Nanosystems engineering

• Account for nanofocusing of light and analyze the interaction between super-focused THz radiation and 2D materials on the nanoscale
• Calculate mechanical and surface properties of atomically thin carbon nanomaterials and use this to optimise a graphene nanosensor
• Describe the formation and applications of ferroelectric domain structures
• Describe how impedance flow cytometry can be used to gain information on cell membrane structure
• Describe how electrical fields can be used to guide nanoparticles to specific locations
• Analyse the behaviour of DNA molecules confined in nanofluidic channels
• Describe optothermal solute and solvent transport in nanofluidic devices
• Describe optical properties and key nano-optic phenomena of nanostructured materials.
• Analyse the properties of surface plasmons for biochemical sensing applications
• Analyse nano and biosystems using data from in situ transmission electron microscopy

In this course, you will learn about nanosystems—how they work and how they can be applied in practice.

A “nanosystem” is a system whose function depends on one or more of its components or materials being smaller than 100 nm. Nanosystems are used throughout our daily lives, where they solve problems related to health, environment, safety, communication, computation, research and much more. A mobile phone is a great example of an object packed with nanotechnology in order to function. To be able to understand and design nanosystems yourself, you must understand how the materials and their nanoscale dimensions determine how—and how well—the nanosystem performs.

The course covers 7 selected themes, through which you will learn how different parts of your foundational knowledge in materials and physics come into play in nanosystems, while also gaining insight into current and exciting materials and technologies. The seven themes are:

(1) Mechanical graphene sensors (2D materials/graphene, adhesion, friction, nanomechanics)
(2) Biological nanosystems (biosensor essentials, impedance flow cytometry, dielectrophoretic manipulation, microfluidics)
(3) Nano-optical systems (surface plasmon polaritons, photonic crystals, metasurfaces, sensing)
(4) Nanoelectronic properties of 2D materials (optical spectroscopy, nanolocalization of light, nanoscale conductivity, nonlocal response)
(5) Nanofluidic systems for biomolecules (entropy, diffusiophoresis, semiflexible polymers, Brownian motion)
(6) Electron microscopy of nanosystems and biological materials (TEM, liquid phase TEM, nucleation and growth of nanostructures)
(7) Ferroelectric systems (ferroelectric polarization, domains, domain wall motion, anisotropy)

As you can see, these themes give you an understanding of a wide range of really useful concepts, materials, and techniques that will benefit you later on.

The teaching is an interactive mix of lectures, discussions, small projects, and problem-solving sessions, where you will be challenged in many different ways.

Through six homework assignments, you will work more deeply with the material and become familiar with the complex challenges and their significance in selected nanosystems.

10300/10303/10317, or equivalent courses

Lectures as well as exercises solved during the lectures and at home.

Minimum: 10, Maximum: 40.

Please be aware that this course has a minimum requirement for the number of participants needed, in order for it to be held. If these requirements are not met, then the course will not be held. Furthermore, there is a limited number of seats available. If there are too many applicants, a pool will be created for the remainder of the qualified applicants, and they will be selected at random. You will be informed 8 days before the start of the course, whether you have been allocated a spot.