Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the cellular uptake of sugar-coated melanin nanoparticles by metastatic cancer cells followed by illumination with nonionizing radiation (e.g., visible or IR light) causing cell death.

Abstract: Structures and methods for electron-hole photogeneration by plasmonic multiple exciton generation in light absorbing layers and solar cells are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for the production of a transparent conductor deposit on a substrate, the method comprising: providing a substrate formed from a first material; depositing a film of a second material on the substrate; causing the film to crack so as to provide a plurality of recesses; depositing a conductive material in the recesses; and removing the film from the substrate so as to yield a transparent conductive deposit on the substrate.

Abstract: A nanocoaxial sensor includes an outer conductor, an inner conductor, a dielectric material disposed between the outer and inner conductors, a nanocavity sized to allow target species to enter the nanocavity between the outer and inner conductors, and an active sensing element immobilized within the nanocavity on at least one of the inner or outer conductors. The active sensing element is adapted to selectively capture the at least one of the target species.

Abstract: A method for the production of a transparent conductor deposit on a substrate, the method comprising: providing a substrate formed from a first material; depositing a film of a second material on the substrate; causing the film to crack so as to provide a plurality of recesses; depositing a conductive material in the recesses; and removing the film from the substrate so as to yield a transparent conductive deposit on the substrate.

Abstract: An electrode includes a substantially planar metallic thin film layer with a patterned structure including a plurality of parallel lines or a plurality of crossed lines, the metallic thin film layer configured to transmit an incident light through the metallic thin film layer.

Abstract: An electrode includes a substantially planar metallic thin film layer with a patterned structure including a plurality of parallel lines or a plurality of crossed lines, the metallic thin film layer configured to transmit an incident light through the metallic thin film layer.

Abstract: A nanocoaxial sensor includes an outer conductor, an inner conductor, a dielectric material disposed between the outer and inner conductors, a nanocavity sized to allow target species to enter the nanocavity between the outer and inner conductors, and an active sensing element immobilized within the nanocavity on at least one of the inner or outer conductors. The active sensing element is adapted to selectively capture the at least one of the target species.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells. Each photovoltaic cell of the plurality of photovoltaic cells includes a first electrode, a second electrode which is shared with at least one adjacent photovoltaic cell, and a photovoltaic material located between and in electrical contact with the first and the second electrodes. A thickness of the second electrode in a direction from one photovoltaic cell to an adjacent photovoltaic cell is less than an optical skin depth of the second electrode material, and a separation between first electrodes of adjacent photovoltaic cells is less than a peak wavelength of incident radiation.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell includes a first electrode, a first nanoparticle layer located in contact with the first electrode, a second electrode, a second nanoparticle layer located in contact with the second electrode, and a thin film photovoltaic material located between and in contact with the first and the second nanoparticle layers.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photovoltaic material located between and in electrical contact with the first and the second electrodes. The photovoltaic material comprises i) semiconductor nanocrystals having a bang gap that is significantly smaller than peak solar radiation energy to exhibit a multiple exciton effect in response to irradiation by the solar radiation; and/or ii) a first and a second set of semiconductor nanocrystals and the nanocrystals of the first set have a different band gap energy than the nanocrystals of the second set. A width of the photovoltaic material in a direction from the first electrode to the second electrode is less than about 200 nm while a height of the photovoltaic material in a direction substantially perpendicular to the width of the photovoltaic material is at least 1 micron.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a solar cell comprising a nanostructure array capable of accepting energy and producing electricity. In an embodiment, the solar cell comprises an at least one optical antenna having a geometric morphology capable of accepting energy. In addition, the cell comprises a rectifier having the optical antenna at a first end and engaging a substrate at a second end wherein the rectifier comprises the optical antenna engaged to a rectifying material (such as, a semiconductor). In addition, an embodiment of the solar cell comprises a metal layer wherein the metal layer surrounds a length of the rectifier, wherein the optical antenna accepts energy and converts the energy from AC to DC along the rectifier. Further, the invention provides various methods of efficiently and reliably producing such solar cells.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for solar conversion using nanoscale cometal structures are disclosed herein. The cometal structures may be coaxial and coplanar. A nanoscale optics apparatus for use as a solar cell comprises a plurality of nanoscale cometal structures each including a photovoltaic material located between a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. A method of fabricating solar cells comprises preparing a plurality of nanoscale planar structures; coating a plurality of planar surfaces of the plurality of planar structures with a photovoltaic semiconductor while leaving space between the plurality of planar surfaces; and coating the photovoltaic semiconductor 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: Nanoscale optical probes for use with nanoscale optical microscopy are disclosed herein. A nanoscale optical probe for use with a near-field scanning optical microscope includes an inner conductor having a top end, a bottom end, and a body; a dielectric material engaging the inner conductor; and an outer conductor engaging the dielectric material, wherein the inner conductor is longer at a tip surface of the probe than the dielectric material and the outer conductor.

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: An apparatus and methods for nanolithography using nanoscale optics are disclosed herein. Submicron-scale structures may be obtained using standard photolithography systems with a de-magnifying lens. A de-magnifying lens for use in a standard photolithography system includes a film having a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of cylindrical channels containing a dielectric material; and an array of carbon nanotubes penetrating the film through the plurality of cylindrical channels, wherein an image on the top surface of the film is converted into a de-magnified image on the bottom surface of the film by the carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for optical switching using nanoscale optics are disclosed herein. A nano-optics apparatus for use as an optical switch includes a metallic film having a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of cylindrical channels containing a dielectric material, the metallic film acting as an outer electrode; and an array of non-linear optical components penetrating the metallic film through the plurality of cylindrical channels, the array acting as an array of inner electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for solar conversion using nanocoax structures are disclosed herein. A nano-optics apparatus for use as a solar cell comprising a plurality of nano-coaxial structures comprising an internal conductor surrounded by a semiconducting material coated with an outer conductor; a film having the plurality of nano-coaxial structures; and a protruding portion of the an internal conductor extending beyond a surface of the film. A method of fabricating a solar cell comprising: coating a substrate with a catalytic material; growing a plurality of carbon nanotubes as internal cores of nanocoax units on the substrate; oxidizing the substrate; coating with a semiconducting film; and filling with a metallic medium that wets the semiconducting film of the nanocoax units.

Abstract: A method and system for probing a volume of material by detecting local conductivity in the material using microwave radiation. The probed volume of material is exposed to microwave radiation of a wavelength selected to excite the carriers of electrical current and induce localized heating in regions of the volume of material which is an electronic material or a device. A thermographic imaging system detects size and distribution of the locally heated regions, and a processing system determines a selected property of the material by analyzing the size and distribution of the locally heated regions. The thermographic imaging system can be an infra-red imaging system which detects infra-red radiation emitted from the locally heated region, or it can be a system which deposits a thermally sensitive film onto a surface of the material and detects thermally induced changes in the deposited film caused by the transferred heat.