Light-based ‘tractor beam’ assembles materials at the nanoscale

A team led by NanoES faculty member Peter Pauzauskie, a professor of materials science and engineering, has developed a method that could make reproducible manufacturing at the nanoscale possible. The team adapted a light-based technology employed widely in biology — known as optical traps or optical tweezers — to operate in a water-free liquid environment of carbon-rich organic solvents, thereby enabling new potential applications.

Webinar from NCI-Southwest on integrated nanophotonics

NCI-Southwest is co-hosting a webinar on “Integrated Nanophotonics: The Transition to High-Volume Manufacturing and Implications for Workforce Education” presented by Professor Robert Geer from SUNY Polytechnic on October 17 at 1 PM ET. Register!

Celebrating national nanotechnology day: A conversation with Dan Ratner

It’s National Nanotechnology Day! Celebrate by listening to our very own Dan Ratner, UW Professor of Bioengineering, on this week’s podcast from the National Nanotechnology Initiative as he talks about his passion for sharing the awesome power of nanotechnology with the next generation of scientists and engaged citizens.

NNCI image contest celebrates beauty at the nanoscale

In honor of National Nanotechnology Day on October 9th, the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) is hosting the Plenty of Beauty at the Bottom image contest. Referencing Richard Feynman’s 1959 lecture, “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom,” this image contest celebrates the beauty of the micro and nanoscale.

Keep up with nano research: Introducing the NanoES Newsletter

We’ve launched a new quarterly newsletter! Learn about the latest advances in nano-engineering research at UW, new programs and events, as well as updates from the Washington Nanofabrication Facility.

New metasurface design can control optical fields in three dimensions

A team led by NanoES faculty member Arka Majumdar, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and physics, has designed and tested a 3D-printed metamaterial that can manipulate light with nanoscale precision. As they report in a paper published October 4 in the journal Science Advances, their designed optical element focuses light to discrete points in a 3D helical pattern. Designing optical fields in three dimensions could enable creation of ultra-compact depth sensors for self-driving cars, as well as improved components for virtual- or augmented-reality headsets.

Develop cutting-edge photonic and electronic devices at UW

The UW Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering is now accepting applications to its top-ranked graduate program. Students with undergraduate degrees in electrical engineering, physics, applied physics, material science and engineering, nanoengineering, and applied mathematics are encouraged to apply before December 15.

Professor Lih Lin named 2020 Optical Society Fellow

NanoES faculty member Lih Lin, Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, has been awarded an Optical Society Fellowship for 2020 due to the significant technical achievements and contributions she has made in the field of photonics. Dr. Lin has demonstrated pioneering efforts in several new research frontiers, including the research and development of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) optical switching technologies and innovation in solution-processed photonic components and devices.

Seminar: Machine learning in microscopy for materials discovery and design

Tuesday, September 24, 3:30 pm, NanoES 181
Sergei Kalinin, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Functional materials expert Mohammad Malakooti joins NanoES

We are excited to welcome Mohammad Malakooti to UW as an assistant professor in mechanical engineering and NanoES faculty member. The Mechanical Engineering department and NanoES partnered to help bring Malakooti to UW from Carnegie Mellon University where he was a research scientist studying stretchable electronics and flexible devices for wearable computing and human-computer interactions. At UW, Malakooti is developing new methodologies to synthesize and ultimately manufacture stable, mechanically robust, and functional nanomaterials that can be integrated into durable macrostructures in ways that harness their unique nanoscale properties.