Disclosed herein is a display panel in which a space between a color filter substrate and an array substrate is filled with liquid crystals. The cell gap between the color filter substrate and the array substrate is maintained by a column spacer and a filling pattern with which a contact hole is filled. Accordingly, it is possible to stress damage to an alignment film by the movement of the column spacer even if the display panel is deformed by external force. In addition, the contact hole is filled with the filling pattern, thereby suppressing overcoming the problem of insufficient or excessive amount of liquid crystals.

A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates, liquid crystal layer, and first and second spacer sections. The first substrate has a first surface including a light-shielding region in a lattice form and a plurality of opening regions surrounded by the light-shielding region. The light-shielding region includes a plurality of first extended portions extending in a first direction and a plurality of second extended portions extending in a second direction that intersects the first direction. The first substrate has a plurality of transistors formed thereon. The second substrate has a second surface that is opposed to and spaced from the first surface. The liquid crystal layer is arranged between the first and second surfaces. The first spacer section has long sides oriented in the second direction, and the second spacer section has long sides oriented in the first direction. The spacer sections protrude into the liquid crystal layer.

A circuit board is provided and the circuit board is used for being attached to a matching board. The circuit board includes a first circuit pattern and an attaching state inspection area, and the attaching state inspection area further includes a third circuit pattern. A liquid crystal display device is further provided, including the circuit board and the matching board, the matching board includes a second circuit pattern matching the circuit board. It is more accurate to judge the attaching state between the circuit board and the matching board by detecting the deformation state of the conductive particles in vacant areas at different locations after the circuit board is attached to the matching board.

An electrooptic device includes a liquid crystal panel as an electrooptic panel, a first terminal group provided on the liquid crystal panel, the first terminal group including a plurality of terminals arranged in an X direction, and a second terminal group provided on the liquid crystal panel at a position separated from the first terminal group in a Y direction different from the X direction, the second terminal group including a plurality of terminals arranged in the X direction at a terminal arrangement pitch different from that of the first terminal group.

A method of forming a front frame of an LCD includes: providing a rectangle frame; disposing bending lines on the side frames of the rectangle frame; adhering a layer of buffering material to the part of the side frame that is on the inner side of the bending line, where the part of the side frame that is on the inner side of the bending line refers to the part of the side frame that is between the bending line and the inner edge of the side frame; and stamping and bending the rectangle frame along the bending line. The present invention can align the layer of buffering material with the inner edge of the side frame so that the layer of buffering material does not extend to the open area of the front frame, therefore does not affect the display of the liquid crystal panel.

A back plate of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a first region as an appearance of the entire LCD device, in which a plurality of first and second reinforcing ribs crossing each other are disposed, the plurality of first reinforcing ribs are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a horizontal direction, and an angle α between the first reinforcing rib and a vertical direction ranges from 40° to 50°. The plurality of second reinforcing ribs are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction, and an angle β between the second reinforcing rib and the vertical direction ranges from 40° to 50°. Each of the first reinforcing ribs at least crosses one of the second reinforcing ribs. A liquid crystal display device including the back plate as described above is also disclosed.

According to one embodiment, a display device includes a liquid crystal display panel, a cover panel on a display surface of the liquid crystal display panel, a backlight unit opposed to the liquid crystal display panel, a case covering the backlight unit and the liquid crystal display panel, and including at least a part fixed to the cover panel, and an adhesive provided on the cover panel along the liquid crystal display panel. The adhesive includes a surface opposite to the cover panel, a first area on the surface, and a second area on the surface, located on an inner side closer to the liquid crystal display panel than the first area. The part of the case is adhered to the second area.

According to one embodiment, a display device includes a cover panel, a display panel opposed to the cover panel, an adhesive layer provided between the cover panel and the display panel and attaching the display panel to the cover panel, the adhesive layer including a first area to which the display panel is fixed and a second area located further outward than an outer periphery of the display panel, a backlight unit opposed to the display panel, and a case containing the display panel and the backlight unit, at least a part of the case being fixed to the cover panel by the second area of the adhesive layer.

