Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090001049 | METHODS OF ETCHING ARTICLES VIA MICROCONTACT PRINTING - Improved methods of forming a patterned self-assembled monolayer on a surface and derivative articles are provided. According to one method, an elastomeric stamp is deformed during and/or prior to using the stamp to print a self-assembled molecular monolayer on a surface. According to another method, during monolayer printing the surface is contacted with a liquid that is immiscible with the molecular monolayer-forming species to effect controlled reactive spreading of the monolayer on the surface. Methods of printing self-assembled molecular monolayers on nonplanar surfaces and derivative articles are provided, as are methods of etching surfaces patterned with self-assembled monolayers, including methods of etching silicon. Optical elements including flexible diffraction gratings, mirrors, and lenses are provided, as are methods for forming optical devices and other articles using lithographic molding. A method for controlling the shape of a liquid on the surface of an article is provided, involving applying the liquid to a self-assembled monolayer on the surface, and controlling the electrical potential of the surface. | 01-01-2009 |
20090050790 | MULTI-ELEMENT OPTICAL DETECTORS WITH SUB-WAVELENGTH GAPS - A multi-element optical detector includes a plurality of optical detector elements capable of producing an output signal having information about the state of an incident electromagnetic radiation as a function of time. An active region includes a photosensitive region of one of the optical detector elements separated in part or in whole from the photosensitive region of at least one other optical detector element by a distance less than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation that the optical detector elements are being used to detect. | 02-26-2009 |
20090092803 | SELF-ASSEMBLY TECHNIQUE APPLICABLE TO LARGE AREAS AND NANOFABRICATION - The present invention provides articles and methods for affecting the self-assembly of materials. In some cases, the invention provides an approach for facilitating the self-assembly of various materials, including polymeric materials (e.g., block polymers), nanoparticles, other materials capable of self-assembly, and the like, over relatively large surface areas. Some embodiments of the invention provide articles (e.g., substrates) which, when contacted with a material capable of self-assembly, may produce greater control of self-assembly through the bulk of the material. | 04-09-2009 |
20100078854 | Nanotemplate arbitrary-imprint lithography - In a method for imprinting a layer of material, a nanotemplate is impressed into a material layer, and the nanotemplate is maintained impressed in the material layer until a geometric trench corresponding to geometry of the nanotemplate is formed in the layer, and the nanotemplate is then removed from the material layer. A nanotemplate geometric trench is repeatedly formed in the material layer by nanotemplate impressions in the layer, until a final desired imprint pattern is produced in the layer. Each nanotemplate geometric trench is characterized by an extent that is a fraction of an extent of the final desired imprint pattern. The material layer is maintained in a condition for accepting nanotemplate impressions continuously throughout the nanotemplate impression repetition. | 04-01-2010 |
20120077680 | NANOWIRE-BASED DETECTOR - Systems, articles, and methods are provided related to nanowire-based detectors, which can be used for light detection in, for example, single-photon detectors. In one aspect, a variety of detectors are provided, for example one including an electrically superconductive nanowire or nanowires constructed and arranged to interact with photons to produce a detectable signal. In another aspect, fabrication methods are provided, including techniques to precisely reproduce patterns in subsequently formed layers of material using a relatively small number of fabrication steps. By precisely reproducing patterns in multiple material layers, one can form electrically insulating materials and electrically conductive materials in shapes such that incoming photons are redirected toward a nearby electrically superconductive materials (e.g., electrically superconductive nanowire(s)). For example, one or more resonance structures (e.g., comprising an electrically insulating material), which can trap electromagnetic radiation within its boundaries, can be positioned proximate the nanowire(s). The resonance structure can include, at its boundaries, electrically conductive material positioned proximate the electrically superconductive nanowire such that light that would otherwise be transmitted through the sensor is redirected toward the nanowire(s) and detected. In addition, electrically conductive material can be positioned proximate the electrically superconductive nanowire (e.g. at the aperture of the resonant structure), such that light is directed by scattering from this structure into the nanowire. | 03-29-2012 |
