Abstract: The disclosure relates to a dielectrophoretic tweezer, and associated methods of fabrication and use. The tweezer comprises a first end and a second end, in which the first end has a lateral dimension of less than 10 microns; a structure, extending in a longitudinal direction between the first and second ends, comprising an electrically insulating barrier defining a first chamber and a second chamber within the structure, in which the first and second chambers are insulated from each other by the electrically insulating barrier; a first electrode in the first chamber at the first end; and a second electrode in the second chamber at the first end, in which a width of the electrically insulating barrier separating the first electrode from the second electrode is 50 nm or less.

Abstract: Light extraction efficiency of existing semiconductor light emitting devices can be increased significantly by introducing a nanoparticle ‘meta-grid’ on top of a conventional light emitting diode (LED) chip, within its usual encapsulating packaging or casing. The ‘meta-grid’ is essentially a monolayer or a 2D array of sub-wavelength metallic nanoparticles (NPs) with sub-wavelength inter-particle separation. The local dielectric environment around the NPs and within the gaps between the NPs could be the same as the encapsulant, or any other optically transparent material with refractive index close to that of the encapsulant. Upon optical excitation, the collective oscillations of conduction electrons, or surface plasmon, of the metallic NPs give rise to localized surface plasmon resonances.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a dielectrophoretic tweezer, and associated methods of fabrication and use. The tweezer comprises a first end and a second end, in which the first end has a lateral dimension of less than 10 microns; a structure, extending in a longitudinal direction between the first and second ends, comprising an electrically insulating barrier defining a first chamber and a second chamber within the structure, in which the first and second chambers are insulated from each other by the electrically insulating barrier; a first electrode in the first chamber at the first end; and a second electrode in the second chamber at the first end, in which a width of the electrically insulating barrier separating the first electrode from the second electrode is 50 nm or less.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a molecule comprises providing two electrodes (16a, 16b) which define a tunnelling gap between them; applying a potential difference between the electrodes; passing the molecule through the tunnelling gap; and measuring the tunnelling current between the electrodes over a measuring period, wherein at least a part of the molecule is within the gap for at least a part of the measuring period.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the production of nanoparticles using a continuous flow miniaturised reaction vessel. In particular, the invention provides a method for preparing nanoparticles by a direct one-stage process.

Abstract: A nanofluidic channel fabricated in fused silica with an approximately 500 nm square cross section was used to isolate, detect and identify individual quantum dot conjugates. The channel enables the rapid detection of every fluorescent entity in solution. A laser of selected wavelength was used to excite multiple species of quantum dots and organic molecules, and the emission spectra were resolved without significant signal rejection. Quantum dots were then conjugated with organic molecules and detected to demonstrate efficient multicolor detection. PCH was used to analyze coincident detection and to characterize the degree of binding. The use of a small fluidic channel to detect quantum dots as fluorescent labels was shown to be an efficient technique for multiplexed single molecule studies. Detection of single molecule binding events has a variety of applications including high throughput immunoassays.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the production of nanoparticles using a continuous flow miniaturised reaction vessel. In particular, the invention provides a method for preparing nanoparticles by a direct one-stage process.