Document Type
Patent
Publication Date
11-25-2008
Patent Number
patent number 7456972
Abstract
Disclosed are optical devices including one or more carbon nanotubes that can function as plasmon waveguides. The presently disclosed devices advantageously utilize the existence of surface plasmons on carbon nanotubes through the generation and transport of surface plasmon polaritons across the nanotubes. Also disclosed are methods for tuning the devices through particular formation parameters for the nanotubes and/or selection of particular substrate materials. Systems of the present invention can provide optical data concerning a sample, for instance via construction of an NSOM image, as well as topological date concerning a sample via construction of an AFM image. In one embodiment, the disclosed systems can provide simultaneous acquisition of optical images and topological images.
Application Number
11/332840
Assignees
Clemson University
Filing Date
2006-01-13
Primary/U.S. Class
356/445