Nanoengineering of basic structures, such as nanoscale gaps, pores, channels, membranes, to assemble nanomaterials in a mass producible way.

Nanoengineering will have a unique capability to fabricate nanoscale structures in the simplest, but most precise way using micro/nano-machining. Fabrication of nanostructures in a mass producible way will result in simple one-dimensional or two-dimensional structures for a subsequent nano/bio material assembly.

Wafer scale assembly of nano/bio materials with an extremely high packing density (100 molecules/mm); Development of tools/stages to enable imaging in scanning and transmission electron microscopes (SEM and TEM) and atomic force microscopes (AFM).

Wafer scale assembly of nano/bio material using an electric field will provide an ideal molecular sensing platform to assemble nanowires and biomolecules in a very high density and aligned format. This is expected to shed light on the mass-assembly of molecules and its practical applications – e.g., wafer scale assembly of densely aligned molecules will provide higher reliability and better sensitivity for biological/chemical sensors. In addition, the development of an imaging methodology will expedite the progress of nano/bio technology.

Development of a NEMS device for studying biological/chemical sensing; Development of nanoscale actuators for drug delivery.

New concepts of NEMS devices will be developed and tested for biological/chemical sensors. The devices will be operated based on innovative sensing principles, the vibration of SWCNTs in water, the deflection of a few nanometer-thick membrane, and the deflection of a MWCNT in aqueous environment. These ideas will open up a new generation of molecular sensors.