Abstract: A method of making a multicomponent photocatalyst, includes inducing precipitation from a pre-cursor solution comprising a pre-cursor of a plasmonic material and a pre-cursor of a reactive component to form co-precipitated particles; collecting the co-precipitated particles; and annealing the co-precipitated particles to form the multicomponent photocatalyst comprising a reactive component optically, thermally, or electronically coupled to a plasmonic material.

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 harmonic light-generating metasurface includes a base substrate and a plurality of structures, that include nonlinear material, that are disposed in a pattern on a surface of the base substrate. Each structure of the plurality of structures individually supports a magnetic dipole mode. An electromagnetic field enhancement of the magnetic dipole mode induces generation of a harmonic signal by the plurality of structures. Alternatively, a harmonic light-generating metasurface, includes a base substrate, a supporting substrate that includes a nonlinear material, and a plurality of paired structures disposed in a pattern on a surface of the supporting substrate. Each paired structure, of the plurality of paired structures, collectively supports a toroidal dipole mode. An electromagnetic field enhancement of the toroidal dipole mode penetrates the supporting substrate to induce generation of a harmonic signal by the supporting substrate.

Abstract: A harmonic light-generating metasurface includes a base substrate and a plurality of structures, that include nonlinear material, that are disposed in a pattern on a surface of the base substrate. Each structure of the plurality of structures individually supports a magnetic dipole mode. An electromagnetic field enhancement of the magnetic dipole mode induces generation of a harmonic signal by the plurality of structures. Alternatively, a harmonic light-generating metasurface, includes a base substrate, a supporting substrate that includes a nonlinear material, and a plurality of paired structures disposed in a pattern on a surface of the supporting substrate. Each paired structure, of the plurality of paired structures, collectively supports a toroidal dipole mode. An electromagnetic field enhancement of the toroidal dipole mode penetrates the supporting substrate to induce generation of a harmonic signal by the supporting substrate.

Abstract: A multicomponent photocatalyst includes a reactive component optically, electronically, or thermally coupled to a plasmonic material. A method of performing a catalytic reaction includes loading a multicomponent photocatalyst including a reactive component optically, electronically, or thermally coupled to a plasmonic material into a reaction chamber; introducing molecular reactants into the reaction chamber; and illuminating the reaction chamber with a light source.

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 multicomponent photocatalyst includes a reactive component optically, electronically, or thermally coupled to a plasmonic material. A method of performing a catalytic reaction includes loading a multicomponent photocatalyst including a reactive component optically, electronically, or thermally coupled to a plasmonic material into a reaction chamber, introducing molecular reactants into the reaction chamber, and illuminating the reaction chamber with a light source.

Abstract: A method of making a multicomponent photocatalyst, includes inducing precipitation from a pre-cursor solution comprising a pre-cursor of a plasmonic material and a pre-cursor of a reactive component to form co-precipitated particles; collecting the co-precipitated particles; and annealing the co-precipitated particles to form the multicomponent photocatalyst comprising a reactive component optically, thermally, or electronically coupled to a plasmonic material.

Abstract: A multicomponent photocatalyst includes a reactive component optically, electronically, or thermally coupled to a plasmonic material. A method of performing a catalytic reaction includes loading a multicomponent photocatalyst including a reactive component optically, electronically, or thermally coupled to a plasmonic material into a reaction chamber, introducing molecular reactants into the reaction chamber, and illuminating the reaction chamber with a light source.

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 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 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 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.

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: A method for powering a cooling unit. The method including applying electromagnetic (EM) radiation to a complex, where the complex absorbs the EM radiation to generate heat, transforming, using the heat generated by the complex, a fluid to vapor, and sending the vapor from the vessel to a turbine coupled to a generator by a shaft, where the vapor causes the turbine to rotate, which turns the shaft and causes the generator to generate the electric power, wherein the electric powers supplements the power needed to power the cooling unit.