Programmable and Integrated Fabrication of Nano-material Devices by Optically-Induced Force Field

An optically-induced electrokinetics (OEK)-based integrated fabrication method for nano-material devices will be developed in this project in order to overcome the limitations, such as low efficiency, limited selectivity, and complexity, of the existing techniques used to fabricate nano-material based sensors and electronic devices. Through this project, our joint team will explore the fundamental mechanisms behind using OEK phenomena to manipulate, separate, and assemble ions, molecules and nano-materials. Specifically, we will focus on demonstrating three core technologies: 1) OEK-based in situ forming of metal or conductive polymer electrodes; 2) OEK-based high-throughput and parallel assembly of low-dimensional nano-materials, e.g., zinc oxide nanowires, carbon nanotubes, and graphene, to rapidly construct nano-sensors and electronic devices; 3) OEK-based in situ packaging of nano-devices using polymers. In order to demonstrate these core technologies, we need to overcome several technical challenges: i) generate dynamic, and reconfigurable electric field to induce localized OEK forces to assemble nano-materials down to 1nm length-scale; ii) develop models and simulations to understand the fundamental principles behind the various OEK related phenomena in manipulating ions, molecules, and nano-materials; iii) develop advanced algorithms for an OEK platform to automate the process of nano-material manipulation and assembly. Our joint team will be the first in the world to demonstrate a rapid and scalable technology to fabricate nano-devices using dynamically reconfigurable and controllable electric field if the technical objectives are successfully achieved. This accomplishment would be a significant advancement towards the eventually realization of large-scale fabrication and integration of nano-sensing devices.