Fully integrable magnetic field sensor based on delta-E effect

B. Gojdka¹, R. Jahns², K. Meurisch¹, H. Greve³, R. Adelung⁴, E. Quandt³, R. Knöchel², and F. Faupel¹

Appl. Phys. Lett. 99, 223502 (2011); doi:10.1063/1.3664135 (3 pages)

A fully integrable magnetic field sensor based on magnetic microelectromechanical systems is presented. The approach yields high application potential since it is compatible with standard micromachining techniques, operates at room-temperature, and provides high bandwidth and vector field capability. The demonstrator presented in this work consists of a tipless commercial atomic force microscope cantilever which is coated with an amorphous thin film layer of (Fe₉₀Co₁₀)₇₈Si₁₂B₁₀. Amplitude and frequency of magnetic fields are measured via the modulation of the oscillation of the microcantilever via the delta-E effect of the FeCoSiB coating.

© 2011 American Institute of Physics

A Photo-Thermal-Electrical Converter Based On Carbon Nanotubes for Bioelectronic Applications

1. Issue
   

   Angewandte Chemie International Edition

   Volume 50, Issue 51,pages 12266–12270,December 16, 2011

1. Dr. Eijiro Miyako^1,*, 
2. Dr. Chie Hosokawa¹,
3. Dr. Masami Kojima¹, 
4. Dr. Masako Yudasaka², 
5. Dr. Ryoji Funahashi³, 
6. Dr. Isao Oishi¹, 
7. Dr. Yoshihisa Hagihara¹, 
8. Dr. Mototada Shichiri¹, 
9. Mizuki Takashima¹,
10. Keiko Nishio¹, 
11. Dr. Yasukazu Yoshida⁴

Article first published online: 26 OCT 2011

Electrifying! A device based on carbon nanotubes wrapped with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (and dispersed in poly(dimethylsiloxane)) sheets can effectively convert laser light into thermal energy and subsequently to electricity. The converter is flexible and extremely compact (see picture), and can be manipulated by using a laser that functions in the wavelength range that can be transmitted through living tissue.

Subparticle Ultrafast Spectrum Imaging in 4D Electron Microscopy

1. Aycan Yurtsever, 
2. Renske M. van der Veen, 
3. Ahmed H. Zewail*

Science 6 January 2012: 
Vol. 335 no. 6064 pp. 59-64 
DOI: 10.1126/science.1213504

ABSTRACT

Single-particle imaging of structures has become a powerful methodology in nanoscience and molecular and cell biology. We report the development of subparticle imaging with space, time, and energy resolutions of nanometers, femtoseconds, and millielectron volts, respectively. By using scanning electron probes across optically excited nanoparticles and interfaces, we simultaneously constructed energy-time and space-time maps. Spectrum images were then obtained for the nanoscale dielectric fields, with the energy resolution set by the photon rather than the electron, as demonstrated here with two examples (silver nanoparticles and the metallic copper–vacuum interface). This development thus combines the high spatial resolution of electron microscopy with the high energy resolution of optical techniques and ultrafast temporal response, opening the door to various applications in elemental analysis as well as mapping of interfaces and plasmonics.

Ohm’s Law Survives to the Atomic Scale

1. B. Weber¹, 
2. S. Mahapatra¹, 
3. H. Ryu²,*, 
4. S. Lee², 
5. A. Fuhrer¹,†, 
6. T. C. G. Reusch¹, 
7. D. L. Thompson¹, 
8. W. C. T. Lee¹,
9. G. Klimeck², 
10. L. C. L. Hollenberg³, 
11. M. Y. Simmons¹,‡

Science 6 January 2012: 
Vol. 335 no. 6064 pp. 64-67 
DOI: 10.1126/science.1214319

ABSTRACT

As silicon electronics approaches the atomic scale, interconnects and circuitry become comparable in size to the active device components. Maintaining low electrical resistivity at this scale is challenging because of the presence of confining surfaces and interfaces. We report on the fabrication of wires in silicon—only one atom tall and four atoms wide—with exceptionally low resistivity (~0.3 milliohm-centimeters) and the current-carrying capabilities of copper. By embedding phosphorus atoms within a silicon crystal with an average spacing of less than 1 nanometer, we achieved a diameter-independent resistivity, which demonstrates ohmic scaling to the atomic limit. Atomistic tight-binding calculations confirm the metallicity of these atomic-scale wires, which pave the way for single-atom device architectures for both classical and quantum information processing.

Sun-Believable Solar Paint. A Transformative One-Step Approach for Designing Nanocrystalline Solar Cells

Matthew P. Genovese, Ian V. Lightcap, and Prashant V. Kamat*

Radiation Laboratory and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States

ACS Nano, Article ASAP

DOI: 10.1021/nn204381g

Publication Date (Web): December 6, 2011

Copyright © 2011 American Chemical Society

A transformative approach is required to meet the demand of economically viable solar cell technology. By making use of recent advances in semiconductor nanocrystal research, we have now developed a one-coat solar paint for designing quantum dot solar cells. A binder-free paste consisting of CdS, CdSe, and TiO₂ semiconductor nanoparticles was prepared and applied to conducting glass surface and annealed at 473 K. The photoconversion behavior of these semiconductor film electrodes was evaluated in a photoelectrochemical cell consisting of graphene–Cu₂S counter electrode and sulfide/polysulfide redox couple. Open-circuit voltage as high as 600 mV and short circuit current of 3.1 mA/cm² were obtained with CdS/TiO₂–CdSe/TiO₂ electrodes. A power conversion efficiency exceeding 1% has been obtained for solar cells constructed using the simple conventional paint brush approach under ambient conditions. Whereas further improvements are necessary to develop strategies for large area, all solid state devices, this initial effort to prepare solar paint offers the advantages of simple design and economically viable next generation solar cells.