Master Theses

In this project, you will have the opportunity to work at CMi (Center of Micro and Nanotechnology of EPFL), EMPA Dubendorf and ETH Zurich. You will implement a fabrication process flow to optimize a new bonding approach between PDMS and titanium. You will learn acoustic techniques for characterization based on ultrasounds with the ultimate goal to realize an implantable cardiovascular device.

The aim of this interdisciplinary project is to develop new design solutions through FEM tools (e.g. Comsol). You will start with some state of the art examples in phononics and you will be asked to analyze and implement different acoustic designs, in the real and reciprocal space. Contribution to the prototype fabrication in the D-MAVT clean-room facilities may be discussed towards the end of the project.

Optimizing conditions for synthesis of single walled carbon nanotubes utilizing CVD systems localized at the Binnig and Rohrer Nanotechnology Center in Rüschlikon/Zürich. Characterization of SWNTs.

Development of well- defined catalyst nanoparticles utilizing apoferritin nano-bio-cages for synthesis of SWNTs with tailored characteristics.

Optimizing conditions for synthesis of single walled carbon nanotubes from ferritin precursors embedded in amorphous carbon film utilizing CVD systems localized at the Binnig and Rohrer Nanotechnology Center in Rüschlikon/Zürich.

Optimization of deposition and evaporation condition of specific material (for example pNBA = p-nitrobenzoic acid) forming submicroscopic particles on as-grown SWNTs. Localization of CNTs by optical microscopy.
Electrical characterization of CNFET devices fabricated from SWNTs pre-localized by optical microscopy imaging.

Characterization of SWNTs synthetized by a CVD process on MEMS chips by Raman spectroscopy utilizing multiple laser wavelengths. Determination of presence of DWNTs, bundles and individual SWNTs as well as their characteristics and quality.

Development of a toolchain based on COMSOL and Matlab to simulate the modulation of charge transport in carbon nanotube sensors due to mechanical or chemical effects.

SWNT decoration by preselected nanoparticle types and determination of the impact of the material onto nanotube characteristics and CNFET performance.

Type: Setup design, experimental
The overall goal of this project is the development of an artificial robotic skin with sensing capabilities. We build artificial fingertips, which are used in robotic applications. For the integration of the sensing capabilities into the fingertips we need an enhanced silicone spray coating setup.

The thermal actuators have been fabricated already using standard microfabrication technology. The current-strain characteristics need to be calibrated using SEM optical methods as well as numerical methods (COMSOL)

Keywords: Artificial robotic finger, finite element method, graph neural networks, simulation
Motivation: The overall goal of this project is the implementation of a simulation model of an artificial robotic finger with integrated tactile  sensing arrays on a silicone finger. To enable real time simulation for training robotic hands, a computationally efficient model is required

Tasks and Opportunities
- Design a set of experiments using a multi-parameter optimization method, which is widely used in quality engineering (industry/academia)
- Grow CNTs by CCVD to gain hands-on experience in nanomaterial synthesis
- Analyze CNT growth results