Nanotechnology

Vacuum components for growing nanotech markets

Nanotechnology, once a staple of cutting-edge science and research, has now become a household term. Since the US launched the National Nanotech Initiative in 2001, consumer goods based on nanoparticles have become commonplace spanning everything from healthcare to sports equipment.

Extraordinary advances in computing power – which have enabled rapid, refined simulations, and data analysis – and significant advances in instrumentation have been foundational to the growth of nanotechnology. Both scanning probe microscopy (AFM, STM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) have transformed the way we image materials at the sub 1 micron length-scale. Single-atom manipulation (LT-STM), high speed mechanical mapping (Fast Force Mapping- AFM), and protein structure imaging (Cryo-EM) are just some examples of how these microscopes have pushed nanotechnology research in physics, chemistry, materials sciences, and protein biology. Simultaneously, huge advances in brilliance and coherence at the large research facilities like synchrotrons and FEL have enabled rapid, high-resolution screening of chemical properties (spectroscopy), and the physical structure (diffraction) of nanoscale objects, dove-tailing with the microscopy enhancements.

At the forefront of nanotechnology research, numerous exciting developments are occurring. Energy research and micro-harvesting, phase-change materials, 2D materials (i.e. graphene), semiconductor research, and the highly topical field of quantum computing, are merely a selection of the ingenious nanotechnology fields currently under exploration.

Nanotechnology Vacuum Components from Allectra

It is often essential to work under high- or ultra-high vacuum (HV/UHV) to gain a fundamental understanding of these materials. Whether using high-frequency signals with our proprietary 27GHz SMA feedthroughs 242-SMAD27G-C16, protecting a cryogenic system from rapidly expanding helium with our Pressure Burst Discs 461-PBD-K16,  connecting measurement equipment in-vacuum in a low magnetic environment 210-D15-C40-NM, cabling with radiation resistant Kapton wire 301-KAPM-060-10M or coupling specific light wavelengths in and out of the vacuum vessel 110-QZ-UV-C40 Allectra has the technology and components to support your research. Contact us to learn more.