Abstract: An apparatus and methods for manipulating light using nanoscale cometal structures are disclosed. A nanoscale optics apparatus for manipulating light includes a plurality of nanoscale cometal structures each comprising a dielectric material located between a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. A method of fabricating a nanoscale optics apparatus for manipulating light includes preparing a plurality of nanoscale planar structures; coating a plurality of planar surfaces of the plurality of planar structures with a dielectric while leaving space between the plurality of planar surfaces; and coating the dielectric with an outer electrical conductor layer, wherein a portion of the outer electrical conductor layer is located between the planar structures to form coplanar structures.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to binary or higher order semiconductor nanoparticles doped with a metallic element, and thermoelectric compositions incorporating such nanoparticles. In one aspect, the present invention provides a thermoelectric composition comprising a plurality of nanoparticles each of which includes an alloy matrix formed of a Group IV element and Group VI element and a metallic dopant distributed within the matrix.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to nanocomposite thermoelectric materials that exhibit enhanced thermoelectric properties. The nanocomposite materials include two or more components, with at least one of the components forming nano-sized structures within the composite material. The components are chosen such that thermal conductivity of the composite is decreased without substantially diminishing the composite's electrical conductivity. Suitable component materials exhibit similar electronic band structures. For example, a band-edge gap between at least one of a conduction band or a valence band of one component material and a corresponding band of the other component material at interfaces between the components can be less than about 5kBT, wherein kB is the Boltzman constant and T is an average temperature of said nanocomposite composition.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to nanocomposite thermoelectric materials that exhibit enhanced thermoelectric properties. The nanocomposite materials include two or more components, with at least one of the components forming nano-sized structures within the composite material. The components are chosen such that thermal conductivity of the composite is decreased without substantially diminishing the composite's electrical conductivity. Suitable component materials exhibit similar electronic band structures. For example, a band-edge gap between at least one of a conduction band or a valence band of one component material and a corresponding band of the other component material at interfaces between the components can be less than about 5kBT, wherein kB is the Boltzman constant and T is an average temperature of said nanocomposite composition.

Abstract: CNT materials comprising aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with pre-determined site densities, catalyst substrate materials for obtaining them and methods for forming aligned CNTs with controllable densities on such catalyst substrate materials are described. The fabrication of films comprising site-density controlled vertically aligned CNT arrays of the invention with variable field emission characteristics, whereby the field emission properties of the films are controlled by independently varying the length of CNTs in the aligned array within the film or by independently varying inter-tubule spacing of the CNTs within the array (site density) are disclosed. The fabrication of microelectrode arrays (MEAs) formed utilizing the carbon nanotube material of the invention is also described.

Abstract: The various embodiments discloses a cantilever probe comprising a first electrode and a second electrode engaged to a substrate and a branched cantilever wherein the cantilever comprises a nanostruture. Furthermore, the probe comprises a first arm of the cantilever engaged to the first electrode and a second arm of the cantilever engaged to the second electrode. Additionally, the cantilever probe comprises an electrical circuit coupled to the cantilever wherein the electrical circuit is capable of measuring a change in piezoresistance of the cantilever resulting from an atomic force and/or a magnetic force applied to the cantilever. Additionally, the invention discloses a method of performing atomic force microscopy, magnetic force microscopy, or magnetic resonance force microscopy. The nanostructures may comprise carbon or non-carbon materials. Additionally, the nanostructures may include nanotubes, nanowire, nanofibers and various other types of nanostructures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microelectode arrays (MEAs), and more particularly to carbon nanotube nanoelectrode arrays (CNT-NEAs) for chemical and biological sensing, and methods of use.

Abstract: The present invention provides conductive carbon nanotube (CNT) electrode materials comprising aligned CNT substrates coated with an electrically conducting polymer, and the fabrication of electrodes for use in high performance electrical energy storage devices. In particular, the present invention provides conductive CNTs electrode material whose electrical properties render them especially suitable for use in high efficiency rechargeable batteries. The present invention also provides methods for obtaining surface modified conductive CNT electrode materials comprising an array of individual linear, aligned CNTs having a uniform surface coating of an electrically conductive polymer such as polypyrrole, and their use in electrical energy storage devices.

Abstract: Methods for producing reinforced carbon nanotubes having a plurality of microparticulate carbide or oxide materials formed substantially on the surface of such reinforced carbon nanotubes composite materials are disclosed. In particular, the present invention provides reinforced carbon nanotubes (CNTs) having a plurality of boron carbide nanolumps formed substantially on a surface of the reinforced CNTs that provide a reinforcing effect on CNTs, enabling their use as effective reinforcing fillers for matrix materials to give high-strength composites. The present invention also provides methods for producing such carbide reinforced CNTs.

Abstract: Thermoelectric materials with high figures of merit, ZT values, are disclosed. In many instances, such materials include nano-sized domains (e.g., nanocrystalline), which are hypothesized to help increase the ZT value of the material (e.g., by increasing phonon scattering due to interfaces at grain boundaries or grain/inclusion boundaries). The ZT value of such materials can be greater than about 1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 1.8, 2 and even higher. Such materials can be manufactured from a thermoelectric starting material by generating nanoparticles therefrom, or mechanically alloyed nanoparticles from elements which can be subsequently consolidated (e.g., via direct current induced hot press) into a new bulk material. Non-limiting examples of starting materials include bismuth, lead, and/or silicon-based materials, which can be alloyed, elemental, and/or doped. Various compositions and methods relating to aspects of nanostructured thermoelectric materials (e.g., modulation doping) are further disclosed.

