Peter J Nordlander

US Patent:

7790066, Sep 7, 2010

Filed:

Mar 2, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/281103

Inventors:

Hui Wang - Houston TX, US
Daniel Brandl - Houston TX, US
Fei Le - Houston TX, US
Peter Nordlander - Houston TX, US
Nancy J. Halas - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

International Classification:

H01B 1/22
H01B 1/02
B32B 5/16

US Classification:

252514, 252512, 252513, 428403, 428404

Abstract:

A new hybrid nanoparticle, i. e. , a nanorice particle, which combines the intense local fields of nanorods with the highly tunable plasmon resonances of nanoshells, is described herein. This geometry possesses far greater structural tunability than previous nanoparticle geometries, along with much larger local field enhancements and far greater sensitivity as a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) nanosensor than presently known dielectric-conductive material nanostructures. In an embodiment, a nanoparticle comprises a prolate spheroid-shaped core having a first aspect ratio. The nanoparticle also comprises at least one conductive shell surrounding said prolate spheroid-shaped core. The nanoparticle has a surface plasmon resonance sensitivity of at least 600 nm RIU. Methods of making the disclosed nanorice particles are also described herein.

US Patent:

8178202, May 15, 2012

Filed:

Jun 20, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/765862

Inventors:

Nancy J. Halas - Houston TX, US
Hui Wang - Houston TX, US
Peter J. Nordlander - Houston TX, US
Yanpeng Wu - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

International Classification:

B32B 1/00
B05D 1/18

US Classification:

428407, 428402, 428403, 428900

Abstract:

A nanoparticle comprising a shell surrounding a core material with a lower conductivity than the shell material, wherein the core center is offset in relation to the shell center. A method comprising providing a nanoparticle comprising a nonconductive core and a conductive shell, and asymmetrically depositing additional conductive material on the conductive shell. A method comprising providing a concentric nanoshell having a core and a shell, immobilizing the concentric nanoshell onto a support, and asymmetrically depositing a conductive material onto the shell to produce a nanoegg.

US Patent:

20030174384, Sep 18, 2003

Filed:

Oct 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/280481

Inventors:

Nancy Halas - Houston TX, US
Surbhi Lal - Houston TX, US
Peter Nordlander - Houston TX, US
Joseph Jackson - Houston TX, US
Cristin Moran - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

WM. MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY - Houston TX

International Classification:

G02B026/00

US Classification:

359/296000

Abstract:

The present invention provides a sensor that includes an optical device as a support for a thin film formed by a matrix containing resonant nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may be optically coupled to the optical device by virtue of the geometry of placement of the thin film. Further, the nanoparticles are adapted to resonantly enhance the spectral signature of analytes located near the surfaces of the nanoparticles. Thus, via the nanoparticles, the optical device is addressable so as to detect a measurable property of a sample in contact with the sensor. The sensors include chemical sensors and thermal sensors. The optical devices include reflective devices and waveguide devices. Still further, the nanoparticles include solid metal particles and metal nanoshells. Yet further, the nanoparticles may be part of a nano-structure that further includes nanotubes.

US Patent:

20050018274, Jan 27, 2005

Filed:

Aug 17, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/919690

Inventors:

Nancy Halas - Houston TX, US
Surbhi Lal - Houston TX, US
Peter Nordlander - Houston TX, US
Joseph Jackson - Houston TX, US
Cristin Moran - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

International Classification:

G02B026/00

US Classification:

359296000

Abstract:

The present invention provides a sensor that includes an optical device as a support for a thin film formed by a matrix containing resonant nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may be optically coupled to the optical device by virtue of the geometry of placement of the thin film. Further, the namoparticles are adapted to resonantly enhance the spectral signature of analytes located near the surfaces of the nanoparticles. Thus, via the nanoparticles, the optical device is addressable so as to detect a measurable property of a sample in contact with the sensor. The sensors include chemical sensors and thermal sensors. The optical devices include reflective devices and waveguide devices. Still further, the nanoparticles include solid metal particles and metal nanoshells. Yet further, the nanoparticles may be part of a nano-structure that further includes nanotubes.

US Patent:

20100022020, Jan 28, 2010

Filed:

Aug 31, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/439251

Inventors:

Nancy J. Halas - Houston TX, US
Janardan Kundu - Houston TX, US
Fei Le - Houston TX, US
Peter Nordlander - Houston TX, US
Hui Wang - Austin TX, US

International Classification:

G01N 21/65

US Classification:

436171

Abstract:

A composition comprising a substrate and at least one adsorbate associated with the substrate wherein the composition has an enhanced infrared absorption spectra. A method comprising tuning a nanoparticle to display a plasmon resonance in the infrared, associating an adsorbate with the nanoparticle to form an adsorbate associated nanoparticle, and aggregating the adsorbate associated nanoparticle. A method of preparing a SERS-SEIRA composition comprising fabricating a nanoparticle substrate, functionalizing the nanoparticle substrate to form a functionalized substrate, dispersing the functionalized substrate in solution to form a dispersed functionalized substrate, and associating the dispersed functionalized substrate with a medium.

US Patent:

20120153621, Jun 21, 2012

Filed:

Dec 15, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/326521

Inventors:

Nancy J. Halas - Houston TX, US
Peter Nordlander - Houston TX, US
Oara Neumann - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY - Houston TX

International Classification:

H02K 7/18
B82Y 30/00

US Classification:

290 52, 977902

Abstract:

A method for powering a cooling unit. The method including applying electromagnetic (EM) radiation to a complex, where the complex absorbs the EM radiation to generate heat, transforming, using the heat generated by the complex, a fluid to vapor, and sending the vapor from the vessel to a turbine coupled to a generator by a shaft, where the vapor causes the turbine to rotate, which turns the shaft and causes the generator to generate the electric power, wherein the electric powers supplements the power needed to power the cooling unit.

US Patent:

20120155841, Jun 21, 2012

Filed:

Dec 15, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/326500

Inventors:

Nancy J. Halas - Houston TX, US
Peter Nordlander - Houston TX, US
Oara Neumann - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY - Houston TX

International Classification:

H05B 6/00
F24H 7/00

US Classification:

392407, 219439

Abstract:

A vessel including a concentrator configured to concentrate electromagnetic (EM) radiation received from an EM radiation source and a complex configured to absorb EM radiation to generate heat. The vessel is configured to receive a cool fluid from the cool fluid source, concentrate the EM radiation using the concentrator, apply the EM radiation to the complex, and transform, using the heat generated by the complex, the cool fluid to the heated fluid. The complex is at least one of consisting of copper nanoparticles, copper oxide nanoparticles, nanoshells, nanorods, carbon moieties, encapsulated nanoshells, encapsulated nanoparticles, and branched nanostructures. Further, the EM radiation is at least one of EM radiation in an ultraviolet region of an electromagnetic spectrum, in a visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, and in an infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

US Patent:

20120156102, Jun 21, 2012

Filed:

Dec 15, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/326482

Inventors:

Nancy J. Halas - Houston TX, US
Peter Nordlander - Houston TX, US
Oara Neumann - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY - Houston TX

International Classification:

B01J 19/12

US Classification:

422108, 42218601

Abstract:

A system including a steam generation system and a chamber. The steam generation system includes a complex and the steam generation system is configured to receive water, concentrate electromagnetic (EM) radiation received from an EM radiation source, apply the EM radiation to the complex, where the complex absorbs the EM radiation to generate heat, and transform, using the heat generated by the complex, the water to steam. The chamber is configured to receive the steam and an object, wherein the object is of medical waste, medical equipment, fabric, and fecal matter.