The Trustees of Boston College

Other

The State University of New York

Michael J Naughton

Zhifeng Ren

Krzysztof J Kempa

Jakub A Rybczynski

John T Fourkas

Dong Cai

Thomas Chiles

Russell S Drago

Mark Jay Barnes

Murali V Chaparala

Shana Kelley

Kimberly H Babusik

Richard A Farrer

Krysztof J Kempa

Binod Rizal

Yang Wang

Surajit Sen

Kris Kempa

Juan M Merlo-Ramirez

Huaizhou Zhao

Chaobin Yang

Michael J Burns

Nathan T Nesbitt

Paudel Trilochan

Audra Niszezak

An all solution-processed deposition includes a non-water soluble, non-self-cracking film deposited by a solution process (e.g., spray, dip, spin coat, and the like), a water soluble, self-cracking film deposited by a solution process (e.g., spray, dip, spin coat, and the like), cracking of the film, and filling the cracks with a metal that is deposited in solution (e.g., by electroless disposition). A transparent substrate having a cracked water insoluble, non-self-cracking film surface coating includes a plurality of fissures therein extending to and exposing portions of the surface of the underlying transparent substrate is useful for producing a transparent conducting film.

All solution-process and product for transparent conducting film

A nanoscale wireless communication system and device operates via in-plane information transmission between a broadcast plasmonic antenna and a receiver plasmonic antenna which mediates a three-step conversion process (surface plasmon&#x2192;photon&#x2192;surface plasmon) with in-plane and in-phase efficiency (plasmon&#x2192;plasmon) in the free-space excitation wavelength for antenna separations in the far-field.

Wireless communication system via nanoscale plasmonic antennas

The invention provides a novel, template-free process for the fabrication of metal nanowires of novel dimensions. The unconventional method produces highly ordered and freestanding aluminum nanowire arrays.

Aluminum nanowire arrays and methods of preparation and use thereof

A nanocoaxial sensor includes an outer conductor, an inner conductor, a nanoporous dielectric material disposed between the outer and inner conductors, a nanocavity sized to allow target species to enter the nanocavity between the outer and inner conductors.

Nanoscale sensors with nanoporous material

A nanocoaxial sensor includes an outer conductor, an inner conductor, a dielectric material disposed between the outer and inner conductors, a nanocavity sized to allow target species to enter the nanocavity between the outer and inner conductors, and an active sensing element immobilized within the nanocavity on at least one of the inner or outer conductors. The active sensing element is adapted to selectively capture the at least one of the target species.

Nanoscale sensors

Nanoscale photovoltaic devices fabricated from nanoscale waveguides that receive, propagate, and convert incident light into electrical neural signals, and methods of using these photovoltaic devices for visual perception are disclosed herein. A visual neuroprosthetic device includes an array of nanoscale waveguides each nanoscale waveguide in the array having a photovoltaic material located between an internal conductor and an external conductor, wherein each nanoscale waveguide receives, propagates, and converts incident light into electrical neural signals.

Apparatus and methods for visual perception using an array of nanoscale waveguides

An apparatus and methods for solar conversion using nanoscale cometal structures are disclosed herein. The cometal structures may be coaxial and coplanar. A nanoscale optics apparatus for use as a solar cell comprises a plurality of nanoscale cometal structures each including a photovoltaic material located between a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. A method of fabricating solar cells comprises preparing a plurality of nanoscale planar structures; coating a plurality of planar surfaces of the plurality of planar structures with a photovoltaic semiconductor while leaving space between the plurality of planar surfaces; and coating the photovoltaic semiconductor with an outer electrical conductor layer, wherein a portion of the outer electrical conductor layer is located between the planar structures to form coplanar structures.

Apparatus and methods for solar energy conversion using nanoscale cometal structures

A cost-effective and highly reproducible method of fabricating nanowires, and small gaps or spacings in nanowires is disclosed. The nanogaps bridge an important size regime between 1 nm and 100 nm. The nanogaps can be selectively predetermined to be as small as 1.0 nm, or larger than 1000 nm. These electrode gaps can be useful in preparing molecular electronic devices that involve making electrical contact to individual molecules, such as biomolecules, or small clusters of molecules. Microelectrodes having nanogaps for electrical and magnetic applications formed by the method, and as well as biosensors and their use in detecting a biological species, such as DNA, are also disclosed.

Methods of fabricating nanowires and electrodes having nanogaps

An apparatus and method for solar conversion using nanocoax structures are disclosed herein. A nano-optics apparatus for use as a solar cell comprising a plurality of nano-coaxial structures comprising an internal conductor surrounded by a semiconducting material coated with an outer conductor; a film having the plurality of nano-coaxial structures; and a protruding portion of the an internal conductor extending beyond a surface of the film. A method of fabricating a solar cell comprising: coating a substrate with a catalytic material; growing a plurality of carbon nanotubes as internal cores of nanocoax units on the substrate; oxidizing the substrate; coating with a semiconducting film; and filling with a metallic medium that wets the semiconducting film of the nanocoax units.

Apparatus and methods for solar energy conversion using nanocoax structures

An apparatus and methods for optical switching using nanoscale optics are disclosed herein. A nano-optics apparatus for use as an optical switch includes a metallic film having a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of cylindrical channels containing a dielectric material, the metallic film acting as an outer electrode; and an array of non-linear optical components penetrating the metallic film through the plurality of cylindrical channels, the array acting as an array of inner electrodes.

Apparatus and methods for optical switching using nanoscale optics

An apparatus and methods for nanolithography using nanoscale optics are disclosed herein. Submicron-scale structures may be obtained using standard photolithography systems with a de-magnifying lens. A de-magnifying lens for use in a standard photolithography system includes a film having a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of cylindrical channels containing a dielectric material; and an array of carbon nanotubes penetrating the film through the plurality of cylindrical channels, wherein an image on the top surface of the film is converted into a de-magnified image on the bottom surface of the film by the carbon nanotubes.

Apparatus and methods for nanolithography using nanoscale optics

Nanoscale optical probes for use with nanoscale optical microscopy are disclosed herein. A nanoscale optical probe for use with a near-field scanning optical microscope includes an inner conductor having a top end, a bottom end, and a body; a dielectric material engaging the inner conductor; and an outer conductor engaging the dielectric material, wherein the inner conductor is longer at a tip surface of the probe than the dielectric material and the outer conductor.

Nanoscale optical microscope

An apparatus and methods for manipulating light using nanoscale cometal structures are disclosed. A nanoscale optics apparatus for manipulating light includes a plurality of nanoscale cometal structures each comprising a dielectric material located between a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. A method of fabricating a nanoscale optics apparatus for manipulating light includes preparing a plurality of nanoscale planar structures; coating a plurality of planar surfaces of the plurality of planar structures with a dielectric while leaving space between the plurality of planar surfaces; and coating the dielectric with an outer electrical conductor layer, wherein a portion of the outer electrical conductor layer is located between the planar structures to form coplanar structures.

Apparatus and methods for manipulating light using nanoscale cometal structures

The various embodiments discloses a cantilever probe comprising a first electrode and a second electrode engaged to a substrate and a branched cantilever wherein the cantilever comprises a nanostruture. Furthermore, the probe comprises a first arm of the cantilever engaged to the first electrode and a second arm of the cantilever engaged to the second electrode. Additionally, the cantilever probe comprises an electrical circuit coupled to the cantilever wherein the electrical circuit is capable of measuring a change in piezoresistance of the cantilever resulting from an atomic force and/or a magnetic force applied to the cantilever. Additionally, the invention discloses a method of performing atomic force microscopy, magnetic force microscopy, or magnetic resonance force microscopy. The nanostructures may comprise carbon or non-carbon materials. Additionally, the nanostructures may include nanotubes, nanowire, nanofibers and various other types of nanostructures.

Growing community of inventors

Chestnut Hill, MA, United States of America

Michael J Naughton