Patent
US 10,317,342NANOMETER SCALE MICROSCOPY VIA GRAPHENE PLASMONS
Muhammad Suhail Zubairy
US
Copyright © 2026 Matter42. All rights reserved.
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 10,317,342Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
A method of performing nanometer-scale microscopy on a sample, the method comprising: i) providing the sample to an imaging system comprising a graphene layer, wher e in the sample is disposed over the graphene layer; ii) exciting a plurality of graphene plasmons (GPs) in the graphene layer as an illumination source for imaging th e sample; and iii) capturing an image of the sample using the GPs as the illumination source, wherein the imaging system further comprises a substrate on which the graphene layer is disposed, the substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric gratings therein. where in the ima gin g sv ste m furt her compr iscs a die lectri c Lan r dis p osed o n theraphere lav er, su ch that the s ample is d ispo s ed on the die lectric la yer. w her ein the i ma ging system further comp rises a lens, wherein t he s amle is d isposed beveen the graph en e la ye r and els, wherein capt uring the i ma ge o f the sample is performed by the lens, wherein the di e lectric gratings form a circ le around a portion of the substrate over w h ich the sample i s dis posed d uring the ste ps of e xc itin g the plural ity of GP s a nd cap turingthe ina e of the sample, wherein the g r tph lne la y er is in di rect ph ysical contact w ith an upper s urfa ce of the su ~ar t, wherein excit in g the plu rality of G P s co m prises usi ng a plural ity of la ser pulses to i rr a diate the d ielectric g r atin g s o f the substrate to e xcilte G IPs, wherein each laser pulse has a du ration in a ran ge of f rom 1 na nosecond (n s) t o 9 ns, and wher ein the separation b etw een consecutive pulses is in a ran ge o f fro m i10 ns to 99 ts. Currently amended
The method according to c-an m2 claim 1, wherein the dielectric l ayer has a thickness that is set or tuned to optimize the imaging result based on a desired result. Currently amended
The m e thod according to _ claim 1, wherein th e graphene layer is in direct physical contact with a lower surface of the dielectric layer, and wherein, during the st e ps of exciting the plurality of G Ps and capturing the image of the sample, the sample is in direct physical contact with an upper surface of the dielectric layer. Currently amended
The method according to claim 1, wherein exciting the plurality of GPs comprises using two laser pulses to excite two GPs. Currently amended
The method according to claim 1, wherein steps ii) and iii) are performed multiple times to obtain a plurality of images that can be used to construct a master image of the sample. Original
2-3. Canceled
Canceled
6-7. Canceled
Canceled
10-11. Canceled
Canceled
The method according to -lais cl aim 1, wherein the graphene layer is a graphene monolayer. Currently amended
A system for perfo n ning nanometer-scale microscopy on a sample, the system comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric gratings therein; a graphene layer disposed on the substrate; a dielectric layer disposed on the graphene layer and configured to have the sample disposed thereon; and a lens positioned abov e the dielectric layer, wherein the system is configured to perform imaging by exciting a plurality of graphene plasmons (G Ps) in the graphene layer as an illumination source for imaging the sample, and using the lens to capture an image of the sample using the GPs as the illumination source, wherein the c raphene lav er is in direct physica l c ontact with a lower surface of the dielectri c laye r, wherein the system is config ur ed s uch that, d u rin g use, t he sample is i n direct ph ysical co ntact w ith an upper surface of the dielectri c la yer. wherein th e dielectri c urati ngs f o rm a circle around a portion of the substr ate over wh ich the sample is dispos e d during us e of the syste n wherein the g raphene lay er is in direct physical c ont act vi th a n up per s uri ac e o f t he su bstrate, wherein the system f u rther c ompris e s a laser, whe rein e x citing the plurality of GI s com prises using a plurality of laser p u ise s from the laser t o irradiat e the dielectric a rati na s of the substrat e t oce xcit e GPs. wherein e ach laser pulse has a dur a t ion in a ra ngre of from 1 na nosecond (u s) to 9 ns, and wherein t he separation between consecutive pul ses is in a ran ge of fro m 10 ns to 99 ns. Currently amended
The system according to claim 13, wherein the dielectric layer has a thickness that is set or tuned to optimize the imaging result based on a desired result. Original
The system according to claim 13, wherein the system is configured to excite the plurality of GP and capture the image using the GPs as the illumination source multiple times to obtain a plurality of images that can be used to construct a master image of the sample. Original
The s y stem according to claim 13, wherein each GP of the plurality of excited GPs has the same wave number and a different propagation direction as all other excited GPs, wherein the plurality of excited GPs construct a periodic pattern in one dimension, and wherein each GP of the plurality of excited GPs propagates and is reflected by dielectric gratings of the substrate, thereby affecting a field pattern. Original
The system according to claim 13, wherein the graphene layer is a graphene monolayer. Original
15-16. Canceled
Canceled
Canceled
Layer stacks claimed or described, ordered top of device to substrate.