A liquid crystal display (LCD) is presented. The LCD includes: a substrate; a plurality of thin film transistors disposed on the substrate; a plurality of liquid crystal (LC) layers disposed within a plurality of microcavities on the substrate; a partition wall disposed between the LC layers adjacent in a first direction; and signal lines disposed between the LC layers and the partition wall and connected to the plurality of thin film transistors.

A backlight unit includes a bottom cover; a plurality of light sources on the bottom cover; a first support side at an area directly along a first edge of the bottom cover adjacent to a corner of the bottom cover; and a second support side directly adjacent to the first support side and along the first edge of the bottom cover. The first support side includes a first vertical portion, and a first inclined portion connected to a top of the first vertical portion. The second support side includes a second vertical portion, and a second inclined portion connected to a top of the second vertical portion.

A backlight module and a display device are provided. The backlight module includes a light source, a plate-shaped light intensity splitting component and a reflecting sheet, wherein, the plate-shaped light intensity splitting component and the reflecting sheet are oppositely arranged to form an empty light guide space therebetween, and the plate-shaped light intensity splitting component is configured to split incident light from the light source into reflected light facing to the reflecting sheet and transmission light passing through the plate-shaped light intensity splitting component. The backlight module without adopting a light guide plate can save cost for manufacturing the backlight module and is advantageous to improve light utilization efficiency.

A liquid crystal display includes a display panel, an opposite display panel, a liquid crystal layer between the display panel and the opposite display panel. The display panel includes a first base substrate, a pretilt alignment stabilization layer including a polymer of a reactive mesogen, a first vertical alignment layer including a decomposition product of a polymerization initiator between the first base substrate and the pretilt alignment stabilization layer, and a pattern electrode between the first base substrate and the first vertical alignment layer. The opposite display panel includes a second base substrate, a patternless electrode on the second base substrate, and a second vertical alignment layer on the patternless electrode, which includes the decomposition product of the polymerization initiator. The liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy. A surface of the LCD that faces a viewer has a concave shaped curve.

To provide a liquid crystal display device, in which the vertical alignment property of the liquid crystal is high, favorable transparency when no voltage is applied and favorable scattering property when a voltage is applied are achieved, and the adhesion between the liquid crystal layer and the vertical liquid crystal alignment film is high. A liquid crystal display device, which comprises a liquid crystal layer formed by disposing a liquid crystal composition containing a polymerizable compound which undergoes a polymerization reaction by ultraviolet rays, between a pair of substrates provided with an electrode, and irradiating the liquid crystal composition with ultraviolet rays and curing it in such a state that the liquid crystal composition partly or entirely shows liquid crystallinity, and at least one of the substrates being provided with a liquid crystal alignment film to vertically align a liquid crystal, wherein the liquid crystal alignment film is a liquid crystal alignment film obtained from a liquid crystal aligning agent containing a polymer having a first side chain structure and a second side chain structure.

The present disclosure provides a method for rubbing an alignment layer on a substrate with a plurality of spacers that are arranged in rows and columns and a liquid crystal display panel. The method includes: determining a first rubbing direction and a second rubbing direction in such a manner that the second rubbing direction is an arrangement direction of liquid crystal molecules when the liquid crystal molecules are arranged correctly on the alignment layer, and an angle between the first rubbing direction and the second rubbing direction is greater than or equal to arctan (b/a), where a represents a row pitch between the spacers and b represents a width of one spacer; performing a first rubbing on the alignment layer in the first rubbing direction; and performing a second rubbing on the alignment layer in the second rubbing direction. The second rubbing direction is different from the first rubbing direction.

An array substrate and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The method has the following steps of: fabricating a switch array layer on a substrate; forming a color resist layer having a red color filter, a green color filter and a blue color filter on the switch array layer, and a through hole in the color resist layer; forming a transparent conductive layer on the color resist layer; and forming a light shield layer on the transparent conductive layer.

