UCSB Researchers Secure $1.15M Grant for Nanoscale 3D Printing

Researchers at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) have been awarded a $1.15 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to acquire a state-of-the-art 3D nanoprinting system. This new technology is expected to facilitate novel approaches to nano- and micro-manufacturing of intricate structures and devices. The system is capable of printing polymer lenses less than 50 micrometers wide onto the edge of a chip and will be integrated into the UCSB Nanofabrication Facility.

The research team, led by Galan Moody, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, includes co-PIs Marley Dewey (bioengineering), Andrew Jayich (physics), Sumita Pennathur (mechanical engineering), and Andrea Young (physics). Each researcher plans to utilize the system for their respective projects. These include developing new photonic chip designs, creating patterned biomaterials, microprinting ion trap structures for optical clocks, and fabricating 3D microfluidic channels on chips for electrical control applications.

Professor Moody highlighted the system's unique capabilities, noting that while 10-nm-resolution lithography is available commercially, it lacks the ability to produce complex 3D structures at nanoscale resolution and high speeds required for rapid prototyping of next-generation devices. The ability to create true three-dimensional structures at this scale is anticipated to unlock new manufacturing possibilities.

The team also intends to provide training on the new equipment to UCSB students and students from local community colleges, fostering broader access to advanced nanoscale manufacturing techniques.