Nanopore electrode, nanopore membrane, methods of preparation and surface modification, and use thereof

US7849581B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• University of Utah Research Foundation · US

Inventors

• Henry S. White · Salt Lake City, US
• Bo Zhang · Shanghai, CN
• Ryan J. White · Salt Lake City, US
• Eric N. Ervin · Holladay, US
• Gangli Wang · Brookhaven, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 3, 2007
• Grant date: Dec 14, 2010
• Expiry date: Sep 4, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49826
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Provided are fabrication, characterization and application of a nanodisk electrode, a nanopore electrode and a nanopore membrane. These three nanostructures share common fabrication steps. In one embodiment, the fabrication of a disk electrode involves sealing a sharpened internal signal transduction element (“ISTE”) into a substrate, followed by polishing of the substrate until a nanometer-sized disk of the ISTE is exposed. The fabrication of a nanopore electrode is accomplished by etching the nanodisk electrode to create a pore in the substrate, with the remaining ISTE comprising the pore base. Complete removal of the ISTE yields a nanopore membrane, in which a conical shaped pore is embedded in a thin membrane of the substrate.