Upcoming closure for Easter break
The MCN laboratories will be closed to users for the Easter shutdown from Friday 14 April – Tuesday 18 April (inclusive), and will re-open on Wednesday 19 April 2017
(Access will be granted by special application only)
Please note:
The General Induction & Dangerous Goods Waste Management Induction scheduled for Monday, 17th April have been cancelled, due to the Easter public holiday.
ANFF-VIC is going to National Manufacturing Week 2017
ANFF-VIC is heading to National Manufacturing Week 2017, being held 9-12 May at the Melbourne Conference and Exhibition Centre.
If you’re heading to the show come and visit us at booth #2426, directly next to the Industry 4.0 Theatre.
Trade shows like this are a fantastic place to see the direction in which industry is heading and to demonstrate the application of research conducted at facilities like those within the ANFF network.
We’re going to be showcasing both our services, and the capabilities available across the ANFF network so if you’re interested in finding out more be sure to pop by.
Registration is free, follow this link to skip the queues. There’s plenty of public transport available, as well as parking, head to the NMW website to find out more.
We hope to see you there!
New flagship tools and new capabilities across ANFF-VIC
SwissLitho’s NanoFrazor Explore is the latest addition to MCN’s capabilities list. Image credit: SwissLitho/IBM
New tools and capabilities have recently been added across the ANFF-VIC Node, notably at MCN and La Trobe’s Centre for Materials and Surface Science.
Training and introductory seminars are being planned for the new equipment so stay tuned for further announcements.
MCN has added a new flagship nanolithography tool to its arsenal, with SwissLitho’s NanoFrazor Explore.
The system uses Thermal Scanning Probe Lithography to produce micro/nanoscale structures and patterns with nanometre accuracy.
The NanoFrazor uses a scanning probe, heated to around 1,000ºC to rapidly evaporate a specialised polymer material. By varying the force applied by the scanning the probe as it writes, intricate 3D structures can be created. This allows for the fabrication of optical devices, for example, including aspherical microlenses and tapered waveguides. The technology can be harnessed for a host of potential end applications including plasmonics, nanoelectronics and storage devices to name but a few.
By allowing the heated element to cool — a process that takes microseconds — this same probe can then be used to scan the material’s surface, providing real-time information about its topography.
MCN has also increased its capabilities list with a new wedge bonder, the F&S Bondtec 5832. Suited for medium-scale production packaging, the new system is capable of fully automated wire bonding operations, using integrated pattern recognition technology. The instrument is also suitable for packages with deep-access requirements and can handle a range of wire diameters and types (including ribbon). The 5832 has a broad stage footprint of 150mm x 150mm, 100mm vertical travel of the bond head and positioning accuracy of: 300nm (Z); 2μm (XY).
ANFF-VIC’s La Trobe Hub, the Centre for Materials and Surface Science (CMSS), has installed a new sample mounting system for its XPS and ToF-SIMS surface analysis instruments.
The new system allows for far more efficient and flexible analyses, batched submission of samples, and transfer of samples between XPS and ToF-SIMS without remounting.
At the beginning of 2017, MCN added NeaSPEC’s NeaSNOM. The NeaSNOM is an atomic force microscope which is capable of performing scattering-type Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy (s-SNOM). The s-SNOM technique allows the user to overcome the diffraction limit of conventional light microscopy or spectroscopy. This enables optical measurements at a spatial resolution of 10nm, not only at visible frequencies but also a range of mid-infrared frequencies.
Results of 2016 User Satisfaction Survey
At the end of 2016, MCN conducted its annual User Satisfaction Survey to ensure that the centre is performing to its users’ expectations.
The results show that MCN continues to deliver a high-quality service according to the user cohort, averaging scores of more than 4.2 out of 5 in all key areas including timeliness for tool access, consulting expertise, operating performance, staff communication, and waiting period for training.
The report also showed that the number of tools used on a per user basis grew from 2015, indicating that users are making use of an increasingly diverse tool set. It was particularly encouraging to see the strong usage of new tools that the centre has brought in.
Feedback highlighted a range of “wish-list” tools and capabilities that were in demand, all of which are now being investigated.
MCN would like to thank all participants of the survey and hopes that all users will be adding their input to the 2017 survey which will be organised at the end of the year.
