Hrl Laboratories, LLC

The Boeing Company

Theboeing Company

Shanying Cui

Adam Franklin Gross

Christopher Stephen Roper

Andrew Paul Nowak

John J Vajo

Florian G Herrault

Xin Ning Guan

April Rose Rodriguez

Kevin Geary

Tobias A Schaedler

Ashley M Dustin

Danny M Kim

Kevin Scott Callahan

Jonathan James Lynch

Jamie J Childress

Andrew C Keefe

Walter S Wall

Ryan G Quarfoth

Raymond Sarkissian

Phuong Bui

Kevin J Drummey

Ashley M Nelson

Sean M Meenehan

Randolph C Camp

Brian Wayne Neff

Phuong Phuc Nam Bui

Danny Kim

Randolph C Camp Iii

Some variations provide a magnetically anisotropic structure comprising a hexaferrite film disposed on a substrate, wherein the hexaferrite film contains a plurality of discrete and aligned magnetic hexaferrite particles, wherein the hexaferrite film is characterized by an average film thickness from about 1 micron to about 500 microns, and wherein the hexaferrite film contains less than 2 wt % organic matter. The hexaferrite film does not require a binder. Discrete particles are not sintered or annealed together because the maximum processing temperature to fabricate the structure is 500° C. or less, such as 250° C. or less. The magnetic hexaferrite particles may contain barium hexaferrite (BaFeO) and/or strontium hexaferrite (SrFeO). The hexaferrite film may be characterized by a remanence-to-saturation magnetization ratio of at least 0.7. Methods of making and using the magnetically anisotropic structure are also described.

Magnetically anisotropic binder-free films containing discrete hexaferrite nanoplatelets

Some variations provide a polyoxalamide polymer comprising: one or more first segments containing at least one repeat unit that includes (i) a branched, aliphatic hydrocarbon species and (ii) first amide groups at internal ends of the repeat unit, wherein the first amide groups are part of oxalamide groups; one or more polymer end groups containing second amide groups that are each covalently bonded directly to one of the first amide groups, wherein the second amide groups are also part of the oxalamide groups, and wherein the oxalamide groups contain —N—C(═O)—C(—O)—N-sequences; and a reacted form of one or more multifunctional amine chain extenders or crosslinkers with an amine functionality of 3 or greater. The polyoxalamide polymer may be present in a lens, a window, a coating, or a film, for example. The polyoxalamide polymer may have UV transparency, visual transparency, NIR transparency, MWIR transparency, and/or LWIR transparency.

Durable, broadband-transparent polyoxalamide polymers and methods of making and using the same

A self-sanitizing surface structure configured to selectively refract light, a method of fabricating a self-sanitizing surface configured to selectively refract light, and a method of decontaminating a surface using selectively refracted light. A waveguide including a support layer below a propagating layer is positioned over a substrate as a self-sanitizing layer. In the absence of a contaminant or residue on the waveguide, UV light injected into the propagating layer is constrained within the propagating layer due to total internal reflection. When a residue is present on the self-sanitizing surface structure, light may be selectively refracted at or near the interface with the residue along the side of the waveguide to destroy the residue. The self-sanitizing surface structure may be configured is to refract a suitable amount of UV light in response to a particular type of residue or application.

Self-sanitizing waveguiding surfaces

A thermal protection system includes: an outer skin; a thermally insulating material under the outer skin; and a high temperature radio frequency (RF) aperture. The RF aperture includes a plurality of waveguides separated from each other and extending through the outer skin and the thermally insulating material.

Thermal protection system including high temperature radio frequency aperture

Some variations provide an interspersed assembly of nanoparticles, the assembly comprising a first phase containing first nanoparticles and a second phase containing second nanoparticles, wherein the second phase is interspersed with the first phase, and wherein the first nanoparticles are compositionally different than the second nanoparticles. The interspersed assembly may be a semi-ordered assembly comprising discrete first-phase particles surrounded by a continuous second phase. Other variations provide a core-shell assembly of nanoparticles, the assembly comprising a first phase containing first nanoparticles and a second phase containing compositionally distinct second nanoparticles, wherein the second phase forms a shell surrounding a core of the first phase. The disclosed assemblies may have a volume from 1 μmto 1 mm, a packing fraction from 20% to 100%, and an average relative surface roughness less than 5%, for example. Methods of making these assemblies are described, and many experimental examples are included.

