CAREER: InN nanowire based multifunctional nanocantilever sensors

职业生涯：基于InN纳米线的多功能纳米悬臂传感器这项职业研究的目标是设计、制造和利用基于InN纳米线(NW)的多功能V型纳米悬臂(VNC)传感器，用于检测环境条件下的分析物分子，并研究神经元中的电信号传播。实现这一目标的方法包括：(I)设计、生长和表征V型Inn NWS，(Ii)利用V形NWS制造VNC传感器阵列，(Iii)研究VNC的结构和机电性质，(Iv)使用VNC传感器进行多模式分子检测，以及(V)研究电信号在神经元中的传播。该项目的成功将导致在国防、国土安全、环境监测、医疗诊断、药物发现、扫描探针显微镜和神经医学等不同领域产生重大影响的技术的开发。智力优势：预计项目活动将导致开发一种可行且廉价的NEMS传感器制造方法，目前该方法严重依赖于昂贵的电子束或离子束光刻。基于偏转感应门控的新型传感方法为解决基于MEMS的集成电路的可扩展性和大规模集成的关键问题提供了一种创新的解决方案。本项目中采用的多峰检测技术可以显著提高分析物检测方案的可靠性。由于体积小、功耗低、灵敏度高，VNC传感器可以很容易地与能量采集和射频识别设备等新兴技术相集成，从而产生能够长时间远程工作的小型化下一代系统和组件。使用一组VNC探针测量神经元中的电信号的方法可以通过开辟非传统的方法来快速和纳米级地表征在体内的神经元信号传播，从而导致神经学和神经科学的显著进步。更广泛的影响：在教育和外联活动中，PI计划在整个项目期间每年至少有一名本科生和一名高中生参与这一项目。另外，他还将通过参加大学的SCAMP项目招募一名少数族裔高中或本科生参与该项目。项目活动需要一个科学部门和三个工程部门之间的协作和跨学科研究，这将大大拓宽所有参与的学生的科学和技术知识。研究成果和活动将通过南卡罗来纳州公民S纳米技术学院项目的讲座、研究网站的开发和研究生课程的开发向更广泛的受众传播。

CAREER: InN nanowire based multifunctional nanocantilever sensorsThe goal of this CAREER research is to design, fabricate, and utilize InN nanowire (NW) based multifunctional V-shaped nanocantilever (VNC) sensors for detection of analyte molecules in ambient conditions, and investigation of electrical signal propagation in neurons. The approach to attain this goal involves: (i) Design, growth, and characterization of V-shaped InN NWs, (ii) Fabrication of VNC sensor arrays utilizing the V-shaped NWs, (iii) Investigation of structural and electromechanical properties of the VNCs, (iv) Multimodal molecular detection using the VNC sensors, and (v) Investigation of electrical signal propagation in neurons. Success of this project will lead to the development of technologies that can have overarching impacts in the diverse fields of defense, homeland security, environmental monitoring, medical diagnosis, drug discovery, scanning probe microscopy, and neuro-medicine. Intellectual merit: The project activities are anticipated to lead to the development of a viable and inexpensive fabrication approach for NEMS sensors that at present relies heavily on expensive electron-beam or ion-beam lithography. The novel transduction method based on deflection induced gating offers an innovative solution that addresses the critical issues of scalability and large scale integration in MEMS based integrated circuits. The multimodal detection technique to be utilized in this project can significantly enhance the reliability of analyte detection scheme. With their small size, low power consumption, and high sensitivity, the VNC sensors can be easily integrated with emerging technologies such as energy harvesting and radio frequency identification devices giving rise to miniaturized next generation systems and components capable of working remotely over very long durations. The approach for the measurement of electrical signals in neurons using an array of VNC probes can lead to significant advancement of neurology and neuro-science, by opening up non-traditional means for rapid and nanoscale characterization of neuronal signal propagation in-vivo. Broader Impacts: In the educational and outreach activities, the PI plans to involve at least one undergraduate and one high school student to work on this project every year throughout its duration. Separately, he will also recruit one minority high school or undergraduate student to work on the project by participating in the SCAMP program of the university. The project activities entail collaborative and interdisciplinary research between one science and three engineering departments, which will significantly broaden the scientific and technical knowledge of all the students involved. The research results and activities will be disseminated to a broader audience through lectures in the South Carolina Citizen?s School of Nanotechnology program, development of a research website, and development of a graduate course.