NNCI: Mid-Atlantic Nanotechnology Hub (MANTH) for Research, Education, & Innovation

纳米技术，即对微小科学的开发，具有改变生活的潜力--几个例子包括速度更快的电子产品、更小的生物医学植入物、更好的电池、具有高强度或自我清洁能力的材料，以及可以感知物理世界的小型机器。通常，纳米技术的发展需要获得大型制造和表征基础设施以及相关的科学专门知识，以使用户能够建造和测量这种纳米材料和纳米设备。该项目在宾夕法尼亚大学建立了一个大西洋中部纳米技术研究、教育和创新中心(MANTH)，作为NNCI的一个地点。该网站将允许美国第五大经济区大西洋中部地区的用户访问辛格纳米技术中心，在那里他们可以执行纳米制造和测量任务，并与纳米技术专家互动。辛格中心位于费城市中心的宾夕法尼亚大学，100多家地区性学术机构和行业丰富的大西洋中部地区非常方便。辛格中心还将举办教育项目，向高中生、大学本科生和费城地区社区介绍纳米技术。这些有潜力的未来纳米技术专家将有机会参加现场举行的面向本科生的纳米日和暑期研究体验计划；查看纳米技术对社区推广计划的贡献，如费城材料日和费城科学节；并参与与费城社区学院合作开展的针对纳米技术技术人员的劳动力培训活动。MANTH将使从事纳米科学、工程和技术所有学科活动的学术、政府和行业研究人员能够获得尖端的研究和开发设施和专业知识。其能力的例子包括：电子束、照片、压印和软光刻；材料沉积和蚀刻；多尺度3D打印；激光微加工；电子和扫描探针显微镜；基于针尖的纳米制造；以及离子束和电子束铣削。这个NNCI网站将通过帮助用户满足他们的纳米科学和应用需求来促进智力合作；为学术和行业用户之间的智力交流提供一个论坛；以及开发新的制造工艺，不仅有助于用户的最终应用，而且还促进纳米制造和纳米制造领域的发展。用户还将受益于与宾夕法尼亚大学教职员工的互动，他们在纳米制造、柔性/可伸展纳米器件、MEMS、微流体、光子学和电子学、纳米结构软材料系统的制造和开发、多种低维材料、超硅材料系统的表征和集成以及从医疗设备到使人能够理解生物系统的纳米生物界面调查方面拥有丰富的专业知识。除了为现有的研究人员服务外，MANTH还将通过现场研究审查、夏季研究经验和接触当地费城高中来吸引潜在的未来纳米技术专家。通过作为纳米技术在该地区增长的催化剂，将为各级纳米技术人员创造大量机会，从技术人员到博士研究人员，从技术人员到与费城社区学院建立的劳动力发展伙伴关系。

Nanotechnology, the exploitation of the science of the very small, has the potential to revolutionize lives - a few examples include faster electronics, smaller biomedical implants, better batteries, materials with high strength or the ability to self-clean, and small machines that can sense the physical world. Often, nanotechnology development requires access to a large fabrication and characterization infrastructure and the related scientific expertise to allow users to build and measure such nanomaterials and nanodevices. This project establishes a Mid-Atlantic Nanotechnology Hub (MANTH) for Research, Education, and Innovation at the University of Pennsylvania as a NNCI site. This site will allow users in the mid-Atlantic region, the nation's fifth largest economic area, to access the Singh Center for Nanotechnology, where they can perform nanofabrication and measurement tasks, and interact with nanotechnology experts. The Singh Center is located at the University of Pennsylvania in downtown Philadelphia, and is highly accessible to over 100 regional academic institutions and the industry-rich mid-Atlantic region. The Singh Center will also host education programs to introduce high school students, college undergraduates, and the Philadelphia area community to nanotechnology. These potential future nanotechnologists will have the opportunity to participate in Nano Day and Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates programs held on-site; view nanotechnology contributions to community outreach programs such as Philly Materials Day and the Philadelphia Science Festival; and participate in workforce training activities for nanotechnology technicians carried out in partnership with the Community College of Philadelphia. MANTH will enable access to leading-edge research and development facilities and expertise for academic, government, and industry researchers conducting activities within all disciplines of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. Examples of its capabilities include: electron-beam, photo-, imprint- and soft-lithographies; material deposition and etching; multiscale 3D printing; laser micromachining; electron and scanning probe microscopy; tip-based nanofabrication; and ion and electron beam milling. This NNCI site will foster intellectual collaboration by assisting users in addressing their nanoscience and application needs; providing a forum for intellectual exchange between academic and industry users; and developing new fabrication processes that not only contribute to the users end application but also further the fields of nanofabrication and nanomanufacturing. Users will also benefit from interaction with Penn faculty and staff, possessing significant expertise in nanofabrication; flexible/stretchable nanodevices; MEMS; microfluidics, photonics, and electronics; fabrication and exploitation of nanostructured soft materials systems; multiple low-dimensional materials; characterization and integration of beyond-silicon material systems; and investigations at the nano-bio interface, from medical devices to enabling the understanding of biological systems. In addition to serving existing researchers, MANTH will engage potential future nanotechnologists through on-site research reviews, summer research experiences, and outreach to local Philadelphia high schools. By acting as a catalyst for growth of nanotechnology in this region, significant opportunities for nanotechnologists at all levels will be created, from technicians through a workforce development partnership with the Community College of Philadelphia to Ph.D. researchers.