Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110077172 | ASSEMBLY AND DEPOSITION OF MATERIALS USING A SUPERHYDROPHOBIC SURFACE STRUCTURE - Fluidics-induced localized deposition and assembly of materials using a superhydrophobic surface structure is described. A method of localized deposition of a material includes contacting a superhydrophobic substrate comprising raised surface structures with a non-wetting fluid comprising a material to be locally deposited or a precursor thereto, said surface and said fluid selected such that the fluid wets only an upper portion of the raised surface structure; and allowing the material to deposit at the tips of the surface structure. | 03-31-2011 |
20110192233 | VERSATILE HIGH ASPECT RATIO ACTUATABLE NANOSTRUCTURED MATERIALS THROUGH REPLICATION - A method of forming a nanostructured surface, the method comprising including providing an original nanostructured surface having an array of high aspect ratio structures formed on a planar substrate; forming a negative replica mold of the original nanostructured surface, wherein the negative replica mold comprises a flexible material; deforming the negative replica mold; and using the deformed negative replica mold to form a deformed replica of the original nanostructured surface, wherein the deforming step is performed at least one of before, during, or after introducing a material for forming the deformed replica into the negative replica mold. | 08-11-2011 |
20110312080 | POROUS FILMS BY A TEMPLATING CO-ASSEMBLY PROCESS - A method of making a composite includes providing a particle suspension comprising colloidal particles ( | 12-22-2011 |
20130059113 | Structures For Preventing Microorganism Attachment - Methods of making and using substrates having raised structures to inhibit adhesion of microorganisms are described. | 03-07-2013 |
20130222881 | ADAPTIVE SHADING, DISPLAY AND COLOR CONTROL - An substrate having a second material on a surface of the substrate or embedded as a layer within the substrate are described. The second material has a different index of refraction and/or stiffness than the substrate so that stretching and unstretching of the substrate and the second material can induce wrinkles in the second material that interacts with light thereby allowing reversible change from a transparent state to an opaque or iridescent state, and vice versa. The present disclosure is useful as a shading system and/or displays. | 08-29-2013 |
20130236641 | LOW-TEMPERATURE SYNTHESIS OF SILICA - An ambient pressure Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technique to grow uniform silica layers onto organic substrates at low temperatures, including room temperature, is described. For example, tetramethoxysilane vapor is used alternately with ammonia vapor as a catalyst in an ambient environment. | 09-12-2013 |
20130330501 | HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURED SURFACES TO CONTROL WETTING CHARACTERISTICS - A hierarchical surface having improved control of the wetting characteristics and methods for forming the same is described. The hierarchical surface includes a primary structure having at least one primary characteristic features; a secondary structure having at least one secondary characteristic features, wherein the size of the at least one secondary characteristic features are larger than the size of the at least one primary characteristic features. Moreover, the primary structure and the secondary structure synergistically provide improved mechanical properties and control of the wetting characteristics over that of the primary structure or the secondary structure alone. | 12-12-2013 |
20140016177 | ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIVE OPTICAL MICROSTRUCTURED HYBRID ACTUATOR ASSEMBLIES AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF - Microstructured hybrid actuator assemblies in which microactuators carrying designed surface properties to be revealed upon actuation are embedded in a layer of responsive materials. The microactuators in a microactuator array reversibly change their configuration in response to a change in the environment without requiring an external power source to switch their optical properties. | 01-16-2014 |
20140017145 | MANIPULATION OF FLUIDS IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL POROUS PHOTONIC STRUCTURES WITH PATTERNED SURFACE PROPERTIES - A three-dimensional porous photonic structure, whose internal pore surfaces can be provided with desired surface properties in a spatially selective manner with arbitrary patterns, and methods for making the same are described. When exposed to a fluid (e.g., via immersion or wicking), the fluid can selectively penetrate the regions of the structure with compatible surface properties. Broad applications, for example in security, encryption and document authentication, as well as in areas such as simple microfluidics and diagnostics, are anticipated. | 01-16-2014 |
20140123578 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF TRANSPARENT MEDIA - A bio-inspired window can be created by applying one or more heat exchange layers to one or more surfaces of a window of a building, boat, vehicle or any other structure. The heat exchange layer can include an interconnected network or array of channels or microchannels that can be used to flow a fluid over the surface of the window. The fluid can be used to heat or cool the surface of the window panel to control the flow of heat across the window and reduce the heating or cooling energy load of building. The fluid can be heated or cooled using the ambient air in the building. The refractive index of the fluid can be adjusted to change of optical transparency properties of the window. In some embodiments, the window can appear nearly as clear as an ordinary panel of glass. In other embodiments, the window can color, block or scatter the incoming light. | 05-08-2014 |
