Abstract: An infrared photodetector includes: a p-type and highly-doped silicon substrate; a metal structure disposed on the silicon substrate; a first electric contact to the silicon substrate; and a second electric contact to the metal structure.

Abstract: A method includes providing a resonant thermal oscillator in a thermofluidic system having at least two counter-flowing liquid streams separated by at least a spectrum absorbing material, wherein the spectrum absorbing material is hydrophobic, light-absorbing, and photothermal, and adjusting a flow rate in at least one of the counter-flowing liquid streams to maximize heat transfer between the at least two counter-flowing liquid streams.

Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) enhancement agent includes a plurality of particles, each particle including: a metal core; a dielectric shell disposed on the metal core comprising at least one MRI contrast agent; and a metal shell disposed on the exterior surface of the dielectric shell that encapsulates the dielectric shell.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for distilling a fluid by exposing the fluid to a porous membrane that includes a surface capable of generating heat. In some embodiments, the heat generated at the surface propagates the distilling of the fluid by converting the fluid to a vapor that flows through the porous membrane and condenses to a distillate. In some embodiments, the surface capable of generating heat is associated with a photo-thermal composition that generates the heat at the surface by converting light energy from a light source to thermal energy. In some embodiments, the photo-thermal composition includes, without limitation, noble metals, semiconducting materials, dielectric materials, carbon-based materials, composite materials, nanocomposite materials, nanoparticles, hydrophilic materials, polymers, fibers, meshes, fiber meshes, hydrogels, hydrogel meshes, nanomaterials, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: An infrared photodetector includes: a p-type and highly-doped silicon substrate; a metal structure disposed on the silicon substrate; a first electric contact to the silicon substrate; and a second electric contact to the metal structure.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for distilling a fluid by exposing the fluid to a porous membrane that includes a surface capable of generating heat. In some embodiments, the heat generated at the surface propagates the distilling of the fluid by converting the fluid to a vapor that flows through the porous membrane and condenses to a distillate. In some embodiments, the surface capable of generating heat is associated with a photo-thermal composition that generates the heat at the surface by converting light energy from a light source to thermal energy. In some embodiments, the photo-thermal composition includes, without limitation, noble metals, semiconducting materials, dielectric materials, carbon-based materials, composite materials, nanocomposite materials, nanoparticles, hydrophilic materials, polymers, fibers, meshes, fiber meshes, hydrogels, hydrogel meshes, nanomaterials, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A nanosample capable of near-infrared light-triggered release of therapeutic molecules. The nanosample includes a plurality of nanocomplexes. Each of the nanocomplexes includes a nanoshell; a host molecule linked to the nanoshell; and a guest molecule linked to the host molecule. The nanoshell includes a shell. The nanocomplex has a plasmon resonance wavelength. When irradiated with electromagnetic radiation of the plasmon resonance wavelength, plasmon resonance of the nanocomplex releases the guest molecule. The nanoshell may also include a core, where the shell surrounds the core. The nanoshell may be a nanomatryoshka. A link between the nanoshell and the host molecule may be a gold-thiol interaction. The shell may include at least one metal, such as gold or silver. The core may be a liposome and/or silica. The host molecule may be: synthetic polymers, biopolymers, polynucleotides, nucleic acids, polypeptides, polysaccharides, polyterpenes, lipids, aptamers, and/or proteins.

Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) enhancement agent includes a plurality of particles, each particle including: a metal core; a dielectric shell disposed on the metal core comprising at least one MRI contrast agent; and a metal shell disposed on the exterior surface of the dielectric shell that encapsulates the dielectric shell.

Abstract: A vessel including a concentrator configured to concentrate electromagnetic (EM) radiation received from an EM radiation source and a complex configured to absorb EM radiation to generate heat. The vessel is configured to receive a cool fluid from the cool fluid source, concentrate the EM radiation using the concentrator, apply the EM radiation to the complex, and transform, using the heat generated by the complex, the cool fluid to the heated fluid. The complex is at least one of consisting of copper nanoparticles, copper oxide nanoparticles, nanoshells, nanorods, carbon moieties, encapsulated nanoshells, encapsulated nanoparticles, and branched nanostructures. Further, the EM radiation is at least one of EM radiation in an ultraviolet region of an electromagnetic spectrum, in a visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, and in an infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Abstract: A metal-semiconductor-metal photodetecting device and method of manufacturing a metal-semiconductor-metal photodetecting device that includes a p-type silicon substrate with an oxide layer disposed on the p-type silicon substrate. Schotty junctions are disposed adjacent to the oxide layer on the p-type silicon substrate and a plasmonic grating disposed on the oxide layer. The plasmonic grating provides wavelength range selectability for the photodetecting device.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for distilling a fluid by exposing the fluid to a porous membrane that includes a surface capable of generating heat. In some embodiments, the heat generated at the surface propagates the distilling of the fluid by converting the fluid to a vapor that flows through the porous membrane and condenses to a distillate. In some embodiments, the surface capable of generating heat is associated with a photo-thermal composition that generates the heat at the surface by converting light energy from a light source to thermal energy. In some embodiments, the photo-thermal composition includes, without limitation, noble metals, semiconducting materials, dielectric materials, carbon-based materials, composite materials, nanocomposite materials, nanoparticles, hydrophilic materials, polymers, fibers, meshes, fiber meshes, hydrogels, hydrogel meshes, nanomaterials, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a system to create vapor for generating electric power. The system includes a vessel comprising a fluid and a complex and a turbine. The vessel of the system is configured to concentrate EM radiation received from an EM radiation source. The vessel of the system is further configured to apply the EM radiation to the complex, where the complex absorbs the EM radiation to generate heat. The vessel of the system is also configured to transform, using the heat generated by the complex, the fluid to vapor. The vessel of the system is further configured to sending the vapor to a turbine. The turbine of the system is configured to receive, from the vessel, the vapor used to generate the electric power.

