Title: Design of an on-chip microscale nanoassembly system

Authors: Jason J. Gorman, Yong-Sik Kim, Andras E. Vladar, Nicholas G. Dagalakis

Addresses: Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA. ' Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA. ' Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA. ' Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA

Abstract: A microscale nanoassembly system has been designed for the fabrication of nanodevices and in situ electromechanical characterisation of nanostructures. This system consists of four Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS)-based nanomanipulators positioned around a centrally located port for introducing nanostructure samples. Each nanomanipulator is composed of an XYZ nanopositioning mechanism with an attached nanoprobe for interacting with the nanostructures. By simultaneously controlling the position of each of these nanoprobes, they can be used to cooperatively assemble complex structures. The static and dynamic motion characteristics of a prototype nanomanipulator have been measured, providing a non-linear calibration of the quasi-static input–output behaviour, as well as values for the system bandwidth and structural natural frequencies. Important operational issues including proposed manipulation schemes, precision motion control and integration with a Scanning Electron Microscope/Focused Ion Beam (SEM/FIB) instrument are also discussed.

Keywords: on-chip nanoassembly; probe-based nanomanipulation; nanomanipulators; microelectromechanical systems; MEMS; nanomanufacturing; nanotechnology; nanodevices; nanostructures; nanoprobes; motion control.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2007.017990

International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, 2007 Vol.1 No.6, pp.710 - 721

Published online: 25 Apr 2008 *

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