Recent publications
Here’s a collection of the recently published papers that have made use of ANFF-VIC’s open access facilities. To see more of the latest ANFF-enabled research, head to our publications page.
| Title | Journal | Authors |
| A microfluidic system for studying particle deposition during ultrafiltration | Journal of Membrane Science | H. Di, G. Martin and D. Dunstan |
| Energetic deposition, measurement and simulation of graphitic contacts to 6H-SiC | Microelectronics Reliability | H. Tran, M. Kracica, D. McCulloch, E. Mayes, A. Holland and J. Partridge |
| A Green Route to Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Interlayers for High-Performance Solar Cells | Angewandte Chemie | J. Subbiah, V. Mitchell, N. Hui, D. Jones and W. Wong |
| Revealing the sequence of interactions of PuroA peptide with Candida albicans cells by live-cell imaging | Scientific Reports | N. Shagaghi, M. Bhave, E. Palombo and A. Clayton |
Welcoming the new ANFF-VIC Marketing Officer
On behalf of the Victorian Node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF-VIC), MCN is pleased to welcome Tom Eddershaw as the new Marketing and Communications Officer for ANFF-VIC and ANFF.
Tom’s duties will see him heavily interacting with staff and users, promoting the hard-earned fruits of their labour. By creating a range of print and web-based content, Tom will tell the stories of ANFF users and staff, while making sure knowledge of the ANFF network’s capabilities is spread to all researchers.
As MCN offers a perfect location for guest seminars and talks, the Tom will be aiming to increase the amount of these events and helping users organise events of their own.
Tom has a background in science journalism and is very keen to assist users with writing media-ready material and taking/preparing images to accompany this content. He will also being available to offer advice about writing for press, prepping for interviews and science communication in general.
If you have any questions, want to arrange a meeting or just want to say “Hi”, talk to Tom.
Sale pricing extended to July
MCN is continuing its sale prices until the end of July, offering reductions to tool usage and staff assistance.
The sale prices are:
- 25% off all instrument bookings and caps*
- 20% off staff rates*
* (i) discount may be applied on top of existing block discounts, (ii) discount can not be used for block/prepaid usage outside of sale period, (iii) discount does not apply to the cost of consumables.
Information on MCN’s Pricing Policy can be found here. If you have any questions regarding the discounted pricing schedule, please contact us.
Upcoming training and events
In March and April, MCN will be hosting a number of training courses in the MCN boardroom. These sessions are of critical importance to the safety and progression of the Centre’s users, so please save the dates. You don’t need to book for any of the training events unless you intend to bring a large group.
Induction refreshers
Abridged refresher courses are compulsory for all users of the MCN facility and must be completed every 12 months to maintain access. These are held biannually in April and October and last for approximately one hour each. Attendees are asked to bring their access fobs for renewal.
Upcoming dates: Monday 10 April, 2-3pm, Tuesday 11 April, 10-11am, Wednesday 12 April, 2-3pm, and Thursday 13 April, 10-11am.
Occupational Health & Safety Training
OH&S training is available to all users.
Upcoming dates:
Day 1: Wednesday 15 March 9.30am – 5.00pm covering essential OH&S, risk management, and workplace safety inspections.
Day 2: Thursday 16 March – 9.30am – 4.30pm covering ergonomics and manual handling, hazard and incident investigation, hazardous substances and dangerous goods awareness.
Cancelled Induction Training
The General Induction & Dangerous Goods Waste Management Induction scheduled for Monday 17 April have been cancelled due to the Easter public holiday.
The next general induction will be held on 1 May.
And the winner is…
The votes are in, the ANFF-VIC Image of the Year Competition has been won by Dr Tridib Saha for his submission, “Rebel”, following a public vote on our twitter page.
Tridib’s work on improving the efficiency of ultraviolet (UV) sensors produced the image, demonstrating that nanofabrication is not only important, but also easy on the eye.
Tridib’s research required the creation of zinc oxide nanostructures on a piezoelectric crystal, langasite. The result is a ZnO-based thickness shear mode resonator that has demonstrated exciting benefits over predecessor technologies. The device, once refined, could potentially be used to generate low-power UV sensors, and therefore as energy-efficient alternatives for a feast of remote sensing applications.
