Nano-antenna and methods for its preparation and use

• US 8,698,096 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2012
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Chen, Sung-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanore, David A
• Application Number:
  US13/879,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20140048726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 250/399, 250/208.2, 714/2, 714/17, 257/9, 257/43, 257/64, 257/432
• US Class Current: 250/399
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/12 employing electromagnetic waves
• 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: H01Q 1/364 using a particular conducting material, e.g. superconductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/00 Devices for reflection, refraction, diffraction or polarisation of waves radiated from an antenna, e.g. quasi-optical devices variable for purpose of altering directivity H01Q3/00; arrangements of such devices for guiding waves H01P3/20; variable for purpose of modulation H03C7/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/95 Electromagnetic energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

Nano-antennas with a resonant frequency in the optical or near infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum and methods of making the nano-antennas are described. The nano-antenna includes a porous membrane, a plurality of nanowires disposed in the porous membrane, and a monolayer of nanospheres each having a diameter that is substantially the same as a diameter of the nanowires. The nanospheres are electrically in series with the nanowires.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a nano-antenna, the method comprising:

disposing a plurality of nanowires in a porous membrane, wherein each nanowire has a diameter; and

placing a monolayer of nanospheres electrically in series with the plurality of nanowires, wherein the nanospheres have substantially the same diameter as the nanowires.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing a polymer layer in electrical contact with the monolayer of nanospheres.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the polymer layer comprises a conductive layer.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein placing the polymer layer comprises placing the polymer layer over the monolayer of nanospheres.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein placing the polymer layer comprises placing the polymer layer electrically in series with the monolayer of nanospheres.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the porous membrane, the plurality of nanowires, and the polymer layer are visibly transparent.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the porous membrane, the plurality of nanowires, and the polymer layer are visibly translucent.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the polymer layer comprises an insulating layer comprising one or more of polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS), polymethyl methacralate (PMMA), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate, polyacrylate, neoprene, nylon, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), polyacrylonitrile, silicone, and a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanospheres comprise dielectric nanospheres.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanospheres comprise conductive nanospheres.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanospheres comprise a transparent polymer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanospheres have a diameter of about 5 nm to about 500 nm.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the aspect ratio of the nanowires is at least 3:

1 (height to diameter).

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nanowires comprise gold nanowires.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the nano-antenna has a resonance frequency of about 12 THz to about 800 THz.

16. A nano-antenna comprising:

a porous membrane;

a plurality of nanowires disposed in the porous membrane, wherein each nanowire has a diameter; and

a monolayer of nanospheres electrically in series with the plurality of nanowires, wherein the nanospheres have substantially the same diameter as the nanowires.

17. The nano-antenna of claim 16, further comprising a polymer layer in electrical contact with the monolayer of nanospheres.

18. The nano-antenna of claim 17, wherein the polymer layer comprises a conductive layer.

19. The nano-antenna of claim 17, wherein the polymer layer is disposed over the monolayer of nanospheres.

20. The nano-antenna of claim 17, wherein the polymer layer is disposed electrically in series with the monolayer of nanospheres.

21. The nano-antenna of claim 17, wherein each of the porous membrane, the plurality of nanowires, and the polymer layer are visibly transparent.

22. The nano-antenna of claim 17, wherein each of the porous membrane, the plurality of nanowires, and the polymer layer are visibly translucent.

23. The nano-antenna of claim 17, wherein the polymer layer comprises an insulating layer comprising one or more of polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS), polymethyl methacralate (PMMA), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate, polyacrylate, neoprene, nylon, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), polyacrylonitrile, silicone, and a combination thereof.

24. The nano-antenna of claim 16, wherein the nanospheres comprise dielectric nanospheres.

25. The nano-antenna of claim 24, wherein the nanospheres comprise conductive nanospheres.

26. The nano-antenna of claim 16, wherein the nanospheres comprise a transparent polymer.

27. The nano-antenna of claim 16, wherein the nanospheres have a diameter of about 5 nm to about 500 nm.

28. The nano-antenna of claim 16, wherein the nanowires have a height, a diameter and an aspect ratio at least 3:

1 (height to diameter).

29. The nano-antenna of claim 16, wherein the plurality of nanowires comprise gold nanowires.

30. The nano-antenna of claim 16, wherein the nano-antenna has a resonance frequency of about 12 THz to about 800 THz.

31. A method of manufacturing a tunable colorant, the method comprising:

providing at least one nano-antenna, wherein the nano-antenna comprises;

a porous membrane;

a plurality of nanowires disposed in the porous membrane, wherein each nanowire has a diameter; and

a monolayer of nanospheres electrically in series with the plurality of nanowires, wherein the nanospheres have substantially the same diameter as the nanowires; and

placing at least one reactive element comprising nanospheres in electrical contact with the nano-antenna.

32. A tunable colorant comprising:

a nano-antenna comprising a porous membrane, a plurality of nanowires disposed in the porous membrane, wherein each nanowire has a diameter, and a monolayer of nanospheres electrically in series with the plurality of nanowires, wherein the nanospheres have substantially the same diameter as the nanowires; and

a resistive element,

wherein the colorant is configured to change color based on a resistance of the resistive element.

33. The tunable colorant of claim 32, wherein the resistive element has a resistance configured to be altered by a biological process.

34. The tunable colorant of claim 32, wherein the nano-antenna has a resonance frequency of about 12 THz to about 800 THz.

35. The tunable colorant of claim 32, wherein the nano-antenna has specific directivity or polarization.

36. The tunable colorant of claim 32, wherein the nano-antenna is configured to absorb energy at a resonance frequency.

37. The tunable colorant of claim 32, wherein the resistive element is configured to dissipate energy as heat.