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News & Events

Scientists engineer a functional optical lens out of 2D materials | UW News

Arka Majumdar, a UW assistant professor of physics and of electrical and computer engineering and faculty member in the Institute for Nano-Engineered Systems, published a new paper in the journal Nano Letters announcing that his group, in collaboration with researchers at National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan, has constructed functional metalenses that are one-tenth to one-half the thickness of the wavelengths of light that they focus. Their metalenses, which were constructed out of layered 2D materials, were as thin as 190 nanometers — less than 1/100,000ths of an inch thick. The team’s prototype metalenses were all built at WNF.

Introducing a Higher Resolution 3D Printer

Researchers and engineers across many fields, including optics, medicine, fluidics and mechanics, are increasingly interested in creating nanoscale parts for a variety of different applications. However, conventional equipment cannot fabricate three-dimensional nanostructures with sufficiently high resolution. The Washington Nanofabrication Facility is excited to offer users access to the Nanoscribe 3D Printer, a cutting-edge lithography system that produces unique 3D structures with 500nm resolution. This two-photon laser writer allows for additive manufacturing and maskless lithography within the same device. Its high…

Nano Day 2018 @Pacific Science Center

WNF is once again collaborating with the Pacific Science Center to host Seattle’s annual Nano Day celebration. Oct 6, 2018 | 10:00AM-4:00PM | Pacific Science Center | Ackerley Family Gallery Come learn about nanotech with fun, kid-friendly and hands-on activities! Meet University of Washington students and researchers who are working to invent the future of nanotechnology. Please note that in order to attend the event, you’ll need to purchase a General Admission ticket to the Pacific Science Center, which gives you access to many other exhibitions….

Making humanity’s challenges smaller and smaller: UW launches Institute for Nano-Engineered Systems | UW News

Former WNF director Karl Bohringer is leading new nanotechnology institute dedicated to the development of solutions to the field’s most pressing challenges: the manufacturing of scalable, high-yield nano-engineered systems for applications in information processing, energy, health and interconnected life.

WNF celebrates completion of $37M remodel project

On October 24, 2017, The University of Washington National Nanotechnology Coordinated Structure (NNCI) Washington Nanofabrication Facility (WNF) officially opened the doors of its remodeled facility – a 15,000 square-foot space that offers an open-access cleanroom and expert resources to users. The environment further enhances the shared discovery and dissemination of new technologies focused on nanotechnology and fabrication processes.

Flexible ‘skin’ can help robots, prosthetics perform everyday tasks by sensing shear force | UW News

Engineers from the University of Washington and UCLA have developed a flexible sensor “skin” that can be stretched over any part of a robot’s body or prosthetic to accurately convey information about shear forces and vibration that are critical to successfully grasping and manipulating objects. The new stretchable electronic skin was manufactured at the UW’s Washington Nanofabrication Facility. It is made from the same silicone rubber used in swimming goggles. The rubber is embedded with tiny serpentine channels — roughly half the width of a human hair — filled with electrically conductive liquid metal that won’t crack or fatigue when the skin is stretched, as solid wires would do.

Nano Day 2017 @Pacific Science Center

You’re Invited! The UW WNF is proud to announce we have collaborated with the Pacific Science Center to bring Seattle’s 1st Nano Day celebration. Join us // October 7th, 2017 10:00AM-6:00PM // Pacific Science Center // Ackerley Family Gallery Come learn about nanotech with fun, kid-friendly and hands-on activities! Please note that in order to attend the event, you’ll need to purchase a General Admission ticket to the Pacific Science Center, which gives you access to many other exhibitions. Click here to…