6810 results about "Self-assembly" patented technology

A method of preparing tunable inorganic patterned nanofeatures by infiltration of a block copolymer scaffold having a plurality of self-assembled periodic polymer microdomains. The method may be used sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS), related to atomic layer deposition (ALD). The method includes selecting a metal precursor that is configured to selectively react with the copolymer unit defining the microdomain but is substantially non-reactive with another polymer unit of the copolymer. A tunable inorganic features is selectively formed on the microdomain to form a hybrid organic / inorganic composite material of the metal precursor and a co-reactant. The organic component may be optionally removed to obtain an inorganic feature s with patterned nanostructures defined by the configuration of the microdomain.

This invention relates to processes for the assembly of three-dimensional structures having periodicities on the scale of optical wavelengths, and at both smaller and larger dimensions, as well as compositions and applications therefore. Invention embodiments involve the self assembly of three-dimensionally periodic arrays of spherical particles, the processing of these arrays so that both infiltration and extraction processes can occur, one or more infiltration steps for these periodic arrays, and, in some instances, extraction steps. The product articles are three-dimensionally periodic on a scale where conventional processing methods cannot be used. Articles and materials made by these processes are useful as thermoelectrics and thermionics, electrochromic display elements, low dielectric constant electronic substrate materials, electron emitters (particularly for displays), piezoelectric sensors and actuators, electrostrictive actuators, piezochromic rubbers, gas storage materials, chromatographic separation materials, catalyst support materials, photonic bandgap materials for optical circuitry, and opalescent colorants for the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared regions.

Apparatuses and methods for forming displays are claimed. One embodiment of the invention includes a contact smart card wherein fluidic self assembly is used to build the microelectronic structures on the display such that a contact smart data is transmitted unidirectionally. A contact smart card is inserted directly into a device that transfers data to a display coupled to the smart card. Another embodiment of the invention relates to a contactless smart card in which fluidic self assembly is also used here to build the display. Data is transmitted to an antenna that is embedded in the contactless card in which a plurality of blocks were deposited thereon.

Copolymer structures are formed by exposing a substrate with an imaging layer thereon to two or more beams of selected wavelengths to form interference patterns at the imaging layer to change the wettability of the imaging layer in accordance with the interference patterns. A layer of a selected block copolymer is deposited onto the exposed imaging layer and annealed to separate the components of the copolymer in accordance with the pattern of wettability and to replicate the pattern of the imaging layer in the copolymer layer. Stripes or isolated regions of the separated components may be formed with periodic dimensions in the range of 100 nm or less.

A method to form interconnect structures including nano-scale, e.g., sub-lithographic, lines and vias for future generation of semiconductor technology using self-assembly block copolymers that can be placed at a specific location using a pre-fabricated hard mask pattern is provided. The inventive method provides an interconnect structure in which the line is self-aligned to the via.

Chemical functionalization of solid-state nanopores and nanopore arrays and applications thereof. Nanopores are extremely sensitive single-molecule sensors. Recently, electron beams have been used to fabricate synthetic nanopores in thin solid-state membranes with sub-nanometer resolution. A new class of chemically modified nanopore sensors are provided with two approaches for monolayer coating of nanopores by: (1) self-assembly from solution, in which nanopores −10 nm diameter can be reproducibly coated, and (2) self-assembly under voltage-driven electrolyte flow, in which 5 nm nanopores may be coated. Applications of chemically modified nanopore are provided including: the detection of biopolymers such as DNA and RNA; immobilizing enzymes or other proteins for detection or for generating chemical gradients; and localized pH sensing.

The present invention includes single electron structures and devices comprising a substrate having an upper surface, one or more dielectric layers formed on the upper surface of the substrate and having at least one exposed portion, at least one monolayer of self-assembling molecules attracted to and in contact with the at least one exposed portion of only one of the one or more dielectric layers, one or more nanoparticles attracted to and in contact with the at least one monolayer, and at least one tunneling barrier in contact with the one or more nanoparticles. Typically, the single electron structure or device formed therefrom further comprise a drain, a gate and a source to provide single electron behavior, wherein there is a defined gap between source and drain and the one or more nanoparticles is positioned between the source and drain.