Carbon allotropes, a thin-film transistor array substrate comprising the same, and a display device comprising the same are disclosed. The thin-film transistor array substrate comprising a substrate, a gate electrode on the substrate, a gate insulating film on the gate electrode, an active layer positioned on the gate insulating film and comprising a semiconductor material and a plurality of carbon allotropes, and a source electrode and a drain electrode that make contact with the active layer.

An electronic device includes, a light source having a peak emission at a wavelength between about 440 nm to about 480 nm; and a photoconversion layer disposed on the light source, wherein the photoconversion layer includes a first quantum dot which emits red light and a second quantum dot which emits green light,wherein at least one of the first quantum dot and the second quantum dot has a perovskite crystal structure and includes a compound represented by Chemical Formula 1: AB'X3+α Chemical Formula 1 wherein A is a Group IA metal, NR4+, or a combination thereof, B' is a Group IVA metal, X is a halogen, BF4−, or a combination thereof, and α is 0 to 3.

A liquid-crystal display (LCD) device includes: an array substrate on which a sub-pixel is disposed; a color filter substrate on which a color filter corresponding to the sub-pixel is disposed; and a liquid-crystal layer between the array substrate and the color filter substrate. The array substrate comprises a lens hole, the color filter substrate comprises a lens hole guide, and a diameter of the lens hole is smaller than an inner diameter of the lens hole guide.

According to one embodiment, a laminated film includes a first adhesive layer, a first insulating layer which faces the first adhesive layer, a first metal layer which is located between the first adhesive layer and the first insulating layer, and a first porous layer which is located between the first adhesive layer and the first insulating layer and faces the first metal layer.

An analytical tool is provided for analysis of a sample by capillary electrophoresis. The analytical tool includes an inlet reservoir into which a sample is introduced, a capillary tube in communication with the inlet reservoir, a filter through which a liquid from the inlet reservoir passes, an enlarged portion undergoing a sudden increase in a cross-sectional area and being in communication with the inlet reservoir and the capillary tube, and a pressure fluctuation reducer for preventing pressure fluctuation at the enlarge portion from affecting a liquid in the capillary tube.

A single molecule sensing or detecting device includes a first electrode and a second electrode separated from the first electrode by a gap. The first electrode and the second electrode have an opening formed therethrough. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is functionalized with a recognition molecule. The recognition molecule has an effective length L1 and is configured to selectively bind to a target molecule having an effective length L2. The size of the gap is configured to be greater than L2, but less than or equal to the sum of L1 and L2.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an In—Cu alloy sputtering target member having high compositional homogeneity in the thickness direction. The present invention provides a sputtering target member having a composition containing from 1 to 70 at. % of Cu relative to a total number of atoms of In and Cu, the balance being In and inevitable impurities, wherein the target member fulfills 0.95≦A/B≦1, where A represents a Cu atomic concentration relative to the total number of atoms of In and Cu in one half of a thickness direction; B represents a Cu atomic concentration relative to the total number of atoms of In and Cu in the other half of the thickness direction; and B≧A; and wherein a number of pores having a size of 100 μm or more is less than 10/cm2 on average.

A process train for a floating production storage and offloading installation includes a crude oil storage tank that is equipped with at least one set of electrostatic internals arranged to provide a treatment flow path isolated from a surrounding volume of the electrostatic separator section of the tank. An oil-and-water stream or mixture entering the set of electrostatic internals travels along the treatment flow path and is subjected to an electric field. The treatment flow path is in an upwardly direction toward the oil outlet section and in a downwardly opposite direction toward the water outlet section of the tank. Employing electrostatic internals within the tank permits an allowable inlet water content into the tank of up to 80%, significantly reducing the required topside processing equipment.

