Introduction to Principles, Fabrication Methods, and Applications of Nanotechnology

Catalog description

Principles, fabrication methods and applications of nanoscale. E SC 313 Introduction to Principles, Fabrication Methods, and Applications of Nanotechnology (3) This course covets the unique opportunities provided by the nano-scale and focuses on the engineering issues of fabricating and applying structures designed to take advantage of these opportunities. The course begins with defining nanotechnology and nanofabrication. It then moves to the unique features available in nano-scale structures such as large surface-to-volume ratios, quantum size effects, unique chemical bonding opportunities, dominance of physical optics, surface control of reactions and transport, and the creation of structures on the same size scale as basic features in living cells. With this understanding of the uniqueness of the nano-scale, the course progresses into the fabrication methods used in nanotechnology and then into nanostructure applications. The various nanofabrication approaches found in top-down, bottom-up, and hybrid fabrication approaches are explained and discussed in the lecture format. The principles behind the application of structures fabricated at the nano-scale are then addressed in more depth. This section of the course includes an introduction to nano-scale electronic devices, an introduction to nano-scale sensing devices, an introduction to nano-scale optics and optical devices, an introduction to material property modification at the nano-scale, and an introduction to the biology/nano-scale interface. Specific applications of the structures made using various combinations of top-down and bottom-up fabrication techniques are overviewed in various applications including sensors, nano-electronics, molecular electronics, photonics, nano-optics, information storage and computing, materials, nano-mechanics, and nano-biotechnology and medicine. The course concludes with an introduction to the manufacturing issues encountered when fabricating, assembling, and interfacing nano-scale structures as well as with an overview of health, environmental, and societal issues The objective of this course is to give a broad technical picture of nanotechnology to engineering students from various engineering disciplines. In so doing, the course will develop a sound background for making informed judgments concerning the potential of nanotechnology for various technical applications and a sound background for assessing the societal and health issues as well as environmental impact of nanotechnology. The course objectives are to have students be able to consider nanotechnology solutions to technical problems, be able to fabricate these nanotechnology solutions in a manufacturable manner, be able to determine if there are any potential health or environmental issues involved in their solutions, and be able to assess the societal impact of their solutions. The course will require a college-level chemistry and physics background. Evaluation methods to be used in this course will be two in-class examinations and one final period examination.