Center for Molecular Nanofabrication and Devices

The Center for Molecular Nanofabrication and Devices (CMND) at Penn State has been established to advance the fundamental understanding of electronically and mechanically functional molecules coupled to larger-scale structures. To reach these goals, the Center blend nanolithography with selective chemical functionalization, molecular films, self-assembly, and molecular motor-driven assembly to create tailored structures that force the convergence of molecular and e-beam-accessible length-scales in the critical range of 1 to 10 nanometers. This is the size range wherein physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, materials science, and biology converge.

Research

Our first major research thrust focuses on understanding the fundamental science necessary to rationally design functional molecular assemblies for molecular electronics and molecular mechanics (e.g. synthetic molecular motors). These structures enable future technologies and access new fundamental nonequilibrium processes that arise only in the molecular-scale regime. Synthetic linear and rotary molecular motors are being developed to help understand the mechanics of molecular-scale motion, controlling dissipation through the intentional incorporation of dissipative elements within the molecules. We are also using synthetic/biological hybrids to assemble heretofore unrealizable structures such as arbitrarily spaced crystalline nanoarrays of spheres and rods.

We design probes and testbed structures to access the critical molecule/substrate interfaces that govern both electronic and mechanical function at these scales. One of our goals is enable the rational design and construction of functional molecular nano-systems with controlled motion of both charge and mechanical displacement.

A key element of our Center is the Penn State Nanofabrication Facility, the fastest growing node in the NSF-supported National Nanofabrication Users Network. A significant part of our Center's efforts involve bringing a new, unique expertise to the NNUN. We are developing state-of-the-art capabilities in self-assembly, directed assembly, selective chemical functionalization, nano-scale characterization, molecular electronics, and molecular coupling. We simultaneously develop the imaging and spectroscopic tools to measure what we have made, so as to test hypothetical (cartoon) structures rigorously against physical reality. Merging and expanding our chemical and nanofabrication communities gives us the singular capability of advancing both the fields of molecular devices, through the selective, hierarchical assembly of structures, and of nanofabrication, by exploiting our expertise in precision chemical functionalization.

As we expand our nanofabrication capabilities, the lessons learned are also being carried over to conventional technologies, so as to have significant impact there as well. Likewise, shared nano-scale analytical tools are being developed and applied that will give us unprecedented views of the hierarchical assemblies we construct.

Outreach

Our mission in education and outreach targets three goals:
1) to train the next generation of interdisciplinary researchers for positions in academia, industry and government labs;
2) to bring cutting-edge research into the classroom at all levels nationwide (from K-12 through community college and baccalaureate and graduate) via both direct outreach and teacher training; and
3) to empower creative individual contributions of the entire Center membership and beyond through a powerful and flexible mini-grant program.
Partners in outreach include the Public Broadcasting System and the Franklin Institute.

We are fortunate to have a wide array of partners encompassing major industrial laboratories, innovative start-up companies and government laboratories. Our Center host long-term visits from these partners as well as from other institutions.

At the Center for Molecular Nanofabrication and Devices, we are bridging the gap between the molecular and the current micro-scale world, developing new capabilities for synthesis and characterization and new fundamental understandings of electronic and mechanical action at the interface between molecules and nanoscale structures. Our close ties to industrial, government, and academic partners will ensure that these advances are broadly available as both fundamental scientific advances and applications in new technologies.

24 April 2001