Pennsylvania’s NSF ATE Regional Center for Nanofabrication Education

A National Resource for Nanotechnology Education

Presentation to the National Center for Learning and Teaching

in Nanoscale Science and Engineering

February 9, 2007

Need for Nanotechnology Workers

• The nation will need more than 1 million nanotechnology workers by 2012 (Breslau, 2002; Roco, 2002).

• Sectors that are driving this demand include:– Industries that traditionally use micro- and nanotechnology

• microelectronics• information storage• optoelectronics• electroceramics

– Industries created by this technology• micro- and nano-electromechanical systems (MEMs and NEMs)• nanobiotechnology, nanoelectronics, and nanomaterials start-

ups– Industries that had never used nanotechnology

• pharmaceuticals• chemicals• forest products• stone, clay and glass• textiles

Features of the Pennsylvania Center• Key Partners:

– Commission for Community Colleges– State System of Higher Education– Penn State

• State funding since 1998• Industry-led since inception• NSF ATE Center since 2001• Emphasis on broad applications• Capstone semester at Penn State • Leveraging the NSF NNIN• Degree programs at 27 institutions• 2+2+2 educational pathways• Educator and industry workshops • Summer Nanotech Camps• Educational cleanroom at Penn State • Remote access to Penn State

equipment• New courseware for use anywhere• National resource role since 2005

Industrial Advisory Board

PlextronicsPPG Corporate Science & Technology GroupRohm and Haas CompanyRJ Lee GroupSaladax Biomedical Inc.Schott North America, Inc.Seagate TechnologySemiconductor Industry AssociationSolid State MeasurementsTyco ElectronicsUS SteelVeeco Metrology Group

Air Products and ChemicalsAgere SystemsBayer Material Science LLCCrystalplex Corp.DiamonexEdlon, Inc.Fairchild SemiconductorHanson Technologies, Inc.Imerys USA Inc.Imiplex LLCJohnson & JohnsonKurt Lesker Co.Lockheed Martin Space SystemsMerck & Co.Minerals Technologies Inc.

Capstone Semester• 18-credit, hands-on

experience offered continuously at Penn State site of the NNIN

• Emphasis on generic skills for any application of nanotechnology (or micro-technology)

• Courses are cross-listed in the catalogues of all partner institutions

• Support associate and baccalaureate programs at partner institutions

Capstone Semester Courses (1)

• Materials, Safety, and Equipment Overview for Nanofabrication– Provides an overview of basic nanofabrication processing

and materials handling procedures with a focus on safety, environment, and health.

• Basic Nanofabrication Processes– Provides an overview of the equipment and processes used

to fabricate materials, devices, and structures at the nanoscale using top-down, bottom-up, and hybrid approaches.

• Materials in Nanotechnology– Addresses materials preparation approaches including self-

assembly, colloidal chemistry, catalytic nanowire and nanotube formation, thermal growth, physical vapor deposition, and chemical vapor deposition.

Capstone Semester Courses (2)

• Lithography for Nanofabrication– Covers all aspects of pattern transfer. Approaches covered

include probe lithography, stamp lithography, nano-imprinting, e-beam lithography, and optical lithography.

• Materials Modification in Nanofabrication– Covers materials modification from hydrophobicity and

hydrophilicity to rapid thermal annealing, and examines the impact of such process on phenomena from wetting angles to overall electrical, mechanical, optical, and chemical properties.

• Characterization, Testing of Nanofabricated Structures and Materials– Addresses nanofabrication characterization and testing,

emphasizing basic measurement approaches from optical microscopy to scanning probe microscopies and scanning electron microscopy.

Summer Nanotech Camps for Secondary Students

• One-day and three-day summer Nanotech Camps offered since 1999

• 987 PA students have attend summer three-day Nanotech Camps to date

• Special emphasis on students from disadvantaged minority communities

Professional Development of Educators and Industry

Personnel• 708 educators and

industry representatives have attended 3-day workshops to date

• Nanotechnology experiment kits for use in secondary schools under development

• Nanotechnology being incorporated into pre-service science teacher education in PA

Summary of Results to Date

• 33 associate degree programs, including 12 community colleges, Millersville U., Lock Haven U., California U. of PA, Penn College, and Penn State campuses

• 21 Baccalaureate programs at 7 State System universities, Penn College, Penn State Berks, and Penn State UP

• 708 educators and industry personnel completed three-day workshops

• 987 secondary students completed Nanotech Camps• 405 students have completed the capstone semester

– 62% employed– 36% continuing their education– 2% seeking employment

• About 200 students currently in pipeline to the capstone semester

Diversity of Disciplines Housing Degree Programs in Nanotechnology

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20

30

40

50

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2001 2005 Jan-07

Year

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Technology Mgmt

Mathematics

Engineering

Biology

Industrial Tech.

Chemistry

Manufacturing

Physics

Science

Electronics

PA Nanotechnology Companies Who Have Hired NMT Graduates

II-IV CorporationAgereAllied FuelingAlden ProductsAmedeoAvail TechnologiesBioElectroSpecB. BraunCabotCentocorCorreg SensorsCyopticsDRS Laurel TechnologiesDana Corporation

NanoHorizonsOptelliosPhilips Medical SystemsPlextronicsProbes UnlimitedPPLRhetech Seagate TechnologiesSI InternationalSpectrum TechnologiesTextron LycomingTranseneWestfalia TechnologiesXactix

Doucette IndustriesFairchild SemiconductorsFincor AutomationFirst EnergyGas TechnologiesGlaxoSmithKlineHershey Medical CenterJohnson MattheyKeystone EngineeringLockheed MartinLucent TechnologiesLutron ElectronicsMembrane AssaysMerck

What Employers Saying About Associate Degree Graduates

• We recently hired an NMT graduate about 3 months ago and he just hit the floor running. He’s been great. (Plextronics, Inc.)

