None
Friday, 13 May 2011

The University of Western Australia kicked off ANFF national week, a celebration of advances in fabrication technology for micro and nano-technology, that is, the art of creating structures 1000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair.

The eight nodes of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) are each holding celebrations and open days showcasing the networks facilities and expertise in the processing of hard materials (metals, semiconductors, and ceramics), biological or soft materials (such as polymers) and transforming them into functional devices such as sensors, medical devices, nano-photonics and nano-electronics.

A success story from the Western Australia Node of ANFF developed a new class of infra-red sensors at UWA.  Their system is the equivalent of a digital colour video camera, but operating in the infrared part of the spectrum rather than the visible.

Using ANFF facilities, these spectrometers were miniaturised essentially producing a ‘spectrometer on a chip'.  The technology is now lightweight, robust, compact, fast accurate and inexpensive.

This new class of sensor will be a core component of future allied combat capabilities and has wider applications in biomedical imaging, environmental monitoring, mining, viticulture and agriculture.

Other areas of ANFF research include the development of a quantum computer which promises exponential increases in processing speed over today's computers, a ‘nanopatch' that delivers vaccines directly onto the skin without the need for an injection and microrobots to aid non-invasive and exploratory surgery.

"The ANFF provides a tool-kit of state-of-the-art facilities and the highest level of expert support for Australian researchers, industry and entrepreneurs.  It supports each stage of the discovery process from fundamental research to manufacturing of prototypes and exists to keep Australia at the forefront of science, technology development and innovation," WA node Director Professor Lorenzo Faraone said.

Established in 2007 under the Australian Government's National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy, ANFF joins 19 institutions to form a national network of eight Nodes.

UWA, which officially opened its ANFF facility in March this year, provides state-of-the-art infrared (IR) technology and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication processes for industry and the broader Australian and international research communities.  These UWA-based capabilities are in high demand and unique in Australia.

Media references

Professor Mariusz Martyniuk (+61 8)  6488 1905
(UWA School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering)
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716

Tags

Channels
Events — Media Statements — Research — University News
Groups
Faculty of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences — The Engineering Essential