Tridib’s work was conducted at Monash University Malaysia and characterised in part at the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication (MCN). MCN’s laser Doppler vibrometry equipment was used to take non-contact measurements of the surface of Tridib’s ZnO sensor.
ANFF-VIC would like to thank all of this year’s competitors and all of those who voted. The full submissions list is linked below and make sure you enter next year’s competition.
Description: "SEM images of my optical device which is fabricated using EBL and Ni electroplating on a Si/Si3N4/Au substrate. The structures (triangles) are Nickel which are standing on the gold substrate."
Credit: Alaleh Aminzadeh
Description: "SEM images of my optical device which is fabricated using EBL and Ni electroplating on a Si/Si3N4/Au substrate. The structures (triangles) are Nickel which are standing on the gold substrate."
Credit: Alaleh Aminzadeh
Title: "Astronaut"
Description: "The ‘Astronaut’ shown here is a silica hollow capsule, which is prepared by one step wet chemistry method at room temperature. The nano-scale cute ‘astronaut’ silica capsule is a promising material with potential applications as nanoreactor, template and for sustained release."
Credit: Dashen Dong
Credit: So Hung Huynh (Henry)
Description: Images of a gold substrate used for training of FIB users at MCN. The the "dots/burn marks" were created when the shutter for the ion source did not close properly after using it for imaging. As a result it started to locally degrade the substrate.
Credit: Julian Lloyd
Description: "Micron-scale plant founded during synthesis of Au nanoparticles, it looks like one kind of plant which has several flowers and large leaves."
Credit: Qianqian Shi
Title: “Starry universe”
Description: “One of three from a failed experiment. They were taken purely because I liked them in the artistic way (not the scientific and engineering perspectives). Resist on Si wafer after stamp-substrate separation. Colours are due to thickness variation of the resist on Si. Shapes are the results from the contributions including resist flow, air bubbles and peeling off of resist during stamp-substrate separation."
Credit: Qicheng Hou
Title: “Blooming coral on rainbow bridge”
Credit: Qicheng Hou
Title: “Seaweed” Description: “Three of three from a failed experiment. They were taken purely because I liked them in the artistic way (not the scientific and engineering perspectives). Resist on Si wafer after stamp-substrate separation. Colours are due to thickness variation of the resist on Si. Shapes are the results from the contributions including resist flow, air bubbles and peeling off of resist during stamp-substrate separation.” Experiment: UV nanoimprinting lithography Substrate: Si wafer Procedure: Resist of UV nanoimprinting lithography spin-coated on substrate, printing stamp (quartz, with features) pressed onto the substrate, UV exposure, separate the stamp and substrate, and the features on the stamp should be transferred onto the substrate.
Credit: Qicheng Hou
Title: “Orderly Caviar”
Description: “Successful imprinting on Si wafer, metallic coatings were evaporated after imprinting.”
Credit: Qicheng Hou
Title: “Galaxian in the microworld”
Description: “Successful imprinting on Si wafer conducted, RIE was used after imprinting to etch resist.”
Credit: Qicheng Hou
Description: "One of Three. ZnO micro/nano structures synthesized on silicon substrates using thermal evaporation method. Each of the ZnO structures resemble naturally occuring flora and fauna."
Credit: Tridib Saha
Description: "Two of three. ZnO micro/nano structures synthesized on silicon substrates using thermal evaporation method. Each of the ZnO structures resemble naturally occuring flora and fauna."
Credit: Tridib Saha
Swinburne researcher awarded Victorian Fellowship
Dr Peng-Yuan (George) Wang has been awarded a Victoria Fellowship to assist with an international study mission.
George, who is an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Fellow at Swinburne, has been studying stem cells, nanofabrication, and advanced materials for more than a decade, researching how surface properties influence stem cell behaviour.
He has been making use of the UV/Ozone cleaner and a plasma reactor at the ANFF-Vic Biointerface Engineering Hub based at Swinburne to clean and pretreat surfaces, as well as the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication’s atomic force microscopy (AFM), Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) and confocal microscopy capabilities.
George is one of 12 early career researchers to be awarded the Victoria Fellowship by the Victorian Government valued at up to $18,000. He will visit two world-leading labs in stem cell research and bioengineering in the USA and Canada.
For more details head to the Swinburne website.
