deposited tips, (3) Control of carbon nanotube / fiber growth pattern by manipulation of tip shape and growth conditions, and (4) Automation for mass production.

The invention relates to the deposition or attachment of materials to surfaces. It relates to a process for coating a surface with a first material and a second material, comprising the following steps: placing the first material on the said surface, inserting into the first material placed on the said surface precursor molecules of the second material, converting the said precursor molecules of the second material inserted into the first material into the said second material such that this second material becomes formed on the said surface to be coated and within the said first material placed on the said surface. The object of the process of the invention is to allow the deposition of materials of any type onto surfaces of any type.

A method of preparing graphene sheets. The method includes: immersing a portion of a first electrode and a portion of a second electrode in a solution containing an acid, an anionic surfactant, a salt, an oxidizing agent, or any combination thereof as an electrolyte, the immersed portion of the first electrode including a first carbon material and the immersed portion of the second electrode including a second carbon material or a metal; causing a potential to exist between the first and second electrodes; and recovering, from the solution, graphene sheets exfoliated from the carbon material(s). Also disclosed is a method of preparing a graphene film electrode. The method includes: dissolving graphene sheets in an organic solvent to form a solution, applying the solution on a substrate, adding deionized water to the solution on the substrate so that a graphene film is formed, and drying the graphene film.

Nanotubular structured titanium (Ti) substrates have been coated with nanoparticulate hydroxyapatite (nano-HA). The nano-HA surface is highly adherent to the nanotubular Ti surface and is free of microparticles. The nano-HA coated nanotubular Ti surface promotes osteoblast cell adhesion and is particularly suitable for orthopedic and dental implants where deposition of osteoblasts and other proteins is important in bone formation.

A multilayered ceramic topcoat of a thermal barrier coating system is useful for high temperature corrosive applications such as hot section components in gas turbine engines. The ceramic topcoat includes at least two layers, each having generally columnar grain microstructures with different grain orientation directions. A preferred method of producing the multilayered ceramic topcoat includes positioning a superalloy substrate at a first angled orientation relative to a ceramic vapor cloud in an electron beam physical vapor deposition apparatus for a time sufficient to grow a first ceramic layer. The substrate is then reoriented to a second, different angled orientation for a time sufficient to grow a second ceramic layer. The ceramic layers exhibit columnar microstructures having respective grain orientation directions which are related to the first and second substrate orientations. For uniformly coating a complex contoured surface such as a turbine blade airfoil, the blade can be rotated during coating deposition at each angled orientation. Alternatively, the article may be continuously reoriented according to a predetermined speed cycle to produce generally arcuate, sinusoidal, helical, or other columnar grain microstructures.

Disclosed is a method for creating a mark desired properties on an anodized specimen and the mark itself. The method includes providing a laser marking system having a controllable laser pulse parameters, determining the laser pulse parameters associated with the desired properties and directing the laser marking system to mark the article using the selected laser pulse parameters. Laser marks so made have optical density that ranges from transparent to opaque, white color, texture indistinguishable from the surrounding article and durable, substantially intact anodization. The anodization may also be dyed and optionally bleached to create other colors.

A process for forming a zinc oxide film including immersing an electroconductive substrate having a surface including a plurality of linear projections in an aqueous solution containing at least nitrate ions and zinc ions to form a zinc oxide film on the electroconductive substrate by a liquid-phase deposition. The plurality of linear projections may preferably provide an uneven surface which has a center-line average surface roughness Ra(X) of 15-300 nm when scanned in a direction parallel to the linear projections, a center line average surface roughness Ra(Y) of 20-600 nm when scanned in a direction perpendicular to the linear projections, and an Ra(X) / Ra(Y) ratio of at most 0.8. The thus formed zinc oxide film is provided with an uneven surface suitable for an optical-confinement layer of a photo-electricity generating device excellent in photoelectric performances.

