Cerebral angiography using transauricular access in a rabbit model: a new technique.

Background: Cerebral angiography in a rabbit model is widely used in the field of interventional radiology. Conventionally, the femoral artery is used for cerebral angiography in radiology departments. However, angiographic studies require surgical cutdown of the femoral artery, which is technically difficult.

The possibility of multi-layer nanofabrication via atomic force microscope-based pulse electrochemical nanopatterning.

Pulse electrochemical nanopatterning, a non-contact scanning probe lithography process using ultrashort voltage pulses, is based primarily on an electrochemical machining process using localized electrochemical oxidation between a sharp tool tip and the sample surface. In this study, nanoscale oxide patterns were formed on silicon Si (100) wafer surfaces via electrochemical surface nanopatterning, by supplying external pulsed currents through non-contact atomic force microscopy. Nanoscale oxide width and height were controlled by modulating the applied pulse duration.

Simple and cost-effective fabrication of highly flexible, transparent superhydrophobic films with hierarchical surface design.

Optical transparency and mechanical flexibility are both of great importance for significantly expanding the applicability of superhydrophobic surfaces. Such features make it possible for functional surfaces to be applied to various glass-based products with different curvatures. In this work, we report on the simple and potentially cost-effective fabrication of highly flexible and transparent superhydrophobic films based on hierarchical surface design.

A simple route to morphology-controlled polydimethylsiloxane films based on particle-embedded elastomeric masters for enhanced superhydrophobicity.

We present a simple route for controlling the surface morphology of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films based on a standard replica molding technique incorporating a microparticle-embedded elastomeric master for enhancing surface wetting properties. The elastomeric masters are simply prepared by embedding microparticles (MPs) firmly into a surface of PDMS substrates using an abrasive air-jetting (AAJ) that can be potentially scaled up to large-area fabrication. The surface geometries of the PDMS masters can be easily controlled by using MPs with different shape and size in the AAJ process, resulting in easy control of the surface morphologies and resultant wetting and optical properties of the PDMS films after replicating.

Highly flexible, transparent and self-cleanable superhydrophobic films prepared by a facile and scalable nanopyramid formation technique.

A facile and scalable technique to fabricate optically transparent, mechanically flexible and self-cleanable superhydrophobic films for practical solar cell applications is proposed. The superhydrophobic films were fabricated simply by transferring a transparent porous alumina layer, which was prepared using an anodic aluminium oxidation (AAO) technique, onto a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film with a UV-curable polymer adhesive layer, followed by the subsequent formation of alumina nano pyramids (NPs) through the time-controlled chemical etching of the transferred porous alumina membrane (PAM). It was found experimentally that the proposed functional films can ensure the superhydrophobicity in the Cassie-Baxter wetting mode with superior water-repellent properties through a series of experimental observations including static contact angle (SCA), contact angle hysteresis (CAH), sliding behaviour on the tilted film, and dynamic behaviour of the liquid droplet impacting on the film.

Effect of oxidizer nanostructures on propulsion forces generated by thermal ignition of nano-aluminum-based propellants.

We demonstrated that the size and morphology of an oxidizer have strong effects on the propulsion forces of nano-Al-based propellants. Enhanced propulsion forces could be obtained through the creation and addition of various oxidizer nanoparticles and nanowires in nano-Al-based propellants.

Effect of TiO2 nanoparticle-accumulated bilayer photoelectrode and condenser lens-assisted solar concentrator on light harvesting in dye-sensitized solar cells.

TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) with a size of 240 nm (T240), used as a light-scattering layer, were applied on 25-nm-sized TiO2 NPs (T25) that were used as a dye-absorbing layer in the photoelectrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In addition, the incident light was concentrated via a condenser lens, and the effect of light concentration on the capacity of the light-scattering layer was systematically investigated. At the optimized focal length of the condenser lens, T25/T240 double layer (DL)-based DSSCs with the photoactive area of 0.

Improving the efficiency of a dye-sensitized solar cell with a reflex condenser system.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are inexpensive to manufacture and easy to process in comparison with silicone solar cells, but they are difficult to commercialize due to their low efficiency. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to improve the efficiency of a DSSC via an aluminum film reflective plate, reusing discarded light after it was absorbed. We found that the factor having the most dominant influence on DSSC efficiency was the amount of radiation reacting with the dye.

Improving the efficiency of a dye-sensitized solar cell with a reflex condenser system.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are inexpensive to manufacture and easy to process in comparison with silicone solar cells, but they are difficult to commercialize due to their low efficiency. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to improve the efficiency of a DSSC via an aluminum film reflective plate, reusing discarded light after it was absorbed. We found that the factor having the most dominant influence on DSSC efficiency was the amount of radiation reacting with the dye.

Development of a high-efficiency laminated dye-sensitized solar cell with a condenser lens.

Dye-sensitized solar cells have slightly lower photoelectric efficiency than silicon solar cells. Researchers have investigated various ways to address this problem. In this paper, we found that the optimized separation between the condenser lens and the cells was 8 mm.

Evaluation of characteristics for dye-sensitized solar cell with reflector applied.

Dye-sensitized solar cells have slightly lower photoelectric efficiency than silicon solar cells. Researchers have investigated various ways to address this problem. This study improved the efficiency of a dye-sensitized solar cell by re-driving it with a reflector, reusing discarded light after it was absorbed.

Micro/nano surface modification on brittle materials by tribo nanolithography using PCD tool.

In this study, brittle materials were mechanically modified under precise normal force control at the mN approximately microN level using PCD tools as a nano tool. The lab-made PCD attached micro cantilevers were customized for tribo nanolithography. The machined patterns were measured under an atomic force microscope (AFM) to obtain the machining characteristics of the samples for each set of conditions.

The characteristics of machined surface controlled by multi tip arrayed tool and high speed spindle.

In this study, we propose one of the ultra-precision machining methods that can be adapted brittle material as well as soft material by using multi arrayed diamond tips and high speed spindle. Conventional machining method is too hard to control surface roughness and surface texture against brittle material because particles of grinding tools are irregular size and material can be fragile. Therefore we were able to design tool paths and machine controlled pattern on surface by multi arrayed diamond tips which has uniform size made in MEMS fabrication and high speed spindle of which maximum speed is about 300,000 rpm.

The characteristics of variable speed inchworm stage using lever mechanism by different materials.

Currently, piezoelectric actuators which have attractive features such as high output force, high positioning resolution, high stiffness and quick response have been used in many ultra precision stages. But their positioning ranges are very small. This very limited displacement severely restricts the actuator's immediate implementation for long-range positioning.

Surface patterning for brittle amorphous material using nanoindenter-based mechanochemical nanofabrication.

This paper demonstrates a micro/nanoscale surface patterning technology for brittle material using mechanical and chemical processes. Fused silica was scratched with a Berkovich tip under various normal loads from several mN to several tens of mN with various tip rotations. The scratched substrate was then chemically etched in hydrofluoric solution to evaluate the chemical properties of the different deformed layers produced under various mechanical scratching conditions.

Behavior characteristics of nano-stage according to hinge structure.

Nano-stages are used in many ultra-precision systems, such as scanning probe microscope (SPM), optical fiber aligners, ultra-precision cutting, measuring and optical systems. Generally, ultra-precision machining and measuring are achieved using a nano-scale motion stage actuated using Piezo-electric actuators (PZT), and the importance of and demands for the motion stage increase with the need to improve system performance and accuracy. However, it is difficult to find solutions because the performance and characteristics of nano-scale motion stages are determined by various factors, such as the hinge structure, actuator, and method of system control.