Basic Technology Nanorobotics : Transfer to applications, new science and industry

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The unique properties of nanoscale materials cannot by determined by extrapolating the properties of bulk materials. In many areas of nanoscience, the developments of new materials, structures and devices are restricted by not knowing how the materials behave in real-time due to a lack of suitable instrumentation and test methods. The Basic Technology Nanorobotics programme has successfully developed new instrumentation to examine the 3D structural, mechanical, electrical and surface properties of nanostructures in real-time inside electron microscopes. The Basic Technology translation grant will underpin the translation of this technology into the industrial sphere. Through applying the techniques, unique world-leading capability will be available to UK industry and academia to determine their nanoobjects' functionality, reliability, failure modes and lifetime, and thus enable more effective engineering of their nanostructured materials and devices. Key interdisciplinary applications to be targeted by the translation of the technology to industry will include determining the real-time interaction of nanoparticles, dynamical nanotribology of nanostructured surfaces and coatings, failure of nanostructures including MEMS/NEMS components, nanoscale functionality and failure of biomedical materials and novel nanowelding methods. The translation grant will be used both to address existing industrial problems (demonstrating the technology capability), and also to carry out short-term high-risk exploratory investigations at the cutting edge of nanotechnology research to underpin future research programmes. The translation grant will ensure that the UKs industrial base will gain maximum advantage of the technological developments arising out of the Basic Technology grant. Furthermore it will ensure the training of the next generation of UK-based researchers in this field, and enhance links with UK and global companies and researchers to ensure a UK lead in this area.