NANOSCALE CHEMICAL-ELECTRICAL-MECHANICAL- MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS NSF NSEC Grant 0328162

The vision of the nano-Chemical-Electrical-Mechanical Manufacturing Systems ( nano-CEMMS) center is to make the most basic elements of manufacturing, transcription of matter and the transduction of its state, a practical reality at the nanoscale. Our goals are to be able to build a manufacturing tool that can, in reasonable time scales, build 3-D structures from the nano- to micro- to macro- length scales, simultaneously handle liquids and solids, and utilize multiple types of raw materials. Furthermore, we also plan on developing the technologies that enable the industrial production and use of this tool. The legacy of this center will be to create the first nanoscale assembly line for manufacturing. The missions of the nano-CEMMS NSEC are to: (a) Explore and develop new methodologies and tools that exploit chemical, mechanical and electronic phenomena and processes for 3-D manufacturing at the nanoscale; (b) Create viable technologies that integrate nanoscale manufacturing methodologies into scalable and operational systems for manufacturing devices and structures at larger length scales; and (c) Develop diverse human resources to enhance the scientific research, education, and industrial nanotechnology workforce for our nation. RESEARCH: We propose to bring together researchers, from the three partner institutions, with expertise in manufacturing, micro- to nanofabrication, micro- to nanofluidics, nanoelectronics, chemistry, computations, systems, operational planning and control, and combinatorial optimization to form teams to advance nanomanufacturing. To achieve the vision of nano-CEMMS, a host of fundamental questions must be addressed and investigated in order to able to build and use the nanomanufacturing tool. To address these questions, the Center'