Invited Paper NM+TF-TuA10
Nanometrology: A Key Element for Successful Nanomanufacturing

Tuesday, October 16, 2007, 4:40 pm, Room 615

Nanomanufacturing is the essential bridge between the discoveries of nanoscience and real world nanotech products - it is the vehicle by which this Nation will realize the promise of major technological innovation across a spectrum of products that will affect virtually every industrial sector. For nanotech products to achieve the broad impacts envisioned, they must be manufactured in market-appropriate quantities using reliable, repeatable, and commercially viable manufacturing processes. In addition, they must be manufactured so that environmental and human health concerns are met, worker safety issues are appropriately assessed and handled, and liability issues are addressed. Critical to this realization of robust nanomanufacturing is the development of the necessary instrumentation, metrology, and standards. This will allow the physical dimensions, properties, functionality, and purity of the materials, processes, tools, systems, products, and emissions that will constitute nanomanufacturing to be measured and characterized. This will in turn enable production to be scaleable, controllable, predictable, and repeatable to meet market needs. If a product cannot be measured it cannot be manufactured. This presentation will discuss some of the challenges confronting the effective development of the nanometrology needed for the success of nanomanufacturing.