Abstract: A metal oxide nanostructure is formed by oxidizing metallic metal in the presence of a solution containing a liquid ligand to form a metal-ligand complex, and decomposing the metal-ligand complex to form the metal oxide nanostructure. The metal-ligand complex can be a complex of zinc or copper with formamide. In one form, the nanostructure forms ZnO nanorods having a diameter of 10 to 1000 nm, where the nanorods having a hexagonal crystallographic morphology, and the nanorods are oriented perpendicular to a substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for cleanup of biological samples from contaminants prior to spectroscopy analysis. The system includes a support configured to hold a sample including a liquid having at least one group of biological molecules with a surface of the support binding the molecules at a surface tension angle to the liquid of less than 180 degrees. The system includes an evaporator configured to evaporate liquid from the support, a solvent applicator configured to apply a solvent for dissolution of the contaminants in the sample, and a solvent removal device configured to remove applied solvent from the sample and thereby at least partially remove the contaminants.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of differentiating metallic carbon nanotubes from semiconducting carbon nanotubes. The method comprising providing a nanotube dispersion, wherein the nanotube dispersion comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes, osmium tetroxide, or ruthenium tetroxide, and a solvent; and irradiating the nanotube dispersion with ultraviolet light, wherein the metallic carbon nanotubes are osmylated, or ruthenylated, thereby differentiating the metallic carbon nanotubes from the semiconducting carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: Fully and uniformly silicided gate conductors are produced by deeply “perforating” silicide gate conductors with sub-lithographic, sub-critical dimension, nanometer-scale openings. A silicide-forming metal (e.g. cobalt, tungsten, etc.) is then deposited, polysilicon gates, covering them and filling the perforations. An anneal step converts the polysilicon to silicide. Because of the deep perforations, the surface area of polysilicon in contact with the silicide-forming metal is greatly increased over conventional silicidation techniques, causing the polysilicon gate to be fully converted to a uniform silicide composition. A self-assembling diblock copolymer is used to form a regular sub-lithographic nanometer-scale pattern that is used as an etching “template” for forming the perforations.

Abstract: A method for fabricating substrate material to include trenches and unreleased beams with submicron dimensions includes etching a first oxide layer on the substrate to define a first set of voids in the first oxide layer to expose the substrate. A second oxide layer is accreted to the first oxide layer to narrow the first set of voids to become a second set of voids on the substrate. A polysilicon layer is deposited over the second oxide layer, the first oxide layer and the substrate. A third set of voids is etched into the polysilicon layer. Further etching widens the third set of voids to define a fourth set of voids to expose the first oxide layer and the substrate. The first oxide layer and the substrate is deeply etched to define beams and trenches in the substrate.

Abstract: Methods for the preparation of long, dimensionally uniform, metallic nanowires that are removable from the surface on which they are synthesized. The methods include the selective electrodeposition of metal nanowires at step edges present on a stepped surface, such as graphite, from an aqueous solution containing a metal or metal oxide. Where a metal oxide is first deposited, the metal oxide nanowires are reduced via a gas phase reduction at elevated temperatures to metal nanowires. Alternatively, beaded or hybrid nanowires comprising a metal A into which nanoparticles of a metal B have been inserted may be prepared by first electrodepositing nanoparticles of metal B selectively along step edges of a stepped surface, capping these nanoparticles with a molecular layer of an organic ligand, selectively electrodepositing nanowire segments of metal A between nanoparticles of metal B and then heating the surface of the hybrid nanowire under reducing conditions to remove the ligand layer.

Abstract: A method of making an ex-situ doped semiconductor transport layer for use in an electronic device includes: growing a first set of semiconductor nanoparticles having surface organic ligands in a colloidal solution; growing a second set of dopant material nanoparticles having surface organic ligands in a colloidal solution; depositing a mixture of the first set of semiconductor nanoparticles and the second set of dopant material nanoparticles on a surface, wherein there are more semiconductor nanoparticles than dopant material nanoparticles; performing a first anneal of the deposited mixture of nanoparticles so that the organic ligands boil off the surfaces of the first and second set of nanoparticles; performing a second anneal of the deposited mixture so that the semiconductor nanoparticles fuse to form a continuous semiconductor layer and the dopant material atoms diffuse out from the dopant material nanoparticles and into the continuous semiconductor layer.

Abstract: An alignment unit and an alignment method for aligning needle-like structures. The alignment unit includes a substrate having a surface and grooves defined in the surface. The grooves are sized and arranged such that when the needle-like structures are received therein, the needle-like structures are aligned.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating one-dimensional composite nanofiber on a template membrane with porous array by chemical or physical process are disclosed. The whole procedures are established under a base concept of “secondary template”. First of all, tubular first nanofibers are grown up in the pores of the template membrane. Next, by using the hollow first nanofibers as the secondary templates, second nanofibers are produced therein. Finally, the template membrane is removed to obtain composite nanofibers. Showing superior performance in weight energy density, current discharge efficiency and irreversible capacity, the composite nanofibers are applied to extensive scopes like thin-film battery, hydrogen storage, molecular sieving, biosensor and catalyst support in addition to applications in lithium batteries.

Abstract: Patterns of nanometer and micrometer dimensions are printed on a substrate by first forming a solution or suspension of a liquid and a printing material and then applying a layer of the solution or suspension to the substrate. Then, without applying pressure, a stamp provided with relief patterns is positioned at a distance of 0 nm to 500 ?m from the substrate with the relief patterns in contact with the layer of the solution or suspension. The liquid is then evaporated from the solution or suspension from between the substrate and the stamp so as to draw the suspension or solution by capillarity to the relief patterns and deposit the material on the substrate in accordance with the relief patterns of the stamp. Thereafter the stamp is separated from the substrate.

Abstract: Evaporation and condensation of carbon is effected by arc discharge between an anode formed of a carbon electrode and a cathode disposed facing the carbon electrode 2 in an inert gas atmosphere, and at the same time, the generated carbon nanotubes are dispersed into an inert gas and transported along with the inert gas through a transporting tube, and a jet of the inert gas containing the carbon nanotubes is emitted from a nozzle, thereby forming carbon nanotubes on a target substrate. This provides a carbon nanotube manufacturing method wherein carbon nanotubes are generated with a simple process, and the CNT patterning process is simplified by forming a carbon nanotube film on a substrate, thereby reducing costs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of depositing nanowires on the surface of a substrate, comprising the steps of: contacting defined regions of the substrate with at least one compound (C1) capable of binding to the surface of the substrate and of binding the nanowires to provide a pattern of binding sites on the surface of the substrate and/or contacting defined regions of the substrate with at least one compound (C2) capable of binding to the surface of the substrate and preventing the binding of nanowires to provide a pattern of non-binding sites on the surface of the substrate, and contacting the surface of the substrate with a suspension of nanowires in a liquid medium to enable at least a portion of the applied nanowires to bind to at least a portion of the surface of the substrate covered with (C1) and/or not covered with (C2).