Engineering

Latest Innovations

Tuning of Photonic Nanojets for Enhanced Super Resolution Microscopy

This technology is a novel asymmetrical microstructure capable of generating tunable photonic nanojets (PNJ) allowing super-resolution microscopy. The...

This technology is a novel asymmetrical microstructure capable of generating tunable photonic nanojets (PNJ) allowing super-resolution microscopy. The microstructure has tunable properties allowing generation of multiple PNJs, from ultra-narrow for super-resolution to ultra-long for detection of nanoparticles in biological samples. This technology opens the door for applications beyond super-resolution imaging, such as data retrieval from ultra-high density optical storage as well as nanolithography.

System for Cleaning Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce

This invention is an "in-flight" fresh-cut produce cleaning system that removes undesired substances from the produce's...
This invention is an "in-flight" fresh-cut produce cleaning system that removes undesired substances from the produce's surface. It reduces the amount of chlorine/other sanitizers and water used in the fresh-cut produce cleaning process while quickly and efficiently removing organic exudate, field debris, and soil particulates. Fresh-cut produce is sent down a chute with one or more manifolds. One manifold sprays water or a water/sanitizer mix upwards at the falling produce while another manifold sprays another fluid (typically air) upwards at the falling produce in order to slow the descent of the produce and spin them, increasing the produce's exposure to cleaners. Produce then falls out of the chute onto a substrate.

Non-Reciprocal Communication Device

Professor Gaurav Bahl has developed a novel way to enable non-reciprocal communication with optical, acoustic and electromagnetic media. This innovation can be very small...

Professor Gaurav Bahl has developed a novel way to enable non-reciprocal communication with optical, acoustic and electromagnetic media. This innovation can be very small, and operate at high frequencies.

MacEtch for Ge and β-Ga2O3

This metal-assisted chemical etching (MacEtch) technology can be used to fabricate structure and texture on Ge and β-Ga2O3Et. The optoelectronic...

This metal-assisted chemical etching (MacEtch) technology can be used to fabricate structure and texture on Ge and β-Ga2O3Et. The optoelectronic devices made by this method show improvement in both optical and electrical properties.

  • Kim et al., "Scaling the Aspect Ratio of Nanoscale Closely Packed Silicon Vias by MacEtch: Kinetics of Carrier Generation and Mass Transport," Adv. Funct. Mat., 2017

Millimeter-Scale Thermal Switch 

Drs. William King and Nenad Miljkovic with collaborators at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a millimeter-scale high-contrast thermal switch...

Drs. William King and Nenad Miljkovic with collaborators at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a millimeter-scale high-contrast thermal switch that can be used for cooling in power electronics and a variety of other electrical and thermal power systems. This liquid-metal based, electrically-controlled thermal switch controls heat transfer of thermally sensitive systems with hotspots smaller than 1 mm and as large as 1 cm and beyond. This technology has a high switching ratio (>10), high switching speed (>1Hz), and it utilizes liquid metal alloys with reduced toxicity, high thermal conductivity and surface tension. Liquid-based thermal switches are the most promising solutions for thermal management at room temperature. They allow to reduce the contact thermal resistance, enhance the operational speed and reduce heat losses. This new device will enable development of thermal circuit in the electrical and thermal power systems on a practical level.

Ultra-Low Frequency Portable RF Transmitter

Professor Bahl from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a new RF transmitter capable of transmitting at frequencies below 3 kHz while exploiting...

Professor Bahl from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a new RF transmitter capable of transmitting at frequencies below 3 kHz while exploiting the magnetic component of the electromagnetic field. Transmitting at these low frequencies while taking advantage of the magnetic component of the electromagnetic field will allow for transmission of RF signals through conductive material such as water or the ground. Prior technology for transmitting radio signals at such low frequencies required very large antenna structures along with a large power input. The current technology weighs less than 10 kg and fits in a backpack. This technology has applications in the military as well as oil exploration, mining, and anywhere else where data communication is desired underground or underwater.

Micropatterned Coverslip for Fluorescence Microscopy

Dr. Paul Selvin from the University of IL has developed a streamlined process for creating coverslips with built-in, nanoscale fiduciary...

Dr. Paul Selvin from the University of IL has developed a streamlined process for creating coverslips with built-in, nanoscale fiduciary markers using thermal NIL. Unlike 50‐100 nm fluorescent nanoparticles, these markers can be custom made to different sizes and shapes. Using this method, Dr. Selvin found that there is no resulting auto-fluorescence in the blue part of the spectrum (emission from 450 nm and farther red), allowing for more proteins to be tracked simultaneously, a major advantage in the field. Additionally, the coverslip is stable enough to culture primary neuronal cells for over 2 weeks, while other micropatterned coverslips would detach from the glass surface during that amount of time.

Polarization Dependent Damage-Free Laser-Assisted Plasma Etching

Drs. David Ruzic and Jason Peck from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new plasma etching process assisted by a polarized pulsed laser. This...

Drs. David Ruzic and Jason Peck from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new plasma etching process assisted by a polarized pulsed laser. This technology addresses the need of damageless, anisotropic etching for features of 100 nm or less. It is the only known process to etch 3D structures in integrated circuits which lie along one direction, and not etch those that are perpendicular. It will enable making integrated circuits with smaller feature sizes.

A New Confocal Microscope

Dr. Kimani Toussaint and Mr. Chukwuemeka Okoro have developed a Second-harmonic Patterned Polarization-Analyzed Reflection Confocal (SPPARC) microscopy technique combining...

Dr. Kimani Toussaint and Mr. Chukwuemeka Okoro have developed a Second-harmonic Patterned Polarization-Analyzed Reflection Confocal (SPPARC) microscopy technique combining confocal microscopy, second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy and Mueller matrix polarimetry. SPPARC has a strong potential to more accurately and quantitatively describe 3D microstructural changes in collagen-rich samples as well as non-collagenous extra-fibrillary matrix regions. It also provides a framework for 3D label-free SHG-patterned quantification of collagen to more accurately monitor sensitive changes. For more information, please contact the Office of Technology Management at otm@illinois.edu.

Nanometer-scale Optical Microscopy Resolution Standard

Dr. Zhao has developed a new resolution standard for super-resolution microscopes.  Dr. Zhao’s invention allows for resolution to be tested in an environment that...

Dr. Zhao has developed a new resolution standard for super-resolution microscopes.  Dr. Zhao’s invention allows for resolution to be tested in an environment that accurately reflects biological experimental conditions, unlike current resolution standards that are attached or etched to the surface of a cover glass.  Dr. Zhao’s invention also allows for determination of axial (z) resolution in addition to the lateral resolution (x,y). 

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