Micro/Nano Assembly Options

 

Micro/nano assembly techniques can be divided into directed assembly based on techniques developed for macro assemblies and self-assembly techniques modeled on natural assembly processes. The first approach proves slow and cumbersome at small size scales while the second requires careful design of the components and limited flexibility.

 

Our Work

 

We are developing new approaches that utilize reconfigurable assembly templates to combine the versatility of directed assembly with the speed and reduced equipment requirements of parallel self-assembly.  Additionally, reconfigurable assembly permits fabrication of many different assemblies from a single set of parts enabling high levels of product customization at a low cost.

Laboratory for Micro/Nano Integration

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Binding sites are defined on a substrate.  When the substrate is submerged in an agitated suspension of components, components attach to the substrate at the binding sites.

Challenge

Substantial research in the areas of micro- and now nano-fabrication have generated many techniques with a wide range of capabilities. Each manufacturing technique has a unique set of material and geometric capabilities. However, many of these separate capabilities are not easily integrated due to processing incompatibility and the difficulty of assembly at these size scales. If the assembly process can be improved, new devices will be enabled by the increased ability to combine components made by incompatible processes.

In reconfigurable self-assembly, parts can be formed into many different assemblies by controlling the binding at specific site. 

 

In this graphic, only  the energized binding sites (green) bond with the components to form the desired assembly.

Micro Assembly

We have demonstrated the self-assembly of functional thermoelectric coolers using these self-assembly methods. Future work will investigate the relationships between device performance, and assembly process parameters.