NNCI: Texas Nanofabrication Facility (TNF)

非技术描述：德克萨斯州纳米加工设施(TNF)将促进纳米科学和技术的研究和开发，应用于纳米电子/光子学、绿色能源和医疗保健。肿瘤坏死因子将在纳米设备原型、计量和纳米制造方面提供最先进的能力。例如，这将包括用于物联网的纳米传感器、用于绿色能源的高效太阳能电池和纳米药物输送系统的研究。肿瘤坏死因子是美国西南部地区唯一的NNCI节点，包括德克萨斯州以及邻近的俄克拉何马州、阿肯色州和路易斯安那州。通过NNCI工作人员以及为无法前往肿瘤坏死因子的外部用户提供远程服务的工作人员对用户进行培训，将能够在洁净室中进行纳米电子设备的原型制作工作。再加上器件制造，肿瘤坏死因子将在原子尺度上提供纳米级成像和计量方面的尖端工具。位于德克萨斯州中部一个充满活力的美国科技中心，肿瘤坏死因子将对纳米技术教育和创业产生巨大影响，特别是在代表不足的少数族裔中，如德克萨斯州相当大的少数族裔拉美裔，以及俄克拉荷马州的美洲原住民。此外，肿瘤坏死因子将进行社会科学研究，以探索纳米技术的伦理影响。我们将定期组织参观我们的洁净室、研究设施和纳米技术实验室，并为K-Grey公众举办关于纳米技术的广受欢迎的讲座，因为教育和外联对于创造有见识的公众和确保美国的经济和环境未来至关重要。技术说明：德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校(UT-Austin)的德克萨斯纳米制造设施(TNF)由微电子研究中心(MRC)、德克萨斯材料研究所(TMI)和纳米制造工厂(nm-Fab)组成，这些工厂总共容纳了超过130种主要工具，占地22,000平方英尺。实验室，有25名专业人员。MRC洁净室提供广泛的纳米制造能力，TMI提供最先进的计量工具，而nm-FAB开发和提供卷到卷制造领域的新型纳米制造工具，以及高速、大面积纳米压印。我们的愿景是继续推动和促进电子和能源领域的突破性纳米创新，这些领域在西南地区有重要的存在。该公司将与德克萨斯大学新成立的戴尔医疗医院在医疗保健电子和纳米医疗领域建立合作伙伴关系。具体地说，肿瘤坏死因子将专注于从科学到可伸缩性，将纳米设备原型与工业纳米设备制造相结合。通过将我们的工业用户连接到德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的LongHorn Startup本科生创业课程、奥斯汀技术孵化器和NSF I-Corps计划，TNF将培育一个创新生态系统。该基金会将建立纳米技术方面的教育活动，旨在吸引少数族裔，特别是在德克萨斯州占相当大的少数群体的拉美裔美国人，以及妇女。在REU倡议下，该设施将与奥斯汀社区学院合作，为两年制大学生提供全年纳米技术研究和培训经验。此外，肿瘤坏死因子将探索纳米技术的社会和伦理影响，并开始一项新的教育/外联工作，重点放在计算和NSF量子飞跃上。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-Technical Description:The Texas Nanofabrication Facility (TNF) will enable research and development in nanoscience and technology, with applications in nanoelectronics/photonics, green energy and healthcare. TNF will provide state-of-the-art capability in nanodevice prototyping, metrology, and nanomanufacturing. This will include, for example, research in nanosensors for the Internet-of-Things, high efficiency solar cells for green energy, and nano drug delivery systems. TNF is the only NNCI node in the southwest region of the US, encompassing Texas and the neighboring states of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. The efforts in prototyping of nanoelectronic devices in the cleanroom will be enabled by training of users by NNCI staff, as well as by staff providing remote services for external users who are unable to travel to TNF. Coupled with device fabrication, TNF will provide cutting-edge tools in nanoscale imaging and metrology at the atomic scale. Located in a vibrant US technology hub in central Texas, TNF will have tremendous impact in nanotechnology education and entrepreneurship, particularly among under-represented minorities such as Hispanics, a sizeable minority in Texas, and Native Americans in Oklahoma. Furthermore, TNF will perform social scientific research to explore the ethical implications of nanotechnology. We will regularly host tours of our cleanroom, research facilities and nanotech labs, and host popular lectures on nanotechnology for K-gray members of the public because education and outreach are critical to creating an informed public, and securing the economic and environmental future of the US.Technical Description:The Texas Nanofabrication Facility (TNF) at the University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin) is composed of the Microelectronics Research Center (MRC), the Texas Materials Institute (TMI), and nanomanufacturing fab (nm-Fab) which collectively house over 130 major tools in 22,000 sq.ft. of labs, staffed by 25 professionals. The MRC cleanroom provides extensive nanofabrication capabilities, TMI provides state-of-the-art metrology tools, while the nm-Fab developes and provides novel nanomanufacturing tools in the areas of roll-to-roll manufacturing, and high speed, large area nanoimprinting. Our vision is to continue to enable and foster breakthrough nano-innovation in the areas of electronics and energy, which have significant presence in the South West. TNF will partner with the new Dell Medical Hospital at UT in the area of healthcare electronics and nanomedicine. Specifically, TNF will focus on science-to-scalability, where one integrates nanodevice prototyping with nanodevice manufacturing for industry. TNF will foster an innovation ecosystem by connecting our industrial users to the Longhorn Startup undergraduate entrepreneurship course at UT-Austin, the Austin Technology Incubator, and NSF I-Corps program. TNF will establish educational activities in nanotechnology directed at engaging underrepresented minorities, particularly Hispanics, who are a sizable minority in Texas, and women. Under the REU initiative, the facility will partner with Austin Community College to provide year-round research and training experience in nanotechnology for two-year college students. Furthermore, TNF will explore the social and ethical implications of nanotechnology, and start a new effort on Education/Outreach focused on Computation and NSF Quantum Leap.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.