Abstract: A device, system and method for the detection and screening of plastic microparticles in a sample is disclosed. A nanoporous silicon nitride membrane is used to entrap plastic microparticles contained in the sample. The sample may be a water sample, an air sample, or other liquid or gas sample. The entrapped plastic microparticles are then heated or otherwise processed on the nanoporous silicon nitride membrane. An imaging system observes the nanoporous silicon nitride membrane with the entrapped plastic microparticles to determine the type and quantity of the various plastic microparticles that are entrapped on the membrane.

Abstract: A device, system and method for the detection and screening of plastic microparticles in a sample is disclosed. A nanoporous silicon nitride membrane is used to entrap plastic microparticles contained in the sample. The sample may be a water sample, an air sample, or other liquid or gas sample. The entrapped plastic microparticles are then heated or otherwise processed on the nanoporous silicon nitride membrane. An imaging system observes the nanoporous silicon nitride membrane with the entrapped plastic microparticles to determine the type and quantity of the various plastic microparticles that are entrapped on the membrane.

Abstract: A device, system and method for the detection and screening of plastic microparticles in a sample is disclosed. A nanoporous silicon nitride membrane is used to entrap plastic microparticles contained in the sample. The sample may be a water sample, an air sample, or other liquid or gas sample. The entrapped plastic microparticles are then heated or otherwise processed on the nanoporous silicon nitride membrane. An imaging system observes the nanoporous silicon nitride membrane with tic entrapped plastic microparticles to determine the type and quantity of the various plastic microparticles that are entrapped on the membrane.

Abstract: Provided are methods of preparing, detecting, and/or assaying an analyte of interest from a sample. The methods utilize functionalized silicon membranes, such as, for example, functionalized silicon nanomembranes. Samples that can be used in the methods may be biological samples, food samples, environmental samples, industrial samples, or a combination thereof. Also provided are kits to perform methods of the present disclosure.

Abstract: To reduce unwanted variation in the speed of DNA translocating solid-state nanopores, a nanoscale pre-confinement of translocating molecules is demonstrated using an ultra-thin nanoporous silicon nitride (NPN) membrane separated from a single sensing nanopore by a nanoscale cavity. Comprehensive experimental results demonstrate that the presence of this nanofilter results in a global minimum in the coefficient of variation of passage times in the sensing pore over a range of DNA sizes which depends on the height of the cavity. Such advanced nanopore devices minimize the standard deviation of the passage time distribution independently of its diameter and stability. These results also represents the first experimental verification that the inter- and intra-molecular passage time variation depends on the conformational entropy of such molecule prior to translocation, while providing a practical strategy for controlling transport across solid-state nanopores.

Abstract: A method of making a SERS active substrate and a SERS active substrate. The method comprises depositing a first layer and replicating a plurality of pores of a nanoporous template layer in the first layer so as to define corresponding pores in the first layer. The first layer consists of a metal. Depositing the first layer comprises at least partially coating the sidewalls of the pores of the nanoporous template layer, thereby defining a plurality of out-of-plane SERS active nanofeatures in the first layer.