20140147627 | SLIPPERY SURFACES WITH HIGH PRESSURE STABILITY, OPTICAL TRANSPARENCY, AND SELF-HEALING CHARACTERISTICS - The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS). Roughened (e.g., porous) surfaces can be utilized to lock in place a lubricating fluid, referred to herein as Liquid B to repel a wide range of materials, referred to herein as Object A (Solid A or Liquid A). SLIPS outperforms other conventional surfaces in its capability to repel various simple and complex liquids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and blood), maintain low-contact-angle hysteresis (<2.5°), quickly restore liquid-repellency after physical damage (within 0.1-1 s), resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion, and function at high pressures (up to at least 690 atm). Some exemplary application where SLIPS will be useful include energy-efficient fluid handling and transportation, optical sensing, medicine, and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments. | 05-29-2014 |
20140187666 | SLIPPERY LIQUID-INFUSED POROUS SURFACES AND BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS THEREOF - A self-healing, scratch resistant slippery surface that is manufactured by wicking a chemically-inert, high-density liquid coating over a roughened solid surface featuring micro and nanoscale topographies is described. Such a slippery surface shows anti-wetting properties, as well as exhibits significant reduction of adhesion of a broad range of biological materials, including particles in suspension or solution. Specifically, the slippery surfaces can be applied to medical devices and equipment to effectively repel biological materials such as blood, and prevent, reduce, or delay coagulation and surface-mediated clot formation. Moreover, the slippery surfaces can be used to prevent fouling by microorganisms such as bacteria. | 07-03-2014 |
20140290731 | SLIPPERY SURFACES WITH HIGH PRESSURE STABILITY, OPTICAL TRANSPARENCY, AND SELF-HEALING CHARACTERISTICS - The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS). Roughened (e.g., porous) surfaces can be utilized to lock in place a lubricating fluid, referred to herein as Liquid B to repel a wide range of materials, referred to herein as Object A (Solid A or Liquid A). SLIPS outperforms other conventional surfaces in its capability to repel various simple and complex liquids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and blood), maintain low-contact-angle hysteresis (<2.5°), quickly restore liquid-repellency after physical damage (within 0.1-1 s), resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion, and function at high pressures (up to at least 690 atm). Some exemplary application where SLIPS will be useful include energy-efficient fluid handling and transportation, optical sensing, medicine, and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments. | 10-02-2014 |
20140290732 | SLIPPERY SURFACES WITH HIGH PRESSURE STABILITY, OPTICAL TRANSPARENCY, AND SELF-HEALING CHARACTERISTICS - The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS). Roughened (e.g., porous) surfaces can be utilized to lock in place a lubricating fluid, referred to herein as Liquid B to repel a wide range of materials, referred to herein as Object A (Solid A or Liquid A). SLIPS outperforms other conventional surfaces in its capability to repel various simple and complex liquids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and blood), maintain low-contact-angle hysteresis (<2.5°), quickly restore liquid-repellency after physical damage (within 0.1-1 s), resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion, and function at high pressures (up to at least 690 atm). Some exemplary application where SLIPS will be useful include energy-efficient fluid handling and transportation, optical sensing, medicine, and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments. | 10-02-2014 |
20140328999 | Dynamic and Switchable Slippery Surfaces - The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) that can be modified as desired. Roughened (e.g., porous) surfaces can be utilized to lock in place a lubricating fluid, referred to herein as Liquid B to repel a wide range of objects, referred to herein as Object A (Solid A or Liquid A). Use of an external stimuli or degradation of the Liquid B can be utilized to change the characteristics of SLIPS structures reversibly or irreversibly that may be desired in a number of different applications. Numerous characteristics, such as adhesion, optical, mechanical, and the like, can be dynamically changed. | 11-06-2014 |
20140342954 | MODIFICATION OF SURFACES FOR FLUID AND SOLID REPELLENCY - Articles, methods of making, and uses for modifying surfaces for liquid repellency are disclosed. The liquid repellant surfaces comprise a surface comprising an anchoring layer. The anchoring layer, which forms an immobilized molecular anchoring layer on the surface, has a head group that is covalently linked to, or adsorbed onto, the surface and a functional group. The functional group of the treated surface has an affinity for a lubricating layer, which is applied to the treated surface. The anchoring layer and replenishable lubricating layer are held together by non-covalent attractive forces. Together, these layers form an ultra-repellant slippery surface that repels certain immiscible liquids and prevents adsorption, coagulation, and surface fouling by components contained within. | 11-20-2014 |
