Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

University of Hamburg

University of Massachusetts

Universitaet Hamburg

Robert H Blick

Abhishek Bhat

Max G Lagally

Hua Qin

Jonghoo Park

Paul Gwozdz

Minrui Yu

Lloyd M Smith

Michael S Westphall

Chulki Kim

Shelley Scott

Christian Heyn

Dominik V Scheible

Frank Steele Flack

Wolfgang Hansen

Luke J Mawst

Justin C Williams

Robert A Marsland, Jr

Eric Stava

Robert David Nowak

Burke S Richmond

Zlatan Aksamija

Hyun-Seok Kim

Yu Huang

Hyun Seok Kim

Jonathan Rodriguez

Daniel R Koenig

Hyunseok Kim

Piezoelectrically actuated devices constructed from thin semiconductor membranes bonded directly to piezoelectric substrates are provided. Methods for fabricating these devices are also provided. The bonding of the semiconductor to the piezoelectric material does not require the use of any intermediate layers, such as bonding agents.

Integration of semiconductor membranes with piezoelectric substrates

Josephson junctions (JJ) based on bilayers of azimuthally misaligned two-dimensional materials having superconducting states are provided. Also provided are electronic devices and circuits incorporating the JJs as active components and methods of using the electronic devices and circuits. The JJs are formed from bilayers composed of azimuthally misaligned two-dimensional materials having a first superconducting segment and a second superconducting segment separated by a weak-link region that is integrated into the bilayer.

Superconducting bilayers of two-dimensional materials with integrated Josephson junctions

A transducer supported by the eardrum provides a piezoelectric material exchanging energy with the eardrum through a nanoscale membrane, the latter serving to boost the coupling between the piezoelectric material and the eardrum.

Eardrum transducer with nanoscale membrane

A molecule sequencer uses a planar nanochannel for aligning molecules to flow past impedance interrogation electrodes mounted across the channel for rapid sequencing. The electrodes may be fixed to the channel walls to provide improved registration by co-fabrication with the channel. Extended channel length over normally used nanopores can provide improved control of longer molecules and allow parallel sequencers to be readily fabricated on a single substrate.

Planar high-speed molecule sequencer

A nanoscale-sized pore positioned between two reservoirs may sequence biomolecules by detecting changes in the emitted light due to a change in charge of portions of the biomolecules as they pass through the pore such as affect an emission frequency of a quantum structure proximate to the pore opening. The nanopores may be fabricated using local droplet etching whose randomness is accommodated by lowering the droplet density to permit isolation of nanopores in tiles that may be adhered to an underlying supporting substrate having an aligned opening. The nanopore-tiles may be integrated with commonly applied glass chips and may be employed in microfluidic circuitry.

High-speed DNA sequencing with optically active nanopore

An electrically conductive nanoscale pore may be employed as an antenna to provide precise localized measurements of the impedance-altering characteristics of a molecule such as DNA or RNA or the like passing through the pore. The use of radiofrequency measurements promises high-speed analysis of long molecules (polymers).

Radio-frequency nanopore sensor

A scaffold for neurons consists of tubes sized to promote neural growth through the tubes. The tubes may be fixed to a substrate providing electrical or optical paths out from the interior of the tubes from sensors or stimulating probes at one or more locations along the length of the coaxial axons. Steering electrodes at spaces between tubes may be used to selectively promote the growth of interconnections of different axons in a one, two, or three-dimensional fashion.

Tubular scaffold for neural growth

A method of forming extremely small pores in a substrate may be used to produce, for example, an apparatus for the study of biological molecules, by providing a small pore in a piezoelectric substrate having electrodes, the latter that may be energized to change the pore dimensions.

Piezoelectric substrate for the study of biomolecules

A flexible membrane of piezoelectric material sized to be supported by and to conform to the eardrum. Electrodes on the membrane allow the membrane to function as an audio transducer stimulating the eardrum with an audio signal or detecting audio signals at the eardrum. Applications may include detecting a variety of pathophysiological and biomechanical features of the tissues of the tympanic membrane and regional integrated anatomy, detecting audio, physical and biological signals, and/or delivery a variety of therapeutic modalities.

Eardrum supported nanomembrane transducer

An electrically conductive nanoscale sensor includes a nanoscale pore that may be employed as a first antenna to provide precise localized measurements of the impedance-altering characteristics of a molecule such as DNA or RNA or the like passing through the pore. The use of radiofrequency measurements via a second antenna communicating with the first antenna promises high-speed analysis of long molecules (polymers).

A detector suitable for mass spectroscopy uses a thin membrane that converts the kinetic energy of impinging molecules into corresponding photons, the latter detected with a suitable photosensor. The arrival of molecules at the membrane is detected by detection of the corresponding photons.

Mass spectrometer detector using optically active membrane

A piezoelectric substrate having a nanopore opening that separates two reservoirs of conductive fluid may provide for sensitive biological measurements by allowing control of the size of the nanopore according to piezoelectric stimulation of the substrate. Multiple embodiments are provided of monolithic piezoelectric substrates and nanopores for this purpose as well as a control system for controlling the nanopore dimensions electrically using AC or DC waveforms.

System and apparatus for nanopore sequencing

An antenna is used for radio frequency measurements of cell wall impedance changes due to ion channels. The antenna provides enhanced direct readout of lipid bilayers and cells containing pores and ion channels. The antenna is placed around a nanopore, which may be fabricated from glass, quartz or other material, and is shaped to provide an enhanced sensitivity to electrical activity in the vicinity of the nanopore. As such, the antenna may be of a class of bi-cone- or other stub-antennas providing high gain and broad bandwidth, for example a planar variant of a 'bow-tie' antenna. Accordingly, improved sensitivity of at least an order of magnitude may be achieved over past systems.

Radio-frequency ion channel antenna

Disclosed are semiconductor microtube lasers including a semiconductor multilayer heterostructure. The multilayer heterostructure includes a substantially cylindrical optically active structure capable of light emission when under the influence of an applied electromagnetic field and a substantially cylindrical distributed feedback grating structure configured to provide optical feedback for a selected wavelength of light from the optically active region and to produce lasing action from the microtube when under the influence of an applied electromagnetic field.

Semiconductor microtube lasers

A patch clamp system providing precise and rapid temperature control of constrained cell membranes employs the thermal element attached to the substrate of the patch clamp. In one embodiment, the thermal element is a Peltier device fabricated on a silicon membrane wafer bonded to the substrate of the patch clamp.

Growing community of inventors

Madison, WI, United States of America

Robert H Blick