Invention Description Accurate liquid sample delivery is important for applications ranging from biomedical diagnostics to advanced X-ray and electron spectroscopy, scattering, and diffraction. Producing droplets with precise volume, timing, and placement offers significant advantages, including higher efficiency, lower sample consumption, and better...

Invention Description The advancements in additive manufacturing (AM) have enabled the creation of complex, architected cellular materials (metamaterials) with extraordinary properties, surpassing traditional manufacturing capabilities. These materials offer significant improvements in weight reduction, thermal-fluid efficiency, and mechanical strength,...

Invention Description Traditional electronics and sensors often fail under mechanical stress due to structural fatigue, limited flexibility, and an inability to stretch, which restricts their use in advanced applications. Liquid metals (LMs), such as gallium alloys, like EGaIn, and gallium indium tin, have emerged as significant materials in the realm...

Invention Description Because the atmosphere is a vast source of fresh water (estimates put it at around six times more than the combined total in lakes and rivers), atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is being pursued as a viable tool to meet future global water challenges. There are various AWH devices including fog capture, desiccant-based (adsorber)...

Invention Description Commercial photoresins predominantly rely on (meth)acrylate-based formulations, which offer fast gelation rates, tunable crosslink densities/material properties, and relatively cost-effective production. Their popularity and demand is evidenced by the 27,000 metric tons of photoresins that were produced, globally, in 2023. Unfortunately,...

Invention Description Water is fundamental to sustainable development, acting as a crucial element for human survival, economic growth, energy, food production, and a healthy ecosystem. When more water is withdrawn from the ecosystem than is replenished, the risk for depletion and long-term damage to aquifers and that ecosystem is increased. Thus,...

Invention Description Because of their insulating and porous physical properties, polyurethanes are excellent materials for use in cushions and mattresses, insulation, packaging, acoustic absorbers and more. However, polyurethane synthesis requires catalysts, isocyanates and other agents which can be toxic and release concerning VOCs. In addition,...

Invention Description In the field of infrastructure and material science, accurately predicting the lifespan of binders and coatings is essential for managing long-term maintenance costs and durability. Current chemical aging measurement techniques look at the "carbonyl index," which acts as a molecular fingerprint for how much a material...

Invention Description Drinking water often contains unsafe levels of toxic contaminants including bacteria, viruses and protozoa. Common disinfectants include chlorine and mercury-based UVC lamps. However, chlorine is not widely available in all parts of the world, and mercury-based UVC systems don’t typically provide uniform distribution of...

Invention Description Heterogeneous composite materials, such as ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), are increasingly employed in high-temperature and extreme-environment applications due to their superior specific strength, thermal stability, and damage tolerance. The macroscopic response of these materials is governed by complex interactions among...