Nanotechnology is about mastering a world of objects with at least one characteristic dimension below 0.1 μm, i.e. 100 nm. These objects have to be fabricated either by physical, chemical or biological methods, or simply be identified and isolated. The greatest challenge is to combine top-down processing and bottom-up growth in order to set up complex systems with control on a nanometric scale.
Mission of the nanotechnology centre NanoSYD is to establish nanotechnology in the region of Southern Denmark around niche competences and focus areas. NanoSYD bridges basic science and technology as well as the micro- and the nanoworld. The research activities at NanoSYD are thus including bottom-up methods such as surface growth of organic molecules, as well as top-down technology such as photolithography using traditional lamp light sources but also non-traditional sources such as lasers.
The centre offers a wide range of ultrahigh vacuum and laser equipment, including UV, visible, and infrared cw lasers, as well as pulsed infrared and UV excimer lasers, and femtosecond lasers. It also provides access to a class 100 cleanroom facility (www.nanosyd.dk) including state-of-the-art nanoscaled surface characterisation techniques, deep anisotropic reactive ion etching, and 4 inch wafer processing.