20120099090 | SYSTEM AND METHODS RELATED TO GENERATING ELECTROMEGNETIC RADIATION INTERFERENCE PATTERNS - Systems and methods related to the generation of interference patterns using electromagnetic radiation are generally described. Some embodiments are directed to the use of such systems and methods to perform interference lithography. | 04-26-2012 |
20130143744 | SUPERCONDUCTING NANOWIRE AVALANCHE PHOTODETECTORS (SNAPS) WITH FAST RESET TIME - A superconducting nanowire avalanche photodetector (SNAP) with improved high-speed performance. An inductive element may be coupled in series with at least two parallel-coupled nanowires. The nanowires may number 5 or fewer, and may be superconducting and responsive to even a single photon. The series inductor may ensure current diverted from a photon-absorbing nanowire propagates to other nanowires and become amplified. The series inductance may be less than 10 times the nominal inductance per nanowire, and may also be larger than a minimum inductance to avoid spurious outputs in response to a photon absorption. The series inductance may be configured to achieve a desired tradeoff between SNAP reset time and spurious outputs. For example, the series inductance may be configured achieve minimum reset time or maximum bias margin, subject to user-defined constraints. By appropriately configuring the series inductance, a systematic method of designing improved SNAPs may be provided. | 06-06-2013 |
20130172195 | OPTICAL DETECTORS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Optical detectors and associated systems and methods are generally described. In certain embodiments, the optical detectors comprise nanowire-based single-photon detectors, including those with advantageous geometric configurations. | 07-04-2013 |
20130187051 | FREQUENCY MULTIPLEXED SUPERCONDUCTING NANOWIRE PHOTON DETECTORS - A photon detection system with improved high-speed performance. An array of photon detectors is provided, providing transient responses that indicate both a time and a location of photon detection. Each photon detector may use a superconducting nanowire, arranged as part of a resonant cell to have a unique resonant frequency. Upon detection of even a single photon, a resonant cell may create a transient response comprising its unique resonant frequency. The transient responses may be combined on a single readout line, allowing identification of the photon detection location based on a detected frequency component read out. The electrical properties within resonant cells, as well as the connections between different resonant cells, may be configured to produce different transient responses. For example, resonant cells may be configured to produce a transient response having multiple pulses, which may separately indicate a time and a location of a photon detection. | 07-25-2013 |
20130244439 | REMOVABLE TEMPLATES FOR DIRECTED SELF ASSEMBLY - A sacrificial-post templating method is presented for directing block copolymer (BCP) self-assembly to form nanostructures of monolayers and bilayers of microdomains. The topographical post template can be removed after directing self-assembly and, therefore, is not incorporated into the final microdomain pattern. The sacrificial posts can be a material removable using a selective etchant that will not remove the material of the final pattern block(s). The sacrificial posts may be removable, at least in part, using a same etchant as for removing one of the blocks of the BCP, for example, a negative tone polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) when a non-final pattern block of polystyrene is removed and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) remains on the substrate. | 09-19-2013 |
20130318483 | STANDARDIZED TOPOGRAPHICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR TEMPLATE REGIONS THAT ORIENT SELF-ASSEMBLY - This disclosure relates generally to systems and methods of providing standardized topographical configurations for template regions. In one embodiment, a set of array arrangements is selected. Arrays of template structures are then formed on at least one substrate. Each of the arrays is arranged in accordance with an array arrangement in the set of array arrangements such that the arrays correspond surjectively onto the set of array arrangements. After the arrays are formed, a self-assembly material is provided on the arrays. Self-assembly patterns formed by self-assembling material as a result of the arrays may be empirically observed and used to map a set of self-assembly pattern arrangements surjectively onto the set of array arrangements. Using this mapping, a combination of the self-assembly pattern arrangements that match a target pattern arrangement can be used to select a combination of array arrangements from the set of array arrangements for a template region. | 11-28-2013 |
20140094372 | COMPACTLY-INTEGRATED OPTICAL DETECTORS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Compactly-integrated electronic structures and associated systems and methods are provided. Certain embodiments relate to the ability to integrate nanowire-based detectors with optical components. | 04-03-2014 |