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Summary: Nanotechnology instrumentation refers to the specialized tools and techniques used in the field of nanotechnology to study, manipulate, and characterize nanoscale materials and structures. These instruments are designed to operate at the nanoscale level, allowing scientists and engineers to observe and interact with matter at the atomic and molecular levels. The instrumentation encompasses a wide range of devices and techniques. Some common examples include scanning and transmission electron microscopes, scattering and spectroscopic techniques, particles size analyzers, nanofabrication tools, among others. These tools empower scientists and engineers to explore the unique properties of nanoscale materials, understand their behavior, and engineer new materials and devices with enhanced functionalities.
Introductory Slides: Intro to Nanotechnology Instrumentation
Other Resources:
Intro to Nanotechnology Instrumentation
Intro to Nanotechnology Instrumentation
Intro to Nanoscience Instrumentation.pptxAssociated Materials
Other Resources: Remotely Accessible Instruments for Nanotechnology (RAIN)
Other Resources: Remotely Accessible Instruments for Nanotechnology (RAIN)
Teachers from our fully virtual professional development workshop in 2020 participated in a remote instrumentation demonstration. Remotely Accessible Instruments for Nanotechnology (RAIN) allows students to access and control microscopes, like FESEM-field emission scanning electron microscopes, and analytical tools, like EDS-energy (X-ray) dispersive spectroscopy, to look at nano-sized materials from the ease of classrooms, or even home computers, all across the country. Students control the tools over the Internet in real-time and with the assistance of an experienced engineer at the microscope advising over video conferencing software. More information about RAIN is available on their website (http://nano4me.org/remoteaccess).
Other Resources: RTNN Take-out Science
Other Resources: RTNN Take-out Science
Take-out Science is a program designed to provide you with “take-out” access to RTNN's nanotechnology tools and experts. RTNN streamed and subsequently posted 15 shows focused on different themes. All shows were designed with K-12 audiences in mind.
Other Resources: Links to Additional Instrumentation Resources (for the excited overachievers)
Other Resources: Links to Additional Instrumentation Resources (for the excited overachievers)
Below are some more advanced resources about nanotechnology instrumentation
“MyScope Outreach” page – Thermo Fisher / AMMRF collaboration with answers to basic questions on microscopy
“MyScope Explore” – a virtual SEM where you can “load” different type of samples
Hitachi “Inspire STEM Education" – Teaching tools for teaching SEM operation
“Nanotechnology, A Maker’s Course” – a Coursera course that introduces and demonstrates various nano-fabrication and -characterization tools
Other Resources: Taking a Look at the Everyday World with Dual Beam FIB-SEM
Other Resources: Taking a Look at the Everyday World with Dual Beam FIB-SEM
Taking a Look at the Everyday World with Dual Beam FIB-SEM consists of two parts.
Part I of the video gives an overview of the Dual Beam FIB-SEM and the basic theory of the electron beam column.
Part II of the video covers the basic theory of the ion beam column and practical applications of the instrument.
This video was developed by Ya-Peng Yu an instrument specialist with the Nanoscale Characterization and Fabrication Laboratory (NCFL) and NanoEarth, the National Center for Earth and Environmental Nanotechnology Infrastructure, a node of the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI), an NSF-funded network of 16 centers spread throughout the United States serving as user facilities for cutting edge nanotechnology research. NanoEarth and the NCFL are part of Virginia Tech's Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS).
Other Resources: 2022 NNCI Nanoscience in the Earth & Environmental Sciences Research Community Workshop
Other Resources: 2022 NNCI Nanoscience in the Earth & Environmental Sciences Research Community Workshop
NanoEarth recently hosted a virtual workshop that had lots of instrumentation related content. An overview of the workshop is below and all workshop materials are video recordings are available on this webpage.
Workshop Overview
Nanoscience is the study of natural and artificial materials at extremely small scales where novel properties emerge. In addition to creating faster and more powerful computers, new discoveries in nanoscience research are enabling technologies that are critical to solving issues related to energy, climate, human health, and more. However, researchers in the Earth, environmental, agriculture, and water sciences, as well as related fields tend to be underrepresented in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Increased participation would lead to new solutions to important societal problems related to more sustainable food production, clean soil and water, energy production and storage, and climate change, as well as deeper understanding of Earth and planetary processes and environmental systems.
This workshop demonstrated the practical aspects of applying the tools and knowledge of nanoscience to study planetary and environmental samples. Specifically, the focus was on using electron imaging, spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction methods to study natural materials at the nanoscale. The workshop content was presented as two case studies: 1) nanoparticles in sediments collected from an active drinking water reservoir, and 2) nanoscale structures in a meteorite sample. Topics covered included sample collection in the field, sample preparation/preservation, and instrumental data acquisition, reduction, and representation.
Workshop Goals
The goal of Day 1 was to introduce the audience to environmental nanoscience research using a case study that was explored through a series of demonstrations (synchronous and asynchronous videos), discussions with live polls, and Q&A sessions. There was an emphasis on sampling from environmental systems and the advantage of integrating data from multiple characterization methods including powder x-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning and transmission electron microscopy methods (SEM and TEM).
The goal of Day 2 was to introduce the participants to an example of using a nanoscience approach to understand a solid Earth material. The case study explored a meteorite sample prepared in the form of a thin section using a combination of SEM-FIB (focused ion beam), TEM, and electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA).
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