We are delighted to see the innovative work being done at Loughborough University, where physicists have skillfully created what they believe to be the “world’s smallest violin” using their advanced nanolithography system, centered around our NanoFrazor technology.
The platinum violin, measuring a mere 35 microns long and 13 microns wide – small enough to fit within the width of a human hair – serves as a striking demonstration of the precision and capabilities of the NanoFrazor system. This intricate work was undertaken as a test project to showcase the University’s new capacity for building and studying structures at the nanoscale.
Professor Kelly Morrison, Head of Loughborough’s Physics department, highlighted that while the miniature violin is a playful endeavor, the process has provided valuable insights for their ongoing research. The nanolithography system, with the NanoFrazor at its core, utilizes thermal scanning probe lithography. This technique employs a heated, ultra-sharp tip to “write” highly precise patterns onto a surface by burning a design into a resist layer. Subsequent development, platinum deposition, and cleaning reveal the final nanostructure.
Loughborough University’s system will now support a variety of research projects. These include exploring alternatives to magnetic data storage and investigating the use of heat for faster, more energy-efficient data storage and processing – all aimed at developing the next generation of computing devices.
We congratulate the team at Loughborough University, including Professor Kelly Morrison, Dr. Naëmi Leo, and Dr. Arthur Coveney, on this fascinating achievement. It’s a testament to their expertise and a clear illustration of how the NanoFrazor empowers researchers to push the boundaries of nanoscience and materials research. We look forward to seeing the future discoveries their work will unlock.
Explore the science behind this in the blog post of Professor Morrison.