20140349870 | SELF-REGULATING CHEMO-MECHANO-CHEMICAL SYSTEMS - A chemo-mechano-chemical (C | 11-27-2014 |
20150093823 | Environmentally Responsive Microstructured Hybrid Actuator Assemblies For Use in Mechanical Stimulation of Cells - A method for mechanical stimulation of cells includes providing a substrate comprising a plurality of microactuators embedded in an environmentally responsive hydrogel polymer layer disposed on a region of the surface; adhering at least one cell to the substrate; and exposing the environmentally responsive hydrogel polymer layer to a stimulus, the stimulus changing a volume of the environmentally responsive hydrogel polymer layer from a first volume to a second volume and thereby moving the microactuators from a first position to a second position, wherein the movement of the microactuators provides localized mechanical force directly to cells on the substrate. | 04-02-2015 |
20150124265 | Reconfigurable Surfaces For Information Security and Protection of Physical Biometrics - Surfaces for information security and protection of physical biometrics, such as a fingerprint, is described. Such biometric information recording surface includes a plurality of raised structures that can reproduce a biometric information when a body part containing the biometric information is applied to the biometric metric information recording surface. The reproduced biometric information can be completely removed by applying a liquid to the plurality of raised structures without need to apply an external physical contact. | 05-07-2015 |
20150137502 | Anti-Counterfeiting Methods - A document and an Anti-counterfeiting method for use in such documents are described. Said document and Anti-counterfeiting method include introducing a plurality of raised nanoscopic to microscopic structures, here referred to as reconfigurable structures, formed over a polymer substrate to induce optical changes, such as structural color and/or optical fuzziness. Dynamic changes using liquids provide the anti-counterfeiting measures. | 05-21-2015 |
20150152270 | SLIPPERY SELF-LUBRICATING POLYMER SURFACES - The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery self-lubricating polymers. Lubricating liquids with affinities to polymers can be utilized to get absorbed within the polymer and form a lubricant layer (of the lubricating liquid) on the polymer. The lubricant layer can repel a wide range of materials, including simple and complex fluids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and bodily fluids), restore liquid-repellency after physical damage, and resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion. Some exemplary applications where self-lubricating polymers will be useful include energy-efficient, friction-reduction fluid handling and transportation, medical devices, anti-icing, optical sensing, and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments. | 06-04-2015 |
20150175814 | Slips Surface Based on Metal-Containing Compound - A method of preparing an article having a slippery surface includes providing a metal-containing surface, chemically modifying the metal-containing surface to roughen the metal-containing surface, and disposing a lubricating layer on the roughened metal-containing surface, wherein the lubricating layer is substantially stabilized on the roughened metal-containing surface. | 06-25-2015 |
20150196940 | SLIPPERY LIQUID-INFUSED POROUS SURFACES HAVING IMPROVED STABILITY - Methods and articles disclosed herein relate to liquid repellant surfaces having selective wetting and transport properties. An article having a repellant surface includes a substrate comprising surface features with re-entrant curvature and an immobilized layer of lubricating liquid wetting over the surface features. The surface features with re-entrant curvature can be designed to provide high repellency even after failure or removal of the immobilized layer of lubricating liquid under certain operating conditions. | 07-16-2015 |
20150209198 | Selective Wetting and Transport Surfaces - Methods and compositions disclosed herein relate to liquid repellant surfaces having selective wetting and transport properties. | 07-30-2015 |
20150210951 | MULTIFUNCTIONAL REPELLENT MATERIALS - Methods and compositions disclosed herein relate to liquid repellant surfaces having selective wetting and transport properties. An article having a repellant surface includes a substrate comprising fabric material and a lubricant wetting and adhering to the fabric material to form a stabilized liquid overlayer, wherein the stabilized liquid overlayer covers the fabric material at a thickness sufficient to form a liquid upper surface above the fabric material, wherein the fabric material is chemically functionalized to enhance chemical affinity with the lubricant such that the lubricant is substantially immobilized on the fabric material to form a repellant surface. | 07-30-2015 |
20150285454 | Dynamic Light Control System And Methods For Producing The Same - The present application describes dynamic light control system that, can dynamically adapt to different sun positions and interior lighting levels. The dynamic light control system, includes two or more confinement panes and one or more light redirecting elements positioned therebetween. The light redirecting elements are arranged to deform the light redirecting elements in response to a change in the position of the sun. In addition, one or more fluidic-channels are formed between the light redirecting elements and the confinement panels, that can be filled with any desired fluid to provide additional dynamic changes depending on the desired characteristics. | 10-08-2015 |