A method for designing polypeptides for the nanofabrication of thin films, coatings, and microcapsules by ELBL for applications in biomedicine and other fields.

A method for the self assembly of a macroscopic structure with a pre-formed nano object is provided. The method includes processing a nano object to a desired aspect ratio and chemical functionality and mixing the processed nano object with a solvent to form a suspension. Upon formation of the suspension, a substrate is inserted into the suspension. By either evaporation of the solvent, changing the pH value of the suspension, or changing the temperature of the suspension, the nano objects within the suspension deposit onto the substrate in an orientational order. In addition, a seed crystal may be used in place of the substrate thereby forming single-crystals and free-standing membranes of the nano-objects.

A material includes a layer with a plurality of self-assembled structures comprising compositions. The structures are localized in separate islands covering a portion of the layer in an integrated assembly. In some embodiments, the compositions include nanoparticles. In particular, some embodiments pertain to a material with a self-assembled formation of inorganic particles with an average diameter less than about 100 nm. The structures can be used as devices within an integrated article. The method for producing the articles comprise a localization process defining boundaries of the devices and a self-assembly process within the identified boundaries.

Embodiments of methods and an apparatus for utilizing a directed self-assembly (DSA) process on block copolymers (BCPs) to form a defect-free photoresist layer for feature transfer onto a substrate are provided. In one embodiment, a method for performing a dry development process includes transferring a substrate having a layer of block copolymers disposed thereon into an etching processing chamber, wherein at least a first type and a second type of polymers comprising the block copolymers are aggregated into a first group of regions and a second group of regions on the substrate, supplying an etching gas mixture including at least a carbon containing gas into the etching processing chamber, and predominately etching the second type of the polymers disposed on the second groups of regions on the substrate in the presence of the etching gas mixture.

Methods for fabricating arrays of nanoscaled alternating lamellae or cylinders in a polymer matrix having improved long range order utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided.

A method for conducting sub-lithography feature patterning of a device structure is provided. First, a lithographically patterned mask layer that contains one or more mask openings of a diameter d is formed by lithography and etching over an upper surface of the device structure. Next, a layer of a self-assembling block copolymer is applied over the lithographically patterned mask layer and then annealed to form a single unit polymer block of a diameter w inside each of the mask openings, provided that w<d. Each single unit polymer block of the present invention is embedded in a polymeric matrix and can be selectively removed against the polymeric matrix to form a single opening of the diameter w in the polymeric matrix inside each of the mask openings. Sub-lithography feature patterning can then be conducted in the device structure using the single openings of diameter w.

Deterministically doped field-effect devices and methods of making same. One or more dopant atoms, also referred to as impurities or impurity atoms, are arranged in the channel region of a device in engineered arrays. Component atoms of an engineered array are substantially fixed by controlled placement in order to provide a barrier topology designed to control of source-drain carrier flow to realize an ultra-small device with appropriate, consistent performance characteristics. Devices can be made by placing atoms using proximity probe manipulation, ion implantation, by facilitating self-assembly of the atoms as necessary, or other techniques. These atomic placement techniques are combined in example embodiments with traditional methods of forming a substrate, insulators, gates, and any other structural elements needed in order to produce practical field-effect devices.

The invention firstly discloses an oxidized graphene or graphene / inorganic particle core / shell material which is formed by electrostatic self-assembly, wherein inorganic particles are taken as the core of the material, oxidized graphene or graphene is taken as a shell layer, and the content of the oxidized graphene or the graphene is 0.1-2wt% of that of the inorganic particles. The invention alsodiscloses a preparation method of the oxidized graphene or graphene / inorganic particle core / shell material. Therefore, a new species is added for outer-coated inorganic powder materials and the application space of the inorganic particles is expanded; furthermore, the electrostatic self-assembly technology is further applied to the preparation of the oxidized graphene or graphene-inorganic powderhybrid material, and the method simultaneously has the characteristics of being mature and environmentally-friendly in process, being simple to operate, having no need of complex equipment, being easy for realization of large-scale production and the like.

