rus
Organisation of youth innovation creativity centres is
an important initiative to foster the innovative development
of Russia. One of such centres is created and successfully operated in the premises of the scanning probe microscopy laboratory at the Lomonosov Moscow State University.
an important initiative to foster the innovative development
of Russia. One of such centres is created and successfully operated in the premises of the scanning probe microscopy laboratory at the Lomonosov Moscow State University.
Теги: 3d-printer 3d-принтер probe lithography processing centre scanning probe microscope зондовая литография обрабатывающий центр сканирующий зондовый микроскоп
Nanotechnology refers to those breakthrough areas that could soon radically change people’s lives and provide the basis for a new technological pattern. A state or a community of states, which have successfully put into practice nanotechnology opportunities, will not only achieve the global leadership but what is very likely the world domination.
Modern computer and mobile phone provide an example of the successful nanotechnology advances in electronics. The size of a structural element in microprocessors, e.g. a field transistor, a connecting elements and others, is substantially less than 100 nanometers. It was possible to achieve such success due to the hard work of researchers, engineers and process managers for more than fifty years.
The undisputed leaders in the application of nanotechnology in electronics are the USA, Japan and South Korea. What are other countries supposed to do? Work more and more, and in 5–15 years there will be significant results. In due time arrived it was done in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Peoples Republic of China is confidently following that way.
The concept of rapid development of the nanotechnology sector in Russia was described in detail in the fourth issue of the journal in 2013 [1], and we will not dwell on that subject. We note only that in any innovation process the most active younger generation should be involved thus ensuring success in the long term. Therefore the initiative to establish a Youth innovation creativity centres (YICC) is strategically important for the country.
YICC activity planning
When we discussed what priority YICC should choose, there were no alternative but nanotechnology. This choice was strengthened by Russian achievements in the field of scanning probe microscopy, the key research tool in nanotechnology [2–4], and experience availability in the educational programmes [5–7]. However, from the cognitive and practical points of view, a certain shift towards biology and medicine might be appropriate. Nature creates the basic building units, e.g. nucleic acids, proteins, polysaccharides and other nanostructures, with accuracy currently unreachable by human in the productive activity. The nanoworld beauty is best studied in the research of wildlife at the level of molecules, proteins, nucleic acids, bacteria and cells [8–12].
So, what and how to study in YICC? It is best to learn through practical results, for example, through the construction of your own probe microscope. Do you mean it’s difficult? When you know how to build, it is not.
By starting to create YICC, we have prepared and have already begun to carry out the work plan for the coming year (table).
Scanning probe microscopy lab
Scanning probe microscopy is not only the key research tool of nanotechnology but their primary means of promoting it. Thus, a scanning probe microscopy laboratory should become the key element of YICC.
In the laboratory, children can acquire basic skills in the field of scanning probe microscopy and lithography, experimental work in the physics laboratory, carefully setting-up a subtle physical experiment, conducting research, practicing the scanning probe microscope FemtoScan and the multifunctional software for image processing FemtoScan Online, conducting your own experiments, identifying the possibilities of nanotechnology in medicine, biology, physics, chemistry and material science.
The purpose of working with children in the laboratory is to provoke interest in nanotechnology, the methods of creation and research of nanoobjects, the unique properties of nanomaterials, their use and prospects of the development of this branch of science; search for talented young people capable of making a breakthrough in the area; engaging children in various research, scientific-technical and creative contests.
The work in a lab is conducted in several directions:
analytical bionanoscopy – studying the morphology and properties of biological macromolecules and biological systems using a variety of scanning probe microscopy related to the molecular mechanism of protein crystal growth, morphology and properties of the bacterial cells, DNA conformational changes in the presence of surfactants, the structure and properties of viruses, molecular processes during the viral infection;
polymer nanoscopy – studying the properties and structure of nanocomposite and functional polymers, which are of interest for nanotechnology, biology and medicine;
design and development of research instrumentation in the field of world-class probe microscopy;
solving material science problems – studying the structure and functional properties of materials for the oil refining, engineering and other industries.
A successful project
In the course of the work with children in the laboratory the project ‘Artificial structuring surfaces layered carbon materials’ is successfully implemented, the author and performer of which is Mariya Savinova, a student of school No 1273. The project is aimed at developing methods for creating nanostructures of a pre-determined size and shape on the surface of graphite using the scanning probe lithography allowing to achieve the spatial resolution down to a few nanometres.
