the Wake Forest University
Materials Processing Facility
A foundation of many great Nanotechnology and Quantum Materials programs is the growth and characterization of nanoscale structures.
nanoMaterials created here
(top left) "Chinese Coins" made from BiTe.
(top mid) "Degas in SrTiO3" dynamic restructuring of a surface.
(top right) "Silver Forest" highly branched silver nano rods released from a template.
(bot. left) "Star of David" in SbTe.
(bot. mid.) "Source" a ZnO nanoparticle inducing nucleation of lamella with a pollymer host.
Polymer Synthesis
The Center has a synthesis lab for conjugated polymers used in OLED and OPV device studies. Instrumentation includes:
Multiple solvent stills
Glovebox for air/moisture sensitive reactions
Biotage Flash 100 Flash Chromotagraphy system
Centrifuge
Ultra-fine glovebox Scales
A large assortment of glassware and reactors
Cold chemical storage
Rotovap
Closed circuit chiller system
microwave reactors
Chemical Vapor Deposition
Most of the growth efforts focus on doped nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, nanowires, etc. Our continuous flow systems operate at temperatures between 750 C and 1400 C.
Pulsed Ablation
High energy, pulsed laser/plasma ablation and growth of nanostructures is currently under development at the Center. Based on high power YAG lasers and pulsed plasma torch: carbon, oxide, and other ceramic materials can be created in nanophase.
Methods of arc growth
BN, Carbon, and doped carbon nanotubes are grown within the facility. Equipment includes a "Large scale" kratchmer system capable of gm/day quantities in both MWNT and SWNT formats.
Bridgman Furnace
standard crystal growth techniques including zone refining
High Temperature Ovens/Furnaces
for the growth of nano crystalline thin films
Electrospinning
Single injector electrospinning with mandrel or plate takeup system.
3D printing
In addition to typical materials synthesis and processing, the synthesis lab has a section for 3D printing technologies including multiple polymer extrusion and laser 3D resin printers.
Electronic printing
The Center also maintains a DIMATIX electronics grade printer capable fo micron line widths and printing anything from conducting polymers to small molecule circuits./