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Research Opportunities at the Cornell Nanoscale Science and Technology Facility, a member of the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015, 2:40 pm, Room 114

The Cornell Nanoscale Science and Technology Facility (CNF) is one of a network of open-access shared facilities partially subsidized by the US National Science Foundation to provide researchers with rapid, affordable, shared access to advanced nanofabrication tools and associated expertise. Projects can be accomplished either hands-on or remotely. Hundreds of engineers and scientists nationwide, from academia, industry, and government, utilize CNF to make structures and systems from the nanometer to the centimeter scale. CNF offers unique capabilities in world-leading electron-beam lithography, advanced stepper photolithography, soft lithography, and rapid prototype development, along with the ability to deposit, grow, and etch a very wide variety of materials. CNF’s technical staff are dedicated full-time to user support, providing one-on-one help with process development, training, and troubleshooting. They can offer expertise for a wide range of fabrication projects, including not just electronics but also nanophotonics, magnetics, MEMS, thermal and energy systems, electrochemical devices, fluidics, and the life sciences. More than 30% of CNF’s users come from biology/bioengineering fields. All users are welcome; no experience in nanofabrication is necessary and a central part of CNF’s mission is to assist users from “non-traditional” fields seeking nanofabrication techniques for the first time. CNF’s user program is designed to provide the most rapid possible access (typically 2 weeks from first contact) with the lowest possible barriers to entry (users retain full control of their IP, with no entanglement by CNF or Cornell University). More than 85% of CNF’s external academic users come from institutions with their own local cleanroom facilities, but still they utilize CNF for advanced capabilities, staff expertise, or tool reliability not available locally.

This talk will explore the tools, services and advice available to CNF users, and show examples of ongoing work. We will also provide the latest details on the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) program, a new NSF-sponsored network of shared facilities similar to CNF that is in the process of being organized at abstract submission.

We invite you to explore the CNF and NNCI and discuss ways we can help bring your research visions to fruition. CNF’s User Program Managers will at no cost provide detailed processing advice and cost estimates for potential new projects. The CNF technical staff also meets every Wednesday afternoon for conference calls where we welcome questions about any topic related to nanofabrication. Visit cnf.cornell.edu to contact us and get started.