Creation and Measurement of Components for Nanometer-Scale and Hybrid- Function Devices

摘要

We have learned to manipulate defects, domains, crystallinity, desorption, exchange, insertion, grafting, conductance, and deposition to advantage in order to manipulate film structures and properties and to isolate molecules for use, study, and/or reaction. We have enhanced our abilities to measure with sub-nanometer resolution across a broad spectral range. We have discovered unique opportunities at this scale, such as 'optically hot' asperities on asymmetric nanoparticles. We expect to be able to exploit these effects to advantage. There are no other means of studying such materials at these scales. Couplings between molecules and nanoparticles that we propose to study may pose fundamental limitations on the densities to which functional devices can be packed. We have demonstrated our ability to discriminate between different nanostructure compositions. We have proposed using this capability to develop selective 'stains' for scanning probe microscopy in analogy to those employed in conventional light microscopy. The difference here is that much higher spatial resolution will be possible so that single exposed functional groups may be labeled.