Patent ID: 7294526

Claim:
A method of making an optical sensor comprising (a) a silicon nanowire of finite length having an electrical contact pad at each end thereof and (b) a plurality of self-assembled photo-polarizable molecules on a surface of said silicon nanowire, said molecules serving to modulate electrical conductivity of said silicon nanowire by either a reversible change in dipole moment of said photo-polarizable molecules or by a reversible molecule-assisted electron/energy transfer from said photo-polarizable molecules onto said silicon nanowire, said method comprising: (a) in either order, forming said silicon nanowire and said two electrical contact pads contacting said ends of said silicon nanowire; (b) introducing said plurality of photo-polarizable molecules to said surface of said silicon nanowire and allowing said plurality of photo-polarizable molecules to self-assemble on said surface; (c) exposing the coated silicon nanowire to at least one of optical radiation and heat; and either (d1) reversibly changing said dipole moment of said photo-polarizable molecules to modulate said electrical conductivity of said silicon nanowire; or (d2) reversibly transferring electrons between said photo-polarizable molecules and said silicon nanowire, such that said photo-polarizable molecules undergo a reversible response to at least one of said optical radiation and heat.