• We like the self starting type of individual that comes out. They are able to think in a very broad sense. (Seagate Technology)

• We take these NMT people like that! Boom! Right off the top! (Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.)

• These NMT technicians have more processing experience, and they see the big semiconductor picture. (Fairchild Semiconductor)

• The NMT experience hits all the basics. The scope exceptional. We look for people who’ve gone through the NMT experience. (Verimetra, Inc)

• The NMT students are getting a broad background. No one else seems to be doing this. (Xactix, Inc.)

• In our environment, a person like this would be very, very good. (National Institute of Standards and Technology)

Taking the National Pulse (2004)• There is strong and

growing interest among community colleges throughout the nation.

• Relatively few nanofabrication research facilities are available for technician training

• Alternatives to the “centralized facility” model should be a major thrust of any national effort

• Students must be provided with hands-on laboratory experiences

Some Potential Regional Efforts

• Upper Midwest– Dakota County Technical College– University of Minnesota

• Midwest– Rock Valley College– Argonne National Laboratory

• California– College of the Canyons– UCSB

• Florida– St. Petersburg College– University of South Florida

• Iowa– Hawkeye Community College– Iowa State University

• Texas– Del Mar College– Kingwood College– Texas A and M

• Northwest– North Seattle Community

College– University of Washington

• Baltimore-Washington– Community College of

Baltimore County– University of Maryland

National Leadership Role With 2005 Regional Center

Renewal• Assist community and technical colleges

across the nation to develop nanotechnology education programs

• Develop alternatives to the “centralized facility model” for delivery of associate degree level nanotechnology education

• Assist community and technical colleges to develop and deliver nanotechnology training for incumbent workers

• Develop national skill standards for associate degree level nanotechnology workers

Alternatives to Centralized Facilities

• Make capstone semester experiences in centralized facilities available to students wherever possible

• Create parallel alternative educational experiences for students without access to a capstone semester

• New educational clean room with on-line access to AFM, SEM, and other instruments, coupled with new learning tools for hands-on nanotechnology education anywhere

• Develop and disseminate new courses on fundamentals of nanotechnology for delivery with or without access to clean rooms or equipment

• Workshops to prepare community college faculty to use new learning tools and on-line access to Penn State teaching clean room in their classrooms

• New curriculum and learning tools to enable on-site incumbent worker training at industry locations

Educational Nanotechnology Laboratory

• Features– 1,500 sq. ft. of laboratory space– 1,000 sq. ft. class 100,000 clean

room• Equipment

– Atomic Force Microscope *– Scanning Electron Microscope *– Reactive Ion Etcher– Evaporator– Sputtering System– Atmospheric Furnace– Profilometer *– Ellipsometer *– Probe Station *– UV-VIS Spectrophotometer *– Optical Microscope *– Chemical Vapor Deposition System

* Denotes Remote Accessible Equipment

Introduction to Nanoscience Course

1. Describe the societal impacts of nanotechnology on modern society

2. List at least five biological applications of nanotechnology

3. Find, using Internet research, five commercial applications of nanotechnology

4. Describe the structures known as nanotubes and Bucky balls, and one current application of each form

5. Describe the application of nanotechnology to environmental and medical issues

1. Exploring the Atomic Scale

2. Structure3. Chemical Properties of

Nanomaterials4. Electrical Properties of

Nanomaterials5. Quantum Effects6. Building and

Characterizing Nanostructures

7. Biological Applications of Nanoscience

8. Environmental and Societal Impacts of Nanoparticles

9. Career Opportunities in Nanotechnology

Some Learning Outcomes Some Topics

Examine the science underlying nanotechnology, applications to electronic, chemical, and biological fields, and impacts on society

and the environment.

Nanotechnology Skill Standards

• National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education Career Clusters initiative

• Career Clusters organize education around sixteen broad categories that encompass virtually all occupations

• Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) has led skills standards development for manufacturing production technician:

• Manufacturing Processes and Production• Quality Assurance• Maintenance Awareness • Safety

• MSSC production technician certification is now being promoted nationally to education and industry

• Center for Nanofabrication Manufacturing Education is leading nanotechnology component of MSSC production technician certification standards update in 2006-2007

Nanotechnologist Skill Set

• Clean room protocols• Scanning probe microscopy • Electron microscopy • Optical, chemical, and

electrical characterization• Nano-imprinting• E-beam lithography• Self-assembly fabrication• Colloidal chemistry

fabrication• Plasma etching/deposition

fabrication

• Nanowire and nanoparticle fabrication

• Bio-chip fabrication• MEMs and NEMs fabrication• Electrical device fabrication• Health, safety and

environmental concerns• Technical reporting and

documentation• Intellectual property

management• Applications of micro- and

nanotechnology• Teamwork

Incumbent Worker Training for Two Types of Companies

• Companies engaged in, or soon to be engaged in, micro- and nanotechnology

– Deliver one-day nanotechnology overview workshops on-site, employing remote access to laboratory equipment and nanotechnology learning tools

• More traditional companies in industries that are not yet using or even planning to use nanotechnology, but that will very soon be impacted by nanotechnology

– Assist “traditional industry” companies explore applications of nanotechnology to their respective fields

– Survey Pa. companies’ nanotechnology training needs with the goal of planning nanotechnology fabrication/characterization training for incumbent workers