Environmental monitoring with nanobio membranes

Drying of microconfined droplet of DNA-capped nanoparticles leads to the formation of the thinnest possible free-standing nanoparticle superlattice membranes. 

October 2011

Associate Professor Wenlong Cheng’s Fellowship project aims to develop intelligent nanobio membranes which are as thin as possible for applications in environmental monitoring. He will address this problem by a combined top-down lithography (photolithography) and bottom-up self-assembly (DNA-programmable materials synthesis).

The photolithography, e-beam lithography and focused-ion-beam lithography tools as well as atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microsopy and confocal microscopy will be used in conjunction with the biological labs available at MCN.

It is hoped this work will lead to smart, ultrathin, multifunctional nanobio membranes and improved technologies in seawater desalination with low energy consumption, as well as at-home, lightweight, foldable toxic gas detectors with high sensitivity.