In order to advance the state of nanomanufacturing in the US, the NNN seeks to establish a broad base of key partnerships and affiliations. At the core of this are the flagship partners at the NSF Nanomanufacturing Centers, with recent established affiliations with NIST and DOE National Laboratories.
NNN Partners and Affiliated Centers
NSF Nanomanufacturing Centers
The Center for Nanoscale Chemical-Electrical-Mechanical Manufacturing Systems (Nano-CEMMS), directed by Placid Ferriera and based at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign concentrates on developing innovative processes that function in ambient (as opposed to high vacuum processes) conditions, are well suited to large-area formats, and with material sets not usually associated with microelectronics. Nano-CEMMS has developed a manufacturing platform that exploits efficient nano-fluidic and ionic transport phenomena to realize a whole new class of products such as semi-transparent flexible solar collectors, flexible-stretchable solid-state lighting and bio-compatible electronics.
The Center for High Rate Nanomanufacturing (CHN), directed by Ahmed Busnaina and based at Northeastern University provides methods for fast large scale directed assembly and transfer of nanostructures, including carbon nanotubes as on chip wiring interconnects, transparent flexible electronics using carbon nanotubes, wafer-level template-free assembly, and custom made nanostructured carbons of various forms. The CHM also works on the development of best practice guidelines to limit exposures to nanomaterials and fast toxicity screening methods.
The Center for Scalable and Integrated Nanomanufacturing (SINAM), directed by Xiang Zhang and based at the University of California Berkeley has developed tools and techniques for plasmonic nanolithography, which provides a high throughput route to pattern nanostuctures having feature sizes below 22 nm. This technology is relevant to semiconductor device manufacturing and other application areas.
The Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing (CHM), directed by James Watkins and based at the University of Massachusetts Amherst provides methods that use self-assembling diblock copolymers and complementary nanomanufacturing processes to control structure from the nanoscale to the macroscale. The center develops processing techniques and modeling methods for nanomanufacturing both in batch and roll-to-roll production formats. These processes have significant impact for the low-cost production of data storage media, nanoelectronics, batteries, solar cells, water filtration and communications. The CHM is also the administrative hub of the National Nanomanufacturing Network.
NIST Center
- Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST)
The NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) is a national user facility with a focus on commerce, supporting the U.S. nanotechnology enterprise from discovery to production by providing industry, academia, and other government agencies with access to world-class nanoscale measurement and fabrication methods and technology. The CNST's shared-use NanoFab gives researchers access to and training on a state-of-the-art tool set required for cutting-edge nanotechnology development. A simple application process is designed to get work started in a few weeks. Looking beyond the current state of the art, CNST research is creating the next generation of nanoscale measurement instruments and methods, which are made available through collaboration.
DoE Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center
- Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT) at Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories
CINT developed and deployed the Discovery Platform™. These platforms are modular micro-laboratories designed and batch fabricated by CINT to allow easy integration of nanomaterials into microscale structures. They allow easy connections, a range of diagnostic and experimental measurement conditions, and a degree of standardization and reproducibility in nanoscale measurements. Sandia also is home to The National Institute for Nano-Engineering (NINE), a Public-Private Partnership formed to develop the next generation of technical innovation leaders for the U.S., employing the national strategy of the America COMPETES Act.
Additional Centers and Nanomanufacturing Resources
DoE Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers
- Center for Nanoscale Materials at Argonne National Laboratory
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials at Brookhaven National Laboratory
- The Molecular Foundry at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Others
