NNCI: Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility (CNF)

非技术描述：康奈尔纳米科技设施(CNF)作为国家纳米技术协调基础设施(NNCI)的一部分，将提供一个对所有美国研究人员开放的外部用户计划，提供迅速、负担得起的、可操作的24/7共享访问。CNF既是地区性的，也是全国性的，吸引了来自美国各地的用户，目标是实现变革性研究，并在一系列研究领域加速商业化。CNF使之成为可能的新研究和技术开发将改变工程和科学的许多领域，解决NSF的十大想法中的许多，包括融合研究、量子飞跃、数据革命、工作的未来、生活规则和NSF包括。CNF将通过与其他学科中心的伙伴关系，通过主题领域讲习班等活动，以及通过任命一名专注于生命科学和融合研究的副主任，培养非传统领域的研究人员社区。CNF还将提供面向广泛研究人员、本科生和K-12学生的教育和推广计划，更广泛的目标是为新一代不同的工程和科学学生提供实践研究教育，促进不同研究社区之间的跨学科互动，将纳米制造的好处扩展到非传统研究领域，并吸引更多年轻的技术和科学学生。CNF将继续帮助公司制造原型，开发和改进新工艺，与地方和国家技术孵化器合作，帮助向商业化过渡。技术描述：CNF将向国家的研究人员提供的独特能力包括：i)用于纳米制造的世界领先的电子束光刻和生产质量的光学光刻工具，ii)通过其强大和多样化的工具集在无污染材料处理方面的灵活性，这些工具集被用于最先进的原子层沉积和蚀刻的工具所增强，iii)经验丰富和知识渊博的员工，他们专门致力于用户支持，他们将培训甚至新手用户，他们将在从量子量子比特生产到人工智能应用到纳米制造的主题中分享知识，以及iv)在服务于大量用户方面的被证明的成功记录，在聚合研究方面经验丰富，同时向外部用户提供无与伦比的服务水平。这种能力的结合使研究愿景的实现和发现的商业化成为可能。有组织的教育和外展计划旨在使几个目标受众受益。CNF将通过最先进的工具、深入的微型课程和主题领域研讨会的实践培训，教授新的纳米技术研究人员在研究前沿熟练地操作。经验丰富的纳米技术研究人员将从与领先工具供应商合作的先进技术研讨会中受益。不同的本科生将参与独特的暑期研究体验，其中包括与HBCU摩根州立大学建立新合作伙伴关系的学生。通过高人气的《Nanooze》，NNCI的CNF制作的在线科学新闻杂志和与4-h的国家合作伙伴关系，将鼓励年轻的K-12学生及其家人从事技术和科学工作。该奖项反映了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 Cornell Nanoscale Science and Technology Facility (CNF) as part of the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) will offer an external user program open to all US researchers, delivering prompt, affordable, hands-on 24/7 shared access. CNF is both regional and national in scope, drawing users from throughout the US, with the goal of enabling transformative research and accelerating commercialization across a range of research fields. The new research and technology development that the CNF makes possible will transform numerous fields of engineering and science, addressing many of NSF’s 10 Big Ideas including Convergence Research, Quantum Leap, the Data Revolution, the Future of Work, the Rules of Life and NSF Includes. CNF will cultivate communities of researchers in less-traditional areas through partnership with other disciplinary centers, through activities such as subject-area workshops and through appointment of an Associate Director focused on life science and convergence research. The CNF will also provide education and outreach programs targeting a wide range of researchers, undergraduates, and K-12 students, with the broader goals of providing a hands-on research education to a new generation of diverse engineering and science students, fostering interdisciplinary interactions among diverse research communities, extending the benefits of nanofabrication to less-traditional areas of research, and interesting more young students in technology and science. The CNF will continue to help companies to fabricate prototypes and develop and refine new processes, working with local and state technology incubators to assist the transition to commercialization. Technical Description:The unique capabilities that the CNF will make available to the nation's researchers include: i) world-leading electron-beam lithography and production quality optical lithography tools for nanofabrication, ii) flexibility in contamination-free materials processing through its strong and diverse toolset enhanced by those for state-of-the-art atomic layer deposition and etch, iii) experienced and knowledgeable staff, solely dedicated to user support who will train even novice users in sophisticated, safe nanofabrication methods and share knowledge in topics ranging from quantum qubit production to application of artificial intelligence to nanofabrication, and iv) a proven record of success in serving a large user base, experienced in convergent research, while providing an unequaled level of service to external users. This combination of capabilities enables realization of research visions and commercialization of discoveries. Organized educational and outreach programs are designed to benefit several target audiences. CNF will teach new nanotechnology researchers to expertly operate at the research frontier through hands-on training on state-of-the-art tools, in-depth minicourses, and subject-area workshops. Experienced nanotechnology researchers will benefit from advanced technical workshops in partnership with leading tool vendors. Diverse undergraduate students will participate in unique summer research experiences, including students from a new partnership with Morgan State University, an HBCU. Young K-12 students and their families will be encouraged to become engaged in technology and science through the highly-popular Nanooze, NNCI’s CNF-produced online science news magazine and a national partnership with 4-H.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.