A method for treating a surface of a medical implant to create nanostructures on the surface that results in increased in-vivo chondrocyte adhesion to the surface. Further, disclosed is a method to fabricate a drug delivery system. The drug delivery system includes a medical implant that has undergone a surface treatment process that results in the modification of the surface configuration and topography. The modified surface acts as a depot or reservoir for loaded biological material, biologic agents or pharmaceutical products. Additionally, a device for delivering pharmaceutical products or other biological materials is disclosed. The device includes integrally attached nanostructures that retain or adsorb the loaded pharmaceutical products and / or biological materials. Further disclosed is a medical implant that includes a surface configured to allow for and regulate protein adsorption. The surface of the medical implant has a layer of nanostructures rigidly attached with varying porosity and orientation that allow for surface protein adsorption to be controlled.

The present invention provides conductive carbon nanotube (CNT) electrode materials comprising aligned CNT substrates coated with an electrically conducting polymer, and the fabrication of electrodes for use in high performance electrical energy storage devices. In particular, the present invention provides conductive CNTs electrode material whose electrical properties render them especially suitable for use in high efficiency rechargeable batteries. The present invention also provides methods for obtaining surface modified conductive CNT electrode materials comprising an array of individual linear, aligned CNTs having a uniform surface coating of an electrically conductive polymer such as polypyrrole, and their use in electrical energy storage devices.

Methods for the application of a polymer-free coating onto a medical device using plasma electrolytic deposition, comprising: (i) optionally applying a metal precoating onto a medical device; (ii) placing the medical device in an electrolyte solution comprising an electrolyte; and (iii) establishing an electric potential under plasma electrolytic deposition conditions between an electrode and the medical device, such that the plasma electrolytic deposition conditions are adequate to sustain deposition from the electrolyte solution onto the surface of the medical device to form the coating. The invention also relates to coating compositions and coated medical devices, such as stents, made according to these methods. If desired, the polymer-free coating can be a drug-eluting coating.

In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to nanoporous anodized aluminum oxide templates of high uniformity and methods for making same, wherein such templates lack a AAO barrier layer. In some or other embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods of electrodepositing nanorods in the nanopores of these templates. In still other embodiments, the present invention is directed to electrodepositing catalyst material in the nanopores of these templates and growing nanorods or other 1-dimensional nanostructures via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or other techniques.

High strength steel plate with an ultimate tensile strength of 900 MPa or more which is excellent in hydrogen embrittlement resistance characterized in that, in the structure of the steel plate, (a) by volume fraction, ferrite is present in 10 to 50%, bainitic ferrite and / or bainite in 10 to 60%, and tempered martensite in 10 to 50%, and (b) iron-based carbides which contain Si or Si and Al in 0.1% or more are present in 4×108 (particles / mm3) or more.

The invention relates to a self-supporting composite element and to a method of producing same. The composite element comprises a substrate of electronic conductive material which is covered with metal nanowires that are essentially oriented along a plane that is perpendicular to the substrate. The element is produced in a cell comprising a cathode which is formed by the substrate to be covered, one or more anodes and an electrolyte which is formed by a solution of a precursor of the metal material and optionally containing a conductive ionic salt, a flat porous membrane which is placed between the cathode and each of the anodes and a spacer element between each membrane and the anode adjacent thereto, the different constituent parts of the cell being maintained in contact.

The present invention provides conductive carbon nanotube (CNT) electrode materials comprising aligned CNT substrates coated with an electrically conducting polymer, and the fabrication of electrodes for use in high performance electrical energy storage devices. In particular, the present invention provides conductive CNTs electrode material whose electrical properties render them especially suitable for use in high efficiency rechargeable batteries. The present invention also provides methods for obtaining surface modified conductive CNT electrode materials comprising an array of individual linear, aligned CNTs having a uniform surface coating of an electrically conductive polymer such as polypyrrole, and their use in electrical energy storage devices.

