71results about "Nanotech thermometers" patented technology

The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a method of measuring pressure or temperature using a sensor including a sensor element composed of a plurality of carbon nanotubes. In one example, the resistance of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is measured in response to the application of temperature or pressure. The changes in resistance are then recorded and correlated to temperature or pressure. In one embodiment, the present invention provides for independent measurement of pressure or temperature using the sensors disclosed herein.

An electrically conductive composite material includes metallic nanostrands distributed throughout a matrix constructed of a polymer, ceramic, or elastomer. The nanostrands may have an average diameter under four microns and an average aspect ratio over ten-to-one. Larger fibers may also be included to enhance electrical conductivity or other properties. The nanostrands and / or fibers may be magnetically oriented to enhance electrical conductivity along one direction. A pressure sensor may be formed by utilizing an elastomer for the matrix. Electrical conductivity through the composite material varies in proportion to deflection of the elastomer. A composite material may be applied to a surface as an electrically conductive paint. Composite materials may be made by cutting a blank of the nanostrands to the desired shape, inserting the matrix, and curing the matrix. Alternatively, a suspension agent may first be used to dispose powdered nanostrands in the desired shape.

A nanocalorimeter includes a merging layer having, a drop placement area for holding drops to be merged and a thermal equilibration area. A measurement layer includes a substrate, and a temperature probe on the substrate, wherein the temperature probe extends out of the surface of the substrate to come into operative contact with the thermal equilibration area when the measurement layer is placed in operative association with the merging layer. The nanocalorimeter is configured to have the merging layer and the measurement layer non-integrated, making the measurement layer reusable.

A nanocalorimeter includes a merging layer having, a drop placement area for holding drops to be merged and a thermal equilibration area. A measurement layer includes a substrate, and a temperature probe on the substrate, wherein the temperature probe extends out of the surface of the substrate to come into operative contact with the thermal equilibration area when the measurement layer is placed in operative association with the merging layer. The nanocalorimeter is configured to have the merging layer and the measurement layer non-integrated, making the measurement layer reusable.

The invention discloses a magnetic nanoparticle concentration and temperature measurement method based on paramagnetic shift. NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) equipment is utilized for measuring chemical shift of a liquid sample containing paramagnetic particles so as to measure concentration and temperature of magnetic nanoparticles, and concentration and temperature measurement with high measurement accuracy is realized effectively. The paramagnetic nanoparticles are added to an NMR sample reagent, and the paramagnetic shift of the sample is obtained through NMR. Resonance frequency is acquired through the paramagnetic shift, magnetic susceptibility is acquired according to the relation between the resonance frequency and magnetic susceptibility of the magnetic nanoparticles, and concentration information and temperature information of the sample are further inversely solved according to the relation of the magnetic susceptibility of the magnetic nanoparticles with the concentrationand the temperature. According to simulation data, concentration measurement and high-accuracy temperature measurement of the magnetic nanoparticle sample can be effectively realized on the basis of the paramagnetic shift information.

By preliminarily measuring the gallium temperature and the length change of a temperature sensing element comprising a carbon nanotube having a continuous column of gallium contained therein, then heating the temperature sensing element installed in a subject to increase the temperature thereof in air, removing the temperature sensing element subjecting to measure the gallium length, and substituting the measured gallium length in a formula, the temperature is measured accurately over a wide temperature range in a micrometer size or less environment.

A nanoparticle fluorescence (or upconversion) sensor comprises an electromagnetic source, a sample and a detector. The electromagnetic source emits an excitation. The sample is positioned within the excitation. At least a portion of the sample is associated with a sensory material. The sensory material receives at least a portion of the excitation emitted by the electromagnetic source. The sensory material has a plurality of luminescent nanoparticles luminescing upon receipt of the excitation with luminance emitted by the luminescent nanoparticles changing based on at least one of temperature and pressure. The detector receives at least a portion of the luminance emitted by the luminescent nanoparticles and outputs a luminance signal indicative of such luminance. The luminescence signal is correlated into a signal indicative of the atmosphere adjacent to the sensory material.

The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a method of measuring pressure or temperature using a sensor including a sensor element composed of a plurality of carbon nanotubes. In one example, the resistance of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is measured in response to the application of temperature or pressure. The changes in resistance are then recorded and correlated to temperature or pressure. In one embodiment, the present invention provides for independent measurement of pressure or temperature using the sensors disclosed herein.

Energy conversion systems utilizing nanometer scale assemblies are provided that convert the kinetic energy (equivalently, the thermal energy) of working substance molecules into another form of energy that can be used to perform useful work at a macroscopic level. These systems may be used to, for example, produce useful quantities of electric or mechanical energy, heat or cool an external substance or propel an object in a controllable direction. In particular, the present invention includes nanometer scale impact masses that reduce the velocity of working substance molecules that collide with this impact mass by converting some of the kinetic energy of a colliding molecule into kinetic energy of the impact mass. Various devices including, piezoelectric, electromagnetic and electromotive force generators, are used to convert the kinetic energy of the impact mass into electromagnetic, electric or thermal energy. Systems in which the output energy of millions of these devices is efficiently summed together are also disclosed.

A nanothermometer is disclosed. In various embodiments, a nanothermometer comprises a nanoparticle such as a gold nanoparticle, a fluorophore, and a linker, such as a peptide linker, extending between the nanoparticle and the fluorophore, whereby the fluorophore is self-quenched. The linker can comprise one or more cysteines. An unheated thermometer shows little or no fluorescence. Upon heating, fluorophore-linker conjugates are released from the nanoparticle, thereby unquenching the fluorescence. An increase in fluorescence results. In some embodiments, the increase in fluorescence can be irreversible. Methods of measuring temperature of a sample such as a biological sample, and methods of synthesizing a nanothermometer, are also disclosed. A molecular thermometer is also disclosed.