A hybrid precision manufacturing platform for next-generation of nanoscale products
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Strathclyde
Department Name: Design Manufacture and Engineering Man
Abstract
To ensure UK industry's global leadership in advanced manufacturing and the need to access to the multi-billion pounds nanoscale products market, building on Strathclyde's world-leading research in hybrid machine design and rolling nanoelectrode lithography (RNEL) technology, this proposal attempts to establish a new flexible and reconfigurable hybrid precision manufacturing platform (HPMP) for low-cost and high-throughput production of nanoscale products possessing various structures from ground-breaking sub-nanometre to micrometre scales, with nanoscale precision over large areas (cm^2 in this project, but scalable to m^2) of various materials.
This low-cost nanoscale precision 'lab-to-fab' low-to-medium volume production platform will significantly enhance the producibility and productivity of nanoscale products for information communication technology (ICT), photonic, semiconductor, microelectronic and emerging quantum technology industry sectors to address the grand challenges of an AI & data-driven economy (Internet of Things (IoTs), data storage, quantum computing & communication devices), clean growth (plasmonic solar cells), future mobility (light detection and ranging) and an aging society (medical detection & diagnostic devices) in accordance with the UK Industrial Strategy.
The project will transform the research outcome to industry and our society through knowledge exchange, training, industrial demonstration and deployment.
This low-cost nanoscale precision 'lab-to-fab' low-to-medium volume production platform will significantly enhance the producibility and productivity of nanoscale products for information communication technology (ICT), photonic, semiconductor, microelectronic and emerging quantum technology industry sectors to address the grand challenges of an AI & data-driven economy (Internet of Things (IoTs), data storage, quantum computing & communication devices), clean growth (plasmonic solar cells), future mobility (light detection and ranging) and an aging society (medical detection & diagnostic devices) in accordance with the UK Industrial Strategy.
The project will transform the research outcome to industry and our society through knowledge exchange, training, industrial demonstration and deployment.
Publications
Gao J
(2021)
Fundamentals of atomic and close-to-atomic scale manufacturing: a review
in International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing
Gao J
(2022)
Insight into Atomic-Scale Adhesion at the C-Cu Interface During the Initial Stage of Nanoindentation
in Nanomanufacturing and Metrology
Fang F
(2022)
Nanometric cutting: Mechanisms, practices and future perspectives
in International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture
Walker C
(2022)
Digital Twin Technology for CNC Machining: A Review
Fan P
(2022)
Uniaxial pulling and nano-scratching of a newly synthesized high entropy alloy
in APL Materials
Fan P
(2022)
Scanning Probe Lithography: State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives.
in Micromachines
Murad Hasan R
(2022)
Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Nanomanufacturing (nanoMan2021)
Mir A
(2022)
Challenges and issues in continuum modelling of tribology, wear, cutting and other processes involving high-strain rate plastic deformation of metals.
in Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials
| Description | Etonal gas was found to be very effective to acclearte oxdidation rate and thus enchange the nanofabriaiton efficiency. |
| Exploitation Route | We are applying patent protection and once the patent is file we will publishe this work on an open access journal |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Chemicals Energy Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | We will apply our findings on a hybrid nanomanufacturing platform which will be commissioned in May 2024. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Chemicals,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Contribution to national digital twin network |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | It will inform the DT network and form a new feasibility call |
| Description | UK Manufacturing Forum-policy on sustainable manufacturing |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Towards deterministic atomic scale manufacturing of next-generation quantum devices |
| Amount | £204,031 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/X021963/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 12/2024 |
| Description | Fabrication of atomic clock in collaboration with National University Singapore |
| Organisation | National University of Singapore |
| Country | Singapore |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are investigating if our proposed RNEL approach will be useful to fabricate atomic clock |
| Collaborator Contribution | Researchers from NUS provide design of atomic clock and testing |
| Impact | We are in the process of research and hopefully we can report good result next year. The process is still in final stage of development. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Fabrication of fibre alignment device |
| Organisation | Vrije Universiteit Brussel |
| Country | Belgium |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My team is working on hybrid machining the fibre alignment device and comparing with our digital twin-drive automation approach. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide design of the fibre alignment device. |
| Impact | We are working on the study at the moment and will report the outcome in next submission. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Ultra precision diamond turning diffractive optics for 3D holographic system |
| Organisation | Holoxica |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Consultancy service to support the company's product development. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research team at Strathclyde has diamond turned two diffractive optics to support the company to develop the 3D holographic system. The team also help characterise the surface roughness, form accuracy of the machine diffractive optics. |
| Impact | The company is satisfied with the quality of the machined optics after optical testing. We will continue to support the company to machine larger optics. The collaboration also help us to find new potential international collaborations with Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz-Institutfrom and KIT, both in Germany. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | 3rd International Academy of Engineering and Technology Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Organised an international Symposium on Digital Manufacturing and ACSM. 12 keynote speakers were invited to give talk on latest digital manufacturing and ACSM research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.aet-ac.org/copy-of-aet-symposium |
| Description | A Keynote talk on International Conference and Expo on Optics, Photonics and Lasers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Over 200 postgraduates attended the talk, which spark discussion on application of digital twin for photonics manufacturing. The department reported increased interests in digital twins. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://signatureconferences.com/europl2023/ |
| Description | A keynote talk on Cutting Simulation International Conference 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | over 200 postgraduate students attended the talk, which sparked intensive discussion on modelling techniques for photonics manufacturing, and the department reported increased interests in computational materials student projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | A keynote talk on IEEE Nanotechnology Materials and Devices International Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | over 200 postgraduates attend my talk, with sparked discussion on new nanofabrication approach , and the department reported increased interests in nanofabrication |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/conhome/10343386/proceeding |
| Description | An invited talk on 10th International Conference of Asian Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | over 200 postgraduates attend the talk which provoke discussion on new control paradigm, the department reported more research projects were set up in precision motional control |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.polyu.edu.hk/sklumt/ASPEN2023/ |
| Description | An invited talk on 2023 World Congress on Micro and Nano Manufacturing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Over 150 delegates including academics, postgraduates students, professionals and NSF programme manager attends the talk, which sparked questions and discussion on role of artificial intelligence and its relationship with physical model and potential application in micro and nanomanufacturing. The school reported increased interest in AI and the NSF programme manager reported more proposal application of using AI in micro and nano manufacturing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.wcmnm2023.northwestern.edu/ |
| Description | Invited talk at Henry Royce Institute |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 50 academics attended in-personal or on-line, which provoke discussion on multiscale digital twin approach for smart manufacturing, and the organiser feedbacked request on asking for slides or permission to share the video on Yourtube |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Invited talk on 7th International Conference on Nanomanufacturing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Give an invited talk on new nanomanufacturing approach. over 200 postgraduates listened to the talk. The talk has encouraged more applications to PhD student at Xi'an Jiaotong University. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Invited talk on IEEE International Conference of Optical Imaging and Measurement |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Give talk on manufacturing of precision moulds and dies by nanosecond laser. It sparked discussion on application of laser to generated functional surface in the field of aerospace industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Keynote talk on 7th Asia Pacific International Conference on Optics Manufacturing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Keynote talk on ultra precision machining nanooptics. Over 100 Pupils from Shanghai Middle School listen the talk and encourage more applications to Fudan University (Shanghai) in the subject of optics manufacturing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Keynote talk to EPSRC Early Career Forum Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Over 10 EPSRC Engineering Early Career Researchers attended the work. It sparked discussion multiscale digital twin driven smart manufacturing system. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |