Abstract: A radiation-emitting device includes a nanowire that is structurally and electrically coupled to a first electrode and a second electrode. The nanowire includes a double-heterostructure semiconductor device configured to emit electromagnetic radiation when a voltage is applied between the electrodes. A device includes a nanowire having an active longitudinal segment selectively disposed at a predetermined location within a resonant cavity that is configured to resonate at least one wavelength of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the segment within a range extending from about 300 nanometers to about 2,000 nanometers. Active nanoparticles are precisely positioned in resonant cavities by growing segments of nanowires at known growth rates for selected amounts of time.

Abstract: Methods for forming a predetermined pattern of catalytic regions having nanoscale dimensions are provided for use in the growth of nanowires. The methods include one or more nanoimprinting steps to produce arrays of catalytic nanoislands or nanoscale regions of catalytic material circumscribed by noncatalytic material.

Abstract: Different types of cooling devices using nanowires are described. For example, a cooling device may include a plurality of diamond nanowires coupled to a surface. The diamond nanowires conduct heat energy from the surface and dissipate the heat energy into a neighboring fluid.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to electronic means for reading the content of a nanowire-crossbar memory. In one embodiment of the present invention, a microscale or sub-microscale signal line is interconnected with one set of parallel nanowires emanating from a nanowire-crossbar memory by configurable, nanowire-junction switches. The microscale or sub-microscale signal line serves as a single-wire multiplexer, allowing the contents of any particular single-bit storage element within the nanowire-crossbar memory to be read in a three-cycle READ operation.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a microchip includes a plurality of heat-producing electronic devices and a plurality of heat-sensitive devices. A plurality of temperature control elements are spatially distributed relative to the heat-producing electronic devices and the heat-sensitive devices to enable active control of temperature to compensate for spatially non-uniform and temporally-varying heat emitted from the heat-producing electronic devices.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a nanoscale latch is implemented by interconnecting an enable line, two control lines, and a pull-down line, when needed, to a signal line carrying encoded binary values to be latched and subsequently output. The enable line is interconnected with the signal line through a field-effect-transistor-like nanoscale junction. Both control lines are interconnected with the signal line through asymmetric-switch nanoscale junctions of like polarities. The pull-down line, when needed, is interconnected with the signal line through a resistive nanoscale junction. Inputting a sequence of signals to the enable and control lines allows a value input from the signal line to be stored and subsequently output to the signal line. In various additional embodiments, an array of nanoscale latches can be implemented by overlaying enable and control lines, and a pull-down line when needed, over a set of parallel nanowires.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling propagation of incident electromagnetic radiation is described, comprising a composite material having electromagnetically reactive cells of small dimension relative to a wavelength of the incident electromagnetic radiation. At least one of a capacitive and inductive property of at least one of the electromagnetically reactive cells is temporally controllable to allow temporal control of an associated effective refractive index encountered by the incident electromagnetic radiation while propagating through the composite material.

Abstract: Reconfigurable logic devices and methods of programming the devices are disclosed. The logic device includes a look-up table (LUT) and at least one storage element configured for sampling LUT output signals. The LUT comprises a plurality of input signals, an array of programmable impedance devices operably coupled to the input signals, and the LUT output signals. Each programmable impedance device in the array includes a first electrode operably coupled to one of the input signal, a second electrode disposed to form a junction wherein the second electrode at least partially overlaps the first electrode, and a programmable material disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The programmable material operably couples the first electrode and the second electrode such that each programmable impedance device exhibits a non-volatile programmable impedance. The array may be configured as a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are related to nanowire-based devices that can be configured and operated as modulators, chemical sensors, and light-detection devices. In one aspect, a nanowire-based device includes a reflective member, a resonant cavity surrounded by at least a portion of the reflective member, and at least one nanowire disposed within the resonant cavity. The nanowire includes at least one active segment selectively disposed along the length of the nanowire to substantially coincide with at least one antinode of light resonating within the cavity. The active segment can be configured to interact with the light resonating within the cavity.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures are disclosed including a substrate comprising a semiconductor material and having opposed first and second surfaces, and at least one conductive via extending from the first surface to the second surface. The conductive vias can extend at angles relative to the first surface, such as acute angles or 90°. The conductive vias can include segments that extend at different angles. Methods of forming conductive vias in semiconductor structures are provided. In the methods, a thermal gradient is applied in combination with an electric field to form conductive vias.

