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CS92PROD
Introduction to Nanotechnology and Microfabrication
CHEM 399
Fall 2010 not offered

There is a general agreement that nanotechnology will profoundly impact a wide range of areas in technology, manufacturing, environment, and many other aspects of our lives. Imagine getting an injection of "smart" nano-sized drug that can seek out cancer cells and destroy them without harming any of the surrounding tissue. Imagine materials with 100 times the strength of steel with only a small fraction of its weight. Imagine shrinking all the information housed at the Library of Congress into a device the size of a sugar cube. Nanotechnology is about to explode in this century. Are we ready to benefit from this exciting technology? The purpose of this course is to introduce students to major breakthroughs and practical applications in the field of nanotechnology. A nanometer (nm) is one billionth of a meter. Nano-sized material, that is, objects on the length scale of 1 to 100 nm, often exhibit amazing properties unexpected from its macro counterpart. For example, bulk gold has a golden color, but gold nano-particles with diameters ~15 nm are red, and ~40 nm gold nano-particles are purple. The dramatic size effects is an active part of research in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Characterization methods specific to the nanoscale will be introduced, including scanning probe microscopies. The course will touch upon topics such as nanomaterials and amazing changes of their properties, nanoworld "eyes" and "hands," working principles of STM and AFM, selected examples of fascinating applications of STM and AFM, micro- and nanofabrications, molecular nanotechnology: nano-electronics, nanocomputing, nano-optics, and nanobiosensors. This course is designed primarily for undergraduate students who are majoring in science. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the material, students from chemistry, physics, E&ES, biology, and MB&B should have the appropriate background to enroll in this course. The lectures will utilize PowerPoint presentations with extensive graphical materials from this booming field. The course will feature active involvement of students in the form of discussion, written reports, and in-class presentations. In addition, designated reading assignments will involve selected sections in the textbook and handout articles of journals in nanotechnology.

Essential Capabilities: None
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: NSM CHEM
Course Format: Lecture / DiscussionGrading Mode: Student Option
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: CHEM141 AND (CHEM142 OR CHEM143) AND CHEM144
Fulfills a Major Requirement for: (CHEM-Track A)(CHEM-Track B)

Last Updated on MAR-29-2024
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