The invention discloses a composite material used for catalyzing and degrading nitrogen oxide and its preparation method and application thereof. The invention of the hollow g-C3N4 nanospheres/reduced graphene oxide composite-polymer carbonized nanofiber material is prepared as follow: 1) the preparation of silica nanospheres; 2) the preparation of hollow g-C3N4 nanospheres; 3) the preparation of graphene oxide; 4) the preparation of surface modified hollow g-C3N4 nanoparticles preparation; 5) the preparation of composites; 6) the preparation of composite-polymer carbon nanofiber material. The raw materials used in the process is low cost and easy to get; the operation of the invention is simple and convenient without the use of expensive equipment in the whole process; the composite has high adsorption efficiency of ppb level nitrogen oxide with good repeatability.

Microfluidic devices having an electrowetting configuration and an optimized droplet actuation surface are provided. The devices include a conductive substrate having a dielectric layer, a hydrophobic layer covalently bonded to the dielectric layer, and a first electrode electrically coupled to the dielectric layer and configured to be connected to a voltage source. The microfluidic devices also include a second electrode, optionally included in a cover, configured to be connected to the voltage source. The hydrophobic layer features self-associating molecules covalently bonded to a surface of the dielectric layer in a manner that produces a densely-packed monolayer that resists intercalation and or penetration by polar molecules or species. Also provided are microfluidic devices having an electrowetting configuration that further include a section or module having a dielectrophoresis configuration; systems that include any of the microfluidic devices in combination with an aqueous droplet and a fluidic medium immiscible with the medium of the aqueous droplet; related kits; and methods of manipulating droplets, optionally containing micro-objects such as biological cells, within the microfluidic devices.

Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards an apparatus for electrostatic fluid filtration. The apparatus utilizing alternating positive and negative electrodes in conjunction with filter media there between to filter contaminants from a fluid flow.

Electrolytic liquid generating device (1) includes laminated body (41) in which conductive film (46) is laminated to be interposed between mutually adjacent electrodes (44, 45), and electrolytic part (40) which electrolyzes liquid. Furthermore, electrolytic liquid generating device (1) includes a passage having inflow port (71) in which liquid to be provided to electrolytic part (40) flows and outflow port (72) from which electrolytic liquid generated in electrolytic part (40) flows out. The passage is formed such that liquid flowing direction (X) crosses laminated direction (Z) of laminated body (41).

A process train for a floating production storage and offloading installation includes a crude oil storage tank equipped with at least one set of electrostatic internals. The set of electrostatic internals are arranged to provide a treatment flow path within the crude oil storage tank oblique to a longitudinal centerline of the crude oil storage tank and through an electric field provided by the set of electrostatic internals. Employing these electrostatic internals within the tank permits an allowable inlet water content into the tank of up to 80%, significantly reducing the required topside processing equipment. The process and system also includes, upstream of the tank, two separator vessels arranged in parallel so each receives a portion of an incoming oil-and-water stream, a flash vessel arranged downstream of the two separator vessels, and a degasser vessel. Downstream of the crude oil storage tank is an electrostatic treater.

A system and method for dehydrating crude oil on a floating production storage and offloading installation include a separator vessel to receive an incoming produced water stream, followed by a flash vessel, a treatment block, a crude oil storage tank, and an electrostatic treater. The treatment block includes a low pressure degasser followed by a compact electrostatic separator pre-treater or a compact electrostatic separator pre-treater followed by a low pressure degasser. The flash vessel and/or the low pressure degasser may employ an inlet cyclonic distributor and demisting cyclones, while the electrostatic treater may employ DUAL FREQUENCY® technology. The separator vessel may be a single horizontal two-phase separator/degasser or two vertical two-phase separator/degassers that operate in parallel with each receiving approximately 50 percent of the incoming produced water stream. The final outlet stream preferably contains no more than 0.5 BS&W and 285 milligrams per liter salt.