graphene plasmon nanometer-scale microscopy system
Materials described outside the worked examples.
graphene layer
dielectric layer
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 10,317,342Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
A method of performing nanometer-scale microscopy on a sample, the method comprising: i) providing the sample to an imaging system comprising a graphene layer, wher e in the sample is disposed over the graphene layer; ii) exciting a plurality of graphene plasmons (GPs) in the graphene layer as an illumination source for imaging th e sample; and iii) capturing an image of the sample using the GPs as the illumination source, wherein the imaging system further comprises a substrate on which the graphene layer is disposed, the substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric gratings therein. where in the ima gin g sv ste m furt her compr iscs a die lectri c Lan r dis p osed o n theraphere lav er, su ch that the s ample is d ispo s ed on the die lectric la yer. w her ein the i ma ging system further comp rises a lens, wherein t he s amle is d isposed beveen the graph en e la ye r and els, wherein capt uring the i ma ge o f the sample is performed by the lens, wherein the di e lectric gratings form a circ le around a portion of the substrate over w h ich the sample i s dis posed d uring the ste ps of e xc itin g the plural ity of GP s a nd cap turingthe ina e of the sample, wherein the g r tph lne la y er is in di rect ph ysical contact w ith an upper s urfa ce of the su ~ar t, wherein excit in g the plu rality of G P s co m prises usi ng a plural ity of la ser pulses to i rr a diate the d ielectric g r atin g s o f the substrate to e xcilte G IPs, wherein each laser pulse has a du ration in a ran ge of f rom 1 na nosecond (n s) t o 9 ns, and wher ein the separation b etw een consecutive pulses is in a ran ge o f fro m i10 ns to 99 ts. Currently amended
The method according to c-an m2 claim 1, wherein the dielectric l ayer has a thickness that is set or tuned to optimize the imaging result based on a desired result. Currently amended
The m e thod according to _ claim 1, wherein th e graphene layer is in direct physical contact with a lower surface of the dielectric layer, and wherein, during the st e ps of exciting the plurality of G Ps and capturing the image of the sample, the sample is in direct physical contact with an upper surface of the dielectric layer. Currently amended
The method according to claim 1, wherein exciting the plurality of GPs comprises using two laser pulses to excite two GPs. Currently amended
The method according to claim 1, wherein steps ii) and iii) are performed multiple times to obtain a plurality of images that can be used to construct a master image of the sample. Original
2-3. Canceled
Canceled
6-7. Canceled
Canceled
10-11. Canceled
Canceled
The method according to -lais cl aim 1, wherein the graphene layer is a graphene monolayer. Currently amended
A system for perfo n ning nanometer-scale microscopy on a sample, the system comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric gratings therein; a graphene layer disposed on the substrate; a dielectric layer disposed on the graphene layer and configured to have the sample disposed thereon; and a lens positioned abov e the dielectric layer, wherein the system is configured to perform imaging by exciting a plurality of graphene plasmons (G Ps) in the graphene layer as an illumination source for imaging the sample, and using the lens to capture an image of the sample using the GPs as the illumination source, wherein the c raphene lav er is in direct physica l c ontact with a lower surface of the dielectri c laye r, wherein the system is config ur ed s uch that, d u rin g use, t he sample is