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University of Washington buys multimillion-dollar tool for nanotech research

An etching of the UW seal made using an electron beam lithography machine at Cornell University. Around 100 of these seals would fit on the end of a human hair.

The University of Washington will acquire an electron beam lithography machine, a key instrument required to build devices at the nanometer scale. A $1.3 million gift from the Washington Research Foundation provides about half the cost of the $2.5 million electron beam lithography machine, which will be the only one of its kind in the Northwest.

"The electron beam lithography machine will give researchers at the University of Washington the ability to work on nanoscale projects with a broad range of possible commercial applications," said Ron Howell, CEO of the Washington Research Foundation. "This tool will place the university among a handful of institutions with such a capability. Ultimately, it could lead to the creation of many new companies and products."

The Washington Research Foundation was created in 1981 to support research and entrepreneurship at state research institutions. The gift is among the largest gifts in its history.

Nanoscale devices have promising commercial potential for solar cell materials, new displays, memory chips, photonic devices and biological sensors, among many other applications.

"Our region has the capacity for being a serious player in nanoscience. This is a key piece that will allow Pacific Northwest researchers to compete in this field in the international arena," said Matt O’Donnell, dean of the College of Engineering.

Hannah Hickey [email protected]

Full Story: http://uwnews.org/article.asp?articleID=43466

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