The invention relates to a light-absorbing element coated on at least a region of its surface with a film of at least one light-absorbing material, the light-absorbing material being assocd. with at least one binder material, the film being 1 - 20 μm thick and having light absorption of at least 90%. The invention also relates to a device comprising a light-absorbing element. The invention also claims a thermosolar device comprising a light-absorbing element. The invention also relates to a method of fabricating a light-absorbing film on a surface region of a substrate, the method comprising: (a) forming on a surface region at least one absorbing layer comprising: (I) a light-absorbing material; and (II) a polymerizable binder resin; (b) heating the at least one absorbing layer to induce polymn. of the binder resin; and (c) optionally forming at least one IR radiation reflecting layer on the polymd. binder. [on SciFinder(R)]

A sensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor based on the amplification of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) has been developed. The AuNPs were modified with two types of signaling reporter DNAs, i.e. a methylene blue probe (MB-probe 2-SH) and T10 with a methylene blue signaling molecule (MB-T10-SH), forming DNA-AuNP conjugates. The MB-probe 2-SH is complementary to the target DNA, while MB-T10-SH is not. The presence of MB-T10-SH reduces the cross-reaction between target DNA and MB-probe 2-SH on the AuNPs, resulting in increased sensitivity of the biosensor. In our assay, the DNA sensor is fabricated by immobilizing a capture probe on the surface of the Au electrode, which then hybridizes with the corresponding target DNA, and further hybridizes with a DNA-Au conjugate. The signal of MB is measured by differential pulse voltammetry, while the DNA-Au conjugate enables the detection of target DNA in the linear range of 10(-13) to 10(-8) M with the detection limit as low as 50 fM.[on SciFinder (R)]

A sensitive electrochem. DNA biosensor based on the amplification of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) has been developed. The AuNPs were modified with two types of signaling reporter DNAs, i.e. a methylene blue probe (MB-probe 2-SH) and T10 with a methylene blue signaling mol. (MB-T10-SH), forming DNA-AuNP conjugates. The MB-probe 2-SH is complementary to the target DNA, while MB-T10-SH is not. The presence of MB-T10-SH reduces the cross-reaction between target DNA and MB-probe 2-SH on the AuNPs, resulting in increased sensitivity of the biosensor. In our assay, the DNA sensor is fabricated by immobilizing a capture probe on the surface of the Au electrode, which then hybridizes with the corresponding target DNA, and further hybridizes with a DNA-Au conjugate. The signal of MB is measured by differential pulse voltammetry, while the DNA-Au conjugate enables the detection of target DNA in the linear range of 10-13 to 10-8 M with the detection limit as low as 50 fM. [on SciFinder(R)]

A novel approach of patterning graphene on conductive surfaces based on local electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide is reported. Graphene is "written" from typical graphene oxide dispersion by applying negative potential on conductive surfaces vs. a micrometer-sized counter electrode "pen" with scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Micrometer scaled patterns are successfully generated on gold and stainless steel surfaces.[on SciFinder (R)]

Graphene has been successfully patterned on stainless steel and gold at micrometer-scale resoln. The concept is based on the electrochem. redn. of graphene oxide on conductive surfaces localized by a microelectrode that is positioned close to the surface. [on SciFinder(R)]

Vanadium dioxide is a well-known near room temp. phase transition material with a transition temp. (τC) at 68 °C. In this paper, Eu3+ dopant with different doping levels was introduced into the crystal lattice of VO2. The thermochromic properties, including the integrated visible transmittance (Tlum) and the solar modulating ability (ΔTsol) were favorably affected by the Eu-doping. It is of great interest that the substitution of V4+ by Eu3+ in the VO2 crystal structure reduced the τC from 68 °C to 47.5 °C with an approx. decreasing rate of 6.5 °C/at% up to 4 at%. More importantly, the Eu dopant helped in improving the properties of luminous transmittance and solar modulating ability, which were difficult to be achieved by other dopants. [on SciFinder(R)]

A paint formulation can include an inorg. oxide-based pigment and an org. binder. The org. binder can be irreversibly converted to an inorg. binder upon curing of the paint formulation at a temp. greater than 200° C. The oxide-based pigment and/or the paint formulation itself can have an absorptivity of at least 80% with respect to the AM 1.5 spectrum. The paint formulation can also include at least one org. solvent, an inorg. filler, and/or at least one additive. Such paint formulations may be stable at high temps. (e.g., 750° C.) and can be used as solar-radiation-absorbing heat-resistant coatings for components of a solar tower system. [on SciFinder(R)]

