Simulations Enable Nanoscale Additive Manufacturing of Arbitrary Free-Standing Shapes

Predictive calculations that combine Monte Carlo and continuum simulations guide the focused electron beam deposition (FEBiD) of free-standing nanostructures.

Significance and Impact

The ability to create free-standing, 3D nanostructures of arbitrary shape enables entirely new approaches in applications such as optoelectronics and metamaterials, and this predictive design approach replaces previous trial and error synthesis routes.

Research Details

–The simulation defines electron beam scanning coordinates and dwell times for export to experimental platforms for FEBiD.

–The simulation predicted FEBiD on instruments located in the U.S. and Europe and reproduced experimental results previously reported in the literature.

J. D. Fowlkes, et al. ACS Nano (2016). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6b02108