Other

West Virginia University

Darran R Cairns

Matthew S Shafran

Konstantinos A Sierros

Wade W Huebsch

Sadeg Mustafa Faris

Le Li

Gregory P Crawford

Christopher Chadwick Bowley

Adam K Fontecchio

Aaron Kessman

Sorasak Danworaphong

Provided according to some embodiments of the invention are hydrophobic and/or oleophobic silica-based coatings. In some embodiments of the invention, coatings may include a silica matrix having hydrophobic and/or oleophobic functionalized pores encapsulated therein. Also provided according to some embodiments of the invention are methods of forming a coating according to an embodiment described herein. In some embodiments, methods include (a) combining at least one silane and/or alkoxysilane and at least one fluoroalkylsilane and/or fluoroalkoxysilane with an alcohol, water and an acid to form a sol mixture; (b) adding a surfactant to the sol mixture to form a surfactant sol mixture; (c) depositing the surfactant sol mixture onto a substrate; and (d) curing the surfactant sol mixture to form a silica coating. Methods of preventing adhesion are also provided herein.

Hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings

Disclosed are various embodiments of methods and systems related to stimulus responsive nanoparticles. In one embodiment includes a stimulus responsive nanoparticle system, the system includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a plurality of elongated electro-responsive nanoparticles dispersed between the first and second electrodes, the plurality of electro-responsive nanorods configured to respond to an electric field established between the first and second electrodes.

Stimulus responsive nanoparticles

A reflective strain gauge includes an holographically-formed polymer dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) film comprising layers of liquid crystal (LC) droplets in a matrix polymer, the H-PDLC film having a reflection or transmission grating capable of reflecting or transmitting light of a selected wavelength, and means for adhering the film to a surface of a workpiece for monitoring the strain at said surface. A change in the nature of the reflected light is an indication of strain. Also included is a polarizing material having an holographically-formed polymer dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) film comprising layers of liquid crystal (LC) droplets in a matrix polymer, the H-PDLC film having a reflection grating capable of reflecting light of a selected wavelength, wherein the reflection grating of the H-PDLC film is oriented, such that the refractive index parallel to said axis of orientation (n ) is greater than the refractive index perpendicular to said axis (n ).

Reflective liquid crystal strain gauge with aspected particles and polarization-sensitive devices

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Providence, RI, United States of America

Darran R Cairns