The unique properties of Langmuir film formation were utilized in assembling a thin skin of an asym. membrane. An octadecyltrimethoxysilane (ODTMS) Langmuir monolayer was formed at the air-water interface and served as the substrate for growing a bulky sol-gel polymer in situ. The latter was based on the electrochem. deposition of tetramethoxysilane dissolved in the water subphase by means of horizontal touch electrochem. The resultant asym. layer that consisted of a thin hydrophobic ODTMS Langmuir film connected to a bulk hydrophilic sol-gel network was studied in situ and ex situ by using various techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, electrochem. impedance spectroscopy (EIS), SEM, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and goniometry. We found that a porous hydrophilic film grew on top of a hydrophobic layer as was evident from TEM, contact angle, and EIS analyses. The film thickness and film permeability could be controlled by changing the deposition conditions such as the potential window applied and its duration. Hence, this method offers an alternative approach for assembling asym. films for various applications. [on SciFinder(R)]

The unique properties of Langmuir film formation were utilized in assembling a thin skin of an asymmetric membrane. An octadecyltrimethoxysilane (ODTMS) Langmuir monolayer was formed at the air-water interface and served as the substrate for growing a bulky sol-gel polymer in situ. The latter was based on the electrochemical deposition of tetramethoxysilane dissolved in the water subphase by means of horizontal touch electrochemistry. The resultant asymmetric layer that consisted of a thin hydrophobic ODTMS Langmuir film connected to a bulk hydrophilic sol-gel network was studied in situ and ex situ by using various techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and goniometry. We found that a porous hydrophilic film grew on top of a hydrophobic layer as was evident from TEM, contact angle, and EIS analyses. The film thickness and film permeability could be controlled by changing the deposition conditions such as the potential window applied and its duration. Hence, this method offers an alternative approach for assembling asymmetric films for various applications.[on SciFinder (R)]

A nano to nano electrodeposition approach for prepg. nano-structured thin films from the dispersion of nano-objects is reported. A typical WO3 system is demonstrated, where nanocryst. films are electrodeposited onto transparent conductive electrodes such as ITO and Ag grid printed PET (Ag grid/PET) from the H2O dispersion of WO3 nanoparticles without applying high potential, adding surfactants or polymers. The process is based on the redn. of WO3, which eliminates the electrostatic repulsion between the nanoparticles causing film deposition on the cathode. The reduced WO3 (HWO3) is conductive, thus it allows further film growth towards higher thickness and coverage. The electrodeposited films consist of stacked cryst. nanoparticles, which provide a highly active surface area, facilitate the penetration of electrolyte and the intercalation/deintercalation of Li+ in the nanocrystals and therefore result in outstanding electrochromic performance and stability (92% contrast, 9 s coloring and 15 s bleaching, retaining 76% contrast after 1000 coloring-bleaching cycles). The thickness, electrochromic performance and surface coverage of the films are well tuned by potential and time. This novel nano to nano electrodeposition approach based on the electrochem. redox of nano-objects can be extended to various transition metal oxide nano-objects with different sizes and shapes. [on SciFinder(R)]

Citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles 15 nm and 33 nm in diameter were transferred concomitantly with a monolayer of positively charged polyaniline by Langmuir-Blodgett transfer at pH 5 onto a conducting indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) support. Films consisting of one to three layers of polyaniline with thicknesses of 1-3 nm were prepared and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. After electro-oxidation of the Au nanoparticles in 0.1 M KCl, cavities were left behind in the film that could be analyzed by SEM. These cavities were able to recapture analyte nanoparticles from a solution of pH 10 and showed size-exclusion properties. The amount of nanoparticles taken up by the cavities was conveniently analyzed by measuring the charge associated with the electro-oxidation of these particles in 0.1 M KCl after the film had been rinsed with water. The size-exclusion properties improved with the number of Langmuir-Blodgett layers transferred.[on SciFinder (R)]

Citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles 15 nm and 33 nm in diam. were transferred concomitantly with a monolayer of pos. charged polyaniline by Langmuir-Blodgett transfer at pH 5 onto a conducting indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) support. Films consisting of one to three layers of polyaniline with thicknesses of 1-3 nm were prepd. and characterized by SEM, at. force microscopy (AFM), and XPS. After electrooxidn. of the Au nanoparticles in 0.1 M KCl, cavities were left behind in the film that could be analyzed by SEM. These cavities were able to recapture analyte nanoparticles from a soln. of pH 10 and showed size-exclusion properties. The amt. of nanoparticles taken up by the cavities was conveniently analyzed by measuring the charge assocd. with the electrooxidn. of these particles in 0.1 M KCl after the film had been rinsed with water. The size-exclusion properties improved with the no. of Langmuir-Blodgett layers transferred. [on SciFinder(R)]