Abstract: Devices to detect a substance and methods of producing such a device are disclosed. An example device to detect a substance includes a housing defining an externally accessible chamber and a seal to enclose at least a portion of the chamber. The example device also includes a substrate includes nanoparticles positioned within the chamber. The nanoparticles to react to the substance when exposed thereto. The example device also includes a non-analytic solution within the chamber to protect the nanoparticles from premature exposure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to nanoscale memristor devices that provide nonvolatile memristive switching. In one embodiment, a memristor device comprises an active region, a first electrode disposed on a first surface of the active region, and a second electrode disposed on a second surface of the active region, the second surface opposite the first surface. The first electrode is configured with a larger width than the active region in a first direction, and the second electrode is configured with a larger width than the active region in a second direction. Application of a voltage to at least one of the electrodes produces an electric field across a sub-region within the active region between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A slot-line waveguide optical switch system and method are disclosed. An optical switch system can include a slot-line waveguide optical switch that includes a plurality of wall portions that are each formed from a high refractive-index material and that are arranged to form a channel portion comprising an electro-optic material interposed to extend between the plurality of wall portions. The channel portion can include an input channel to receive an input optical signal and plural output channels to receive the input optical signal from the input channel. A channel switching system can provide a voltage to an electrode coupled to a corresponding wall portion to change a relative refractive index in the output channels via the electro-optic material and thereby switch the input optical signal to one of the output channels.

Abstract: Devices to detect a substance and methods of producing such a device are disclosed. An example device to detect a substance includes a housing defining an externally accessible chamber and a seal to enclose at least a portion of the chamber. The example device also includes a substrate includes nanoparticles positioned within the chamber. The nanoparticles to react to the substance when exposed thereto. The example device also includes a non-analytic solution within the chamber to protect the nanoparticles from premature exposure.

Abstract: A method includes fabricating a circuit element and a connection to the circuit element for a photonic integrated circuit. The method includes associating a configurable material with the circuit element and activating the configurable material via a poling rail and the connection to the circuit element during production of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) includes a substrate and a plurality of nano-pillars, each of the plurality of nano-pillars having a first end attached to the substrate, a second end located distally from the substrate, and a body portion extending between the first end and the second end, in which the plurality of nano-pillars are arranged in an array on the substrate, and in which each of the plurality of nano-pillars is formed of a polymer material that is functionalized to expand in the presence of a fluid to cause gaps between the plurality of nano-pillars to shrink when the fluid is supplied onto the nano-pillars.

Abstract: A device for Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). The device includes a plurality of nanostructures protruding from a surface of a substrate, a SERS active metal disposed on a portion of said plurality of nanostructures, and a low friction film disposed over the plurality of nanostructures and the SERS active metal. The low friction film is to prevent adhesion between the plurality of nanostructures.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing spectroscopy includes an optical waveguide comprising a fluidic channel to receive a fluid sample, in which the optical waveguide is to propagate lightwaves at a set of frequencies. The apparatus also includes a wavelength selective device coupled to the optical waveguide, in which the wavelength selective device comprises a predetermined bandwidth and is to capture frequencies of light within the predetermined bandwidth. The apparatus further includes a detector coupled to the wavelength selective device to generate signals that identify the frequencies captured by the wavelength selective device.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing SERS includes a substrate and flexible nano-fingers, each of the nano-fingers having a first end attached to the substrate, a free second end, and a body portion extending between the first end and the second end, in which the nano-fingers are arranged in an array on the substrate. The apparatus also includes an active material layer disposed on each of the second ends of the plurality of nano-fingers, in which the nano-fingers are to be in a substantially collapsed state in which the active layers on at least two of the nano-fingers contact each other under dominant attractive forces between the plurality of nano-fingers and in which the active material layers are to repel each other when the active material layers are electrostatically charged.

Abstract: A structure for molecular analysis is disclosed. The structure includes a nanostructure and a nanoparticle attached to the nanostructure, wherein the nanostructure is free-standing and wherein the nanoparticle, the nanostructure or both the nanoparticle and the nanostructure are coated with a metal coating; or a plurality of nanoparticles, wherein the plurality of nanoparticles is free-standing and wherein each nanoparticle in the plurality is coated with a metal coating and is separated from one other nanoparticle or two other nanoparticles by a distance of 0.5 nm to 1 nm. A method for preparing the structure for molecular analysis is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method includes fabricating a circuit element and a connection to the circuit element for a photonic integrated circuit. The method includes associating a configurable material with the circuit element and activating the configurable material via a poling rail and the connection to the circuit element during production of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A slot-line waveguide optical switch system and method are disclosed. An optical switch system can include a slot-line waveguide optical switch that includes a plurality of wall portions that are each formed from a high refractive-index material and that are arranged to form a channel portion comprising an electro-optic material interposed to extend between the plurality of wall portions. The channel portion can include an input channel to receive an input optical signal and plural output channels to receive the input optical signal from the input channel. A channel switching system can provide a voltage to an electrode coupled to a corresponding wall portion to change a relative refractive index in the output channels via the electro-optic material and thereby switch the input optical signal to one of the output channels.

