Abstract: An energy-generating transparent (EGT) structure is provided, in addition to a method for generating energy from light incident to an EGT structure. The EGT structure is made up of a window pane with an interior surface adjacent a reflective structure. The method accepts light incident to an exterior surface of the window pane, and transmits light in the visible spectrum through the window pane and reflective structure. However, light in the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum is reflected back from the reflective structure into the window pane, so that reflected NIR, spectrum light is supplied to an edge of the window pane. For example, reflected NIR spectrum light is supplied to the window pane edge if the light has an angle greater than or equal to an angle TIR occurring between the window pane exterior surface and air. This reflected NIR spectrum light can be converted to electrical or thermal energy.

Abstract: An energy-efficient transparent solar film is presented. The solar film has a first film layer with metal nanostructures. The metal nanostructures have plasmon resonances in wavelength bands greater than, or both less than and greater than visible wavelengths, depending on size and shape. The metal nanostructures have no plasmon resonance at visible wavelengths. In another aspect, metal oxide nanocrystals are formed with the first film layer. The metal oxide nanocrystals have absorption in a band of wavelengths less than visible wavelengths, and absorption in a band of wavelengths greater than visible wavelengths. Also provided is a solar film window and fabricating method.

Abstract: A plasmonic optical device is provided operating in near ultra violet (UV) and visible wavelengths of light. The optical device is made from a substrate and nanoparticles. The nanoparticles have a core with a negative real value relative permittivity of absolute value greater than 10 in a first range of wavelengths including near UV and visible wavelengths of light, and a shell with an imaginary relative permittivity of less than 5 in the first range of wavelengths. A dielectric overlies the substrate, and is embedded with the nanoparticles. If the substrate is reflective, a reflective optical filter is formed. If the substrate is transparent, the filter is transmissive. In one aspect, the dielectric is a tunable medium (e.g., liquid crystal) having an index of refraction responsive to an electric field. The tunable medium is interposed between a first electrode and a second electrode.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a reflective plasmonic display. The method provides a substrate and deposits a bottom dielectric layer. A conductive film is deposited overlying the bottom dielectric layer. A hard mask is formed with nano-size openings overlying the conductive film. The conductive film is plasma etched via nano-size openings in the hard mask, stopping at the dielectric layer. After removing the hard mask, a conductive film is left with nano-size openings to the dielectric layer. Metal is deposited in the nano-size openings, creating a pattern of metallic nanoparticles overlying the dielectric layer. Then, the conductive film is removed. The hard mask may be formed by conformally depositing an Al film overlying the conductive film and anodizing the Al film, creating a hard mask of porous anodized Al oxide (AAO) film. The porous AAO film may form a short-range hexagonal, and long-range random order hole patterns.

Abstract: A method is provided for improving metallic nanostructure stability. The method provides a substrate, and using a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process for example, deposits metallic nanostructures having a first diameter overlying the substrate. Some examples of metallic nanostructures include Ag, Au, and Al. The metallic nanostructures are annealed in an atmosphere including an inert gas and H2. The annealing temperature is less than the melting temperature the metal material in bulk form. In response to the annealing, stabilized metallic nanostructures are formed. If the stabilized metallic nanostructures are exposed to an ambient air environment the stabilized metallic nanostructure maintain the first diameter. Typically, the metallic nanostructures are initially formed having a rectangular shape with corners. After annealing, the stabilized metallic nanostructures have a dome shape.

Abstract: A plasmonic polarizer and a method for fabricating the plasmonic polarizer are provided. The method deposits alternating layers of non-metallic film and metal, forming a stack. A hard mask is formed overlying the stack. The hard mask comprises structures having dimensions and periods between adjacent structures less than a first length, where the first length is equal to (a first wavelength of light/2). The stack is etched through openings in the hard mask to form pillar stacks of alternating non-metallic and metal layers having the dimensions of the hard mask structures. Then, the hard mask structures are removed. In one aspect, subsequent to removing the hard mask structures, the spaces between the pillar stacks are filled with a dielectric material.

