Plasmon photocatalysis
View Patent ↗Plasmons on a waveguide may deliver energy to photocatalyze a reaction. The waveguide or other energy carrier may be configured to carry electromagnetic energy and generate plasmon energy at one or more locations proximate to the waveguide, where the plasmon energy may react chemically with a medium or interaction material.
1. A system comprising:
A first waveguide, said first waveguide being configured to carry energy from a first location to a second location, said first waveguide including a first inner region and a first outer region, said first outer region having a first outer surface;
A plasmon generator coupled to said first waveguide and operative to produce plasmons; and
An interaction material proximate to said second location and responsive to said plasmons to react chemically.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the plasmon generator includes a structure patterned to produce plasmons.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the structure patterned to produce plasmons includes a grating.
4. The system of claim 2 wherein the structure patterned to produce plasmons includes an array of nanoparticles.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the array of nanoparticles is configured to deliver energy to a resist.
6. The system of claim 4 wherein the array is a substantially regular array.
7. The system of claim 1 further including a second material in intimate contact with the first outer surface, wherein the second material includes the interaction material.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the interaction material includes a photocatalyst, and wherein the photocatalyst includes a semiconductor.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first outer surface is configured to support the plasmons.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the first outer region covers a portion of the first inner region.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the first outer region varies.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the first outer region has periodic defects of material, said defects having a width, wherein the thickness of the first outer region is substantially zero at the position of the defects.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the plasmons are configured to have an energy band, and wherein said energy band is a function of the width of the defects.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the first inner region varies.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the thickness of the first inner region varies substantially periodically.
16. The system of claim 1 wherein the first outer region includes a metal.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein the metal includes silver.
18. The system of claim 16 wherein the metal includes copper.
19. The system of claim 1 wherein the first outer region includes an aperture.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein the first outer region includes a conductor.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein the conductor includes a metal.
22. The system of claim 19 wherein the first outer region includes a grating structure proximate to the aperture.
23. The system of claim 1 wherein the first outer region includes vanadium dioxide.
24. A system comprising:
A first waveguide, said first waveguide being configured to carry energy from a first location to a second location, said first waveguide comprising an optical fiber;
A plasmon generator coupled to said first waveguide; and
An interaction material proximate to said second location and responsive to plasmons to react chemically.
25. The system of claim 24 wherein the optical fiber includes a gradient index of refraction.
26. The system of claim 24 wherein the optical fiber includes a discontinuous index of refraction.
27. The system of claim 24 wherein the optical fiber includes quartz.
28. A system comprising:
A first waveguide, said first waveguide being configured to carry energy from a first location to a second location, said waveguide including a conductor configured to carry terahertz energy;
A plasmon generator coupled to said first waveguide; and
An interaction material proximate to said second location and responsive to plasmons to react chemically.
29. A system comprising:
A first waveguide, said first waveguide being configured to carry energy from a first location to a second location, said first waveguide including a photonic band gap material;
A plasmon generator coupled to said first waveguide; and
An interaction material proximate to said second location and responsive to plasmons to react chemically.
30. A system comprising:
A first waveguide, said first waveguide being configured to carry energy from a first location to a second location, said first waveguide being configured to support electromagnetic energy in a first wavelength band;
A plasmon generator coupled to said first waveguide; and
An interaction material proximate to said second location and responsive to plasmons to react chemically.
31. The system of claim 30 wherein the first wavelength band includes infrared wavelengths.
32. The system of claim 30 wherein the first wavelength band includes visible wavelengths.
33. The system of claim 30 wherein the first wavelength band includes ultraviolet wavelengths.
34. The system of claim 30 wherein the first wavelength band includes microwave wavelengths.