i n direct ph ysical co ntact w ith an upper surface of the dielectri c la yer. wherein th e dielectri c urati ngs f o rm a circle around a portion of the substr ate over wh ich the sample is dispos e d during us e of the syste n wherein the g raphene lay er is in direct physical c ont act vi th a n up per s uri ac e o f t he su bstrate, wherein the system f u rther c ompris e s a laser, whe rein e x citing the plurality of GI s com prises using a plurality of laser p u ise s from the laser t o irradiat e the dielectric a rati na s of the substrat e t oce xcit e GPs. wherein e ach laser pulse has a dur a t ion in a ra ngre of from 1 na nosecond (u s) to 9 ns, and wherein t he separation between consecutive pul ses is in a ran ge of fro m 10 ns to 99 ns. Currently amended
The system according to claim 13, wherein the dielectric layer has a thickness that is set or tuned to optimize the imaging result based on a desired result. Original
The system according to claim 13, wherein the system is configured to excite the plurality of GP and capture the image using the GPs as the illumination source multiple times to obtain a plurality of images that can be used to construct a master image of the sample. Original
The s y stem according to claim 13, wherein each GP of the plurality of excited GPs has the same wave number and a different propagation direction as all other excited GPs, wherein the plurality of excited GPs construct a periodic pattern in one dimension, and wherein each GP of the plurality of excited GPs propagates and is reflected by dielectric gratings of the substrate, thereby affecting a field pattern. Original
The system according to claim 13, wherein the graphene layer is a graphene monolayer. Original
15-16. Canceled
Canceled
Canceled
Layer stacks claimed or described, ordered top of device to substrate.
graphene plasmon nanometer-scale microscopy system
Materials described outside the worked examples.
graphene layer
dielectric layer
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 10,317,342Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
A method of performing nanometer-scale microscopy on a sample, the method comprising: i) providing the sample to an imaging system comprising a graphene layer, wher e in the sample is disposed over the graphene layer; ii) exciting a plurality of graphene plasmons (GPs) in the graphene layer as an illumination source for imaging th e sample; and iii) capturing an image of the sample using the GPs as the illumination source, wherein the imaging system further comprises a substrate on which the graphene layer is disposed, the substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric gratings therein. where in the ima gin g sv ste m furt her compr iscs a die lectri c Lan r dis p osed o n theraphere lav er, su ch that the s ample is d ispo s ed on the die lectric la yer. w her ein the i ma ging system further comp rises a lens, wherein t he s amle is d isposed beveen the graph en e la ye r and els, wherein capt uring the i ma ge o f the sample is performed by the lens, wherein the di e lectric gratings form a circ le around a portion of the substrate over w h ich the sample i s dis posed d uring the ste ps of e xc itin g the plural ity of GP s a nd cap turingthe ina e of the sample, wherein the g r tph lne la y er is in di rect ph ysical contact w ith an upper s urfa ce of the su ~ar t, wherein excit in g the plu rality of G P s co m prises usi ng a plural ity of la ser pulses to i rr a diate the d ielectric g r atin g s o f the substrate to e xcilte G IPs, wherein each laser pulse has a du ration in a ran ge of f rom 1 na nosecond (n s) t o 9 ns, and wher ein the separation b etw een consecutive pulses is in a ran ge o f fro m i10 ns to 99 ts. Currently amended
