Press Release 05-144
Researchers Carve with Electricity at the Nanometer Scale

Process may yield miniscule molecular detection devices, semiconducting connectors and molecular sieves

The holes that spell "NSF" are only 10 nanometers in diameter. Credit and Larger Version

August 17, 2005

By applying electric current through a thin film of oil molecules, engineers have developed a new method to precisely carve arrays of tiny holes only 10 nanometers wide into sheets of gold. The new system, called Electric Pen Lithography (EPL), uses a scanning-tunneling microscope, fitted with a tip sharpened to the size of a single atom, to deliver the charge through the dielectric oil to the target surface.

With EPL, the researchers can both see and manipulate their target at the same time, all without the constraints of the vacuum chamber required by similar processes. With such tight control, the researchers hope the relatively inexpensive procedure will have applications for crafting single DNA detection devices such as nanopores, nanoscale interconnects in biological and semiconducting devices, molecular sieves for protein sorting and nanojets for fuel or drug delivery.

Mechanical engineer Ajay Malshe of the University of Arkansas, his students Kumar Virwani and Devesh Deshpande, and Kamalakar Rajurkar of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln will present the new innovation at the International Institution for Production Engineering Research General Assembly in Antalya, Turkey, Aug. 21-27.

For additional information, see the University of Arkansas release at:
Oil Worth Its Weight in Gold in Directed Nanomachining
http://dailyheadlines.uark.edu/4822.htm

This research was supported by NSF Grant #0423698
Collaborative Research: Development Of Nano-Electrical Discharge Machining (NANO-EDM) For Advanced Manufacturing
http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=0423698

-NSF-

Media Contacts
Joshua A. Chamot, NSF (703) 292-7730 jchamot@nsf.gov
Melissa Blouin, University of Arkansas (479) 575-3033 blouin@uark.edu

Program Contacts
Kevin W. Lyons, NSF (703) 292-5365 klyons@nsf.gov

Principal Investigators
Ajay P. Malshe, University of Arkansas (479) 575-6561 apm2@engr.uark.edu
Kamlakar P. Rajurkar, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (402) 472-1385 krajurka@unlnotes.unl.edu

Related Websites
Ajay Malshe homepage: http://mrl.engr.uark.edu/

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2012, its budget was $7.0 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 50,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes about 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards about $593 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

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