EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R82197/01 |
Title: |
Fabrication of Molecular and Biomolecular Nanostructures by scanning Near-Field Optical Lithography |
Principal Investigator: |
Leggett, Professor G |
Other Investigators: |
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Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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Project Partners: |
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Department: |
Chemistry |
Organisation: |
University of Sheffield |
Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
Starts: |
01 July 2002 |
Ends: |
30 June 2005 |
Value (£): |
290,331
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EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
Materials Characterisation |
Materials Processing |
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EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology |
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Related Grants: |
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Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
Recently we have reported a powerful new method for the fabrication of molecular nanostructures, scanning near-field optical lithography of selfassembled monolayers. Using a frequency-doubled argon ion laser connected to the optical fibre of a scanning near-field optical microscope, we have, in preliminary experiments, been able to repeatedly create chemical patterns in self-assembled monolayers with feature sizes of 40 nm. On occasions, the feature sizes have been as small as 25 nm. The present proposal seeks to explore the exciting possibilities opened up by this method for the immobilisation of biological molecules in nanometre scale arrays. It is proposed to explore the fundamental chemistry of the lithographic process, to explore its utility in the fabrication of nanoscale arrays of immobilised oligonucleotides (with potential applications in rapid sequencing of DNA), and to examine the possibility of creating a range of novel nanostructured materials through the attachment of biological molecules to photo-activated linkers, photo-polymerisation and other processes. It is hoped that the proposed research will lead to powerful new methods for the control of biological and organic molecular structure on a scale of tens on nanometres.
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Key Findings |
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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Impacts |
Description |
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Summary |
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Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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Project URL: |
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Further Information: |
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Organisation Website: |
http://www.shef.ac.uk |