Abstract: A sensing device that produces a Raman signal includes micro-rods or nano-rods arranged on a substrate in a two-dimensional (2D) array, each of the rods having a length in a single row being substantially the same, with the rod length of each row being different from the rod length of each other row. Each row of rods has a respective resonant vibration frequency that varies from row to row. A source of vibration energy, operatively connected to the substrate, excites vibration in each of the rods such that a responding row resonates when an exciting frequency approaches the resonant vibration frequency of the responding row. A method includes exposing the 2D array to a light source and analyzing Raman scattering at each rod of the 2D array to render a Raman map.

Abstract: A luminescent chemical sensor integrated with at least one molecular trap. The luminescent chemical sensor includes at least one molecular trap and at least one metallic-nanofinger device integrated with at least one molecular trap. The molecular trap includes a plurality of electrodes that trap at least one analyte molecule. The metallic-nanofinger device includes a substrate, and a plurality of nanofingers coupled with the substrate. A nanofinger of the plurality includes a flexible column, and a metallic cap coupled to an apex of the flexible column. At least the nanofinger and a second nanofinger of the plurality of nanofingers are to self-arrange into a close-packed configuration with the analyte molecule. A method for using, and a chemical-analysis apparatus including the luminescent chemical sensor are also provided.

Abstract: A memristor includes a first electrode of a nanoscale width; a second electrode of a nanoscale width; and an active region disposed between the first and second electrodes. The active region has a both a non-conducting portion and a source of dopants portion induced by electric field. The non-conducting portion comprises an electronically semiconducting or nominally insulating material and a weak ionic conductor switching material capable of carrying a species of dopants and transporting the dopants under an electric field. The non-conducting portion is in contact with the first electrode and the source of dopants portion is in contact with the second electrode. The second electrode comprises a metal reservoir for the dopants. A crossbar array comprising a plurality of the nanoscale switching devices is also provided. A process for making at least one nanoscale switching device is further provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting at least one species using Raman light detection includes at least one laser source for illuminating a sample containing the at least one species. The apparatus also includes a modulating element for modulating a spatial relationship between the sample and the light beams to cause relative positions of the sample and the light beams to be oscillated, in which Raman light at differing intensity levels are configured to be emitted from the at least one species based upon the different wavelengths of the light beams illuminating the sample. The apparatus also includes a Raman light detector and a post-signal processing unit configured to detect the at least one species.

Abstract: A tunable apparatus for performing Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) includes a deformable substrate and a plurality of SERS-active nanoparticles disposed at a plurality of locations on the deformable substrate. The plurality of SERS-active nanoparticles are to enhance Raman scattered light emission from an analyte molecule located in close proximity to the SERS-active nanoparticles. In addition, the deformable substrate is to be deformed to vary distances between the SERS-active nanoparticles, in which varying distances between the SERS-active nanoparticles varies enhancement of an intensity of Raman scattered light emission from the analyte molecule.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting at least one molecule using Raman light detection includes a substrate for supporting a sample containing the at least one molecule, a laser source for emitting a laser beam to cause Raman light emission from the at least one molecule, a modulating element for modulating a spatial relationship between the laser beam and the substrate at an identified frequency to cause the Raman light to be emitted from the at least one molecule at the identified frequency, at least one detector for detecting the Raman light emitted from the at least one molecule, and a post-signal processing unit configured to process the detected Raman light emission at the identified frequency to detect the at least one molecule.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) includes a substrate and a plurality of nano-pillars, each of the plurality of nano-pillars having a first end attached to the substrate, a second end located distally from the substrate, and a body portion extending between the first end and the second end, in which the plurality of nano-pillars are arranged in an array on the substrate, and in which each of the plurality of nano-pillars is formed of a polymer material that is functionalized to expand in the presence of a fluid to cause gaps between the plurality of nano-pillars to shrink when the fluid is supplied onto the nano-pillars.

Abstract: A sensing device that produces a Raman signal includes micro-rods or nano-rods arranged on a substrate in a two-dimensional (2D) array, each of the rods having a length in a single row being substantially the same, with the rod length of each row being different from the rod length of each other row. Each row of rods has a respective resonant vibration frequency that varies from row to row. A source of vibration energy, operatively connected to the substrate, excites vibration in each of the rods such that a responding row resonates when an exciting frequency approaches the resonant vibration frequency of the responding row. A method includes exposing the 2D array to a light source and analyzing Raman scattering at each rod of the 2D array to render a Raman map.