Biomolecule-carbon nanostructure nanocomposites for optoelectronic devices

US10224499B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• University of Kansas · US

Inventors

• Judy Z. Wu · Lawrence, US
• Youpin Gong · Lawrence, US
• Qingfeng Liu · 东风镇, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 29, 2016
• Grant date: Mar 5, 2019
• Expiry date: Jan 29, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/549
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optoelectronic device comprises a nanocomposite comprising a carbon nanostructure having a surface and a biomolecule adsorbed on the surface and forming a heterojunction at the interface of the carbon nanostructure and the biomolecule, the carbon nanostructure and the biomolecule each characterized by respective conduction band edges and valence band edges. The device further comprises first and second electrodes in electrical communication with the nanocomposite. The conduction band edge offset, the valence band edge offset, or both, across the heterojunction is greater in energy than the binding energy of an exciton generated in the carbon nanostructure or the biomolecule upon the absorption of light such that the exciton dissociates at the heterojunction to an electron, which is injected into one of the carbon nanostructure and the biomolecule, and a hole, which is injected into the other of the carbon nanostructure and the biomolecule.