Abstract: A plasmonic optical device is provided operating in near ultra violet (UV) and visible wavelengths of light. The optical device is made from a substrate and nanoparticles. The nanoparticles have a core with a negative real value relative permittivity of absolute value greater than 10 in a first range of wavelengths including near UV and visible wavelengths of light, and a shell with an imaginary relative permittivity of less than 5 in the first range of wavelengths. A dielectric overlies the substrate, and is embedded with the nanoparticles. If the substrate is reflective, a reflective optical filter is formed. If the substrate is transparent, the filter is transmissive. In one aspect, the dielectric is a tunable medium (e.g., liquid crystal) having an index of refraction responsive to an electric field. The tunable medium is interposed between a first electrode and a second electrode.

Abstract: Methods are provided for fabricating a multi-structure pore membrane. In one method, an anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) template is formed with an array of pores exposing underlying regions of a conductive layer top surface. A plurality of photoresist layers is patterned to sequentially expose a plurality of AAO template sections. Each exposed AAO template section is sequentially etched to widen pore diameters, so that each AAO template section may be associated with a corresponding unique pore diameter. A target material is deposited in the pores of the AAO template and, as a result, an array of target material structures is formed on the top surface, where the target material structures associated with each AAO template section have a corresponding diameter. Also provided is a multi-structure pixel device formed with subpixels having different structure dimensions.

Abstract: An electrical pressure sensor is provided with a method for measuring pressure applied to a sensor surface. The method provides an electrical pressure sensor including a sealed chamber with a top surface, first electrode, second electrode, an elastic polymer medium, and metallic nanoparticles distributed in the elastic polymer medium. When the top surface of the sensor is deformed in response to an applied pressure, the elastic polymer medium is compressed. In response to decreasing the metallic nanoparticle-to-metallic nanoparticle mean distance between metallic nanoparticles, the electrical resistance is decreased between the first and second electrodes through the elastic polymer medium.

Abstract: An energy-generating transparent (EGT) structure is provided, in addition to a method for generating energy from light incident to an EGT structure. The EGT structure is made up of a window pane with an interior surface adjacent a reflective structure. The method accepts light incident to an exterior surface of the window pane, and transmits light in the visible spectrum through the window pane and reflective structure. However, light in the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum is reflected back from the reflective structure into the window pane, so that reflected NIR, spectrum light is supplied to an edge of the window pane. For example, reflected NIR spectrum light is supplied to the window pane edge if the light has an angle greater than or equal to an angle TIR occurring between the window pane exterior surface and air. This reflected NIR spectrum light can be converted to electrical or thermal energy.

Abstract: An energy-efficient transparent solar film is presented. The solar film has a first film layer with metal nanostructures. The metal nanostructures have plasmon resonances in wavelength bands greater than, or both less than and greater than visible wavelengths, depending on size and shape. The metal nanostructures have no plasmon resonance at visible wavelengths. In another aspect, metal oxide nanocrystals are formed with the first film layer. The metal oxide nanocrystals have absorption in a band of wavelengths less than visible wavelengths, and absorption in a band of wavelengths greater than visible wavelengths. Also provided is a solar film window and fabricating method.

Abstract: An electrical pressure-sensitive reflective display includes an array of display pixels, each with a transparent top surface, first electrode, second electrode, an elastic polymer medium, and metallic nanoparticles distributed in the elastic polymer medium. When a first voltage potential is applied between the first and second electrodes of each display pixel, a first color is reflected from the incident spectrum of light, assuming no pressure is applied on the top surface of each display pixel. When the top surface of a first display pixel is deformed in response to an applied pressure, the elastic polymer medium in the first display pixel is compressed, decreasing the metallic nanoparticle-to-metallic nanoparticle mean distance in the first display pixel. In response to decreasing the metallic nanoparticle-to-metallic nanoparticle mean distance, the color reflected from the incident spectrum of light by the second display pixel is changed from the first color to second color.

Abstract: A plasmonic display device is provided that uses physical modulation mechanisms. The device is made from an electrically conductive bottom electrode and a first dielectric layer overlying the bottom electrode. The first dielectric layer is a piezoelectric material having an index of expansion responsive to an electric field. An electrically conductive top electrode overlies the first dielectric layer. A first plasmonic layer, including a plurality of discrete plasmonic particles, is interposed between the top and bottom electrodes and in contact with the first dielectric layer. In one aspect, the plasmonic particles are an expandable polymer material covered with a metal coating having a size responsive to an electric field.

