Grant: Strategic Projects - Group
University of British Columbia
$155,552.00
Micro/Nano manufacturing technology for carbon-nanotube-based devices
FY 2010-11
Summary
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered to be one of the most promising materials that could enable next-generation products. Oriented CNTs are attracting increasing attention due to their exceptional structural and material properties, not available with disordered forms of CNTs, and enormous opportunities exist with this material in a variety of application fields. The ability to fabricate arbitrary micro/nano-scale structures of this new material is essential to leverage them for product design and development and diversify their applications. In this respect, means to precisely control their material properties are also important to maximize device performance.
We propose to develop novel manufacturing methods and technologies for the fabrication of three-dimensional (3-D) micro/nanostructures of oriented CNTs. This goal will be approached by investigating batch-compatible micro/nano-scale machining processes that utilize miniaturized plasma discharge for selective CNT removal and developing a prototype system for the processes. This approach will also be applied to radial etching of multi-walled CNTs to enable post-growth adjustment of their material properties. We envision that these technologies will be a fundamental asset for R&D and manufacturing of ever-growing CNT-based products, uniquely allowing Canadian manufacturers to take initiatives in future domestic and international markets of these products, thereby promoting Canada's global competitiveness in this field.
MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) are one of the fields that will significantly benefit from successful research on this topic - many novel and high-performance devices are expected to emerge by the availability of 3-D CNTs (e.g. nano-characterization probes, super heat sinks for microchips, optical antennas, etc.). Renewable clean-energy devices such as fuel and solar cells are incorporating microstructured CNT forests to realize drastic improvement in their performance. The establishment of 3-D CNT manufacturing methods is anticipated to bring more diverse opportunities to MEMS and other industries beyond our current speculations
Program
Strategic Projects - Group
Recipient
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
396817-2010
Name nom
Takahata, Kenichi
Department département
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Organization id
2
Institution établissement
University of British Columbia
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2010
Competition year année de concours
2010
Award amount
155552
Program id
STPGP
Program name en
Strategic Projects - Group
Program name fr
Projets stratégiques - De groupe
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1088
Committee name en
Strategic Projects Selection Panel - Manufacturing - B
Committee name fr
Comité de sélection des projets stratégiques - Fabrication - B
Area of application code
500
Area of application group en
Manufacturing processes and products
Area of application group fr
Procédés et produits industriels
Area of application en
Manufacturing processes and products
Area of application fr
Procédés et produits industriels
Research subject code
2500
Research subject group en
Electrical and electronic engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie électrique et électronique
Research subject en
Electrical and electronic engineering
Research subject fr
Génie électrique et électronique
Partie
1
Nb partie
3
Application title
Micro/Nano manufacturing technology for carbon-nanotube-based devices
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered to be one of the most promising materials that could enable next-generation products. Oriented CNTs are attracting increasing attention due to their exceptional structural and material properties, not available with disordered forms of CNTs, and enormous opportunities exist with this material in a variety of application fields. The ability to fabricate arbitrary micro/nano-scale structures of this new material is essential to leverage them for product design and development and diversify their applications. In this respect, means to precisely control their material properties are also important to maximize device performance.
We propose to develop novel manufacturing methods and technologies for the fabrication of three-dimensional (3-D) micro/nanostructures of oriented CNTs. This goal will be approached by investigating batch-compatible micro/nano-scale machining processes that utilize miniaturized plasma discharge for selective CNT removal and developing a prototype system for the processes. This approach will also be applied to radial etching of multi-walled CNTs to enable post-growth adjustment of their material properties. We envision that these technologies will be a fundamental asset for R&D and manufacturing of ever-growing CNT-based products, uniquely allowing Canadian manufacturers to take initiatives in future domestic and international markets of these products, thereby promoting Canada's global competitiveness in this field.
MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) are one of the fields that will significantly benefit from successful research on this topic - many novel and high-performance devices are expected to emerge by the availability of 3-D CNTs (e.g. nano-characterization probes, super heat sinks for microchips, optical antennas, etc.). Renewable clean-energy devices such as fuel and solar cells are incorporating microstructured CNT forests to realize drastic improvement in their performance. The establishment of 3-D CNT manufacturing methods is anticipated to bring more diverse opportunities to MEMS and other industries beyond our current speculations
