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Micro and Nano Technologies 2008

JC Chiao © 2007 and 2008 Copyright

 

‘08 Course description

 

In this course, we will learn about advanced micro and nano technologies including micro-robots, nanomedicine, sensor and actuators, wireless systems, lasers, optical communications and digital imaging. We will also discuss the basic principles behind these advanced technologies and their potentials in the future.

 

The course was co-taught by Professor Chiao and high school AP teacher Mr. Sanchez.

 

 

Lesson #1, June 9

·          Topic:

·       Career experience (academic and industry)

·       Business and applications

·          Objectives

·       Academic choices

·       Economics 101

·          Lecture content

·       Science vs Engineering

·       Applications vs Business

·       Explain pre-test questions “What is “nano” in scale?” and “"Which of the following products has nanotechnology inside?" Sunscreen, Clothing, Bandage, Corn flakes or iPod?” to define the word “Nanotechnology”.

·          Activities

·       Self introduction

·       Pre-test

·       Lecture. Powerpoint and videos.

·       Discussion of other possible products of Nanotechnology.

·       Teamwork: how to build a tower using index cards. 3 students per team. Under time and resource constrains.

·       Discussion

o        How to work in a team?

o        How to manage time and resource?

o        Engineering strategies:

§         Purposes and design goals

§         Team and leadership

§         Time management

§         Resource management

 

 

Lesson #2, June 10

·          Topic:

·       Nanotechnology and their applications

·          Objectives

·       Question: “What are Nanotechnologies and how do you plan your career in the field of Nanotechnology?”

·          Lecture content

·       Dr. Chiao’s resarch activities.

·       What is the definition of “research”?

·          Activities

·          Self introduction

·          Essay writing

§   “Why do you think Nanotechnology will have a significant impact to us in the future?”

·          Lecture. PowerPoint and videos.

·          Discussion

§   What are the medical applications using Nanotechnology?

§   Extension of essay writing – questions and discussion.

§   Diabetes and cancers.

§   Treatment approaches.

§     Raise the concern in environment when nanoparticles and nanopowders get into our ecosystem (only briefly mention to get students thinking).

 

 

Lesson #3, June 11

·          Topic:

·       Microtechnology

·       ICs

·       Microchips

·       Logics

·          Objectives

·       Question: What are microtechnologies? Microtechnologies as interface to Nanotechnologies.

·          Lecture content

·       Microtechnologies

·       ICs

·       CMOS and VLSIs

·       Transistors

·       Gates

·       Logic blocks

·       Truth tables

·          Activities

·       Self introduction

·       Essay writing

·       “In your own words, what are the advantages and disadvantages of developing Nanotechnologies?”

·          Lecture. PowerPoint and videos.

·          Discussion

o        Potential applications of IC technologies

o        Future computer design

o        Fabrication methods – how to make things that can not be seen by regular microscopes.

o        Lecture: photolithography (briefly to get them thinking).

·          Practice of calculating logic truth tables.

 

 

Lesson #4, June 12

·          Topic:

·       Microtechnology – transistor, die, chip, package, circuit boards.

·       Preview of MEMS

·          Objectives

·       Question: What are the fabrication techniques for microtechnologies?

·          Lecture content

·       Microtechnologies

·       ICs

·       MEMS and its relationship to semiconductors

·          Activities

·       Self introduction

·       Essay writing

·       “If you are given unlimited resources to develop Nanotechnology products, what do you want to do?”

·       Lecture. PowerPoint and videos.

·       Discussion

o        Fabrication methods.

o        SEM.

o        Lecture: Dr. Chiao’s micro Dallas Cowboy stadium.

 

 

Lesson #5, June 13

·          Topic:

·       Transducers

·          Objectives

·       Question: How to apply nanowires for sensing applications

·          Lecture content

·       Principles of resistors

·       Pressure sensors using piezoresistive wires

·       Tire pressure sensors, microphones, fingerprint sensors, brain pressure sensors, artery blood pressure sensors, artificial hearts, engine pressure sensors, airplane pressure monitoring, car seat sensors, piano performance sensors, smart shoes and CPR sensors

·          Activities

·       Essay writing

·       “If you are designing a nano-robot to treat cancer tumor, what characters the robot should have? Also illustrate your idea with drawing.

·       Lecture about learning, attitudes and careers.

·       Dr. Chiao to give lectures about maturity, humble attitudes toward competition and learning, and self-confidence.

·       Lecture. PowerPoint and videos.

·       Assignment over the weekend

·       “Design, illustrate and justify an application using nanowire pressure sensors.”

·       Discussion

·       What to expect in a technical proposal (in reference of the weekend assignment).

 

 

Lesson #6, June 16

·          Topic:

·       Review

·       Ethics and societal impacts of Nanotechnology

·          Objectives

·       Question: Environmental, ethical and societal impacts of using Nanotechnologies

·          Lecture content

·        Magnetic nanoparticles used for cancer detection and treatment.

·          Activities

·       Essay writing

·       “Do you think Nanotechnology will have potential risks in ethics and economics? Why?”

·       Presentation of the assignment over the weekend

·       “Design, illustrate and justify an application using nanowire pressure sensors.”

·       Lecture. PowerPoint and videos.

·       Debate

o        Boundaries in Nanotechnology applications

o        Societal impacts and awareness

o        How to prevent improper uses of Nanotechnologies

o        Who decides the policies of Nanotechnologies

o        Global environments and how to regulate Nanotechnologies in global markets

 

 

Lesson #7, June 17

·          Topic:

·       Semiconductor fabrication

·       Cleanroom

·          Objectives

·       Question: How to mass-produce micro and nanodevices?

