CENTERS & LABS
Many centers and laboratories in departments across NC State are dedicated to nanotechnology research. The facilities highlighted on this page feature a variety of instrumentation that supports the characterization and fabrication of structures and devices at the nanoscale. To learn more about the unique capabilities of these facilities, as well as their availability, please contact the center/lab directors listed below.
Analytical Instrumentation Facility
Director: Dieter Paul Griffis
Founded in 1923, AIF is a NC State resource for materials characterization. AIF operates numerous analytical instruments-including state-of-the-art electron microscopy, focused ion beam and materials analysis (SIMS, XPS, AES, etc.)-maintained by a professional staff. AIF staff train users to operate analytical instrumentation, design efficient analytical experiments, and interpret data. AIF also provides short courses and formal classroom instruction to ensure students understand modern analytical techniques and the instrumentation required to implement them.
Center for Chemical Toxicology Research and Pharmacokinetics
Director: Jim Riviere
CCTRP's main research interests focus on dermal absorption and toxicity of chemicals, drugs, nanoparticles and complex mixtures, pharmacokinetics, and predicting tissue residues of drugs. The nanotoxicology program led by Dr. Monteiro-Riviere is assessing the nature of interactions between skin and manufactured nanoparticles (e.g. carbon fullerenes and nanotubes, quantum dots, silver and aluminum nanoparticles). Work is also underway to develop and define a biologically-relevant metric of nanomaterial interaction (Biological Reactive Surface Area – BRSA) that could be used to predict particle behavior in vivo.
Center for High Performance Simulation
Directors: Jerry Bernholc and Keith E. Gubbins
CHiPS promotes collaboration between the NC State Colleges of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering in electronic, atomic, meso-scale, and macroscopic simulation methods and offers training and research to graduate students. The Center has three thrust areas: (1) materials and biomaterials; (2) computational fluid dynamics, including meteorological and astrophysics applications; and (3) applied mathematics and computer science. CHiPS offers graduate courses in simulation methods, workshops on high performance simulation, and visiting researcher seminars.
Engineering Research Center for Advanced Electronic Materials Processing
Director: Carlton M. Osburn
AEMP develops techniques needed to boost America's competitive position in semiconductor manufacturing. The program involves collaboration among chemists, physicists, and engineers and cultivates close ties with industry. AEMP offers a strong academic program in electronic materials processing for undergraduate and graduate students, providing contact with industry and interdisciplinary research experience in modern microelectronics facilities. The Center is responsible for operating the NCSU Nanofabrication Facility and Triangle National Lithography Center.
NCSU Nanofabrication Facility
Director: Mehmet C. Ozturk
The NNF, with the Triangle National Lithography Center (TNLC), provides unparalleled opportunities for nanotechnology research. The NNF provides hands-on access to users on a wide a range of nanofabrication equipment to support electronics, optical, molecular, magnetic, and MEMS projects. The TNLC/NNF facility is open to all researchers and has a full range of micro- and nano-fabrication capabilities.
Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center
Director: Behnam Pourdeyhimi
NCRC, established in 1991, is devoted to advancing knowledge in nonwovens technologies for the benefit of its members. The center serves the nonwovens industry through research, training, education and extension, engagement, and economic development. NCRC houses unique, state-of-the-art facilities for product development, analytical services and materials testing, analysis, and evaluation. NCRC offers additional services to its Industrial Members and Affiliates, such as proprietary testing, analysis, and product development.
NSF Center for Advanced Materials and Smart Structures
Directors: Jagdish Narayan and Jag Sankar (NC A&T State University)
This Center, a collaboration between NC State and NC A&T State Universities, has four major thrust areas: advanced ceramics; advanced composites; electronic ceramic devices, sensors, and smart structures; and wide-band-gap III-V semiconductors, ohmic contacts, and devices. CAMSS has experimental facilities in the areas of advanced materials processing, nanoscale characterization, and computer modeling.
Nuclear Reactor Program
Director: Ayman I. Hawari
The Nuclear Reactor Program (NRP) at NC State University houses the PULSTAR reactor. It supports NC State and College of Engineering efforts to provide high quality undergraduate and graduate education, perform basic and applied research, and disseminate knowledge. Three facilities exist that are designed to support the nondestructive examination of materials: the neutron powder diffractometer for investigating the atomic structure of materials, the intense positron beam for nanoporosity investigation including in high tech thin film applications, and the neutron imaging facility for radiography and tomography.
Science & Technology Center for Environmentally Responsible Solvents and Processes
Directors: Joseph DeSimone (UNC-Chapel Hill) and Ruben G. Carbonell
CERSP advances groundbreaking research into environmentally-friendly solvents and provides undergraduate and graduate training and industrial and educational outreach. It is a multi-disciplinary effort among five universities (UNC-Chapel Hill is the lead institution) and two national laboratories. Key goals are to create and share knowledge with academic, industrial, and government centers; educate future scientists/engineers on environmental problem-solving; increase participation of minority and underprivileged students in science and math; and increase scientific literacy for K-12 students.
Triangle National Lithography Center
Director: Mehmet C. Ozturk
TNLC is a joint venture of NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill, housed in the NCSU Nanofabrication Facility (NNF), that provides cutting edge, high resolution patterning using 193nm lithography. TNLC, an Affiliate of the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN), has laboratories available to all researchers; personalized equipment training; and a teaching laboratory. The TNLC/NNF facility has numerous micro- and nano-fabrication capabilities.