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The Basic Technology programme of Research Councils UK is meant to stimulate multi-disciplinary and large scale research into generic new technologies with wide-spread impact on future academic and industrial research and development. A large award was made by RCUK to conduct research over 4 years in the area of novel instrumentation development for nanomanipulation and nanoscale 3D characterisation. The research programme integrates elements of the previously separate technologies of scanning probe microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nanoindentation, and 3D-reconstruction of nanoobjects. In particular, we are combining nanoscale actuator technology with live electron microscopy observation, each at a resolution of down to 0.1nm, which will ultimately allow an observed (as opposed to blind) nanomanipulation of smallest objects, such as e.g. nanoparticles or buckyballs. The versatility of the instrumentation to be developed and integrated in the specimen chamber of an atomic resolution electron microscope, including nanoscale ‘hands’, vision feedback (‘eyes’) and control, 3D image processing, and multi-property physical sensors can be summarised as a “Nanorobot” operating in a “NanoLAB”. Nanomechanical testing (hardness, friction and wear, elastic properties) of e.g. nanowires, multilayers, nano-biomaterials. Sensing of nanoscale electronic and magnetic properties of semiconductors and information storage materials and devices. Manipulation of nanoparticles, nanotubes, and clusters, e.g. on nanostructured surfaces. Atomic resolution TEM nanopositioning Dr JJ Wang, Mr R Gay, Dr BJ Inkson TEM/FIB nanotomography Dr W Guan, Dr XJ Xu, Mr R Gay, Dr G Möbus TEM-STM and nanoscale electrical testing Dr B Rogers (Nott), Prof P Beton (Nott), Prof P Moriarty (Nott), Dr JJ Wang, Mr R Gay, Dr BJ Inkson TEM-SEM-FIB nanomanipulation and nanotools Dr Y Peng, Mr R Gay, Prof AG Cullis, Dr G Möbus, Dr BJ Inkson Intelligent Nanorobotic control Mr J Wedekind (SHU), Dr B Amavasai (SHU), Dr J Travis (SHU) Nanoscale Properties of Biological Materials Dr D Deivasagayam, Prof. P Hatton, Dr B Inkson Research students are working on the following topics: Z. Saghi: "Tomography Methods for 3D Reconstruction of Nano-objects" A. Lockwood: "Failure of MEMS components through in-situ TEM nanoindentation" K. Briston: "Focussed ion beam fabrication and modification of advanced nanostructures" T. Gnanavel: "TEM studies of nanomagnetic structures" M. Azizi: "Chemical mapping techniques for nanoscale multilayer coatings" F. El Fallagh: "Evolution of residual stress and crack morphologies during 3D FIB tomographic analysis of alumina" |