The method according to c-an m2 claim 1, wherein the dielectric l ayer has a thickness that is set or tuned to optimize the imaging result based on a desired result. Currently amended
The m e thod according to _ claim 1, wherein th e graphene layer is in direct physical contact with a lower surface of the dielectric layer, and wherein, during the st e ps of exciting the plurality of G Ps and capturing the image of the sample, the sample is in direct physical contact with an upper surface of the dielectric layer. Currently amended
The method according to claim 1, wherein exciting the plurality of GPs comprises using two laser pulses to excite two GPs. Currently amended
The method according to claim 1, wherein steps ii) and iii) are performed multiple times to obtain a plurality of images that can be used to construct a master image of the sample. Original
2-3. Canceled
Canceled
6-7. Canceled
Canceled
10-11. Canceled
Canceled
The method according to -lais cl aim 1, wherein the graphene layer is a graphene monolayer. Currently amended
A system for perfo n ning nanometer-scale microscopy on a sample, the system comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric gratings therein; a graphene layer disposed on the substrate; a dielectric layer disposed on the graphene layer and configured to have the sample disposed thereon; and a lens positioned abov e the dielectric layer, wherein the system is configured to perform imaging by exciting a plurality of graphene plasmons (G Ps) in the graphene layer as an illumination source for imaging the sample, and using the lens to capture an image of the sample using the GPs as the illumination source, wherein the c raphene lav er is in direct physica l c ontact with a lower surface of the dielectri c laye r, wherein the system is config ur ed s uch that, d u rin g use, t he sample is i n direct ph ysical co ntact w ith an upper surface of the dielectri c la yer. wherein th e dielectri c urati ngs f o rm a circle around a portion of the substr ate over wh ich the sample is dispos e d during us e of the syste n wherein the g raphene lay er is in direct physical c ont act vi th a n up per s uri ac e o f t he su bstrate, wherein the system f u rther c ompris e s a laser, whe rein e x citing the plurality of GI s com prises using a plurality of laser p u ise s from the laser t o irradiat e the dielectric a rati na s of the substrat e t oce xcit e GPs. wherein e ach laser pulse has a dur a t ion in a ra ngre of from 1 na nosecond (u s) to 9 ns, and wherein t he separation between consecutive pul ses is in a ran ge of fro m 10 ns to 99 ns. Currently amended
The system according to claim 13, wherein the dielectric layer has a thickness that is set or tuned to optimize the imaging result based on a desired result. Original
The system according to claim 13, wherein the system is configured to excite the plurality of GP and capture the image using the GPs as the illumination source multiple times to obtain a plurality of images that can be used to construct a master image of the sample. Original
The s y stem according to claim 13, wherein each GP of the plurality of excited GPs has the same wave number and a different propagation direction as all other excited GPs, wherein the plurality of excited GPs construct a periodic pattern in one dimension, and wherein each GP of the plurality of excited GPs propagates and is reflected by dielectric gratings of the substrate, thereby affecting a field pattern. Original
The system according to claim 13, wherein the graphene layer is a graphene monolayer. Original
15-16. Canceled
Canceled
Canceled
Layer stacks claimed or described, ordered top of device to substrate.
graphene plasmon nanometer-scale microscopy system
Materials described outside the worked examples.