Methods are provided for production of a composite layer comprising a plastic foil and a layer deposited directly thereon. A method for production of a composite layer comprising a plastic foil and at least one layer deposited directly onto the plastic foil by means of chemical gas-phase deposition within a vacuum chamber may be provided, wherein the plastic foil has a proportion of at least 20 percent by mass of a metal element or of a semiconductor element, wherein during the layer deposition, at least one monomer is supplied into the vacuum chamber and a plasma is formed within the vacuum chamber. After completed deposition of the layer, at least one surface region of the layer is exposed to accelerated electrons.

For coating substrates (S) having along their surfaces to be coated high aspect ratio vias, a sputtering system has a sputtering source arrangement, which includes a first DC pulse operated magnetron sub-source (1203) and a second frame-shaped magnetron sub-source (1213) which latter is arranged, in the system, between the substrate (S) and the first magnetron sub-source (1203). The second magnetron sub-source (1213) may be operated in DC, pulsed DC, thereby also HIPIMS mode. The first magnetron sub-source (1203) is advantageously also operated in HIPIMS mode. The substrate (S) is biased by an Rf power source (1253).

A magnetically enhanced low temperature high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (LT-HDP-CVD) source has a hollow cathode target and an anode, which form a gap. A cathode target magnet assembly forms magnetic field lines substantially perpendicular to the cathode surface. A gap magnet assembly forms a magnetic field in the gap that is coupled with the cathode target magnetic field. The magnetic field lines cross the pole piece electrode positioned in the gap. The pole piece is isolated from ground and can be connected to a voltage power supply. The pole piece can have negative, positive, floating, or RF electrical potentials. By controlling the duration, value, and sign of the electric potential on the pole piece, plasma ionization can be controlled. Feed gas flows through the gap between the hollow cathode and anode. The cathode can be connected to a pulse power or RF power supply, or cathode can be connected to both power supplies. The cathode target and substrate can be inductively grounded.

An Al—Te—Cu—Zr alloy sputtering target, comprising 20 at % to 40 at % of Te, 5 at % to 20 at % of Cu, 5 at % to 15 at % of Zr and the remainder of Al, wherein a Te phase, a Cu phase and a CuTe phase are not present in a structure of the target. An object of the present invention is to provide an Al—Te—Cu—Zr alloy sputtering target capable of effectively reducing particle generation, nodule formation and the like upon sputtering and further capable of reducing oxygen contained in the target.

A magnetically enhanced HDP-CVD plasma source includes a hollow cathode target and an anode. The anode and cathode form a gap. A cathode target magnet assembly forms magnetic field lines that are substantially perpendicular to a cathode target surface. The gap magnet assembly forms a cusp magnetic field in the gap that is coupled with the cathode target magnetic field. The magnetic field lines cross a pole piece electrode positioned in the gap. This pole piece is isolated from ground and can be connected with a voltage power supply. The pole piece can have a negative, positive, or floating electric potential. The plasma source can be configured to generate volume discharge. The gap size prohibits generation of plasma discharge in the gap. By controlling the duration, value and a sign of the electric potential on the pole piece, the plasma ionization can be controlled. The magnetically enhanced HDP-CVD source can also be used for chemically enhanced ionized physical vapor deposition (CE-IPVD). Gas flows through the gap between hollow cathode and anode. The cathode target is inductively grounded, and the substrate is periodically inductively grounded.

The present document describes an electrophoretic tissue clearing chamber comprising an electrophoresis channel, configured to receive a clarification fluid therethrough; a first clarification fluid inlet, in fluid communication with the electrophoresis channel, configured to be connected to a source of the clarification fluid; a tissue sample holder in fluid communication with the electrophoresis channel, configured to receive a tissue sample to be clarified, and pressurize and homogenously apply the clarification fluid onto the tissue sample; a clarification fluid outlet, in fluid communication with the tissue sample holder, for exit of the clarification fluid from the electrophoretic tissue clearing chamber; and first and a second electrode, opposite one another in the electrophoresis channel, for transmission of an electric field therethrough.