Abstract: Plasmonic pixels may provide an array of nanoparticles in a desired arrangement on a substrate, and may be overcoated with a top layer. The nanoparticles may be nanorods, nanoshells, nanoparticles, spiky shells, cubes, triangles, prisms, disks, nanowires, gratings, Fano structures, and/or other single or coupled nano structures. The array of nanoparticles may support two polarized surface plasmon resonances. Further, a plasmon response of the array of nanoparticles may be diffractively coupled. The nanoparticles may be arranged in a square or hexagonal array. The color of the plasmonic pixel may be controlled by the plasmon response of the nanoparticles, a distance between nanoparticles along axial directions, and/or a method of excitation.

Abstract: A system including a steam generation system and a chamber. The steam generation system includes a complex and the steam generation system is configured to receive water, concentrate electromagnetic (EM) radiation received from an EM radiation source, apply the EM radiation to the complex, where the complex absorbs the EM radiation to generate heat, and transform, using the heat generated by the complex, the water to steam. The chamber is configured to receive the steam and an object, wherein the object is of medical waste, medical equipment, fabric, and fecal matter.

Abstract: A device for Surface Enhanced Infrared Absorption (SEIRA) that includes at least one pair of metallic antennas deposited on a substrate, wherein the pair of metallic antennas are collinear. The length, width, and height of the metallic antenna determines an infrared absorption of the pair of metallic antennas. The device also includes a gap located between the pair of metallic antennas. A chemical moiety is disposed on at least a portion of the metallic antennas such that the infrared absorption of the chemical moiety is enhanced by the at least one pair of metallic antennas.

Abstract: A system including a steam generation system and a chamber. The steam generation system includes a complex and the steam generation system is configured to receive water, concentrate electromagnetic (EM) radiation received from an EM radiation source, apply the EM radiation to the complex, where the complex absorbs the EM radiation to generate heat, and transform, using the heat generated by the complex, the water to steam. The chamber is configured to receive the steam and an object, wherein the object is of medical waste, medical equipment, fabric, and fecal matter.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging enhancement agent includes a plurality of particles. Each particle including a metal core; a dielectric shell disposed on the metal core including water and at least one MRI contrast agent; and a metal shell disposed on the exterior surface of the dielectric shell that encapsulates the dielectric shell.

Abstract: A method of producing bioethanol that includes receiving a feedstock solution that includes polysaccharides in a vessel comprising a complex is described. The complex may be copper nanoparticles, copper oxide nanoparticles, nanoshells, nanorods, carbon moieties, encapsulated nanoshells, encapsulated nanoparticles, and/or branched nanostructures. The method also includes applying electromagnetic (EM) radiation to the complex such that the complex absorbs the EM radiation to generate heat. Using the heat generated by the complex, sugar molecules may be extracted from the polysaccharides in the feedstock solution, and fermented. Then, bioethanol may be extracted from the vessel.

Abstract: A system including a steam generation system and a chamber. The steam generation system includes a complex and the steam generation system is configured to receive water, concentrate electromagnetic (EM) radiation received from an EM radiation source, apply the EM radiation to the complex, where the complex absorbs the EM radiation to generate heat, and transform, using the heat generated by the complex, the water to steam. The chamber is configured to receive the steam and an object, wherein the object is of medical waste, medical equipment, fabric, and fecal matter.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a unit that includes a semiconductor and a plasmonic material disposed on the semiconductor, where a potential barrier is formed between the plasmonic material and the semiconductor. The unit further includes an insulator disposed on the semiconductor and adjacent to the plasmonic material and a transparent conductor disposed on the plasmonic material, where, upon illumination, the plasmonic material is excited resulting the excitation of an electron with sufficient energy to overcome the potential barrier.