Acquisition of a Nanoindentor System for Micro/Nanosystems Research and Education Efforts

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This proposal to acquire a nanoindentor system from MTS corporation to support exciting and diverseresearch and training at the intersection of nano and microsystems technology. In itsbase configuration, the load resolution is 50 nN and the displacement resolution is 0.01 nm. These can besignificantly lowered to 1 nN and 0.0002 nm, respectively with an additional indentation head. Thenanoindentor is typically used to indent (push the tip into) a material while simultaneously measuring theload and displacement. The concept is common to many techniques in materials characterization, exceptthat the mode of deformation is extremely complicated. However, with suitable analysis, typically via thefinite element method, the measured load vs. displacement curve can be inverted to infer a host ofimportant material properties. Because the measurement area is so small (on the order of 100s of nms),the instrument is ideally suited to obtain quantitative information regarding mechanical properties as afunction of position in complex material systems and structures.The nanoindentor will be the heart of a unique micro/nanomechanical characterization facility at theUniversity of Colorado (CU). It will greatly impact numerous diverse research efforts that are currentlysupported including applications in the characterization of advanced materials, experimental mechanics ofmicromechanical structures and devices, studies of biological materials/systems ranging from protein/cellstructure up to full arteries, and as a nanomanufacturing tool for the development of nanoscale circuitsusing biomolecular templates. Initially the nanoindentor will be used by the groups of 12 faculty members, spanning sixDepartments and three Colleges at CU. It will be used to support research projects and instructionalactivities at the graduate and undergraduate levels. A number of activities are planned to increase ouruser base and the overall level of diverse expertise with the instrument. These include: i) the developmentof a Micro/nanosystems Forum in which two types speakers will be solicited: those with expertise innanoindentation and related fields, and those with interesting research activities that may be able to makeuse of the nanoindentor; ii) the development of a website devoted to activities using the nanoindentor; iii)dissemination of capabilities and results, along with the solicitation of potential collaborative users atsemiannual meetings of our NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (CAMPmode andMAST); iv) a user-fee structure that requires users to disseminate their results to our user community; andv) a plan to recruit new users, particularly underrepresented groups and women pursuing advanceddegrees.