Ut-battelle, Inc.

Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.

Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation

Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc.

The United States of America As Represented by the United States

Other

Cooper Industries, Inc.

The University of Tennessee Research Foundation

Lambda Technologies, Inc.

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Energy

Cooper Power Systems, Inc.

Robert J Lauf

April D McMillan

Zakaryae Fathi

Tommy Joe Phelps

Don W Bible

Kimberly K Anderson

Arthur J Moorhead

Jack L Collins

Frederick Charles Montgomery

Claudia A Walls

Arvid C Johnson

Lonnie J Love

Ilia N Ivanov

Chad Edward Duty

Wesley D Arnold, Jr

Walter D Bond

Felix L Paulauskas

Barbara S Hoffheins

Cressie E Holcombe

John James Felten

Paul A Menchhofer

Lynn Allen Boatner

Jianghua Wei

Norman L Dykes

Adam Justin Rondinone

Denise A Tucker

Ji-Won Moon

Ji Won Moon

M Alfred Akerman

Clyde Hamby, Jr

Yul Roh

Andrew Stephen Madden

Yiliang Li

Claudia Jeanette Rawn

Roland D Seals

John B Bates

Robert J Markunas

David P Stinton

Thomas G Kollie

Walter J Lackey, Jr

Chester S Morgan, Jr

Gerald Earle Jellison, Jr

Stephanie A McElhaney

Mohammad A Alim

Carl W Sohns

Richard L Heestand

Frank A Modine

Ronald L Beatty

James A Engblom

Raymond A Engblom

Jongsu Kim

Pamela H Fleming

Jehong Park

Alvin W Trivelpiece

Gerald D Mahan

Miroslaw Bartkowiak

Carl A Everleigh

Chuanlun Zhang

Larry T Thigpen

A method of forming a metal gallate spinel structure that includes mixing a divalent metal-containing salt and a gallium-containing salt in solution with fermentative or thermophilic bacteria. In the process, the bacteria nucleate metal gallate spinel nano-objects from the divalent metal-containing salt and the gallium-containing salt without requiring reduction of a metal in the solution. The metal gallate spinel structures, as well as light-emitting structures in which they are incorporated, are also described.

Method of microbially producing metal gallate spinel nano-objects, and compositions produced thereby

The invention is directed to a method for producing non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, the method comprising: (a) subjecting a combination of reaction components to conditions conducive to microbially-mediated formation of non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein said combination of reaction components comprises i) anaerobic microbes, ii) a culture medium suitable for sustaining said anaerobic microbes, iii) a metal component comprising at least one type of metal ion, iv) a non-metal component comprising at least one non-metal selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, and As, and v) one or more electron donors that provide donatable electrons to said anaerobic microbes during consumption of the electron donor by said anaerobic microbes; and (b) isolating said non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, which contain at least one of said metal ions and at least one of said non-metals. The invention is also directed to non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticle compositions produced as above and having distinctive properties.

Microbially-mediated method for synthesis of non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles

The invention is directed to a method for producing non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, the method comprising: (a) subjecting a combination of reaction components to conditions conducive to microbially-mediated formation of non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein said combination of reaction components comprises i) anaerobic microbes, ii) a culture medium suitable for sustaining said anaerobic microbes, iii) a metal component comprising at least one type of metal ion, iv) a non-metal component containing at least one non-metal selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, and As, and v) one or more electron donors that provide donatable electrons to said anaerobic microbes during consumption of the electron donor by said anaerobic microbes; and (b) isolating said non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, which contain at least one of said metal ions and at least one of said non-metals. The invention is also directed to non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticle compositions produced as above and having distinctive properties.

Display screen shades for mobile devices are provided. According to a representative embodiment, a display screen shade includes a bracket assembly configured for attachment to a mobile device. Further, the display screen shade includes a light valve for covering a display screen of the mobile device. The display screen shade also includes a hinge attached to the bracket assembly and the light valve. The hinge is configured to permit movement of the light valve between a first position and second position when the bracket assembly is attached to the mobile device. In the first position, the light valve substantially covers the display screen in the first position. In the second position, the light valve is positioned further from the display screen than in the first position.

Display screen shades for mobile devices

A combinatorial library includes a gelcast substrate defining a plurality of cavities in at least one surface thereof; and a plurality of gelcast test materials in the cavities, at least two of the test materials differing from the substrate in at least one compositional characteristic, the two test materials differing from each other in at least one compositional characteristic.

Combinatorial synthesis of ceramic materials

A method for producing mixed metal oxide compounds includes the steps of: providing a supply of a metal reducing bacteria; providing a culture medium suitable for growth of the bacteria; providing a first mixed metal oxide phase comprising at least a first and a second metal, at least one of the first and second metal being reducible from a higher to a lower oxidation state by the bacteria; and, combining the bacteria, the culture medium, the first mixed metal oxide, and at least one electron donor in a reactor, wherein the bacteria reduces at least one of the first metal and the second metal from the higher to the lower oxidation state to form a second mixed metal oxide phase.

