Abstract:
A liquid electrical switch is disclosed that uses a plurality of droplets of conducting liquid to form an electrical path. In a first embodiment, at leas t a first voltage differential is used to create a separation distance between t wo droplets. The droplets are illustratively contained within a housing and surrounded by an immiscible, insulating liquid. In this embodiment, the at least a first voltage differential draws at least a portion of at least one of the droplets away from a second droplet, thus preventing electrical current from flowing from the at least one droplet to the second droplet.In another embodiment, the at least a first voltage differential is changed in a way su ch that at least one liquid droplet is made to come into contact with a second droplet, thus creating an electrical path between the two droplets.
Abstract:
An apparatus that comprises a liquid mirror. The liquid mirror includes a liquid that forms an interface with a fluid adjacent to the liquid. The liquid mirror also includes a layer of reflective particles located at the interface, wherein the layer forms a reflective surface.
Abstract:
Provided is an apparatus. In one embodiment, this apparatus includes a substrate having a surface, and a plurality of nanostructures each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of nanostructures is attached to the surface. At least a portion of the second ends of the plurality of nanostructures, in this embodiment, are bent toward one another to form two or more similarly configured clumps each including two or more nanostructures.
Abstract:
An apparatus, comprising a plurality of closed cells disposed on a surface of a substrate. Each of the closed cells has at least one dimension that is less than about 1 millimeter and are configured to hold a medium therein. The apparatus also comprises a foam that contacts the closed cells. The foam has fluid walls that include a surfactant, and bubbles of the foam layer are filled with the medium.