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.

Publications

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Fang F (2022) Nanometric cutting: Mechanisms, practices and future perspectives in International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture

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Gao J (2021) Fundamentals of atomic and close-to-atomic scale manufacturing: a review in International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing

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Gao J. (2022) Three-dimensional nanostructures enabled by customised voltage waveform-induced local anodic oxidation lithography in European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology, Conference Proceedings - 22nd International Conference and Exhibition, EUSPEN 2022

 
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