graphene layer
dielectric layer
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 10,317,342Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
A method of performing nanometer-scale microscopy on a sample, the method comprising: i) providing the sample to an imaging system comprising a graphene layer, wher e in the sample is disposed over the graphene layer; ii) exciting a plurality of graphene plasmons (GPs) in the graphene layer as an illumination source for imaging th e sample; and iii) capturing an image of the sample using the GPs as the illumination source, wherein the imaging system further comprises a substrate on which the graphene layer is disposed, the substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric gratings therein. where in the ima gin g sv ste m furt her compr iscs a die lectri c Lan r dis p osed o n theraphere lav er, su ch that the s ample is d ispo s ed on the die lectric la yer. w her ein the i ma ging system further comp rises a lens, wherein t he s amle is d isposed beveen the graph en e la ye r and els, wherein capt uring the i ma ge o f the sample is performed by the lens, wherein the di e lectric gratings form a circ le around a portion of the substrate over w h ich the sample i s dis posed d uring the ste ps of e xc itin g the plural ity of GP s a nd cap turingthe ina e of the sample, wherein the g r tph lne la y er is in di rect ph ysical contact w ith an upper s urfa ce of the su ~ar t, wherein excit in g the plu rality of G P s co m prises usi ng a plural ity of la ser pulses to i rr a diate the d ielectric g r atin g s o f the substrate to e xcilte G IPs, wherein each laser pulse has a du ration in a ran ge of f rom 1 na nosecond (n s) t o 9 ns, and wher ein the separation b etw een consecutive pulses is in a ran ge o f fro m i10 ns to 99 ts. Currently amended
The method according to c-an m2 claim 1, wherein the dielectric l ayer has a thickness that is set or tuned to optimize the imaging result based on a desired result. Currently amended
The m e thod according to _ claim 1, wherein th e graphene layer is in direct physical contact with a lower surface of the dielectric layer, and wherein, during the st e ps of exciting the plurality of G Ps and capturing the image of the sample, the sample is in direct physical contact with an upper surface of the dielectric layer. Currently amended
The method according to claim 1, wherein exciting the plurality of GPs comprises using two laser pulses to excite two GPs. Currently amended
The method according to claim 1, wherein steps ii) and iii) are performed multiple times to obtain a plurality of images that can be used to construct a master image of the sample. Original
2-3. Canceled
Canceled
6-7. Canceled
Canceled
10-11. Canceled
Canceled
The method according to -lais cl aim 1, wherein the graphene layer is a graphene monolayer. Currently amended
A system for perfo n ning nanometer-scale microscopy on a sample, the system comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric gratings therein; a graphene layer disposed on the substrate; a dielectric layer disposed on the graphene layer and configured to have the sample disposed thereon; and a lens positioned abov e the dielectric layer, wherein the system is configured to perform imaging by exciting a plurality of graphene plasmons (G Ps) in the graphene layer as an illumination source for imaging the sample, and using the lens to capture an image of the sample using the GPs as the illumination source, wherein the c raphene lav er is in direct physica l c ontact with a lower surface of the dielectri c laye r, wherein the system is config ur ed s uch that, d u rin g use, t he sample is i n direct ph ysical co ntact w ith an upper surface of the dielectri c la yer. wherein th e dielectri c urati ngs f o rm a circle around a portion of the substr ate over wh ich the sample is dispos e d during us e of the syste n wherein the g raphene lay er is in direct physical c ont act vi th a n up per s uri ac e o f t he su bstrate, wherein the system f u rther c ompris e s a laser, whe rein e x citing the plurality of GI s com prises using a plurality of laser p u ise s from the laser t o irradiat e the dielectric a rati na s of the substrat e t oce xcit e GPs. wherein e ach laser pulse has a dur a t ion in a ra ngre of from 1 na nosecond (u s) to 9 ns, and wherein t he separation between consecutive pul ses is in a ran ge of fro m 10 ns to 99 ns. Currently amended
The system according to claim 13, wherein the dielectric layer has a thickness that is set or tuned to optimize the imaging result based on a desired result. Original
The system according to claim 13, wherein the system is configured to excite the plurality of GP and capture the image using the GPs as the illumination source multiple times to obtain a plurality of images that can be used to construct a master image of the sample. Original
The s y stem according to claim 13, wherein each GP of the plurality of excited GPs has the same wave number and a different propagation direction as all other excited GPs, wherein the plurality of excited GPs construct a periodic pattern in one dimension, and wherein each GP of the plurality of excited GPs propagates and is reflected by dielectric gratings of the substrate, thereby affecting a field pattern. Original
The system according to claim 13, wherein the graphene layer is a graphene monolayer. Original
15-16. Canceled
Canceled
Canceled
Layer stacks claimed or described, ordered top of device to substrate.
graphene plasmon nanometer-scale microscopy system
Materials described outside the worked examples.
graphene layer
dielectric layer
dielectric gratings
graphene monolayer
dielectric gratings
graphene monolayer
dielectric gratings
graphene monolayer
dielectric gratings
graphene monolayer