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US 7,459,312 B2Granted
Photodesorption in carbon nanotubes
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsHongjie Dai, Robert J. Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Carbon nanotube devices are manipulated in a manner that is useful for a variety of implementations. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, light (632) is used to photodesorb molecules from a carbon nanotube (620).
Claims28
A method for using a carbon nanotube device including a carbon nanotube, the method comprising:
- using a light source to direct light at the carbon nanotube and to desorb molecules from the carbon nanotube;
- detecting a change in an electrical characteristic of the carbon nanotube;
- and
- using the detected change to detect that the molecules have been desorbed from the carbon nanotube.
1 more element
A method for using a carbon nanotube device including a carbon nanotube, the method comprising:
- using a light source to direct light at the carbon nanotube and to desorb molecules from the carbon nanotube;
- drawing a vacuum on the carbon nanotube and preventing molecules from adsorbing to the carbon nanotube, after using a light source to desorb molecules from the carbon nanotube;
- and
- applying a gating voltage to the carbon nanotube.
1 more element
A molecular sensor comprising:
- a carbon nanotube;
- means for introducing molecules to the carbon nanotube, the molecules adsorbing to the carbon nanotube and changing an electrical characteristic thereof;
- a detection circuit configured and arranged to detect the changed electrical characteristic of the carbon nanotube and to detect the presence of the adsorbed molecules via the changed electrical characteristic;
- and
- a light source configured and arranged to direct light to the carbon nanotube, after detecting the presence of the adsorbed molecules, and to desorb the molecules from the carbon nanotube.
2 more elements
A circuit arrangement comprising:
- a carbon nanotube;
- circuitry coupled across the carbon nanotube;
- and
- a light source configured and arranged to direct light to the carbon nanotube for desorbing molecules therefrom.
1 more element
A memory arrangement comprising:
- a carbon nanotube;
- a source configured and arranged to introduce molecules to the carbon nanotube for adsorbing the molecules to the carbon nanotube;
- a light source configured and arranged to direct light at the carbon nanotube and to selectively desorb said molecules from the carbon nanotube;
- memory circuitry electrically coupled to the carbon nanotube and configured and arranged for detecting an electrical characteristic of the carbon nanotube, the electrical characteristic being responsive to the molecules;
- and
- wherein the detected electrical characteristic exhibits a first state in response to the carbon nanotube having the molecules adsorbed thereto and wherein the detected electrical characteristic exhibits a second state in response to the carbon nanotube not having the molecules adsorbed thereto.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.