70results about "Nanotech thermometers" patented technology

A nanoelectronic sensing device includes a substrate, a nanostructure element disposed adjacent the substrate, and at least a conductive element electrically connected to the nanostructure element. The device is configured to heat at least a portion of the sensor structure including the nanostructure element. In certain embodiments, the nanostructure element comprises at least one nanotube, the nanotube being electrically connected to at least two conductors so as to permit an electric current on the order of 10 microAmps or greater to be passed through the nanotube, causing the nanotube to heat up relative to the substrate. In alternative embodiments, the sensing device includes a platform or membrane which is at least partially thermally isolated by one or more cavities, the platform supporting at least the nanostructure element adjacent to a microheater element. The heating of the sensor structure may be employed, for example, for thermoregulation, to accelerate and/or increase sensor response, and to improve other sensor characteristics.

The present invention provides a modular platform unit comprising a plurality of sensors for the combined sensing of pressure, temperature and humidity. In particular, the sensors are composed of a layer of metallic-capped nanoparticles (MCNP) casted on a flexible substrate or a rigid substrate. Integration of the platform unit for artificial or electronic skin applications is disclosed.

The method for the fabrication of nano scale temperature sensors and nano scale heaters using focused ion beam (FIB) techniques. The process used to deposit metal nano strips to form a sensor is ion beam assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The FIB Ga⁺ ion beam can be used to decompose W(CO)₆ molecules to deposit a tungsten nano-strip on a suitable substrate. The same substrate can also be used for Pt nano-strip deposition. The precursors for the Pt can be trimethyl platinum (CH₃)₃Pt in the present case. Because of the Ga⁺ beam used in the deposition, both Pt and W nano-strips can contain a certain percentage of Ga impurities, which we denoted as Pt(Ga) and W(Ga) respectively. Our characterization of the response of this Pt(Ga)/W(Ga) nano scale junction indicates it has a temperature coefficient of approximately 5.4 mV/° C. This is a factor of approximately 130 larger than the conventional K-type thermocouples.

The present invention introduces a small-size temperature sensor, which exploits a random or oriented network of un-functionalized, single or multi-walled, carbon nanotubes to monitor a wide range of temperatures. Such network is manufactured in the form of freestanding thin film with an electric conductance proven to be a monotonic function of the temperature, above 4.2 K. Said carbon nanotube film is wire-connected to a high precision source-measurement unit, which measures its electric conductance by a standard two or four-probe technique. Said temperature sensor has a low power consumption, an excellent stability and durability, a high sensitivity and a fast response; its manufacturing method is simple and robust and yields low-cost devices. Said temperature sensor, freely scalable in dimension, is suitable for local accurate measurements of rapidly and widely changing temperatures, while introducing a negligible disturb to the measurement environment.

A nanothermometer is disclosed. In various embodiments, a nanothermometer comprises a nanoparticle such as a gold nanoparticle, a fluorophore, and a linker, such as a peptide linker, extending between the nanoparticle and the fluorophore, whereby the fluorophore is self-quenched. The linker can comprise one or more cysteines. An unheated thermometer shows little or no fluorescence. Upon heating, fluorophore-linker conjugates are released from the nanoparticle, thereby unquenching the fluorescence. An increase in fluorescence results. In some embodiments, the increase in fluorescence can be irreversible. Methods of measuring temperature of a sample such as a biological sample, and methods of synthesizing a nanothermometer, are also disclosed. A molecular thermometer is also disclosed.

A thermal flow sensor comprising at least one first element (2) suspended with respect to a support, said first suspended element (2) being of an electrically conductive material, first means (6) for biasing said suspended element (2) and first means (8) for measuring the variation of the electric voltage at the terminals of the suspended element (2), said first suspended element (2) being formed by a nanowire and said first biasing means (6) are formed by an alternating current source the intensity of which provides heating of the first suspended element (2) by Joule effect.

The invention discloses a multifunctional up-conversion luminescence nanocrystal which has optical temperature sensing, laser-induced heating and thermochromic characteristics at the same time and is a cubic phase yttrium oxide spherical nanocrystal with the average diameter of 30-50nm, wherein trivalent Tm<3+> and Yb<3+> ions are codoped in the nanocrystal, the doping concentration of the Tm<3+> is 0.1-0.5mol%, the doping concentration of the Yb<3+> is 1-5mol%, and the concentration ratio of the Yb<3+> to the Tm<3+> is 10:1. 1G4(a)-3H6(477nm) and 1G4(b)-3H6(490nm) transition fluorescence intensity specific values of the Tm<3+> in the nanocrystal have good correspondence with temperature, and temperature measurement can be realized. A radiationless transition process of the Tm<3+> can be regulated by changing excitation power value of a 980nm laser, and control on self-heating temperature inside the nanocrystal is realized, so that the multifunctional up-conversion luminescence nanocrystal is applicable to photothermal therapy.

The invention discloses a flexible temperature-sensitive pressure sensor based on nanoparticl lattice quantum conductance and an assembly method and an application thereof. The sensor comprises a polymer polymer film, a metal nanoparticle lattice, a metal microelectrode and a conductance measuring external circuit; wherein at least one set of metal nanoparticle lattice are deposited on the upper and lower surfaces of a high-molecular polymer film, and the positions of the metal nanoparticle lattices on the upper and lower surfaces of each group are in one-to-one correspondence; the metal microelectrodes are disposed on both sides of each group of metal nanoparticle lattices, and are symmetrically distributed on the upper and lower surfaces of the high-molecular polymer film; and the conductance measuring external circuit is electrically connected to the metal microelectrode. The conductance response signal of the nanoparticle lattice of the invention has an exponential relationship with the particle spacing, and thus has an extremely sensitive response to pressure-induced deformation; the additional integrated temperature sensor is avoided, and a sensing structure is simplified; the impedance of the nanoparticle lattice is in the order of megaohms, and the power consumption is extremely small; and large-area production and package can be realized.

By preliminarily measuring the gallium temperature and the length change of a temperature sensing element comprising a carbon nano tube having a continuous columnar gallium contained, then heating the temperature sensing element installed in a subject to have the temperature measure in the air, taking out the temperature sensing element subjecting to measure the gallium length, and substituting the measured gallium length in the formula, the temperature is measured accurately in a wide temperature range in a micrometer size or less environment.

Carbon nanotube-based multi-sensors for packaging applications and methods to form the carbon nanotube-based multi-sensors are capable of simultaneously measuring at least two measurands including temperature, strain, and humidity via changes in its electrical properties.