The layered carbon-base materials have potential for the future nanoelectronics, e.g. nanotubes, graphene and thin graphite film. They are used to create the samples of transistors, field emitters and high-sensitivity sensor elements. The successful development of carbon nanoelectronics requires the development of precision methods of nanostructure creation of carbon.
Artificial surface structuring can be viewed from two perspectives, as a process for the creation of structures of a given shape, in which the impact takes place directly at each point of the surface, and as a process of self-organisation of atoms after a macroscopic effect on the surface. The first case may include various types of lithography. Probe lithography allows to achieve high spatial resolution since the scope of the surface is limited to a radius of curvature of the needle and is only a few nanometres. The second case includes self-organisation process of dislocations in graphite and formation of periodic nanostructures.
Local anodic oxidation of the graphite surface with the formation of a dielectric compound – graphite oxide – allows forming dielectric nanostructures on the surface of graphite or graphite film. This method on a graphite surface helped grow a dielectric strip of graphite oxide with the distance between the peaks of the strips of
120 nm.
When implementing a project, it is also intended to assess the possibility of local anodic oxidation as a "nanoengraving" tool to create images on the graphite surface, which will make the process even more creative.
Scanning probe microscope, 3D-printer and processing centre
What is in common between so many different devices in the sub-title? It may seem that there are more differences than common things but that is not true. When operating a scanning probe microscope, a 3D-printer and a processing centre, similar software electronics and algorithms are used. In all the three devices, it is necessary to accurately bring the probe head and the machining tool to a predetermined place preferably with not micron error but submicron error. The mechanical positioning system for a probe microscope, a 3D printer and a processing centre are built on the same principles, minimal backlash, rigid mechanics and low temperature drifts. To control, precision stepper motors and servos are used. The leader in precision mechanical motion systems is of course s scanning probe microscope, in which the error does not exceed hundredths or even thousandths of a nanometer. Modern processing centres are already approaching the nanometer precision [13].
By combining all three devices in a single chain, we obtain a prototype of a modern factory to process nanomaterials. This production is created by following the example of a digital factory, a turner and a miller become programmers, materials scientists, designers, scientists and engineers in one person. One of such "factories" already provides the first product – nano-raccoon images on the surface of pyrolytic graphite (HOPG).
The authors express their sincere gratitude for support to Ivan Bortnik, Moscow Innovation Development Centre, the Department of Science, Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship of the Moscow City Government, friends and associates. It would be difficult to move forward quickly and successfully without the support. Thank you all!
The article is dedicated to the memory of Sergey Savinov, a great worker in the field of probe microscopy.
Modern computer and mobile phone provide an example of the successful nanotechnology advances in electronics. The size of a structural element in microprocessors, e.g. a field transistor, a connecting elements and others, is substantially less than 100 nanometers. It was possible to achieve such success due to the hard work of researchers, engineers and process managers for more than fifty years.
The undisputed leaders in the application of nanotechnology in electronics are the USA, Japan and South Korea. What are other countries supposed to do? Work more and more, and in 5–15 years there will be significant results. In due time arrived it was done in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Peoples Republic of China is confidently following that way.
The concept of rapid development of the nanotechnology sector in Russia was described in detail in the fourth issue of the journal in 2013 [1], and we will not dwell on that subject. We note only that in any innovation process the most active younger generation should be involved thus ensuring success in the long term. Therefore the initiative to establish a Youth innovation creativity centres (YICC) is strategically important for the country.
YICC activity planning
When we discussed what priority YICC should choose, there were no alternative but nanotechnology. This choice was strengthened by Russian achievements in the field of scanning probe microscopy, the key research tool in nanotechnology [2–4], and experience availability in the educational programmes [5–7]. However, from the cognitive and practical points of view, a certain shift towards biology and medicine might be appropriate. Nature creates the basic building units, e.g. nucleic acids, proteins, polysaccharides and other nanostructures, with accuracy currently unreachable by human in the productive activity. The nanoworld beauty is best studied in the research of wildlife at the level of molecules, proteins, nucleic acids, bacteria and cells [8–12].
So, what and how to study in YICC? It is best to learn through practical results, for example, through the construction of your own probe microscope. Do you mean it’s difficult? When you know how to build, it is not.
By starting to create YICC, we have prepared and have already begun to carry out the work plan for the coming year (table).
