Faglige nøgleord: Nanotechnology, Nanofabrication, Plasma Physics, Microelectronics, Microfabrication, Semiconductors, Ion Beam Technology, Ion Extraction, Materials Science, Etching, Deposition,
Oplæg tilgængeligt på: Engelsk og tysk
My presentation will introduce high school students to the fascinating world of nanotechnology, specifically how we build the incredibly small components found inside computers and smartphones. I will also give insights about myself, how I became a PhD student at DTU, my research and educational path after high school in Germany, including my stays abroad (The Netherlands/Switzerland/Japan/Sweden) and what my motivation for doing science is. The presentation will be held in English.
What is my research about?
My research topic is: Nanofabrication processes based on focused ions extracted by 3D plasma sheath lenses.
I'll start by explaining the basics: we need special ultra-clean environments ("cleanrooms") to make microchips on silicon wafers because the parts we're building are microscopically small (nanometers!). I'll briefly touch upon standard methods like photolithography, which uses steps like etching (carving) and deposition (adding layers), often involving plasma. My PhD research focuses on a new potential method to control these ions more precisely using something called a "3D Plasma Sheath Lens." One could imagine it being a specific electric field shape in the plasma that acts like a lens to focus these ions. My work involves figuring out how to create these lenses and then extract the focused ions to use them for making chip patterns, potentially replacing or improving current techniques like etching or deposition.
How will I involve students?
I plan to bring props: perhaps a real silicon wafer (or a large picture of one) to show what chips are made on, and maybe a 3D printed model or detailed drawing of what a "3D Plasma Sheath Lens" might look like to make the concept more tangible. I'll ask questions: "Where do you find computer chips in your daily life?" "Why might making chips smaller make them faster?" I'll use visuals: Pictures of cleanrooms, plasma glows, and maybe magnified images of microchip structures.
What is the sustainability angle / societal relevance?
The goal of my research isn't just academic curiosity. If we can develop better ways to control ions and fabricate smaller, more precise structures on chips, it could lead to faster, more powerful, and potentially more energy-efficient computers and electronics in the future. This contributes to technological advancement that impacts nearly every aspect of modern society. Micro- and nanofabrication has been a fundamental part of a big industry in today's society.