Micro and Nano AM

Question 1

What are scaling laws?

Answer 1

A concept in science and engineering which refers to variables which change drastically depending on the scale (size) being considered

Question 2

What are the length to surface area to volume relations that are important in micro and nano manufacturing?

Answer 2

Length (L) Surface tension
Surface area (L^2) Air resistance
Volume (L^3) Mass

Question 3

What is Moore’s Law?

Answer 3

An observation made in 1965 by Gordan Moore, co-founder of Intel, that the number of transistors used per sq inch on integrated circuits had doubled every year since they were invested. The prediction was made that this would continue indefinitely.

Minimum feature size has been shrinking 30% every 2-3 years. Despite this, the cost of following Moore’s law has begun to become uneconomical

Question 4

What are 3 methods of printing nanostructures?

Answer 4

Electrohydrodynamic jet printing
Electrospinning
Electrospraying

Question 5

What are micro metallic structures (EFAB) and what is it used for?

Answer 5

Micro meaning feature sizes from 1um to 1mm typically
Each layer consists of a structural material and a sacrificial material
The device, composed of structural material, is embedded within the sacrificial material which supports it during fabrication and is later removed

The process is used to fabricate micro-devices. It is the highest resolution metal manufacturing AM process with layer thicknesses very thin (5um common)

Question 6

What is aerosole jetting and what is it a method of?

Answer 6

Ultasonic agitation of a liquid material causes vapour/mist
This atomised material is condensed into a dense gas and sprayed onto a substrate
At the moment this process is used as a way of spray painting on functional layers such as conductors to produce printed electronics

micro and nano AM

Question 7

What are some advantages of aerosole jetting over ink jet printing?

Answer 7

Does not need to be vertical deposition 
Finer features
Clog resistant 
Tightly focussed 
continuous stream

Question 8

What are some potential future applications of micro and nano AM?

Answer 8

Multiplex biosensors
Flow reactors with nanosensors
Material innovations
Scale up
Electrodes etc