MRI: Acquisition of a versatile pico-second laser and electroplating system for advanced device manufacturing and materials processing

该主要研究仪器奖支持北卡罗来纳州州立大学（NC State）收购1级皮秒激光器和互补反向脉冲电镀系统。这些工具将大大提高大学的制造能力，同时也为附近大学、学院、高中和工业界的研究人员提供服务。这些设备将立即用于由PI，3个联合PI和16名电子，材料工程和生物领域的高级人员领导的广泛研究活动。此外，这些仪器将位于纳米纤维设施（NNF），这是一个共享设施，也是研究三角纳米技术网络（RTNN）的一部分，这将确保轻松访问来自北卡罗来纳州，当地大学和行业的各种用户。这将通过实现材料加工，合成非常规纳米/微米材料和制造设备的新战略来产生技术影响，同时刺激新的大学间和大学内研究，并加强NC State与行业的关系。所提出的仪器是唯一适合于培训下一代研究人员具有较低的学习曲线，因为该工具接受标准的计算机辅助设计文件，并包括一个直观的用户界面。这创造了机会，通过现有的推广计划，参与和教育本科生，毕业生和高中生，以及附近高中和社区大学的教师。因此，这些工具将有助于各种高级研究和培训目的。皮秒激光将允许切割/图案化小至20微米的特征，并可以处理各种材料（软，硬，有机，无机，金属），用于从能源到无机物，电子，生物医学系统和软材料的应用。该工具在处理不兼容和/或当使用常规工具（例如标准光刻、印刷或二氧化碳激光器）图案化时导致差分辨率的材料时特别有用。这种激光器在异质制造中特别有用，这对于实现下一代器件至关重要，而这些器件通过传统技术是不容易实现的。PI/co-PI和高级人员打算处理多种材料，如聚合物、碳纳米材料、金属、无机物、玻璃、硅、纸和纺织品，用于1）组织集成传感器; 2）有机、半导体和自折叠电子产品; 3）机器人和执行器; 4）光电材料;和5）微流体。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

This Major Research Instrumentation award supports the acquisition of a class 1, pico-second laser and a complementary reverse-pulse electroplating system for North Carolina State University (NC State). These tools will greatly enhance the fabrication capabilities of the university which also serves researchers from nearby universities, colleges, high schools, and industry. The equipment will find immediate use in a wide range of research activities led by the PI, 3 co-PIs, and 16 senior personnel in the areas of electronics, materials engineering, and biology. Moreover, the instruments will be located in the Nanofabrication Facility (NNF), a shared facility and part of the Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network (RTNN), which will ensure easy access to a rich variety of users from NC State, local universities and industry. This will create technological impact by enabling new strategies for processing materials, synthesizing unconventional nano/micro materials, and fabricating devices while stimulating new inter and intra-university research and strengthen NC State’s relationships with industry. The proposed instruments are uniquely suited for training next generation researchers with a low learning curve since the tool accepts standard computer aided design files and includes an intuitive user interface. This creates the opportunity to involve and educate undergraduates, graduates, and high school students, as well as teachers from nearby high schools and community colleges through existing outreach programs. The tools will therefore be useful for various advanced research and training purposes. The pico-second laser will allow cutting/patterning of features as small as 20 microns and can process a wide range of materials (soft, hard, organic, inorganic, metallic) for applications ranging from energy to inorganics, electronics, biomedical systems, and soft materials. The tool is especially useful in processing materials that are either incompatible and/or result in poor resolution when patterned using conventional tools such as standard lithography, printing, or carbon dioxide lasers. The laser is particularly useful in heterogenous fabrication crucial for realizing next-generation devices that are not easily achievable through conventional techniques. The PI/co-PIs and senior personnel intend to process numerous materials such as polymers, carbon nanomaterials, metals, inorganics, glass, silicon, paper, and textiles for 1) tissue-integrated sensors; 2) organic, semiconducting, and self-folding electronics; 3) robotics and actuators; 4) opto-electronic materials; and 5) microfluidics.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.