Small prints with big impact

Nathan Kahl — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 15:33:41 +0000

Small prints with big impact Nathan Kahl Mon, 02/03/2025 - 10:33

Lithography, a printmaking technique using a plate or other hard, smooth surface to transfer ink onto a medium such as paper, was invented in the late 18th century by German playwright Alois Senefelde. It is used to create a myriad of products, many sitting around your home and office.

But what if you needed to create something really small using lithographic techniques, even as small as the nanometer level, which is one billionth of a meter?

Ethan Ahn, an associate professor of electrical engineering at George Mason �鶹��, is doing research using a new technique called electron-beam lithography (EBL), which scans a focused beam of electrons to draw shapes. In fact, as the only skilled practitioner at Northern Virginia’s only EBL facility—in the university’s Nanofabrication Facility on the Science and Technology Campus in Manassas—he’s an evangelist for the technique, eager to get students and other faculty members trained on the technology.

The university logo created with EBL. This image is blown up 17,000 times its actual size. The lines forming the logo are 250 nanometers wide, or 250 billionths of a meter.

“This equipment is infamous for its sensitivity,” he said. “It’s a hard tool to use and it takes a lot of practice, a lot of training, and a lot of knowledge. So, this is not something that’s easily accessible to everyone.”

In fact, before Ahn’s arrival in 2023, students and faculty who wanted to work on EBL had to go to the National Institute of Standards and Technology campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland, more than an hour away from SciTech. Ahn is eager to train students and others to use the EBL technology, envisioning allowing time for researchers both within and outside of George Mason to tinker with the tiny-making toy.

“We will be able to get grants and funding that we wouldn't without this technology, absolutely,” said Ahn, about the possibilities EBL opens up. “And there’s an implication for myself, for example, because I'm working on nano electronics, and this will let us make nanoscale logic devices, nanoscale memory devices, and more.”

Ahn with the EBL machine. Photo provided.

Ahn pointed to the microchip industry as a place where lithographic patterning is used extensively. Holding one up he said, “One small chip is as small as my thumb. But if you zoom in to see what is in there until you see individual devices and components, you’ll see billions of transistors there. That’s what I do for my research, making such devices using EBL, with transistors that are faster, more energy efficient, more reliable, and more secure.”

And students coming through Ahn’s EBL boot camp may find a future that is more secure, as they will be more marketable upon graduation, particularly in the high-tech hub that is the Washington, D.C., area.

Funding to support the EBL capability came from the GO Virginia Nano-IMAGINE program.

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Ethan Ahn

Take a closer look at George Mason's Nanoelectronics Lab

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Mason researcher works on tiny structures with a big impact

Nathan Kahl — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 19:03:07 +0000

Mason researcher works on tiny structures with a big impact Nathan Kahl Mon, 04/01/2024 - 15:03

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Pei Dong

Leigh McCue-Weil

Pei Dong, an assistant professor in George Mason �鶹��’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, was recently awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award for $559,755 for her work on the multi-scale manufacturing of carbon nanostructures.

Pei Dong in the lab. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of �鶹�� Branding

“While porous carbon structures have been manufactured for decades, it remains difficult to manufacture these structures with pre-specified porosity.” said Dong. “This grant aims to address this challenge and will have a huge impact in the areas of energy, water and carbon capture.”

Her proposed research will result in pioneered manufacturing processes that enable the creation of advanced-material devices, which perform more effectively and are critical for future energy and water demands. These structures could be utilized for water treatment, solar cells, supercapacitors, batteries, and carbon capture.

The CAREER award is reserved for the nation’s most talented up-and-coming researchers. From the NSF website: “The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program offers NSF’s most prestigious award in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.”

Students in Mason's mechanical engineering lab work on work on advanced materials design.

Leigh McCue, Mechanical Engineering department chair, said, “Pei has been a tremendous asset. As one of the first tenure-track faculty hired into our young department, she has been a pioneer and leader from day one. It is great to see her talents recognized with this prestigious award.”

Dong credits the Mason culture in helping her in her early-career success. “Mason is great. I highly appreciate all the support I get from my colleagues, the department, the college and the university. I enjoy being in the lab and classroom and working with students and also our outreach activities where we interact with the local K-12 community. Mason gives faculty a bigger platform, since we’re such a huge university.”

She’s also encouraged at how excited her students are to be part of this research. “The students' enthusiasm is truly remarkable as they recognize the profound impact of our research efforts and are wholeheartedly engaged in the pursuit of a sustainable society. They are eager to tackle these challenges head-on, determined to find solutions and make a meaningful difference.”

The grant will run for five years, wrapping up in 2029.

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Small prints with big impact

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Take a closer look at George Mason's Nanoelectronics Lab

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Mason researcher works on tiny structures with a big impact

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