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Nanotechnology

Projects/Programs

Displaying 1 - 25 of 108

Advanced Materials Metrology

Ongoing
Electromagnetic devices cannot operate without the interaction of electromagnetic waves with materials, and the characterization of the interface between fields and materials will be a critical task for any device or metrology development from nanoscale to larger scales. Areas of impact over the
Figure 1

Advanced Microscopy for Trace and Bulk Particle Characterization

Ongoing
The goal of this project is to help develop innovative metrologies and measurement protocols for micro/nano-scale analysis of particles. In this project, state-of-the-art optical and electron-based microscopy are used to conduct research for quantitative and qualitative analysis of chemical
qim image

Advanced Microwave Photonics

Ongoing
NIST is home to a broad interdisciplinary program in quantum information science. NIST is exploring multiple implementations of qubits and strategies for taking advantage of quantum effects to compute, simulate, and improve fundamental measurement strategies. Josephson junctions are at the heart of
Schematic of a PEEM measurement

Advancing PEEM-based Metrology

Ongoing
With the rise of emergent material systems, nanoscale devices and components, there is a need to assess their electronic properties at similar length scales. Bulk-sensitive measurements provide characteristic information averaged over the sample or device, and these properties may not be uniform
Micrographs of kinetic inductance-based parametric amplifier

Amplifiers

Ongoing
We have developed parametric amplifiers based on two different technologies: Josephson Junctions and superconductors with high kinetic inductance, a representation of the kinetic energy of superconducting Cooper-pair charge carriers. Junction-based parametric amplifiers (JPAs) are well suited for

Analysis of Copper Incorporation Into Zinc Oxide Nanowires

The lasing capabilities and piezoelectric properties of single ZnO nanowires offer promise for future technologies. However, the photoluminescence of ZnO nanowires differs depending upon the synthesis method and the defects present in the sample. This project was undertaken to characterize zinc
nanoparticle model

Assessing the Environmental, Health and Safety Impact of Nanoparticles

Completed
Impact Nanomaterials have already been incorporated into a large range of commercial products including pharmaceuticals, sunscreens, automobile additives, personal care products, detergents and plastics. Although nanotechnology is changing the way we live, the accidental release of nanomaterials
STM patterning at 4K.

Atom-based Silicon Quantum Electronics

Ongoing
This project is developing atomically precise, atom-based electronic devices for use in quantum information processing and analog quantum simulation. We are developing the fabrication, measurement, and modeling methods needed to realize single atom, spin-based qubits in silicon as an integrated
atomic-force microscopy illustration

Atomic-force microscopy

Ongoing
Atomic-force microscopy enables subnanometer imaging resolution, to extract geometric parameters of reference structures that advance measurement science, and to quantify the accuracy of device design and fabrication for stakeholders. We are advancing two primary atomic-force microscopy systems
biomolecule

Biomolecular assembly

Ongoing
The integration of new materials or components into the design and production of diverse nanotechnologies, ranging from electronic devices to therapeutic particles, requires a quantitative understanding of process–structure–property relationships, as well as interactions with other entities in the

Characterization of 3D Photovoltaics

Completed
First Generation (thick layers of crystalline silicon) and Second Generation (thin films of CdTe, CIGS, and related materials) PV devices are both well established in the marketplace, with well defined techniques for fabrication and characterization. Third Generation PV encompasses a wide diversity
Schematic of interface engineering 2D materials.

Chemical Functionalization and Manipulation of Nano Materials

Ongoing
This project focuses on manipulating nanomaterials, including weakly bonded van der Waals systems, and probing emergent phenomena in these nanoengineered systems to impact technologies such as nanoelectronics, optoelectronics, quantum sensing, and quantum computing. Developing processes to

Combinatorial Approaches to Thin Film Nanomaterials

Completed
The behavior and performance of nanostructured materials and devices are governed by the chemistry and structure of their surfaces and interfaces. However, chemistry-structure-performance relationships in these systems are complex, so hundreds of experiments can be necessary to determine optimal

Computational Micromagnetics

Ongoing
Micromagnetics technologies constitute the foundation of computer storage devices. Exponential growth in the size of portable magnetic memories accompanied by decrease cost-per-byte is evidence of success in this technology. To sustain this growth engineers and scientists are increasingly using
simulated 3d SEM images of a 60nm gold nanoparticle

Computational Scanning Electron Microscopy

Ongoing
In many cases, SEM measurements are carried out without knowledge of the best measurement conditions, partly due to engineering limits of the SEM, but also due to lack of thorough knowledge of the physics of the signal generation. For example, in many cases the best-quality results can be obtained

Controlling Microfluidic Cell Cultures

Completed
Intended impact: Cell behavior is powerfully modulated by local extracellular cues. However, the number of parameters that affect cell behavior is large, and include soluble signaling molecules, dissolved gases, the chemistry and mechanics of the extracellular matrix, and the proximity and behavior
EUV optics degradation in space

Degradation of extreme-ultraviolet optics

Ongoing
The primary degradation process in EUVL tools and satellite instruments begins by the adsorption of water or carbonaceous molecules from the vacuum environment onto the optic surface. The optic is damaged if the molecule undergoes photon-stimulated decomposition before it can (reversibly) thermally
joint quantum institute

Designing the Nanoworld: Nanostructure, Nanodevices, and Nano-optics

Ongoing
Developing and exploiting nanodevices for quantum and nanotechnologies requires nanoscale and atomic scale modeling of ultrasmall structures, devices, their operation, and their response to probes. Key challenges of understanding physics at the quantum/classical interface and measurement at the
Nitrogen-vacancy center in a diamond crystal

Diamond NV Center Magnetometry

Ongoing
A flaw in a crystal might not be an intuitive choice for a measurement tool, but the nitrogen-vacancy (NV-) defect in diamond is something special. Using light, we prepare the NV- center’s the quantum spin state, it interacts with magnetic fields, and we read out the resulting spin state through