Scanning probe microscopy lab
Scanning probe microscopy is not only the key research tool of nanotechnology but their primary means of promoting it. Thus, a scanning probe microscopy laboratory should become the key element of YICC.
In the laboratory, children can acquire basic skills in the field of scanning probe microscopy and lithography, experimental work in the physics laboratory, carefully setting-up a subtle physical experiment, conducting research, practicing the scanning probe microscope FemtoScan and the multifunctional software for image processing FemtoScan Online, conducting your own experiments, identifying the possibilities of nanotechnology in medicine, biology, physics, chemistry and material science.
The purpose of working with children in the laboratory is to provoke interest in nanotechnology, the methods of creation and research of nanoobjects, the unique properties of nanomaterials, their use and prospects of the development of this branch of science; search for talented young people capable of making a breakthrough in the area; engaging children in various research, scientific-technical and creative contests.
The work in a lab is conducted in several directions:
analytical bionanoscopy – studying the morphology and properties of biological macromolecules and biological systems using a variety of scanning probe microscopy related to the molecular mechanism of protein crystal growth, morphology and properties of the bacterial cells, DNA conformational changes in the presence of surfactants, the structure and properties of viruses, molecular processes during the viral infection;
polymer nanoscopy – studying the properties and structure of nanocomposite and functional polymers, which are of interest for nanotechnology, biology and medicine;
design and development of research instrumentation in the field of world-class probe microscopy;
solving material science problems – studying the structure and functional properties of materials for the oil refining, engineering and other industries.
A successful project
In the course of the work with children in the laboratory the project ‘Artificial structuring surfaces layered carbon materials’ is successfully implemented, the author and performer of which is Mariya Savinova, a student of school No 1273. The project is aimed at developing methods for creating nanostructures of a pre-determined size and shape on the surface of graphite using the scanning probe lithography allowing to achieve the spatial resolution down to a few nanometres.
The layered carbon-base materials have potential for the future nanoelectronics, e.g. nanotubes, graphene and thin graphite film. They are used to create the samples of transistors, field emitters and high-sensitivity sensor elements. The successful development of carbon nanoelectronics requires the development of precision methods of nanostructure creation of carbon.
Artificial surface structuring can be viewed from two perspectives, as a process for the creation of structures of a given shape, in which the impact takes place directly at each point of the surface, and as a process of self-organisation of atoms after a macroscopic effect on the surface. The first case may include various types of lithography. Probe lithography allows to achieve high spatial resolution since the scope of the surface is limited to a radius of curvature of the needle and is only a few nanometres. The second case includes self-organisation process of dislocations in graphite and formation of periodic nanostructures.
Local anodic oxidation of the graphite surface with the formation of a dielectric compound – graphite oxide – allows forming dielectric nanostructures on the surface of graphite or graphite film. This method on a graphite surface helped grow a dielectric strip of graphite oxide with the distance between the peaks of the strips of
120 nm.
When implementing a project, it is also intended to assess the possibility of local anodic oxidation as a "nanoengraving" tool to create images on the graphite surface, which will make the process even more creative.
Scanning probe microscope, 3D-printer and processing centre
What is in common between so many different devices in the sub-title? It may seem that there are more differences than common things but that is not true. When operating a scanning probe microscope, a 3D-printer and a processing centre, similar software electronics and algorithms are used. In all the three devices, it is necessary to accurately bring the probe head and the machining tool to a predetermined place preferably with not micron error but submicron error. The mechanical positioning system for a probe microscope, a 3D printer and a processing centre are built on the same principles, minimal backlash, rigid mechanics and low temperature drifts. To control, precision stepper motors and servos are used. The leader in precision mechanical motion systems is of course s scanning probe microscope, in which the error does not exceed hundredths or even thousandths of a nanometer. Modern processing centres are already approaching the nanometer precision [13].
By combining all three devices in a single chain, we obtain a prototype of a modern factory to process nanomaterials. This production is created by following the example of a digital factory, a turner and a miller become programmers, materials scientists, designers, scientists and engineers in one person. One of such "factories" already provides the first product – nano-raccoon images on the surface of pyrolytic graphite (HOPG).
The authors express their sincere gratitude for support to Ivan Bortnik, Moscow Innovation Development Centre, the Department of Science, Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship of the Moscow City Government, friends and associates. It would be difficult to move forward quickly and successfully without the support. Thank you all!
The article is dedicated to the memory of Sergey Savinov, a great worker in the field of probe microscopy.
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