Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Grapple – Resilient jaws
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-07
2003-12-30
Kramer, Dean J. (Department: 3652)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Grapple
Resilient jaws
C294S086400, C901S016000, C901S036000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06669256
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to nanotweezers that grip and release substances that have a size on the order of nanometers (hereafter referred to as “nano-substances”) and further relates to a nanomanipulator device which can assemble nano-size parts and nano-molecular devices, etc. by moving and stacking nano-substances.
BACKGROUND ART
Technological development in recent years has been increasingly oriented toward the ultra-small region. For example, there has been a demand for the development of revolutionary manufacturing techniques in the nano-region, as seen in the creation of new materials and nano-size parts in the optical and electronic information fields, and in the creation of new bio-related functional substances by the integration of cells and proteins.
In order to move and stack nano-substances in this manner, it is necessary to develop nanotweezers that can grip and release nano-substances. A first prototype of such nanotweezers has been announced by Philip Kim and Charles M. Lieber in the Journal of Science published on Dec. 10, 1999.
FIGS. 16 through 18
are diagrams of the manufacturing process of these nanotweezers.
FIG. 16
is a side view of the tip end of a glass tube that has been worked so that a taper is formed. The diameter of this tip end is approximately 100 nm, while the diameter of the rear end of the tube not shown is 1 mm.
FIG. 17
is a complete diagram of a set of nanotweezers. Two metal electrode films
84
a
and
84
b
are formed on the circumferential surface of the above-described glass tube
80
with an insulating section
82
interposed. Carbon nanotubes
86
a
and
86
b
are respectively fastened to these metal electrode films so that the carbon nanotubes protruded, thus forming a set of nanotweezers
88
.
FIG. 18
is a schematic diagram showing the application of a voltage to the nanotweezers. Lead wires
92
a
and
92
b
are led out from contact points
90
a
and
90
b
on the metal electrode films
84
a
and
84
b
and are connected to both ends of a direct-current power supply
94
. When the voltage of this direct-current power supply
94
is applied, the carbon nanotube
86
a
is charged to a positive polarity, while the carbon nanotube
86
b
is charged to a negative polarity. As a result of the electrostatic attractive force of these positive and negative charges, the tip ends of the carbon nanotubes
86
a
and
86
b
close inward, so that a nano-substance
96
can be gripped between these tip ends.
If the voltage is increased, the carbon nanotubes close even further, so that a smaller nano-substance can be gripped. If the voltage is reduced to zero, the electrostatic attractive force is eliminated, so that the carbon nanotubes
86
a
and
86
b
are caused to return to the state shown in
FIG. 17
by the elastic recovery force of the carbon nanotubes
86
a
and
86
b
, thus releasing the nano-substance
96
. Thus, the nanotweezers are advantageous in that the opening-and-closing control of the nanotweezers
88
can be accomplished merely by controlling the magnitude of a voltage as described above, so that the nanotweezers represent a break-through in terms of nanotweezers.
However, the nanotweezers
88
have the drawbacks. More specifically, the first drawback is that since the tip end of the glass tube
80
is finely worked to 100 nm in a tapered form, thus the nanotweezers
88
are weak and brittle in terms of strength.
The second drawback is that the metal electrode films
84
a
and
84
b
are formed along the entire length of the glass tube
80
; and the contact points
90
a
and
90
b
are disposed on the large-diameter rear portion of the glass tube and are connected to the power supply
94
via the lead wires
92
a
and
92
b.
In other words, the lead wires have a considerable thickness; as a result, the electrical contact points must be disposed on the rear end portion of the glass tube, which has an expanded diameter. This results in the difficulty of forming the metal electrode films along the entire length of the glass tube and in poor efficiency.
The third drawback arises from the fact that the nanotweezers are electrostatic nanotweezers. More specifically, in the case of electrostatic nanotweezers, positive and negative electrical charges are accumulated in the carbon nanotube, and the opening and closing actions of the carbon nanotubes are controlled by the electrostatic attractive force of these electrical charges. In cases where the nano-substance
96
is an electrical insulator or a semiconductor, such an electrostatic attractive force can be utilized. However, in cases where the nano-substance is a conductor, the ends of the carbon nanotubes are electrically short-circuited, so that such an electrostatic attractive force ceases to operate. Furthermore, there is also a danger that the nano-substance will be electrically destroyed in the case of short-circuiting. Accordingly, such nanotweezers suffer from such weak points that the use of the nanotweezers is limited to semiconductor nano-substance and insulating nano-substances, and constant care must be taken during use.
The fourth drawback is that the nanotweezers are constructed from two carbon nanotubes. In other words, molecules have various shapes, and there are nano-substances that cannot be securely gripped by two nanotubes. For example, flattened nano-substances can be gripped by the two carbon nanotubes
86
a
and
86
b.
However, in cases where spherical nano-substances or rod-form nano-substances are gripped, the gripping thereon is unstable, and there is a danger that the nano-substance will fall out of the nanotweezers.
Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide nanotweezers that have a high strength and are relatively easy to work.
Furthermore, a second object of the present invention is to provide nanotweezers that can grip conductive nano-substances, semiconductor nano-substances and insulating nano-substances without using an electrostatic system.
Furthermore, a third object of the present invention is to provide nanotweezers which can securely grip and transfer nano-substances of various shapes including spherical nano-substances, rod-form nano-substances, etc.
Furthermore, a nanomanipulator device which can assemble nano-structures is realized way of using the nanotweezers.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The first embodiment of the present invention is for nanotweezers which are characterized in that the nanotweezers comprise a plurality of nanotubes whose base end portions are fastened to a holder so that the nanotubes protrude from the holder, a coating film which covers the surfaces of the nanotubes with an insulating coating, and lead wires which are connected to two nanotubes among such nanotubes; wherein the tip ends of the two nanotubes are freely opened and closed by means of an electrostatic attractive force created by applying a voltage across the lead wires.
The second embodiment of the present invention is for nanotweezers which are characterized in that the nanotweezers comprise a pyramid portion which is installed on a cantilever so that the pyramid portion protrudes from the cantilever, a plurality of nanotubes whose base end portions are fastened to this pyramid portion so as to protrude from the pyramid portion and lead wires which are connected to two nanotubes among the nanotubes; wherein the tip ends of the two nanotubes can be freely opened and closed by means of an electrostatic attractive force created by applying a voltage across the lead wires.
The third embodiment of the present invention is for nanotweezers which are characterized in that the nanotweezers comprise a plurality of nanotubes whose base end portions are fastened to a holder so that the nanotubes protrude from the holder, and a piezo-electric film which is formed on the surface of at least one nanotube among these nanotubes; wherein the tip ends of the nanotubes are freely opened and closed by applying a voltage to the piezo-electric film so that the piezo-electric film is caused to expand and contract.
The fourth embo
Akita Seiji
Harada Akio
Nakayama Yoshikazu
Okawa Takashi
Koda & Androlia
Kramer Dean J.
Nakayama Yoshikazu
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