Multicomponent nanorods

• US 7,422,696 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northwestern University
• Original Assignee: Northwestern University
• Inventors: Huang, Ling, Mirkin, Chad A., Park, Sungho, Qin, Lidong, Chung, Sung-Wook
• Primary Examiner(s): ALANKO, ANITA KAREN
• Application Number:
  US11/171,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20070077429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 216/2
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 5/00 Nanobiotechnology or nanomedicine, e.g. protein engineering or drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/531 Production of immunochemical test materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 17/06513 characterised by the resistive component
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/0665 the shape of the body defining a nanostructure nanotechnology per se B82B
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/0673 oriented parallel to a substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/068 comprising a junction
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/861 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/762 Nanowire or quantum wire, i.e. axially elongated structure having two dimensions of 100 nm or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/81 Of specified metal or metal alloy composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/849 with scanning probe
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/856 including etching/cutting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/857 including coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2938 Coating on discrete and individual rods, strands or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]

Abstract

Multicomponent nanorods having segments with differing electronic and/or chemical properties are disclosed. The nanorods can be tailored with high precision to create controlled gaps within the nanorods or to produce diodes or resistors, based upon the identities of the components-making up the segments of the nanorods. Macrostructural composites of these nanorods also are disclosed.

Claims

1. A lithographic process for producing a nanowire comprising the steps of:

a) providing a nanorod comprising alternating segments of a metal and a sacrificial metal;

b) depositing a coating onto one side of the nanorod; and

c) subjecting the coated nanorod to etching to remove the sacrificial metal segments from the nanorod and thereby produce a nanowire having gaps at positions previously occupied by the sacrificial metal.

2. The lithographic method of claim 1 further comprising a step of filling the gaps with a filler.

3. The lithographic method of claim 2 wherein the filler is deposited using dip-pen lithography.

4. The lithographic method of claim 2 wherein the filler is a conducting polymer.

5. The lithographic process of claim 1 wherein the metal of the nanorod is gold.

6. The lithographic process of claim 1 wherein the sacrificial metal is nickel or silver.

7. The lithographic process of claim 1 wherein the coating is a gold/titanium alloy or silicon dioxide.

8. The lithographic process of claim 1 wherein the gaps of the nanowire independently have a width of about 2 nm to about 5 μ

m.