Three dimensionally periodic structural assemblies in nanometer and longer scales

US6517763B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• AlliedSignal, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Anvar A. Zakhidov · McKinney, US
• Ray H. Baughman · Morristown, US
• Changxing Cui · Tustin, US
• Ilyas I. Khayrullin · Flanders, US
• Lo-Min Liu · Floral Park, US
• Igor Udod · Monsey, US
• Ji Su · Highland Park, US
• Mikhail Kozlov · Eatontown, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 14, 2000
• Grant date: Feb 11, 2003
• Expiry date: Jul 14, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F2202/32
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

This invention relates to processes for the assembly of three-dimensional structures having periodicities on the scale of optical wavelengths, and at both smaller and larger dimensions, as well as compositions and applications therefore. Invention embodiments involve the self assembly of three-dimensionally periodic arrays of spherical particles, the processing of these arrays so that both infiltration and extraction processes can occur, one or more infiltration steps for these periodic arrays, and, in some instances, extraction steps. The product articles are three-dimensionally periodic on a scale where conventional processing methods cannot be used. Articles and materials made by these processes are useful as thermoelectrics and thermionics, electrochromic display elements, low dielectric constant electronic substrate materials, electron emitters (particularly for displays), piezoelectric sensors and actuators, electrostrictive actuators, piezochromic rubbers, gas storage materials, chromatographic separation materials, catalyst support materials, photonic bandgap materials for optical circuitry, and opalescent colorants for the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared regions.