Nano-Heater Systems For Thermal Nanomanufacturing

Julie Chen, Mechanical Engineering; Zhiyong Gu, Chemical Engineering

Many processes in conventional macro scale manufacturing use heat sources to alter the geometry, structure and properties of solids (e.g. cutting, joining, heat treatment, material deposition). Application of these existing heat sources and processes to nanoscale manufacturing is difficult due to process requirements such as controlled heat delivery, both in terms of area affected and time (spatial and temporal resolution). Hence there is a critical need for an intense localized rapid and controlled heat source with a possibility of switching on/off for thermal nanomanufacturing.