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US 2019/0154587 A1Published application
Heated nano finger collapse for capture of molecules in gas for sensing
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsNing Ge, Robert G. Walmsley, Helen A. Holder, Steven J. Simske, Anita Rogacs, Viktor Shkolnikov
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Abstract
A gas conduit directs a flow of gas from a gas flow source. A surface enhanced luminescence (SEL) stage is within the conduit and includes a substrate and nano fingers projecting from the substrate. A heater heats the nano fingers to a temperature so as to soften the nano fingers such that the nano fingers collapse towards each other to capture molecules entrained in the gas therebetween.
Claims15
An apparatus comprising:
- a gas flow source;
- a gas conduit to direct a flow of gas from the gas flow source;
- a surface enhanced luminescence (SEL) stage within the conduit, the stage comprising:
- a substrate;
- and
- nano fingers projecting from the substrate;
- and
- a heater to heat the nano fingers to a temperature so as to soften the nano fingers such that the nano fingers collapse towards each other to capture molecules entrained in the gas therebetween for being sensed.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- directing gas with molecules across nano fingers;
- heating the nano fingers to a temperature to soften the nano fingers so as to collapse the nano fingers towards each other and capture the molecules therebetween;
- directing light at the particles captured by the collapsed nano fingers;
- and
- sensing light collected from the molecules captured by the collapsed nano fingers.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a gas conduit to direct a gas;
- a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy sensor within the conduit, the sensor comprising:
- a substrate;
- and
- nano fingers projecting from the substrate;
- a heater to heat the nano fingers to a temperature so as to soften the nano fingers such that the nano fingers collapse towards each other and capture molecules in the gas therebetween;
- a first light emitter to impinge the nano fingers with light;
- a first light sensor to receive reflected light from the nano fingers;
- a second light emitter to direct light along a centerline of the conduit;
- and
- a second light sensor to receive light scattered from molecules in the conduit, the second light sensor facing in a
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.