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LEGO LEGO Scanning Scanning

Probe Probe MicroscopeMicroscopeProject Partners:

Mark Lundstrom, NSF Network for Computational Nanotechnology

Supriyo Datta, NASA Institute on Nanotechnology and Computing

George Adams, Birck Nanotechnology CenterJulie Conlon, Department of Physics

Carla Zoltowski, EPICS

Corporate Sponser:

Faculty Advisors:Prof. Michael MellochProf. Ron Reifenberger

Team Members:Charles EvansVarun Sinha

Tarun J. SiripurapuPatrick SweeneyBenjamin Wallace

Jason Valestin

Team TA:Dong Guo

Date:May 8,2004

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-Nanotechnology –

It’s like building with LEGOs at the atomic

scale!

The “2x2” LEGO block forms the basic

building block in any LEGO project

At the nanoscale, atoms form the basic

building blocks

0.03 m

0.0000000003 m

100 million times

smaller

How big is a nanometer?How big is a nanometer?

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What is What is Nanotechnology?Nanotechnology?

The precision placement, measurement, manipulation, and modeling of matter on an extremely small scale

Nanotechnology is a blend of materials science, engineering, physics, chemistry and biology

Examples of nanotechnology in the future: programmable drug delivery system, non-volatile flash memory for computers, and much more

Scanning Probe Microscopes (SPM) provide a topography of tiny substrates allowing one to “see” at the atomic level. The tip of the SPM runs across the landscape and records height change, and then provides a graph of the landscape in which individual atoms can be identified

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Resources UsedResources Used Equipment List:

• LEGO Mindstorms Kit• Personal Computers• 3 axis linear stage w/ stepper motor control boards• Various Electrical Components (diodes, capacitors, resistors) • Assorted LEGO parts• Mirror (Optical Quality)

Software List:• Matlab Version 6.5• LDraw• POVray• Not Quite C Version 2.5 (for programming the LEGO RCX)

Lab Space and Outside Resources:• MSEE289

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Cantilever/Table Cantilever/Table DesignDesign

Progress since last Progress since last semester:semester: Dropped the 3 axis linear Dropped the 3 axis linear

stage so it sits “inside” the stage so it sits “inside” the table, instead of on top of table, instead of on top of itit

Added an additional Added an additional bracket to support the bracket to support the landscape landscape

Redesigned cantilever tip Redesigned cantilever tip to avoid slippingto avoid slipping

Made the table more Made the table more aesthetically appealing by aesthetically appealing by adding a LEGO skirt to adding a LEGO skirt to hide metal and wires.hide metal and wires.

Replaced mirrors on the Replaced mirrors on the cantilever with smaller cantilever with smaller ones to reduce the weightones to reduce the weight

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Software/Control Software/Control DesignDesign

Progress since last semester:Progress since last semester: Graphical User Interface (GUI)Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Made the GUI more aesthetically Made the GUI more aesthetically pleasing and also more child/user pleasing and also more child/user friendlyfriendly

Updated the color scheme and added Updated the color scheme and added logoslogos

CodeCode Condensed and commented the code for Condensed and commented the code for

future use.future use. ImagingImaging

Used POVray and LDraw to create a Used POVray and LDraw to create a more “LEGO-like” image. more “LEGO-like” image.

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Example of a ScanExample of a Scan

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Scanned ImageryScanned Imagery1. Interpolated Scan

3. Generated Image using LDraw & POVray

2. Scan w/ generated points based on LEGO size

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Educational Educational MaterialsMaterials

PostersPosters Created 3 posters to help to Created 3 posters to help to

educate an audience on educate an audience on nanotechnology and SPMs, nanotechnology and SPMs, recent developments, and the recent developments, and the misconceptions associated with misconceptions associated with nanotechnologynanotechnology

AnimationsAnimations Created Flash animations of a Created Flash animations of a

real Scanning Probe real Scanning Probe Microscope accompanied by Microscope accompanied by educational information.educational information.

CompetitionsCompetitions Came in second place in the Came in second place in the

ASEE student project poster ASEE student project poster competitioncompetition

http://epics.ecn.purdue.edu/lspm

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Future Future ImprovementsImprovements

Existing project:Existing project: Finalize all aspects of the projectFinalize all aspects of the project Contact a museum for a possible exhibit in the Contact a museum for a possible exhibit in the

futurefuture New project:New project:

Develop a smaller/portable scanning probe Develop a smaller/portable scanning probe microscopemicroscope

Adding lighting and other filters to give a more Adding lighting and other filters to give a more polished lookpolished look

EducationEducation Education is the primary goal of the LSPM team, Education is the primary goal of the LSPM team,

Therefore our mission of educating the public is Therefore our mission of educating the public is our on- goingour on- going