The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a reference electrode, wherein an internal space of the reference electrode is delimited by an outer wall and wherein the internal space contains a reference electrolyte up to a specified height, wherein the reference electrode is introduced into a pressurization chamber, wherein a defined overpressure is applied to the pressurization chamber and, via an opening that is located above the specified height in the outer wall of the reference electrode to the internal space of the reference electrode, and wherein the opening in the outer wall of the reference electrode is closed at the defined overpressure . The present disclosure further relates to a device for carrying out the method.

The concentration measurement method includes: introducing a predetermined amount of the biological sample into the capillary; measuring a temperature of the biological sample by applying a first voltage to the electrode unit when the temperature of the biological sample is measured, the first voltage allowing the temperature measurement to be less affected by increase and reduction in an amount of the analyte contained in the biological sample; measuring the concentration of the analyte contained in the biological sample by applying a second voltage to the electrode unit; measuring an environmental temperature in a surrounding of the biological sample; and correcting the concentration of the measured analyte based on the measured temperature of the biological sample and the measured environmental temperature.

The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for containing molecules. In some embodiments, the device comprises a nanopore, a pore, and a cavity capable of entropically containing (e.g., trapping) a molecule (e.g., a biomolecule), e.g., for minutes, hours, or days. In certain embodiments, the method comprises urging a molecule into a cavity of a device by application of an electric field, and/or by deposition of fluids having different ionic strengths. The molecule may comprise, in some cases, nucleic acids (e.g., DNA). The molecule, when present in the cavity and/or the nanopore, may be capable of being analyzed, determined, or chemically modified. In some instances, a second molecule (e.g., a second molecule which interacts the first molecule) may also be urged into the cavity. In some embodiments, the interaction of the second molecule with the first molecule (e.g., the second molecule binding to or chemically modifying the first molecule) may be determined by, for example, a change in voltage measured across the device.

In one aspect, a biological sequencing device comprising a cartridge configured to be removed from the instrument is disclosed. In various embodiments the cartridge can include one or more capillaries suitable for capillary electrophoresis, a reservoir and a pump. In various embodiments the reservoir can contain a separation matrix. In various embodiments the pump can load a capillary with separation matrix. In another aspect the biological sequencing device can include one or more capillaries and an integrated valve assembly. In various embodiments the integrated valve assembly can provide a polymer to the one or more capillaries.

A Cu—Ga alloy sputtering target includes, as a component composition, Ga: 0.1 to 40.0 at % and a balance including Cu and inevitable impurities, in which a porosity is 3.0% or lower, an average diameter of circumscribed circles of pores is 150 μm or less, and an average crystal grain size of Cu—Ga alloy particles is 50 μm or less.

Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a process chamber includes: a chamber body defining an interior volume; a substrate support to support a substrate within the interior volume; a plurality of cathodes coupled to the chamber body and having a corresponding plurality of targets to be sputtered onto the substrate; and a shield rotatably coupled to an upper portion of the chamber body and having at least one hole to expose at least one of the plurality of targets to be sputtered and at least one pocket disposed in a backside of the shield to accommodate and cover at least another one of the plurality of targets not to be sputtered, wherein the shield is configured to rotate about and linearly move along a central axis of the process chamber.

An electrically and magnetically enhanced ionized physical vapor deposition (I-PVD) magnetron apparatus and method is provided for sputtering material from a cathode target on a substrate, and in particular, for sputtering ceramic and diamond-like coatings. The electrically and magnetically enhanced magnetron sputtering source has unbalanced magnetic fields that couple the cathode target and additional electrode together. The additional electrode is electrically isolated from ground and connected to a power supply that can generate positive, negative, or bipolar high frequency voltages, and is preferably a radio frequency (RF) power supply. RF discharge near the additional electrode increases plasma density and a degree of ionization of sputtered material atoms.