The invention relates to an intensive anodic oxidation process to prepare porous anodic alumina film. An aluminum sheet is as an anode; a platinum sheet as a cathode; argon as shielded gas; mixed solution of perchloric acid with absolute alcohol as electrochemical polishing compound for the aluminum sheet; mixed solution of oxalic acid, absolute alcohol and deionized water as electrolyte; and mixed solution of phosphoric acid, chromic acid and deionized water as alumina film corrodent. Through aluminum sheet annealing, purging, electrochemical polishing, mild anodic oxidation, corrosion on aluminum sheet oxide film, intensive anodic oxidation and stripping oxide film, and finally, pale yellow, high purity and ordered porous-structured nanometer-leveled alumina film is achieved; The alumina film pore is in circular shape sized in 30 to 35nm, pore distance in 80 to100nm and pore depth in 162.4 micrometers; growth rate of the alumina film is 54 micrometers / h, which is 27 times higher than 2 micrometers / h of growth rate of anodic oxidation aluminum film prepared through mild anodic oxidation process.

In one embodiment, SWNTs are synthesized from an embedded catalyst in a modified porous anodic alumina (PAA) template. Pd is electrodeposited into the template to form nanowires that grow from an underlying conductive layer beneath the PAA and extend to the initiation sites of the SWNTs within each pore. Individual vertical channels of SWNTs are created, each with a vertical Pd nanowire back contact. Further Pd deposition results in annular Pd nanoparticles that form on portions of SWNTs extending onto the PAA surface. Two-terminal electrical characteristics produce linear I-V relationships, indicating ohmic contact in the devices.

Composition for post-treating anodized aluminum and aluminum alloys and the process for using said composition to improve the corrosion-resistance, abrasion, and adhesion bonding properties of the anodized aluminum and its alloys. The composition comprises an acidic aqueous solution having a pH ranging from about 2.5 to 4.5 containing effective amounts of trivalent chromium salts, alkali metal hexafluorozirconates, an alkali metal fluoro-compound e.g. fluoroborates and / or fluorosilicates, and effective amounts of water soluble thickeners and surfactants.

This invention presents microstructures enhanced with nanopillars. The invention also provides ways for manufacturing nanopillar-enhanced microstructures. In some embodiments, the invention also provides methods of use for the nanopillar-enhanced microstructures.

The invention relates to a unique battery having an active, porous membrane and method of making the same. More specifically the invention relates to a sealed battery system having a porous, metal oxide membrane with uniform, physicochemically functionalized ion channels capable of adjustable ionic interaction. The physicochemically-active porous membrane purports dual functions: an electronic insulator (separator) and a unidirectional ion-transporter (electrolyte). The electrochemical cell membrane is activated for the transport of ions by contiguous ion coordination sites on the interior two-dimensional surfaces of the trans-membrane unidirectional pores. The membrane material is designed to have physicochemical interaction with ions. Control of the extent of the interactions between the ions and the interior pore walls of the membrane and other materials, chemicals, or structures contained within the pores provides adjustability of the ionic conductivity of the membrane.

The invention discloses a method for preparing a metal titanium or titanium alloy super-oleophobic surface. The method comprises the following steps of: performing primary anodic oxidation treatment on metal titanium or titanium alloy to obtain a roughened surface with a microstructure; forming a titanium dioxide nanotube array film on the surface with microstructure through secondary anodic oxidation so as to obtain a composite fine structured micro-nanostructure; and modifying with a low-surface-energy substance to obtain the super-oleophobic surface and the super-hydrophobic and super-oleophobic surface. The metal titanium or titanium alloy surface has super-oleophobic and super-hydrophobic characteristics for multiple kinds of organic liquid, the static contact angle is greater than 155 degrees; the rolling angle is less than 10 degrees; meanwhile, the surface also shows superior super-oleophobic and super-hydrophobic characteristics for pure water and aqueous solution of acid, alkali and salt.