IP Library Granted Patent US 8,357,896
Granted Patent B2
US 8,357,896 · App. 13/044,459 · Granted Jan 22, 2013

Method of analyzing a substance

Inventors: Alexey Kalachev (Berlin, DE); Jürgen P. Rabe (Berlin, DE); Nikolai Severin (Berlin, DE)
Assignee: Humboldt-Universitat Zu Berlin
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,357,896
App. No.
13/044,459
Granted
Jan 22, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An embodiment of the invention relates to a method of analyzing a substance comprising the steps of: fabricating a structure comprising said substance and at least one graphene layer; carrying out at least one measurement step with respect to said structure; and analyzing the measurement result of said measurement step to receive at least one analytical result concerning said substance.

Claims (30)

1. A method of analyzing a substance comprising the steps of:

fabricating a structure comprising said substance and at least one graphene layer;

carrying out at least one measurement step with respect to said structure; and

analyzing the measurement result of said measurement step to receive at least one analytical result concerning said substance,

wherein said step of fabricating said structure further comprises the step of adding a field enhancing material, wherein the at least one graphene layer separates the substance from the field enhancing material.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one bent surface section is fabricated in the at least one graphene layer in proximity of the substance.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of fabricating said structure further comprises the step of adding a field enhancing material, wherein the at least one graphene layer separates the substance from the field enhancing material.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said structure is fabricated such that both, the at least one graphene layer and the field enhancing material, each have a bent surface section in proximity of the enclosed substance.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said measurement step comprises the steps of generating electromagnetic radiation and directing said electromagnetic radiation towards the substance.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the wavelength of said electromagnetic radiation falls within a wavelength range where the electromagnetic radiation may excite the field enhancing material or the graphene layer to generate secondary electromagnetic fields which increase the amplitude of the electromagnetic radiation inside the substance.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said field enhancing material consists of or comprises one or more of the following materials: metal, graphite, and MoS 2 .

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of carrying out said at least one measurement step comprises the steps of:

generating electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet-visible and/or infrared range and directing said electromagnetic radiation towards the covered substance, and

exciting the graphene layer to generate secondary fields which increase the amplitude of the radiation inside the substance.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of fabricating said structure comprises the steps of:

providing a carrier;

depositing said substance on top of the carrier; and

covering the carrier and the substance with said at least one graphene layer.

10. The method of claim 9

wherein said carrier consists of monoclinic silicate or at least comprises a monoclinic silicate surface;

wherein the substance is deposited on the monoclinic silicate surface of the carrier; and

wherein the substance is covered by said at least one graphene layer.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of fabricating said structure comprises the step of placing the substance between two or more graphene layers.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of fabricating said structure comprises the steps of:

providing a carrier consisting of or comprising a field enhancing material, said carrier having at least one hole capable of localizing the substance on the carrier;

placing said at least one graphene layer on top of the carrier; and

filling said substance into said hole wherein said at least one graphene layer separates the substance from the carrier.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the substance to be analyzed comprises one or more of the following substances: a single molecule, a plurality of single molecules, molecular self-assembled layers, a polymeric molecule, a plurality of polymeric molecules, a substance which is thermally, chemically or/and mechanically instable, DNA, RNA, a protein, a synthetic polynucleotide, a polypeptide.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one measurement step includes a Scanning Probe Technique and/or Raman Spectroscopy and/or Infrared Spectroscopy and/or Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and/or Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy and/or Scanning Probe Microscopy and/or Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the structure is fabricated using a carrier consisting of or at least comprising one or more of the following materials: graphite, a substrate coated with at least one graphene layer, mica material, MoS 2 , glass, plated gold, and a silicon wafer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 23, 2011
From: KALACHEV, ALEXEY; RABE, JURGEN P.; SEVERIN, NIKOLAI
To: HUMBOLDT-UNIVERSITAT ZU BERLIN
Reel/Frame 026331/0815 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120228495A1 · Sep 13, 2012