Abstract:
A hybrid nanostructure for molecular analysis is disclosed. The structure includes a plurality of nanofingers wherein each nanofinger is coated with a metal coating, is attached at one end to a substrate, and is freely bendable along its length such that the second ends of each nanofinger are capable of movement toward each other to form a cavity. The structure further includes a nanoparticle trapped in the cavity. An array of hybrid nanostructures and a method for fabricating the hybrid nanostructures are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A semiconductor assembly is described in which a support element is constructed on a surface of a semiconductor lamina. Following formation of the thin lamina, which may have a thickness about 50 microns or less, the support element is formed, for example by plating, or by application of a precursor and curing in situ, resulting in a support element which may be, for example, metal, ceramic, polymer, etc. This is in contrast to a rigid or semi-rigid pre-formed support element which is affixed to the lamina following its formation, or to a donor wafer from which the lamina is subsequently cleaved. Fabricating the support element in situ may avoid the use of adhesives to attach the lamina to a permanent support element; such adhesives may be unable to tolerate processing temperatures and conditions required to complete the device. In some embodiments, this process flow allows the lamina to be annealed at high temperature, then to have an amorphous silicon layer formed on each face of the lamina following that anneal. A device may be formed which comprises the lamina, such as a photovoltaic cell.
Abstract:
A surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) probe apparatus (100) and a method (300) of SERS probing employ Raman-active surfaces of a plurality of nanoscale field concentrator (NFC) structures (130) at a terminal end (114) of an optical fiber (110). The SERS probe apparatus (100) includes an optical fiber (110) having an optical path (112) and a terminal end (114) that terminates the optical path (112). The SERS probe apparatus (100) further includes a plurality of NFC structures (130) and nanoparticles (140) on surfaces (120) of the plurality of NFC structures (130). First ends of the NFC structures (130) are adjacent to the terminal end (114) of optical fiber (110). The nanoparticles (140) are Raman active to an analyte (102).
Abstract:
A sensing device (10, 10') includes a substrate (14), and first and second electrodes (E IC , E ICs , E O ) established on the substrate (14). The first electrode (E IC , E ICS ) has a three-dimensional shape, and the second electrode (E 0 ) is electrically isolated from and surrounds a perimeter of the first electrode (E IC , E ICS ).
Abstract:
An electrically driven device (10) for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy includes a first electrode (16), a substrate (12) positioned proximate to the first electrode (16), a plurality of cone shaped protrusions (12') formed integrally with or on a substrate surface (S), a Raman signal-enhancing material (14) coated on each protrusion (12'), and a second electrode (18) positioned relative to the first electrode (16) at a predetermined distance, D. Each of the protrusions (12') has a tip (22) with a radius of curvature, r, ranging from about 0.1 nm to about 100 nm. The second electrode (18) is positioned relative to the first electrode (16) such that the electrodes (16, 18) together produce an electric field (EF) when a voltage bias is applied therebetween. The electric field (EF) has a field distribution that creates a stronger field gradient at a region proximate to the tips (22) than at other portions of the substrate (12).
Abstract:
An autonomous light amplifying device (10, 10', 10'', 10''') for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy includes a dielectric layer (14), at least one laser cavity (22) defined by at least one light confining mechanism (20) formed in the dielectric layer (12), at least one nano-antenna (16, 16') established on the dielectric layer (12) in proximity to the at least one laser cavity (22), and a gain region (14) positioned in the dielectric layer (12) or adjacent to the dielectric layer (12).
Abstract:
A light amplifying device (10, 10', 10'', 10''') for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy is disclosed herein. The device (10, 10', 10'', 10''') includes a dielectric layer (12) having two opposed surfaces (S 1 , S 2 ). A refractive index of the dielectric layer (12) is higher than a refractive index of a material or environment directly adjacent thereto. At least one opening (16) is formed in one (S 1 ) of the two opposed surfaces (S 1 , S 2 ) of the dielectric layer (12), and at least one nano-antenna (18, 18') is established on the one (S 1 ) of the two opposed surfaces (S 1 , S 2 ) of the dielectric layer (12). A gain region (14) is positioned in the dielectric layer (12) or adjacent to another (S 2 ) of the two opposed surfaces (S 1 , S 2 ) of the dielectric layer (12).
Abstract:
Various embodiments of the present invention are direct to nanoscale, reconfigurable, two-terminal memristor devices. In one aspect, a device (400) includes an active region (402) for controlling the flow of charge carriers between a first electrode (104) and a second electrode (106). The active region is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and includes a storage material. Excess mobile oxygen ions formed within the active region are stored in the storage material by applying a first voltage.
Abstract:
A memristive device (400) includes: a first electrode (405); a second electrode (425); a memristive matrix (415) interposed between the first electrode (405) and the second electrode (425); a porous dopant diffusion element (410) in physical contact with the memristive matrix (415) and in proximity to the first electrode (405) and the second electrode (425); and a first mobile dopant species which moves through the porous dopant diffusion element (410) in response to a programming electrical field. A method for using a memristive device (400) having a porous dopant diffusion element (410) includes applying a voltage bias to generate a programming electrical field such that dopants move through the porous dopant diffusion element (410), thereby changing the distribution of dopants within a memristive matrix (415) to form a first state; removing the voltage bias, the dopants being substantially immobile in the absence of the programming electrical field; and applying a reading energy to the memristive device (400) to sense the first state.
Abstract:
Various aspects of the prsent invention are directed to electric-field-enhancement structures (100) and detection apparatuses (600, 700, 800) that employ such electric-field-enhancement structures. In one aspect of the present invention, an electric-field-enhancement structure (100) includes a substrate (102) having a surface (104). The substrate (102) is capable of supporting a planar mode (114) having a planar-mode frequency. A plurality of nanofeatures (106) is associated with the surface (104), and each of nanofeatures (106) exhibits a localized-surface-plasmon mode (116) having a localized-surface-plasmon frequency approximately equal to the planar-mode frequency.