Large Area Scanning-Probe Nanofabrication Platform

纵观整个历史，我们操纵物质的能力一直是人类进步的基石之一，从通过化学反应合成药物分子，到建造最大的摩天大楼。目前，人们对纳米技术非常感兴趣，纳米技术是一门构建和研究纳米尺度(十亿分之一米)物体的科学。这一领域的研究表明，当材料缩小到这个尺寸，或者在这个长度上改变它们的形状时，可能会产生与它们以块状形式存在时完全不同的全新性质。通过找到利用这些不同寻常的特性的方法，可以开发用于改进电子设备、医疗工具甚至建筑材料的新技术。然而，这一领域的进一步进展需要我们扩展能力，在大范围内建造这种规模的物体，同时仍然保持对过程的纳米级控制。这种能力将使大规模纳米物体网络的生产成为可能，这将允许对这些物体相互之间的行为进行新的研究，而不是作为单独的物体本身。大面积的建筑还将展示如何一次生产许多物体的可能性，如果它们需要在工业规模上制造，这将是重要的。尽管使用从电子行业改编的方法，例如用于制造计算机微芯片的工艺，大面积高分辨率图案是可能的，但它们有许多缺点。它们依赖于苛刻的方法，例如高温和腐蚀性化学物质，这些方法限制了可以使用的材料类型。因此，通常很难生产出由不同材料组成的复杂设计的设备。特别是，这些方法与来自生物学的微妙分子，如DNA和蛋白质不兼容。在这项建议中，我们希望建立一种使用“扫描探针”的仪器。每个探头都有一个非常锋利、纳米宽的尖端，可以涂覆各种化合物。该仪器还能够以纳米级的精度控制探头的移动。因此，通过在表面上移动探头尖端，通过将涂覆在探头上的化合物沉积到该表面上，就有可能“写入”纳米级图案。探头的移动可以由用户控制，因此用户可以写出复杂的图案，如电路甚至图片。对于这种特殊的仪器，与其他较旧的设计相比，主要优势在于它能够同时使用数千甚至数百万个探头。因此，在这样做的过程中，有可能在具有纳米控制的大面积表面上写出含有多种化合物的图案。这将引发对许多科学领域的新研究，从用于计算的高度微型化电子设备的生产到疾病诊断；用于储能的高效电池；以及可以控制组织和细胞行为的外科植入物。

Thoroughout history, our ability to manipulate matter has always been one of the cornerstones of human progress, from the synthesis of drug molecules by chemical reactions, to the building of the largest skyscrapers. Currently, there is great interest in nanotechnology, the science of constructing and studying objects at nanometre scales (a billionth of a metre). Research in this area has shown that when materials are reduced down to this size scale, or have alterations to their shape at this length, entirely new properties can arise that are radically different from when they exist in a bulk form. By finding ways of harnessing these unusual properties, new technologies can be developed for improved electronic devices, medical tools and even construction materials.Further progress in this area, however, requires the extension of our ability to construct objects at this scale over large areas while still maintaining nanometre scale control of the process. Such a capability would enable the production of large networks of nano-sized objects, which would allow new research into how these objects behave in relation to each other, rather than as individual objects on their own. The large area construction would also show how it would be possible to produce many objects at once, which will be important if they need to be made on an industrial scale.Although large-area high-resolution patterning is possible using methods adapted from the electronics industry such as the processes that are used to make computer microchips, they have a number of disadvantages. They rely on harsh methods, for example high temperatures and corrosive chemicals, that limit the types of materials that can be used. As a result, it is often difficult to produce devices with complex designs made up of different materials. In particular, these methods are not compatible with delicate molecules from biology, such as DNA and proteins.In this proposal, we wish to set up a type of instrument that uses "scanning probes". Each of these probes consists of a very sharp, nanometre-wide, tip that can be coated with a variety of chemical compounds. The instrument is also able to control the movement of this probe with nanometre precision. Thus, by moving this probe tip across a surface, it is possible to "write" nano-scale patterns by depositing the compound coated on the probe on to that surface. The movement of the probe can be controlled by the user, so it is possible for the user to write complex patterns such as circuits and even pictures. For this particular instrument, the major advantage over other older designs is that it is able to use many probes, thousands or even millions, simultaneously. In doing so, it is therefore possible to write patterns with a wide range of chemical compounds, over large areas of surface with nanometre control. This would spark new research into many areas of science, from the production of highly miniaturised electronic devices for computing to disease diagnosis; efficient batteries for power storage; and surgical implants that can control the behaviour of tissues and cells.