Multicomponent Nanorods

Abstract

Multicomponent nanorods having segments with differing electronic and/or chemical properties are disclosed. The nanorods can be tailored with high precision to create controlled gaps within the nanorods or to produce diodes or resistors, based upon the identities of the components making up the segments of the nanorods. Macrostructural composites of these nanorods also are disclosed.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A lithographic process for producing a nanowire comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a nanorod comprising alternating segments of a metal and a sacrificial metal;   b) depositing a coating onto one side of the nanorod; and   c) subjecting the coated nanorod to etching to remove the sacrificial metal segments from the nanorod and thereby produce a nanowire having gaps at positions previously occupied by the sacrificial metal.   
     
     
         13 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A nanowire prepared by the lithographic process of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         21 . The nanowire of  claim 20  wherein the metal is gold. 
     
     
         22 . The nanowire of  claim 20  wherein the coating is a gold/titanium alloy or silicon dioxide. 
     
     
         23 . The nanowire of  claim 20  wherein the widths of the gaps independently are about 2 nm to about 5 μm. 
     
     
         24 . The nanowire of  claim 20  wherein the bridging material is insulating or conducting. 
     
     
         25 . The nanowire of  claim 20  wherein the gaps are filled with a filler. 
     
     
         26 . The nanowire of  claim 25  wherein the filler is a conducting polymer. 
     
     
         27 . A nanorod array comprising nanowires prepared by the lithographic process of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         28 . The nanorod array of  claim 27  wherein the metal is gold. 
     
     
         29 . The nanorod array of  claim 27  wherein the thickness of the array is about 20 nm to about 5 μm. 
     
     
         30 . The nanorod array of  claim 27  wherein the space between the nanorods comprising the nanorod array is about 5 nm to about 5 μm. 
     
     
         31 . A plasmon wire comprising a nanorod array comprising nanowires produced from the lithographic process of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         32 . A waveguide comprising a nanorod array comprising nanowires produced from the lithographic process of  claim 12 .