Systems and methods for mechanosynthesis
AssigneeCBN Nano Technologies Inc.
InventorsRalph C. Merkle, Robert A. Freitas, Jr., Jeremy Barton, Damian Allis, Tait Takatani, Michael Shawn Marshall, Matthew Kennedy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for performing mechanosynthesis, including those that involve bulk chemical preparation of tips, multiple tips for supplying feedstock, and use of sequential tips such as in a thermodynamic cascade; such features may simplify starting requirements, increase versatility, and/or reduce complexity in the mechanosynthesis equipment and/or process.
Claims20
An atomically-precise tip for performing mechanosynthetic reactions comprising:
- a surface attachable to a positioning device;
- a silicon atom that serves as an active site;
- and
- a support structure formed by three atoms other than silicon that are each bonded directly to said silicon atom and to said surface so as to position said silicon atom in an exposed position spaced apart from said surface.
An atomically-precise tip for performing mechanosynthetic reactions comprising:
- a surface of silicon attachable to a positioning device;
- an active site provided by an atom selected from the group of C, Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb;
- and
- a support structure formed by three atoms that are bonded directly to said active site and to said surface so as to position said active site in an exposed position spaced apart from said surface.
A system for performing mechanosynthetic reactions comprising:
- a surface attached to a positioning device so as to be positioned thereby;
- a silicon atom that serves as an active site;
- and
- a support structure including at least one structural atom other than silicon, said support structure attaching said silicon atom to said surface so as to position said silicon atom in an exposed position spaced apart from said surface and to provide said silicon atom with an affinity for feedstock greater than that of a structure in which the structural atoms are all silicon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.