An electrostatic self-assembly method of fabricating electrostrictive and piezoelectric thin film assemblies not only provides a thinner film than is attainable by conventional methods, but provides excellent molecular-level uniformity and precise structural control, and thus large, effective piezoelectric coefficients. The method produces a thin film assembly including (a) a substrate, and (b) a film having one or a plurality of layers disposed upon the substrate, wherein at least one of the layers includes a dipolar material, and this layer of dipolar material has a uniform thickness of at most 500 nm.

The invention relates to a special micro-fluidic chip for cholera diagnosis with one-dimensional self-assembly magnetic bead chain electrodes, belonging to the field of testing. Rapid diagnosis of fulminating infectious disease cholera with low cost is one of many expectations in the development of medical technology, and the invention provides a micro-fluidic chip for simultaneously detecting and rapidly diagnosing cholera by using multiple characteristic antibodies of cholera. The chip is provided with three micro liquid storage tanks, and the invention is characterized in that capillary passages in parallel configuration contain in the chip, the parallel configuration contains four micro-passages that are mutually in parallel, four magnetic bead chain working electrodes are respectively installed inside the four micro-passages, the surface substances of the four magnetic bead chain working electrodes are respectively four antibody substances that are cholera TP0821 antibody, cholera TP0319 antibody, cholera TP0624 antibody and cholera O139 mycoprotein antibody. The integrated structure and the appearances of specific magnetic bead chain working electrodes facilitate to improve the diagnosis efficiency of cholera diseases.

The invention provides a self-assembling peptide comprising (a) a first amino acid domain that mediates self-assembly, wherein the domain comprises alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic amino acids that are complementary and structurally compatible and self-assemble into a macroscopic structure when present in unmodified form; and (b) a second amino acid domain that does not self-assemble in isolated form. In certain embodiments of the invention the second amino acid domain comprises a biologically active peptide motif, e.g., a peptide motif found in a naturally occurring protein, or a target site for an interaction with a biomolecule. In certain embodiments of the invention the naturally occurring protein is a component of the extracellular matrix, e.g., a component of the basement membrane. The invention further provides scaffolds comprising the self-assembling peptides and methods of using the scaffolds including for cell culture, tissue engineering, and tissue repair.

Methods and apparatuses for assembling a structure onto a substrate. A method according to one aspect of the invention includes dispensing a slurry onto a substrate wherein the slurry includes a first plurality of elements, each of which is designed to mate with a receptor region on said substrate and each of which comprises a functional element. The method further includes dispensing in a flow having a first direction a slurry onto a substrate, wherein the slurry includes a fluid.

A method of making nanoscale ordered composites of covalent ceramics through block copolymer-assisted assembly. At least one polymeric precursor is mixed with a block copolymer, and self-assembly of the mixture proceeds through an annealing process. During the annealing step, the polymeric precursor cross-links to form a structure robust enough to survive both the order-disorder transition temperature the block copolymer and the pyrolysis process, yielding ordered nanocomposites of high temperature ceramic materials. The method yields a variety of structures and morphologies. A ceramic material having at least one ceramic phase that has an ordered structure on a nanoscale and thermally stable up to a temperature of at least about 800° C. is also disclosed. The ceramic material is suitable for use in hot gas path assemblies, such as turbine assemblies, boilers, combustors, and the like.

A method for conducting sub-lithography feature patterning of a device structure is provided. First, a lithographically patterned mask layer that contains one or more mask openings of a diameter d is formed by lithography and etching over an upper surface of the device structure. Next, a layer of a self-assembling block copolymer is applied over the lithographically patterned mask layer and then annealed to form a single unit polymer block of a diameter w inside each of the mask openings, provided that w<d. Each single unit polymer block of the present invention is embedded in a polymeric matrix and can be selectively removed against the polymeric matrix to form a single opening of the diameter w in the polymeric matrix inside each of the mask openings. Sub-lithography feature patterning can then be conducted in the device structure using the single openings of diameter w.

Methods for fabricating an assembly having functional blocks coupling to a substrate. The method includes providing the substrate with receptor sites wherein each of the receptor sites is designed to couple to one of the functional blocks. Electrodes are coupled to the substrate. The electrodes cover the receptor sites such that portions of the receptor sites are coated with the electrodes. Applying a voltage source to the electrodes using a first electrical circuit such that each electrode has a voltage different from another electrode. The electrodes form an electric field. The functional blocks having electronic devices and being in a slurry solution are dispensed over the substrate. Each functional block is fabricated out of materials having a high dielectric constant such that said functional blocks are attracted to the higher field strength regions and are guided to the receptor sites.

The invention relates to a porous metal organic framework material based on transition metal cobalt and a preparation method thereof. The metal organic framework material is a compound with supramolecular porous network structure and formed by self-assembly of metal ions and organic ligands through coordination complexation. The porous cobalt-based metal organic framework material contains one or more metal ions, and one or more organic ligands; and at least one of the metal ions is Co (II). The porous cobalt-based organic framework material has excellent selective adsorption on CH4 in a separation process of CH4 and N2; and the advantage of adsorption selectivity on CH4 is particularly evident under low pressure. The material is particularly suitable for development and recovery of oil field gas, coal bed methane and biogas.

Methods for fabricating sublithographic, nanoscale microchannels utilizing an aqueous emulsion of an amphiphilic agent and a water-soluble, hydrogel-forming polymer, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided.

The invention provides sensor, preferably biosensor devices and method of fabrication. The devices have significant advantages over the prior art methods having compatibility with future trends in clinical diagnostics and chemical detection. The underlying principle involves the integration of nanometer diameter, micron long metal or semiconductor rods onto a substrate to form a suspended nanomechanical cantilevers. The cantilever rods are rigidly attached to the substrate on one or both ends, and resonate at a characteristic frequency depending on the diameter, length, and stiffness of the rod. The metal or semiconductor rods are integrated onto the substrate using electrofluidic or fluidic assembly techniques. A receptor coating is placed on the metal or semiconductor rods prior to or following rod alignment using self-assembly chemistries. Sensing is accomplished when the target agent binds to the receptor substance, causing a change in the mass of the cantilever rod, and a corresponding change in the resonant frequency. This change in resonant frequency can be detected using an electrical readout. The sensing circuitry is integrated with CMOS or TFT technologies to form compact multi-analyte senor arrays on single crystal silicon, glass, or polymeric substrates. Circuits can also be included on the substrate to transmit the array data via wireless methods to a remote workstation for analysis. Devices may be integrated on chips with other analysis devices.

An inorganic / organic hybrid nanolaminate barrier film has a plurality of layers of an inorganic material that alternate with a plurality of layers of an organic material. Such a barrier film can be fabricated using nanocomposite self-assembly techniques based on sol-gel chemistry.

The invention belongs to the technical field of membrane preparation and water purification and discloses a high-performance two-dimensional layered Ti3C2-MXene membrane, a preparation method thereof and an application of the Ti3C2-MXene membrane in water treatment. The method comprises steps as follows: (1), Ti3AlC2 powder and an HF solution are mixed, stirred for a reaction, centrifugally washed and dried, and Ti3C2 powder is obtained; (2), the Ti3C2 powder and a solvent are mixed, stirred for the reaction, washed and dried, and treated powder is obtained; (3), the treated powder is dissolved in the solvent and subjected to ultrasonic treatment and centrifugation, a liquid supernatant is taken and dried, and a two-dimensional nanosheet is obtained; (4), a solution is prepared from the two-dimensional nanosheet and deposited on a porous substrate with a nano self-assembly technology, and the high-performance two-dimensional layered Ti3C2-MXene membrane is obtained. The membrane has ultrahigh water flux, higher selectivity and good mechanical property and stability; the method is simple, low in energy consumption and cost, good in repeatability and wide in applicability.