Fermentative process for making inorganic nanoparticles

Sintered, translucent ceramic microbeads, preferably alumina, titania, zirconia, yttria, zirconium phosphate, or yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) are doped with one or more optically active species. The beads may be added to substances such as explosives in order to create a distinctive optical signature that identifies a manufacturer, lot number, etc. in the event of the need for forensic analysis. Because the beads have a generally spherical surface, the radius of curvature provides an additional distinguishing characteristic by which a particular sample may be identified. The beads could also be formulated into paints if needed to create distinctive optical signatures for camouflage, decoys, or other countermeasures and could also be applied as a dust to track the movement of personnel, vehicles, etc.

Inorganic optical taggant and method of making

The invention allows the fabrication of small, dense beads of dielectric materials with selected compositions, which are incorporated into a polymeric matrix for use in capacitors, filters, and the like. A porous, generally spherical bead of hydrous metal oxide containing titanium or zirconium is made by a sol-gel process to form a substantially rigid bead having a generally fine crystallite size and correspondingly finely distributed internal porosity. The resulting gel bead may be washed and hydrothermally reacted with a soluble alkaline earth salt (typically Ba or Sr) at elevated temperature and pressure to convert the bead into a mixed hydrous titanium- or zirconium-alkaline earth oxide while retaining the generally spherical shape. Alternatively, the gel bead may be made by coprecipitation. This mixed oxide bead is then washed, dried and calcined to produce the desired (BaTiO , PbTiO , SrZrO ) structure. The sintered beads are incorporated into a selected polymer matrix. The resulting dielectric composite material may be electrically &ldquo;poled&rdquo; if desired.

Method for preparing dielectric composite materials

An apparatus for thawing a frozen material includes: a microwave energy source; a microwave applicator which defines a cavity for applying microwave energy from the microwave source to a material to be thawed; and a shielded region which is shielded from the microwave source, the shielded region in fluid communication with the cavity so that thawed material may flow from the cavity into the shielded region.

Microwave thawing apparatus and method

A package for containing frozen liquids during an electromagnetic thawing process includes: a first section adapted for containing a frozen material and exposing the frozen material to electromagnetic energy; a second section adapted for receiving thawed liquid material and shielding the thawed liquid material from further exposure to electromagnetic energy; and a fluid communication means for allowing fluid flow between the first section and the second section.

Microwave thawing package and method

Dielectric composite materials and method for preparing

The present invention is directed to methods for preparing hydrous iron oxide spherules, hydrous iron oxide gels such as gel slabs, films, capillary and electrophoresis gels, iron monohydrogen phosphate spherules, hydrous iron oxide spherules having suspendable particles homogeneously embedded within to form composite sorbents and catalysts, iron monohydrogen phosphate spherules having suspendable particles of at least one different sorbent homogeneously embedded within to form a composite sorbent, iron oxide spherules having suspendable particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite of hydrous iron oxide fiber materials, iron oxide fiber materials, hydrous iron oxide fiber materials having suspendable particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite, iron oxide fiber materials having suspendable particles homogeneously embedded within to form a composite, dielectric spherules of barium, strontium, and lead ferrites and mixtures thereof, and composite catalytic spherules of barium or strontium ferrite embedded with oxides of Mg, Zn, Pb, Ce and mixtures thereof. These variations of hydrous iron oxide spherules and gel forms prepared by the gel-sphere, internal gelation process offer more useful forms of inorganic ion exchangers, catalysts, getters, dielectrics, and ceramics.

Method for preparing hydrous iron oxide gels and spherules

The invention allows the fabrication of small, dense, highly polished spherical beads of hexagonal ferrites with selected compositions for use in nonreciprocal microwave and mm-wave devices as well as in microwave absorbent or reflective coatings, composites, and the like. A porous, generally spherical bead of hydrous iron oxide is made by a sol-gel process to form a substantially rigid bead having a generally fine crystallite size and correspondingly finely distributed internal porosity. The resulting gel bead is washed and hydrothermally reacted with a soluble alkaline earth salt (typically Ba or Sr) under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure to convert the bead into a mixed hydrous iron-alkaline earth oxide while retaining the generally spherical shape. This mixed oxide bead is then washed, dried, and calcined to produce the desired (BaFe O or SrFe O ) crystal structure. The calcined bead is then sintered to form a dense bead of the BaFe O and SrFe O phase suitable for polishing and incorporation into various microwave devices and components.

Method for preparing spherical ferrite beads and use thereof

Methods and apparatus for producing mixed oxide nanoparticulates are disclosed. Selected thermophilic bacteria cultured with suitable reducible metals in the presence of an electron donor may be cultured under conditions that reduce at least one metal to form a doped crystal or mixed oxide composition. The bacteria will form nanoparticles outside the cell, allowing easy recovery. Selection of metals depends on the redox potentials of the reducing agents added to the culture. Typically hydrogen or glucose are used as electron donors.

Mixed oxide nanoparticles and method of making

Growing community of inventors

Oak Ridge, TN, United States of America

Robert J Lauf