A sputtering system that includes a sputtering chamber having a target material serving as a cathode, and an anode and a work piece. A direct current (DC) power supply supplies electrical power to the anode and the cathode sufficient to generate a plasma within the sputtering chamber. A detection module detects the occurrence of an arc in the sputtering chamber by monitoring an electrical characteristic of the plasma. In one embodiment the electrical characteristic monitored is the impedance of the plasma. In another embodiment the electrical characteristic is the conductance of the plasma.

Water is flowed inside main body section formed from an insulating material such that a specified space remains inside the main body section. Electrodes and are arranged along the outer walls of the main body section and voltage is applied to the electrodes. Processing gas present inside the main body section is plasmarized and plasma is emitted to the water flowing inside the main body section.

In an ozone generating system which performs intermittent operation, that is, an operation in an ozone generating operation period in which ozone is generated by discharging gas including oxygen at a discharge electrode part and an operation in an ozone generating operation standby period in which ozone is not generated by stopping discharge are alternately repeated, a gas circulating device which circulates gas in the ozone generating apparatus and removes at least nitric acid from the gas which is circulated is connected to the ozone generating apparatus.

Methods and apparatus for processing substrates are provided herein. In some embodiments, a physical vapor deposition chamber includes a first RF power supply having a first base frequency and coupled to one of a target or a substrate support; and a second RF power supply having a second base frequency and coupled to one of the target or the substrate support, wherein the first and second base frequencies are integral multiples of each other, wherein the second base frequency is modified to an offset second base frequency that is not an integral multiple of the first base frequency.

A film formation apparatus and a film-formed workpiece manufacturing method which are capable of forming a film with a uniform thickness on a workpiece like a three-dimensional object that includes a plurality of surfaces by a simple structure are provided. A film formation apparatus includes a target 21 that is a film formation material including a plane SU3, a power supply unit 3 applying power to the target 21, a rotating unit 4 rotating a workpiece W that is a film formation object around a rotation axis AX1, and a revolving unit 5 revolving the rotating unit 4 around a revolution axis AX2 separate from the rotation axis AX1 to repeatedly make the workpiece W to come close to and move apart from the target 21.

An electrode of an embodiment includes a base material, and a catalyst layer provided on the base material and having a porous structure. When a sum of heights of all peaks belonging to Ir oxide is I0, the height of a peak of IrO2 (110) is T1, and the height of a peak of IrO2 (211) is I2, a ratio of (I1+I2)/I0, which is a ratio of spectra obtained by X-ray diffraction measurements using Kα rays of Cu in the catalyst layer, is 50% or more and 100% or less in a range of a diffraction angle of 20 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less.

The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for performing isotachophoretic concentration of analytes using a porous matrix, for example, for use in diagnostic assays such as lateral flow assays. For example, the disclosure provides a method of concentrating an analyte in a sample. The method includes providing a device comprising a porous matrix having a first fluid pathway having a first end and extending to a second end, a first electrode, and a second electrode; introducing to the first pathway a first fluid comprising a trailing electrolyte, a second fluid comprising a leading electrolyte and the analyte; and applying a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode for a time sufficient to provide an ITP plug. As described herein, the devices and methods described herein can be used in conjunction with lateral flow assay techniques to detect and quantify a variety of biochemical and biological analytes, such as nucleic acids, proteins, cells and metabolites.

An assembly is provided for interfacing with a microfluidic chip having at least one microscopic channel configured to receive a liquid sample for analysis. The assembly includes a chip carrier, an electronics module, an optical module, and a mechanical module. The chip carrier includes a base and a cover defining a cavity to receive the microfluidic chip. The electronics module includes a signal generator which applies at least one electrokinetic signal electrode(s) of the chip. The optical module includes an excitation radiation source which causes excitation radiation to impinge on the sample, and an emission radiation detector which detects radiation emitted from the sample. The mechanical module includes a chip-carrier receiving structure, relatable with respect to the optical module for focus and at least one degree of translational freedom.