Patent ID: 7090757
Filing Date: 2006-08-15
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for separating molecules, said apparatus comprising: a semiconductor material layer; a counter electrode that is a transparent insulating material having at least one surface coated by a film of a conductive material; an electrically conductive layer located between and in contact with the semiconductor and in contact with the counter electrode, the electrically conductive layer further including at least two different molecules that are separable by the apparatus; a voltage source electrically coupled to the semiconductor and the counter electrode wherein the voltage source applies a voltage potential across the electrically conductive layer to thereby generate a depletion region in the semiconductor; and at least one photon energy source incident upon the semiconductor having the depletion region wherein the photon energy source generates photon energy sufficient to form electron hole pairs that are separated by the voltage potential depletion region thereby generating a photopotential at the surface of the semiconductor material causing charged molecules in the electrically conductive layer in contact with the semiconductor material to move in response to the localized photovoltage, wherein at least one of the photon energy source and the semiconductor is movable relative to the other.