20150362669 | BAND-GAP TUNABLE ELASTIC OPTICAL MULTILAYER FIBERS - The rolled photonic fibers presents two codependent, technologically exploitable features for light and color manipulation: regularity on the nanoscale that is superposed with microscale cylindrical symmetry, resulting in wavelength selective scattering of light in a wide range of directions. The bio-inspired photonic fibers combine the spectral filtering capabilities and color brilliance of a planar Bragg stack compounded with a large angular scattering range introduced by the microscale curvature, which also decreases the strong directional chromaticity variation usually associated with flat multilayer reflectors. Transparent and elastic synthetic materials equip the multilayer interference fibers with high reflectance that is dynamically tuned by longitudinal mechanical strain. A two-fold elongation of the elastic fibers results in a shift of reflection peak center wavelength of over 200 nm. | 12-17-2015 |
20160032074 | SOLIDIFIABLE COMPOSITION FOR PREPARATON OF LIQUID-INFUSED SLIPPERY SURFACES AND METHODS OF APPLYING - A body having a lubricant reservoir is described, comprising: a porous polymeric body; and a lubricating liquid, said lubricating liquid occupying the pores to provide a lubricated porous surface having a lubricant reservoir and a lubricant overlayer over the polymer surface. Also described herein is a system for use in the formation of a low-adhesion and low-friction surface includes a flowable precursor composition comprising a prepolymer and a curing agent, said composition capable of application as a coating over a large surface area; a lubricating liquid that is capable of forming a coating with the hardened precursor composition, wherein the lubricating liquid and hardened polymer together form a coating of lubricating liquid stabilized on and in the hardened polymer; and instructions for applying the precursor composition onto a surface for the purpose of obtaining a low-adhesion and low-friction surface. | 02-04-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140016177 | ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIVE OPTICAL MICROSTRUCTURED HYBRID ACTUATOR ASSEMBLIES AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF - Microstructured hybrid actuator assemblies in which microactuators carrying designed surface properties to be revealed upon actuation are embedded in a layer of responsive materials. The microactuators in a microactuator array reversibly change their configuration in response to a change in the environment without requiring an external power source to switch their optical properties. | 01-16-2014 |
20140147627 | SLIPPERY SURFACES WITH HIGH PRESSURE STABILITY, OPTICAL TRANSPARENCY, AND SELF-HEALING CHARACTERISTICS - The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS). Roughened (e.g., porous) surfaces can be utilized to lock in place a lubricating fluid, referred to herein as Liquid B to repel a wide range of materials, referred to herein as Object A (Solid A or Liquid A). SLIPS outperforms other conventional surfaces in its capability to repel various simple and complex liquids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and blood), maintain low-contact-angle hysteresis (<2.5°), quickly restore liquid-repellency after physical damage (within 0.1-1 s), resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion, and function at high pressures (up to at least 690 atm). Some exemplary application where SLIPS will be useful include energy-efficient fluid handling and transportation, optical sensing, medicine, and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments. | 05-29-2014 |
20140290731 | SLIPPERY SURFACES WITH HIGH PRESSURE STABILITY, OPTICAL TRANSPARENCY, AND SELF-HEALING CHARACTERISTICS - The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS). Roughened (e.g., porous) surfaces can be utilized to lock in place a lubricating fluid, referred to herein as Liquid B to repel a wide range of materials, referred to herein as Object A (Solid A or Liquid A). SLIPS outperforms other conventional surfaces in its capability to repel various simple and complex liquids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and blood), maintain low-contact-angle hysteresis (<2.5°), quickly restore liquid-repellency after physical damage (within 0.1-1 s), resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion, and function at high pressures (up to at least 690 atm). Some exemplary application where SLIPS will be useful include energy-efficient fluid handling and transportation, optical sensing, medicine, and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments. | 10-02-2014 |
20140290732 | SLIPPERY SURFACES WITH HIGH PRESSURE STABILITY, OPTICAL TRANSPARENCY, AND SELF-HEALING CHARACTERISTICS - The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS). Roughened (e.g., porous) surfaces can be utilized to lock in place a lubricating fluid, referred to herein as Liquid B to repel a wide range of materials, referred to herein as Object A (Solid A or Liquid A). SLIPS outperforms other conventional surfaces in its capability to repel various simple and complex liquids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and blood), maintain low-contact-angle hysteresis (<2.5°), quickly restore liquid-repellency after physical damage (within 0.1-1 s), resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion, and function at high pressures (up to at least 690 atm). Some exemplary application where SLIPS will be useful include energy-efficient fluid handling and transportation, optical sensing, medicine, and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments. | 10-02-2014 |