·          Lecture content

·       ICs

·       Photolithography – photoresist, mask aligner,

·       Deposition – evaporation, sputtering and oxidation

·       Etching - DRIE

·       Silicon run video

·       How clean is clean? Cleanroom and uses.

·          Activities

·       Lecture. PowerPoint and videos.

·       Discussion about integration of fabrication techniques

 

 

Lesson #8, June 18

·          Topic:

·       MEMS

·       MEMS fabrication and design

·          Objectives

·       Question: What is microelectromechanical system?

·          Lecture content

·       What is MEMS

·       Airbag sensors

·       Accelerometers

·       3-D visualization

·       How to design 3-D structures

·          Activities

·       Lecture. PowerPoint and videos.

·       Discussion and hands-on work

o        Origami – micro 3-D structures

o        Hinge designs – fixed hinges, hinge-up and hinge-down designs

o        Connection between layers of materials

 

 

Lesson #9, June 19

·          Topic:

·       MEMS actuators

·          Objectives

·       Question: How do small things move?

·       Team project to build spirit and exercise engineering strategy such as time and resource management and leadership

·          Lecture content

·       Accelerometers (Newton's law)

·       Thermal dynamics

·       Electrostatics

·          Activities

·       Lecture. PowerPoint and videos.

·       Discussion – design consideration

·       Group activities – hands-on work

·          Spaghetti project – use spaghetti and masking tape to make 3-D towers. The goal is to build the tallest tower.

·          Organization, team work and management of time/resource/team players’ roles.

 

 

Lesson #10, June 20

·          Topic:

·       Microfluidics

·          Objectives

·       Question: How to identify disease using micro and nanotechnologies?

·          Lecture content

·       DNA

·       Gene chips, DNA chips, biomarkers, implantable sensors

·       Fluidics

·       Cell interaction in micro and nano environments

·          Activities

·       Lecture. PowerPoint and videos.

·       Discussion

o        Potential applications of microfluidics

o        Future personal healthcare design

·       Assignment two page writing and illustration

·    Research a specific topic about Nanotechnology in terms of

o        What is the technology?

o        What is the application?

o        Justify applications and their impacts

o        What will be the advantages and disadvantages of such nanotechnology?

 

 

Lesson #11, June 23

·          Topic:

·       Group project competition

·          Objectives

·       Question: Team dynamics and exercise the knowledge learned

·       Learn about adaptive systems

·          Lecture content

·       Present challenges (2)

·       Create a macro model of a microstructure that is modular and adaptive

·       Recreate the structure so it can support the weight of a water balloon

·          Activities

·       Present first challenge

o        3 students per team

o        Give 20 minutes to work on the challenge

o        Each team present results

·       Present second challenge

o        Regroup to another 3 students per team

o        Give 20 minutes to work on the challenge

o        Each team present results

 

 

Lesson #12, June 24

·          Topic:

·       Electromagnetic waves

·       Wireless communication

·          Objectives

·       Question: What are waves?

·       Question: Why wireless?

·          Lecture content

·       Electromagnetic waves

·       Antenna and radar

·       Modulation: AM and FM

·       RFID

·          Activities

·       Presentation of the weekend assignment

·       Lecture. PowerPoint and videos.

·       Discussion

o        Making antennas

o        Remote sensing applications (car, airplane, homeland security)

o        Design your next generation of wireless phones

o        Tags applications

·          Vote for tomorrow’s lecture topics

 

 

Lesson #13, June 25

·          Topic:

·       Suggested topics by students

·          Objectives

·       Demonstration: How to do research?

·          Lecture content

·       The requested topic

·       How to form questions?

·       Where do we start to look for answers?

·       How to organize information?

·       How to search information?

·       How to realize the ideas?

·       What is Intellectual property and how to apply patents?

·          Activities

·       Lecture. PowerPoint and videos.

·       Discussion

o        Lecture topic.

o        How to learn from errors?

o        How do you learn?

 

 

Lesson #14, June 26

·          Topic:

·       Brain-computer interfaces

·          Objectives

·       Question:  Can we build a computer to read our mind directly?

·          Lecture content

·       Neurosensor and neurostimulator

·       Neuroscience

·       Brian computer interfaces

·       MEMS electrodes

·       Wireless communication

·       Coding and recognition of neuronal signals

·       Prosthetic cochlear

·       Prosthetic retina

·          Activities

·       Lectures and videos

·       Discussion

o        Potential applications

o        Mind reading machines?

·       Debate

o        Mind reading vs control

o        Societal impacts

o        Privacy issues

o        Medicine issues

 

 

Lesson #15, June 27

·          Topic:

·       Bio-inspired system

·       Imagineering

·          Objectives

·       Question:  Can we build micro/nano-machine imitating animals?

·       Realize “reality vs fantasy” in engineering

·          Lecture content

·       Inchworm actuators

·       Artificial eyes

·       Electronic noses

·       Self assembly mechanism

·       From imagination to engineering

·       Steps to realize a project

·       Constrains in engineering

·          Activities

·       Discussion

o        Flying machines

o        Protein engines

·       Ideas and brainstorming sessions

·       Integration of knowledge

·          Post test

JC Chiao © 2007 and 2008 Copyright

Created by J.C. Chiao