NIST Nanoscale Science, Technology Center Accepting Proposals

July 10, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

Established in March 2006, CNST focuses on overcoming major technical obstacles to cost-effective manufacturing of products made with components the size of atoms and molecules.

In particular, the center's mission is to support innovation in the field by developing measurement methods, standards and technology to help emerging nanotechnologies move from the laboratory to production.

"Researchers from industry, academia or government, whose own work is limited by their inability to make or measure nanoscale devices will benefit the most," said CNST director Robert Celotta.

"We've specifically staffed and equipped the CNST to help solve the problems that are slowing the movement of nanotechnology from discovery to market."

CNST consists of both an active interdisciplinary research program and a national user facility - a 16,000-square-foot nanofabrication site, half of which is devoted to class 100 clean room space.

The facility includes more than 30 state-of-the-art tools, such as photolithography, ion beam and etching equipment capable of creating, measuring and inspecting nanoscale devices with dimensions as small as 10 nanometers (nm).

Research areas include devices, architectures and interconnects for next-generation electronics, top-down and bottom-up fabrication and assembly for nanomanufacturing and nanofabrication, and conversion, storage and transport research with energy applications.

Celotta said CNST has a five-year, $7.5 million cooperative agreement in place with the University of Maryland NanoCenter.

The agreement calls for up to 12 University of Maryland scientists and engineers to participate with CNST researchers on collaborative projects at any one time, and it provides support for training programs, nanotechnology workshops, professional development and outreach efforts to the broader nanotechnology research community.

Researchers interested in working at the facility can now submit proposals for review in any nanotechnology research area. The center will accept both proprietary and non-proprietary research proposals.

Non-proprietary research may qualify for a partial waiver of use fees if the project falls within CNST's mission. Non-proprietary proposals are expected to lead to publication of research results in the open scientific literature.

Detailed information about the proposal process, available facilities, current CNST research programs and contact information for fee schedules is available at http://physics.nist.gov/Divisions/Div841/Gp3/cnst_home.html.

Source: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).