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News Release from: Applied Microengineering
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 27 September 2004
DTI grant aids research into nano
devices
Applied Microengineering has been awarded a DTI grant of GBP 678,000 to develop a new production tool to help the manufacture of nano devices - the Lobel project.
Applied Microengineering reckons its vision, tenacity, perseverance, innovation and talent have been rewarded in winning a recent DTI grant of GBP 678,000 to develop a new production tool to help the manufacture of nano devices - the Lobel project Micro and nano technology (MNT) is currently the sexy hot topic around the industrialised world, but AML has been working in the area for nearly 20 years
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 27 Mar 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
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"The DTI MNT initiative is very welcome, we have been pushing for such an initiative for many years, not only funding for R and D but also a coordinated strategy for the UK and a rationalised approach to the very expensive capital equipment needed".
"Its great to see it beginning to happen at last".
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MNT devices have already transformed our lives with numerous micro sensors for automotive and defence applications, eg accelerometers to trigger air bags, control suspension movement and traction in cars and navigation control in missiles, as well as ink jet print heads, and micro mirror displays with a million individually addressable mirrors on a silicon chip a few square millimetres, used in PC projectors.
But the revolution has only just begun.
There are many products, which depend on these strategically important MNT components in applications touching every aspect of our lives, such as healthcare with better drug discovery and diagnostic tools, more efficient food production, and improved personal security.
Each of these products could spawn a new fast growing globally competitive UK high-tech manufacturing industry.
Manufacturing is an important issue in MNT, many exciting devices have been penned and proposed but the real difference is when these are translated into products that reach the market.
In the grant-aided Lobel project a new industrial manufacturing platform for MNT is proposed.
The project will develop a machine that serves a new set of process needs with novel capabilities, able to satisfy new markets and compete internationally.
The processes fall into two main areas firstly; micropolymer embossing and nano-imprint lithography (NIL) and related processes.
In layman's terms the machine will form structures in polymers with nanometre precision.
Secondly, surface activation of wafers will be exploited to achieve much lower bonding temperatures.
Devices are made using silicon wafers, as the base starting material, conventional devices use only one wafer.
Says Santilli: "If you liken a silicon wafer to a slice of bread and the base structure for these components, if you want to make more complicated component you will need more than one 'wafer' or slice of bread - you need a sandwich structure".
"The new machine will enable multiple layers of 'bread' to be bonded together at low temperatures - sometime with an interlayer or 'jam' or sometimes directly".
"The new tool will enable many new nano devices to be manufactured".
The new processes are suited to AML's current unique in-situ aligner-bonder platform, but present's technical challenges requiring innovation.
NIL requires an exceptional degree of mechanical stability and precision at elevated temperatures and surface activation needs the controlled exposure of the wafer to energetic ions.
The project will develop a proof-of-concept machine using novel and patentable techniques capable of producing aligned micron and nanoscale features for MNT products.
SMEs lack resources to allocate to high risk, expensive, applied research, and universities are not able to produce a satisfactory input with the small funding an SME can risk.
The DTI funding allows AML access and makes it a more attractive proposition to world-class academic centres such as Imperial College, London and The Open University Research Unit, as well as Cranfield Precision, a top precision engineering company, who will all be partners in the project, realising a world-class multidisciplinary team.
Without this funding AML would not be an attractive partner to these organisations.
This has stimulated UK co-operation and capabilities in this strategic area.
Dr Jason Wiggins of SEEDA has been very helpful to AML in providing, advice and support.
Santilli says: "A great deal of work is involved to submit such a bid and it is very useful to have an independent sounding board and second opinion on certain courses of action that might be taken".
"Again as we found with our Smart awards in our early days, the money is very useful and key but the moral support of people such as Jason, SEEDA and the DTI cannot be underestimated in helping companies such as AML through demanding times and situations in which knowing that someone else thinks you are doing a worth while job, helps lifts the spirit".
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