US Patent 7719678 - Non-uniform periodic diameter nanowire

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7719678.html

Most often it is desirable to fabricate nanowires having a uniform diameter. However, this patent from researchers at HP teaches that non-uniform diameter nanowires can actually assist in forming optical-to-electrical conversion devices. Claim 1 reads:

1. A nanowire structure, comprising:

a substrate;

at least one nanowire attached to the substrate, the at least one nanowire having a circumferential surface and a diameter that varies generally periodically along a length of the at least one nanowire; and

a coating covering at least part of the circumferential surface of the at least one nanowire.