We are:
- A leading-edge research group, engaged in many areas of microsystems and nanotechnology
- Distinguished by our level and range of expertise
- Driven by the potential impacts of nanotechnology and microsystems on society and the environment
- Actively looking to attract high quality students and engage industry partners in advancing research
- We are engaged in many areas of microsystems and nanotechnology, with a particular focus on devices and systems, experimentation and fabrication.
- Applications of MiNa research span over many areas, including biomedical devices, nano-computing, nano-devices, communication, energy, sensors and actuators.
Areas of MiNa Application
- Bio-medical devices: lab-on-a-chip, single-cell characterisation, micro-electrode arrays for neural implants, scaffolds for tissue engineering, implantable devices such as stents wireless cardiac monitoring using artery-implanted stents, MEMS devices for navigated surgery, hearing-aid prosthesis, MEMS ultrasound imaging, bio-photonics, DNA sequencing, targeted drug delivery.
- Nano-devices and computing: carbon nanotube devices, nano- and organic electronics, silicon nanowire gate-all-around transistors, nanowire memory devices, nanoscale electron emitters, nanocomputing using quantum cellular automata, Schroedinger-Poisson solvers for nanotransistors.
- Energy: super-capacitors based on nano-structured (polymer, nanotube) materials, nanowire and nano-composite solar cells, nanowire electrodes for batteries and energy storage.
- Optical communications: high frequency optical modulators, fiber communication, and semiconductor laser, vertical cavity lasers, photonics.
- Sensors and actuators: fiber optic high-voltage electric-field sensors, nanowire and nanocomposite sensors, plastic health monitoring devices, artificial muscles, adaptive MEMS sensors and actuators.
- Development of Micro- and Nano-fabrication Technologies: including controlled nano-fabrication, inkjet micro-fabrication, 3D fabrication by micro-electro-discharge machining, catalytic chemical vapor deposition of carbon nanotubes, nanowire (silicon, germanium) growth, nanocomposite inks for inkjet printing, stamping and electrospinning, high resolution lithography and microscopy, microfluidic devices.
MiNa is a dedicated team of visionary and exploratory researchers from the departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical and Biological Engineering and Physics and Astronomy. A number of us are also members of ICICS – the Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems.