Nanotechnology is the science of designing and creating devices with structures and details that are in the nanometer size scale (typically defined as 100 nm or less). This is less than ¼ the wavelength of visible light. The most prevalent structures are integrated circuits or microchips, which currently (2025) have feature sizes just under 2 nm. The ability to store large amounts of data in small devices is made possible by this technology.

Other applications include specialty design surfaces such as optical thin films, or “functionalized” surfaces of nanostructured features that have special properties, such as hydrophobicity (water repellent), hydrophilicity (readily absorb water), or special designs (such as micropillar arryas) designed to trap and hold bacterias and viruses. Microfluidic designs are designed with special liquid flow features that allow devices such as a “lab on a chip” to be created.

 

The UVU nanotechnology program was initiated through a $704K grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation, which lasted for five years from 2017 – 2022. The goals of this grant were to:

• Establish nanotechnology education courses at UVU,
• Create realistic interactive virtual reality program that can be used to train students in basic nanotechnology procedures, and
• Hols a workshop to display the products of this grant and to explore the applications of virtual reality in other areas of technology.

Use the navigation tabs in the bar at the top of this page to explore the products of this grant. Two tracks of nanotechnology course were developed :

PHYS 1600, appropriate for science novices and requiring only college algebra fluency in mathematics, and

PHYS 2800, with a more advanced introduction assuming the student has achieved a good background in physics and chemistry, and is able to solve problems requiring a basic understanding of calculus.

 

The PRACTICE tab will take you to three nanotechnology interactive simulations that were created at UVU, for engaged learning in

Sputter deposition and vacuum technology, using a Perkin Elmer 2400 RF sputter deposition tool in tandem with and diffusion high vacuum pump.

Electron microscope operation using the UVU Tescan Vega 3 microscope, to teach fundamentals of capturing useful images of structures including how to work with stigmation, working distance, and focus.

Photolithography using photoresist applied with a Laurell spin coater, exposure on an ABM mask aligner, and development processes to create copies of micro-patterns on substrates of glass, silicon wafers, etc.

 

The WORKSHOP tab will take you to the repository of recordings from the workshop held on May 14, 2021, entitled: Developing VR Simulations for Teaching Nanotechnology Instrumentation. This half-day workshop included information on how the UVU simulations were developed, and have an interesting variety of applications VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) from speakers at several U.S. colleges and universities, as well as an introduction to a world-class facility in Australia, the Australian National Fabrication Facility, that has assembled an incredible collection of instruments for advanced micro- and nanofabrication.