Stevens Awarded NSF Grants for Nano/Micro Devices

Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J., has received two grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for nano/micro device fabrication and nanosensor development. Researchers working on the project include principal investigator and assistant professor Yong Shi (Mechanical Engineering), professor Stefan Strauf (Physics), and associate professor Eui-Hyeok Yang (Mechanical Engineering). Over the three-year period of the grant the team hopes to achieve uniform and highly selective anisotropic etching capabilities for research and training in fabrication of micro/nanoscale sensors, actuators and devices. By using an inductively coupled plasma etching system, the scientists will augment existing micro/nano fabrication capabilities within Stevens' MicroDevices Laboratory, such as nano- and microdevices for sensing, communications and medicine, single-electron carbon nanotube memory devices, nanoengineered surfaces for microfluidic and nanobioscience applications, and bottom-up prototyping of microchemical systems. Additionally, Shi was awarded a three-year grant of $230,900 for his work using nanotechnology to create acoustic emission sensors for real-time structural monitoring. The proposed sensors are composed of nanoscale active fiber composites and the project involves the design, manufacturing and characterization of the sensors consisting of piezoelectric nanofibers. The goal is to produce advanced, highly sensitive acoustic sensors that can be embedded in or attached to the surface of structures.