Abstract: The detection of specific DNA sequences using electrochemical readout would permit the rapid and inexpensive detection and identification of bacterial pathogens and the analysis of human genes. A new assay developed for this purpose is described that harnesses an electrocatalytic process to monitor DNA hybridization.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to metal oxide materials with varied symmetrical nanostructure morphologies. In particular, the present invention provides metal oxide materials comprising one or more metallic oxides with three-dimensionally ordered nanostructural morphologies, including hierarchical morphologies. The present invention also provides methods for producing such metal oxide materials.

Abstract: A three dimensional optical data storage and retrieval system that includes a three dimensional optical data storage medium and an apparatus for providing access to data stored on the medium. The data storage medium includes an optical data storage material which either a low molecular weight or polymeric glassy solid that are capable of undergoing multi-photon excitation that are energetically different in the write and read cycles. The optical data storage materials provide substantially higher storage capacities relative to conventional materials, and show high robustness in that written and stored data can undergo multiple read cycles without erasure or overwriting. An apparatus for data recording and accessing stored data on the medium includes a controllable variable energy photo-emitting excitation source and an emission photo-detector.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for synthesis of IV–VI nanostructures, and thermoelectric compositions formed of such structures. In one aspect, the method includes forming a solution of a Group IV reagent, a Group VI reagent and a surfactant. A reducing agent can be added to the solution, and the resultant solution can be maintained at an elevated temperature, e.g., in a range of about 20° C. to about 360° C., for a duration sufficient for generating nanoparticles as binary alloys of the IV–VI elements.

Abstract: The various embodiments discloses a cantilever probe comprising a first electrode and a second electrode engaged to a substrate and a branched cantilever wherein the cantilever comprises a nanostruture. Furthermore, the probe comprises a first arm of the cantilever engaged to the first electrode and a second arm of the cantilever engaged to the second electrode. Additionally, the cantilever probe comprises an electrical circuit coupled to the cantilever wherein the electrical circuit is capable of measuring a change in piezoresistance of the cantilever resulting from an atomic force and/or a magnetic force applied to the cantilever. Additionally, the invention discloses a method of performing atomic force microscopy, magnetic force microscopy, or magnetic resonance force microscopy. The nanostructures may comprise carbon or non-carbon materials. Additionally, the nanostructures may include nanotubes, nanowire, nanofibers and various other types of nanostructures.

Abstract: The present invention describes the preparation of carbon nanotubes of varied morphology, catalyst materials for their synthesis. The present invention also describes reactor apparatus and methods of optimizing and controlling process parameters for the manufacture carbon nanotubes with pre-determined morphologies in relatively high purity and in high yields. In particular, the present invention provides methods for the preparation of non-aligned carbon nanotubes with controllable morphologies, catalyst materials and methods for their manufacture.

Abstract: The present invention provides conductive carbon nanotube (CNT) electrode materials comprising aligned CNT substrates coated with an electrically conducting polymer, and the fabrication of electrodes for use in high performance electrical energy storage devices. In particular, the present invention provides conductive CNTs electrode material whose electrical properties render them especially suitable for use in high efficiency rechargeable batteries. The present invention also provides methods for obtaining surface modified conductive CNT electrode materials comprising an array of individual linear, aligned CNTs having a uniform surface coating of an electrically conductive polymer such as polypyrrole, and their use in electrical energy storage devices.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to binary or higher order semiconductor nanoparticles doped with a metallic element, and thermoelectric compositions incorporating such nanoparticles. In one aspect, the present invention provides a thermoelectric composition comprising a plurality of nanoparticles each of which includes an alloy matrix formed of a Group IV element and Group VI element and a metallic dopant distributed within the matrix.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for synthesis of IV-VI nanostructures, and thermoelectric compositions formed of such structures. In one aspect, the method includes forming a solution of a Group IV reagent, a Group VI reagent and a surfactant. A reducing agent can be added to the solution, and the resultant solution can be maintained at an elevated temperature, e.g., in a range of about 20° C. to about 360° C., for a duration sufficient for generating nanoparticles as binary alloys of the IV-VI elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptide-based phosphorylation catalysts (PBPC's) for the asymmetric monophosphorylation of cyclitols, particularly myo-inositols. The PBPC's of the invention effect a regio and enantioselective phosphorylation of a myo-inositol in a manner analogous to enzymatic kinases, thereby functioning as effective “kinase mimics.” Although orders of magnitude less complex in terms of structure than macromolecular proteins, the PBPC's of the invention control product formation with high enantioselectivity (>98% ee). The synthetic (+)-myo-inositol-1-phosphate is optically and spectroscopically equivalent to naturally occuring compound. The ability of the low molecular weight PBPC's of the present invention to mimic stereoselective enzymes represents a powerful approach toward catalytic asymmetric synthesis of biologically important molecules, and for mechanistic modeling of biochemical transformations to enable their use in drug applications.