20140328999 | Dynamic and Switchable Slippery Surfaces - The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) that can be modified as desired. Roughened (e.g., porous) surfaces can be utilized to lock in place a lubricating fluid, referred to herein as Liquid B to repel a wide range of objects, referred to herein as Object A (Solid A or Liquid A). Use of an external stimuli or degradation of the Liquid B can be utilized to change the characteristics of SLIPS structures reversibly or irreversibly that may be desired in a number of different applications. Numerous characteristics, such as adhesion, optical, mechanical, and the like, can be dynamically changed. | 11-06-2014 |
20140342954 | MODIFICATION OF SURFACES FOR FLUID AND SOLID REPELLENCY - Articles, methods of making, and uses for modifying surfaces for liquid repellency are disclosed. The liquid repellant surfaces comprise a surface comprising an anchoring layer. The anchoring layer, which forms an immobilized molecular anchoring layer on the surface, has a head group that is covalently linked to, or adsorbed onto, the surface and a functional group. The functional group of the treated surface has an affinity for a lubricating layer, which is applied to the treated surface. The anchoring layer and replenishable lubricating layer are held together by non-covalent attractive forces. Together, these layers form an ultra-repellant slippery surface that repels certain immiscible liquids and prevents adsorption, coagulation, and surface fouling by components contained within. | 11-20-2014 |
20140349870 | SELF-REGULATING CHEMO-MECHANO-CHEMICAL SYSTEMS - A chemo-mechano-chemical (C | 11-27-2014 |
20150152270 | SLIPPERY SELF-LUBRICATING POLYMER SURFACES - The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery self-lubricating polymers. Lubricating liquids with affinities to polymers can be utilized to get absorbed within the polymer and form a lubricant layer (of the lubricating liquid) on the polymer. The lubricant layer can repel a wide range of materials, including simple and complex fluids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and bodily fluids), restore liquid-repellency after physical damage, and resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion. Some exemplary applications where self-lubricating polymers will be useful include energy-efficient, friction-reduction fluid handling and transportation, medical devices, anti-icing, optical sensing, and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments. | 06-04-2015 |
20150175814 | Slips Surface Based on Metal-Containing Compound - A method of preparing an article having a slippery surface includes providing a metal-containing surface, chemically modifying the metal-containing surface to roughen the metal-containing surface, and disposing a lubricating layer on the roughened metal-containing surface, wherein the lubricating layer is substantially stabilized on the roughened metal-containing surface. | 06-25-2015 |
20150209846 | Structured Flexible Supports and Films for Liquid-Infused Omniphobic Surfaces - An article with different surface properties on opposing sides is provided including a sheet having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side displays low adhesion properties, said first side comprising a roughened, porous or structured surface and a wetting liquid disposed upon the surface to form a stable liquid film; and wherein the second side displays a second property dissimilar from that of the first side. The article can be adhered to a variety of objects to impart anti-fouling properties. | 07-30-2015 |
20150210951 | MULTIFUNCTIONAL REPELLENT MATERIALS - Methods and compositions disclosed herein relate to liquid repellant surfaces having selective wetting and transport properties. An article having a repellant surface includes a substrate comprising fabric material and a lubricant wetting and adhering to the fabric material to form a stabilized liquid overlayer, wherein the stabilized liquid overlayer covers the fabric material at a thickness sufficient to form a liquid upper surface above the fabric material, wherein the fabric material is chemically functionalized to enhance chemical affinity with the lubricant such that the lubricant is substantially immobilized on the fabric material to form a repellant surface. | 07-30-2015 |
20160032074 | SOLIDIFIABLE COMPOSITION FOR PREPARATON OF LIQUID-INFUSED SLIPPERY SURFACES AND METHODS OF APPLYING - A body having a lubricant reservoir is described, comprising: a porous polymeric body; and a lubricating liquid, said lubricating liquid occupying the pores to provide a lubricated porous surface having a lubricant reservoir and a lubricant overlayer over the polymer surface. Also described herein is a system for use in the formation of a low-adhesion and low-friction surface includes a flowable precursor composition comprising a prepolymer and a curing agent, said composition capable of application as a coating over a large surface area; a lubricating liquid that is capable of forming a coating with the hardened precursor composition, wherein the lubricating liquid and hardened polymer together form a coating of lubricating liquid stabilized on and in the hardened polymer; and instructions for applying the precursor composition onto a surface for the purpose of obtaining a low-adhesion and low-friction surface. | 02-04-2016 |