US4481091A
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Chemical processing using electromagnetic field enhancement
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
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Filing: 1983-10-21
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Granted: 1984-11-06
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Expires: 2003-10-21
Abstract
Abstract The use of induced electromagnetic field enhancement to improve chemical processing is disclosed. Shape, image and resonant polarizability phenomena are used to obtain regions of increased field intensities where atomic and/or molecular interactions are advantageously affected to yield improved or increased chemical processing.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis E. Brus
- 👤 Abraham Nitzan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:21
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/12; B01J19/122; B01J19/087; B01J19/121; G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for photochemically reacting an atom or molecule having at least one absorption wavelength, the method comprising (a) irradiating the atom or molecule with reaction-effecting electomagnetic radiation comprising a given wavelength, the invention CHARACTERIZED IN THAT, (b) during at least a portion of the irradiation, a field enhancing body of characteristic dimension between about 5 Å and the given wavelength is also irradiated with the electromagnetic radiation, the field enhancing body, when irradiated, having an associated enhanced field, due to a dielectric polarizability resonance in the spectral region of the given wavelength, a corona effect, or an image effect, (c) the field enhancing particle is selected to have its polarizability resonance in the spectral range of the given wavelength, and (d) the given wavelength is selected to be in the spectral range of the absorption wavelength of the atom or molecule.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for photochemically reacting an atom or molecule having at least one absorption wavelength, the method comprising (a) irradiating the atom or molecule with reaction-effecting electomagnetic radiation comprising a given wavelength, the invention CHARACTERIZED IN THAT, (b) during at least a portion of the irradiation, a field enhancing body of characteristic dimension between about 5 Å and the given wavelength is also irradiated with the electromagnetic radiation, the field enhancing body, when irradiated, having an associated enhanced field, due to a dielectric polarizability resonance in the spectral region of the given wavelength, a corona effect, or an image effect, (c) the field enhancing particle is selected to have its polarizability resonance in the spectral range of the given wavelength, and (d) the given wavelength is selected to be in the spectral range of the absorption wavelength of the atom or molecule.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the given wavelength is between 0.05 to 60 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the given wavelength is between 0.2 and 20 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein there is a multitude of atoms or molecules.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 4 wherein there is a multitude of field enhancing bodies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the atoms or molecules are part of in a gas, a solid or a liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the field enhancing bodies are distributed on a solid substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
Method of claim 1, wherein the photochemical reaction is at least part of a photocatalytic process, or of a surface modification process, or of an image formation process, or of an isotope separation process, or of a heterogeneous chemical synthesis process, or of a homogeneous chemical synthesis process, or of a process for chemical purification via selective reaction of one component or isomer in a mixture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
Method of claim 8, wherein the photochemical reaction is at least part of an image formation process, the field enhancing bodies are distributed on a solid substrate, and the substrate is selectively irradiated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the substrate is selectively radiated through the use of a mask.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Method of claim 8, wherein the photochemical reaction is at least part of an image formation process and the field enhancing bodies are selectively distributed on a solid substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
Method of claim 8, wherein the given wavelength is less than about 7500 Å and the field enhancing body comprises metal or a solid dielectric.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
Method of claim 12, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, and Cu.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
Method of claim 12, wherein the solid dielectric is selected from the group consisting of cadmium sulfide, anthracene, and organic dyes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
Method of claim 8, wherein the given wavelength is greater than about 7500 Å, and the field enhancing body comprises doped semiconductor material, dielectric material with ionic optical lattice vibrations yielding a resonance at a wavelength between 7500 Å and 60 μm, or small bandgap semiconductor material with a polarizability resonance near the optical absorption edge of the material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
Method of claim 15, wherein the doped semiconductor is selected from the group consisting of doped Si, Ge, InSb, and GaAs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
Method of claim 15, wherein the doped semiconductor is a doped ionic semiconductor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
Method of claim 15, wherein the dielectric material is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, magnesium oxide, and aluminum oxide.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
Method of claim 15, wherein the small bandgap semiconductor is gallium aluminum arsenide.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
Method of claim 1, wherein the radiation is substantially coherent radiation from a laser.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
10 words
Method of claim 1, wherein the radiation is incoherent radiation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method of claim 1, wherein the given wavelength is within 4% of the absorption wavelength of the atom or molecule.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
Method of claim 1, wherein the field enhancing body is a member of an ensemble of field enhancing bodies, and the collective dielectric resonance of the ensemble of field enhancing bodies is in the spectral region of the given wavelength.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
Method of claim 23, wherein the field enhancing body is suspended in a liquid, solid, or gas, the suspension medium comprising the atom or molecule.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for photochemically reacting an atom or molecule, the method comprising (a) irradiating the atom or molecule with reaction-effecting electromagnetic radiation comprising a given wavelength, the invention CHARACTERIZED IN THAT (b) during at least a portion of the irradiation, a field enhancing body, of characteristic dimension between about 5 Å and the given wavelength, is also irradiated with the electromagnetic radiation, the field enhancing body when irradiated with electromagnetic radiation of the given wavelength, having an associated enhanced field, due to a polarizability resonance in the spectral region of the wavelength, a corona effect, or an image effect, and (c) the method further comprises providing means for preventing the approach, to within less than 3 Å or one tenth of the characteristic dimension of the field enhancing particle, whichever is less, of the atom or molecule to the field enhancing body.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for photochemically reacting an atom or molecule, the method comprising (a) irradiating the atom or molecule with reaction-effecting electromagnetic radiation comprising a given wavelength, the invention CHARACTERIZED IN THAT (b) during at least a portion of the irradiation, a field enhancing body, of characteristic dimension between about 5 Å and the given wavelength, is also irradiated with the electromagnetic radiation, the field enhancing body when irradiated with electromagnetic radiation of the given wavelength, having an associated enhanced field, due to a polarizability resonance in the spectral region of the wavelength, a corona effect, or an image effect, and (c) the method further comprises providing means for preventing the approach, to within less than 3 Å or one tenth of the characteristic dimension of the field enhancing particle, whichever is less, of the atom or molecule to the field enhancing body.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
Method of claim 25, wherein the approach-preventing means either comprise a neutral-material coat substantially surrounding the field enhancing body, or comprise a layer of material, disposed on a surface, in which the field enhancing body is substantially embedded.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-11-06 | 1988-05-07 | 1988-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-11-06 | 1992-05-07 | 1992-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-11-06 | 1996-05-07 | 1996-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |