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Nano-origami Used To Build Tiny Electronic Devices

A team of researchers led by George Barbastathis, associate professor of mechanical engineering, is developing the basic principles of "nano-origami," a new technique that allows engineers to fold nanoscale materials into simple 3-D structures. The tiny folded materials could be used as motors and capacitors, potentially leading to better computer memory storage, faster microprocessors and new nanophotonic devices.

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Nano origami

clipped from web.mit.edu

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Nanostructured Origami™ Fabrication and Assembly Process

Figure 1 Bridging the gap between nanoscale and macroscale.

(a)                                    (b)                                    (c) Figure 2 (a) Planar fabrication. (b) Membrane folding. (c) Completed device.

FOLDING METHODS

Figure 4: Membrane folding via Lorentz force

Figure 5: SEM image of 360o fold.

Figure 6: Overhead view of curling.

COMPLETED DEVICES

Figure 7: Gratings of nanoscale feature size integrated into folding device

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George Barbastathis