Complex structures obtained from dissolving-droplet nanoparticle assembly

A self-sanitizing surface structure configured to selectively refract light, a method of fabricating a self-sanitizing surface configured to selectively refract light, and a method of decontaminating a surface using selectively refracted light. A waveguide including a support layer below a propagating layer is positioned over a substrate as a self-sanitizing layer. In the absence of a contaminant or residue on the waveguide, UV light injected into the propagating layer is constrained within the propagating layer due to total internal reflection. When a residue is present on the self-sanitizing surface structure, light may be selectively refracted at or near the interface with the residue along the side of the waveguide to destroy the residue. The self-sanitizing surface structure may be configured to refract a suitable amount of UV light in response to a particular type of residue or application.

A light emitting device for emitting UVC radiation. The device comprises a substrate and a patterned layer. The patterned layer comprises a plurality of mask regions on the substrate. Exposed portions of the substrate are disposed between the mask regions. A plurality of nanostructures are disposed on the exposed portions of the substrate and over the mask regions, the plurality of nanostructures being a single crystal semiconductor and comprising a core tip. An active layer is disposed over the plurality of nanostructures. The active layer is a quantum well structure and comprises at least one material chosen from AIN, AlGaN and GaN. A p-doped layer is disposed over the active layer. Both the active layer and the p-doped layer are conformal to the plurality of nanostructures so as to form an emitter tip over the core tip.

Light emitting device and method of making the same

A photonic reflector device includes a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer, which functions as a retro-reflector, is formed of a first material contacting a second material and having a non-planar interface therebetween. The second layer, which functions as a photonic crystal, includes third and fourth materials that have different refractive indices from one another and are configured such that the second layer has a periodic optical potential along at least one dimension. The third layer, which functions as a Lambertian scatterer, includes a plurality of inclusions in a first matrix material. In combination, the layers may be optimized to synergistically reflect targeted wavelengths and/or polarizations of light.

Modular photonic reflectors

The disclosed structure is configured such that it does not support electromagnetic waves having frequencies within a selected band gap; those electromagnetic waves are thus reflected. Some variations provide an omnidirectional infrared reflector comprising a three-dimensional photonic crystal containing: rods of a first material that has a first refractive index, wherein the rods are arranged to form a plurality of lattice periods in three dimensions, and wherein the rods are connected at a plurality of nodes; and a second material that has a refractive index that is lower than the first refractive index, wherein the rods are embedded in the second material. The lattice spacing and the rod radius or width are selected to produce a photonic band gap within a selected band of the infrared spectrum. Methods of making and using the three-dimensional photonic crystal are described. Applications include thermal barrier coatings and blackbody emission signature control.

Omnidirectional and thermally durable infrared reflectors, and methods for making the same

Some variations provide a magnetically anisotropic structure comprising a magnetically anisotropic film on a substrate, wherein the magnetically anisotropic film contains a plurality of discrete magnetic hexaferrite particles, wherein the film is characterized by an average film thickness from 1 micron to 5 millimeters, and wherein the magnetically anisotropic film contains from 2 wt % to 75 wt % organic matter. Some variations provide a magnetically anisotropic structure comprising an out-of-plane magnetically anisotropic film on a substrate, wherein the magnetically anisotropic film contains a plurality of discrete magnetic hexaferrite particles, wherein the film is characterized by an average film thickness from 1 micron to 5 millimeters, and wherein the magnetically anisotropic film contains a concentration of hexaferrite particles of at least 40 vol %. The magnetically anisotropic structures are fabricated at low temperatures so that the magnetically anisotropic film may be monolithically integrated into an integrated-circuit fabrication process.

Low-temperature-deposited self-biased magnetic composite films containing discrete hexaferrite platelets

A method for fabricating polymeric sheets containing microwires includes encapsulating at least a portion of individual lengths of a plurality of microwires in a non-conductive polymeric sheet while the microwires are attached to the substrate. The microwires are then detached from the substrate without removing the microwires from the polymeric sheet. The detaching step forms a separated polymeric sheet containing the detached microwires. Individual detached microwires of the plurality are approximately perpendicular to the separated polymeric sheet. A microwire array device includes a non-conductive polymeric sheet and a plurality of microwires. Individual microwires of the plurality have an independent length at least partially encapsulated by the polymeric sheet, are approximately perpendicular to the polymeric sheet, and contain magnetic ferrite.

Microwire array devices and methods for fabricating polymeric sheets containing microwires

Some variations provide a magnetically anisotropic structure comprising a hexaferrite film disposed on a substrate, wherein the hexaferrite film contains a plurality of discrete and aligned magnetic hexaferrite particles, wherein the hexaferrite film is characterized by an average film thickness from about 1 micron to about 500 microns, and wherein the hexaferrite film contains less than 2 wt % organic matter. The hexaferrite film does not require a binder. Discrete particles are not sintered or annealed together because the maximum processing temperature to fabricate the structure is 500&#xb0; C. or less, such as 250&#xb0; C. or less. The magnetic hexaferrite particles may contain barium hexaferrite (BaFeO) and/or strontium hexaferrite (SrFeO). The hexaferrite film may be characterized by a remanence-to-saturation magnetization ratio of at least 0.7. Methods of making and using the magnetically anisotropic structure are also described.

A light emitting device for emitting UVC radiation. The device comprises a substrate and a patterned layer. The patterned layer comprises a plurality of mask regions on the substrate. Exposed portions of the substrate are disposed between the mask regions. A plurality of nanostructures are disposed on the exposed portions of the substrate and over the mask regions, the plurality of nanostructures being a single crystal semiconductor and comprising a core tip. An active layer is disposed over the plurality of nanostructures. The active layer is a quantum well structure and comprises at least one material chosen from AlN, AlGaN and GaN. A p-doped layer is disposed over the active layer. Both the active layer and the p-doped layer are conformal to the plurality of nanostructures so as to form an emitter tip over the core tip.

Some variations provide a reworkable ionomer composition comprising: a polymer containing a plurality of ionic monomers disposed in a chain backbone of the polymer, wherein the ionic monomers have a monomer charge polarity that is either positive or negative; and a plurality of ionic species disposed within the chain backbone of the polymer, wherein the ionic species have opposite charge polarity compared to the monomer charge polarity, wherein the ionic species and the ionic monomers are ionically bonded, and wherein the ionic species are capable of undergoing a reversible oxidation-state transition of at least +1 or &#x2212;1 when in the presence of a redox reagent. The polymer may be selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyacrylates, polyamides, polyesters, polyureas, polyurethane-ureas, polysiloxanes, polycarbonates, and combinations thereof. Many options for ionic monomers and ionic species are disclosed. These reworkable ionomers are useful for many commercial applications, including coatings and polymer parts.

Reworkable ionomers

In some variations, the invention provides a method of depositing nanoparticles on a substrate, comprising: providing a substrate having a positive or negative surface charge; optionally depositing a polymer on the substrate, wherein the polymer has opposite charge polarity compared to the substrate; and simultaneously depositing first nanoparticles and second nanoparticles onto the substrate, wherein the first nanoparticles and the second nanoparticles have opposite charge polarities during depositing. Other variations provide a method of depositing a layer of nanoparticles on a substrate, the method comprising: providing a substrate having a positive or negative surface charge; providing faceted nanoparticles; preparing a nanoparticle solution containing the nanoparticles; and adjusting surface charge of the nanoparticles by changing the solution pH to reduce the magnitude of average zeta potential of the nanoparticles, thereby causing aggregation of the nanoparticles onto the substrate surface. Very high packing densities may be achieved with these methods.

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Calabasas, CA, United States of America

Shanying Cui