Abstract: A method is provided for improving metallic nanostructure stability. The method provides a substrate, and using a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process for example, deposits metallic nanostructures having a first diameter overlying the substrate. Some examples of metallic nanostructures include Ag, Au, and Al. The metallic nanostructures are annealed in an atmosphere including an inert gas and H2. The annealing temperature is less than the melting temperature the metal material in bulk form. In response to the annealing, stabilized metallic nanostructures are formed. If the stabilized metallic nanostructures are exposed to an ambient air environment the stabilized metallic nanostructure maintain the first diameter. Typically, the metallic nanostructures are initially formed having a rectangular shape with corners. After annealing, the stabilized metallic nanostructures have a dome shape.

Abstract: A method is provided for color tuning a plasmonic device with a color tunable electronic skin. A plasmonic electronic skin is used, including a first substrate, a plasmonic structure, an electrically conductive transparent first electrode layer, an electrically conductive transparent second electrode layer, and a polymer-networked liquid crystal (PNLC) layer interposed between the first and second transparent electrode layers. In response to receiving a color tuning voltage, a full visible spectrum incident light, and a PNLC switch voltage, the plasmonic structure generates a first primary color. A primary color exhibits a single wavelength peak with a spectral full width at half magnitudes (FWHMs) in the visible spectrum of light. In response to receiving the PNLC switch voltage between the first and second electrode layers, the PNLC layer passes incident light.

Abstract: A plasmonic display device is provided with liquid crystal dipole molecule control. The device is made from a first set of electrodes including at least one electrically conductive top electrode and at least one electrically conductive bottom electrode capable of generating a first electric field in a first direction. A second set of electrodes, including an electrically conductive right electrode and an electrically conductive left electrode, is capable of generating a second electric field in a second first direction. A dielectric layer overlies the bottom electrode, made from a liquid crystal material with molecules having dipoles responsive to an electric field. A plasmonic layer, including a plurality of discrete plasmonic particles, is interposed between the first and second set of electrodes and in contact with the dielectric layer. In one aspect, the plasmonic layer is embedded in the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A plasmonic display device is provided having dual modulation mechanisms. The device has an electrically conductive bottom electrode that may be either transparent or reflective. A dielectric layer overlies the bottom electrode, made from an elastic polymer material having a refractive index responsive to an electric field. An electrically conductive top electrode, either transparent or reflective, overlies the dielectric layer. A plasmonic layer, including a plurality of discrete plasmonic particles, is interposed between the top and bottom electrodes and in contact with the dielectric layer. In one aspect, the plasmonic layer is embedded in the dielectric layer. Alternately, the plasmonic layer overlies the bottom (or top) electrode. Then, the dielectric layer overlies the plasmonic layer particles and exposed regions of the bottom electrode between the first plasmonic layer particles.

Abstract: An electrical pressure sensor is provided with a method for measuring pressure applied to a sensor surface. The method provides an electrical pressure sensor including a sealed chamber with a top surface, first electrode, second electrode, an elastic polymer medium, and metallic nanoparticles distributed in the elastic polymer medium. When the top surface of the sensor is deformed in response to an applied pressure, the elastic polymer medium is compressed. In response to decreasing the metallic nanoparticle-to-metallic nanoparticle mean distance between metallic nanoparticles, the electrical resistance is decreased between the first and second electrodes through the elastic polymer medium.

Abstract: A plasmonic polarizer and a method for fabricating the plasmonic polarizer are provided. The method deposits alternating layers of non-metallic film and metal, forming a stack. A hard mask is formed overlying the stack. The hard mask comprises structures having dimensions and periods between adjacent structures less than a first length, where the first length is equal to (a first wavelength of light/2). The stack is etched through openings in the hard mask to form pillar stacks of alternating non-metallic and metal layers having the dimensions of the hard mask structures. Then, the hard mask structures are removed. In one aspect, subsequent to removing the hard mask structures, the spaces between the pillar stacks are filled with a dielectric material.

Abstract: A plasmonic display device is provided that uses physical modulation mechanisms. The device is made from an electrically conductive bottom electrode and a first dielectric layer overlying the bottom electrode. The first dielectric layer is a piezoelectric material having an index of expansion responsive to an electric field. An electrically conductive top electrode overlies the first dielectric layer. A first plasmonic layer, including a plurality of discrete plasmonic particles, is interposed between the top and bottom electrodes and in contact with the first dielectric layer. In one aspect, the plasmonic particles are an expandable polymer material covered with a metal coating having a size responsive to an electric field.