Andreev bound states in potentially topological setups

Graphene Isotope Superlattices with Strongly Diminished Thermal Conductivity for Thermoelectric Applications

Graphene has a high intrinsic thermal conductivity and a high electron mobility. The thermal conductivity of graphene can be significantly reduced when different carbon isotopes are mixed, which can enhance the performance of thermoelectric devices. Here we synthesize isotopic 12C/13C random mixes and isotope superlattices (SLs) with periods...

Noise Behavior and Implementation of Interferometer-Based Broadband VNA

This paper analyzes and accurately models the complex noise behavior of vector network analyzers (VNAs) when measuring large-mismatch devices and subsequently shows how the VNA measurement noise performance is enhanced through implementation of a high-speed, broadband, active RF interferometer module. The presented VNA noise model provides a...

Nanostructure and microstructure fabrication: From desired properties to suitable processes

When designing a new nanostructure or microstructure, one can follow a processing-based manufacturing pathway, in which the structure properties are defined based on the processing capabilities of the fabrication method at hand. Alternatively, a performance-based pathway can be followed, where the envisioned performance is first defined, and...

Distortion of DNA Origami on Graphene Imaged with Advanced TEM Techniques

While graphene may appear to be the ultimate support membrane for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging of DNA nanostructures, very little is known if it poses an advantage over conventional carbon supports in terms of resolution and contrast. Microscopic investigations are carried out on DNA origami nanoplates that are supported...

Repairing Nanoparticle Surface Defects

Solar devices based on semiconductor nanoparticles require the use of conductive ligands; however, replacing the native, insulating ligands with conductive metal chalcogenide complexes introduces structural defects within the crystalline nanostructure that act as traps for charge carriers. We utilized atomically thin semiconductor...

Time-resolved cathodoluminescence microscopy with sub-nanosecond beam blanking for direct evaluation of the local density of states

We show cathodoluminescence-based time-resolved electron beam spectroscopy in order to directly probe the spontaneous emission decay rate that is modified by the local density of states in a nanoscale environment. In contrast to dedicated laser-triggered electron-microscopy setups, we use commercial hardware in a standard SEM, which allows us to...

Cathodoluminescence Microscopy of Nanostructures on Transparent Substrates

Cathodoluminescence (CL), the excitation of light by an electron beam, has gained attention as an analysis tool for investigating the optical response of a structure, at a resolution that approaches that in electron microscopy, in the nanometer range. However, the application possibilities are limited because the use of transparent substrates,...

Annealing of SnO2 thin films by ultra-short laser pulses

Post-deposition annealing by ultra-short laser pulses can modify the optical properties of SnO2 thin films by means of thermal processing. Industrial grade SnO2 films exhibited improved optical properties after picosecond laser irradiation, at the expense of a slightly increased sheet resistance [Proc. SPIE 8826, 88260I (2013)]. The figure of...

Nanostep height measurement via spatial mode projection

We demonstrate an optical scheme for measuring the thickness of thin nanolayers with the use of light beam’s spatial modes. The novelty in our scheme is the projection of the beam reflected by the sample onto a properly tailored spatial mode. In the experiment described below, we are able to measure a step height smaller than 10 nm, i.e., one...