Fabrication of nanowires

• US 7,848,607 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adelaide Research & Innovation Pty Ltd. (University of Adelaide)
• Original Assignee: Adelaide Research & Innovation Pty Ltd. (University of Adelaide)
• Inventors: Monro, Tanya, Ebendorff-Heidepriem, Heike
• Primary Examiner(s): KIANNI, KAVEH C
• Application Number:
  US12/089,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20090028488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 385/123, 385/126
• US Class Current: 385/123
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/11 comprising two or more partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. honeycomb-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/475 using pistons, accumulators or press rams
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00663 Production of light guides
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/60 Multitubular or multicompartmented articles, e.g. honeycomb
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 2201/30 doped with metals, e.g. Ga, Sn, Sb, Pb or Bi
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 2201/82 Fluoride glasses, e.g. ZBLAN glass
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 2201/86 Chalcogenide glasses, i.e. S, Se or Te glasses
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 2203/02 External structure or shape details
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 2203/10 Internal structure or shape details
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 2203/14 Non-solid, i.e. hollow products, e.g. hollow clad or with core-clad interface
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 2203/16 Hollow core
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 2203/223 Matching viscosities or softening points of glass layers
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 2203/32 Eccentric core or cladding
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 2203/34 Plural core other than bundles, e.g. double core
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 2203/42 Photonic crystal fibres, e.g. fibres using the photonic bandgap PBG effect, microstructured or holey optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 37/01205 starting from tubes, rods, fibres or filaments C03B37/014 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 37/01228 Removal of preform material C03B37/01251 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 37/0124 Means for reducing the diameter of rods or tubes by drawing, e.g. for preform draw-down
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 37/01274 by extrusion or drawing
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 37/0256 Drawing hollow fibres C03B37/02781 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 37/02781 : Hollow fibres, e.g. holey fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02366 : Single ring of structures, e.g. "air clad"
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02371 : Cross section of longitudinal structures is non-circular
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/107 : Subwavelength-diameter waveguides, e.g. nanowires
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/298 : Physical dimension

Abstract

A method of forming a nanowire is disclosed. In one embodiment, a primary preform is formed comprising at least one central region and a support structure. The primary preform is then drawn to a cane, which is then inserted into an outer portion, to form a secondary preform. The secondary preform is then drawn until the at least one central portion is a nanowire. The method can produce nanowires of far greater length than existing methods, and can reduce the likelihood of damaging the nanowire when handling.

Claims

1. A fibre containing a nanowire, the fibre comprising:

an outer portion defining the outer surface of the fibre;

a nanowire within a cane receiving portion of the outer portion; and

a support structure between the cane receiving portion of the outer portion and the nanowire supporting the nanowire.

2. A fibre as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one cladding region surrounding the nanowire.

3. A sensor comprising the fibre according to claim 2 for sensing an environment existing within the at least one cladding region.

4. A fibre as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises at least one strut extending radially from the central portion.

5. A fibre as claimed in claim 4 wherein the at least one strut terminates at a wall portion forming a perimeter of the support structure.

6. A fibre as claimed in claim 5 wherein the outer portion comprises a cut-out for providing access to a part of the wall portion.

7. A fibre as claimed in claim 6 wherein the cut-out is wedge-shaped.

8. A fibre as claimed in claim 4 wherein the support structure comprises four struts extending radially from the central portion.

9. A fibre as claimed in claim 8 wherein the wall portion defines a square in cross-section.

10. A fibre as claimed in claim 8 wherein the wall portion defines three sides of a square in cross-section.