Abstract: A method for selectively controlling lengths of nanowires in a substantially non-uniform array of nanowires includes establishing at least two different catalyzing nanoparticles on a substrate. A nanowire from each of the at least two different catalyzing nanoparticles is substantially simultaneously grown. At least one of the nanowires has a length different from that of at least another of the nanowires.

Abstract: Reconfigurable logic devices and methods of programming the devices are disclosed. The logic device includes a look-up table (LUT) and at least one storage element configured for sampling LUT output signals. The LUT comprises a plurality of input signals, an array of programmable impedance devices operably coupled to the input signals, and the LUT output signals. Each programmable impedance device in the array includes a first electrode operably coupled to one of the input signal, a second electrode disposed to form a junction wherein the second electrode at least partially overlaps the first electrode, and a programmable material disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The programmable material operably couples the first electrode and the second electrode such that each programmable impedance device exhibits a non-volatile programmable impedance. The array may be configured as a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling propagation of incident electromagnetic radiation is described, comprising a composite material having electromagnetically reactive cells of small dimension relative to a wavelength of the incident electromagnetic radiation. At least one of a capacitive and inductive property of at least one of the electromagnetically reactive cells is temporally controllable to allow temporal control of an associated effective refractive index encountered by the incident electromagnetic radiation while propagating through the composite material.

Abstract: A method for selectively controlling lengths of nanowires in a substantially non-uniform array of nanowires includes establishing at least two different catalyzing nanoparticles on a substrate. A nanowire from each of the at least two different catalyzing nanoparticles is substantially simultaneously grown. At least one of the nanowires has a length different from that of at least another of the nanowires.

Abstract: An embodiment of an integrated circuit comprises active components in more than one active layer. A first conductor in one active layer is operative to produce a static electric field that controls a first active element in an adjacent active layer.

Abstract: A sensing method includes exposing a nano-transducer having a controlled surface to a sample including at least one species. Adsorption of the species on the nano-transducer is transduced to a measurable signal as a function of time. Desorption of the species from the nano-transducer is also transduced to a measurable signal as a function of time. A residence time of the at least one species adsorbed on the nano-transducer is extracted from the measurable signals. The adsorption and desorption each define an individual measurable event.

Abstract: A photonic interconnect system avoids high capacitance electric interconnects by using optical signals to communicate data between devices. The system can provide massively parallel information output by mapping logical addresses to frequency bands, so that modulation of a selected frequency band can encode information for a specific location corresponding to the logical address. Wavelength-specific directional couplers, modulators, and detectors for the photonic interconnect system can be efficiently fabricated at defects in a photonic bandgap crystal. The interconnect system can be used for both classical and quantum information processing.

Abstract: Methods for forming a predetermined pattern of catalytic regions having nanoscale dimensions are provided for use in the growth of nanowires. The methods include one or more nanoimprinting steps to produce arrays of catalytic nanoislands or nanoscale regions of catalytic material circumscribed by noncatalytic material.

Abstract: A sensing method includes exposing a nano-transducer having a controlled surface to a sample including at least one species. Adsorption of the species on the nano-transducer is transduced to a measurable signal as a function of time. Desorption of the species from the nano-transducer is also transduced to a measurable signal as a function of time. A residence time of the at least one species adsorbed on the nano-transducer is extracted from the measurable signals. The adsorption and desorption each define an individual measurable event.

Abstract: A nanowire sensor is operable to detect one or more species. The nanowire sensor includes a nanowire having a plurality of variant selectively interactive segments. Each of the variant selectively interactive segments are configured to simultaneously interact with the species to modulate the conductance of the nanowire for detecting the species.