Small Business Innovation Research Program Provides Seed Funding for R&D
RHK Technology has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant, in conjunction with Prof. Gang-yu Liu at University of California, Davis and Prof. Darrin Hanna at Oakland University, to conduct research and development work on a smart and fast SPM controller and microscope add-on for automatically finding dynamic features, scanning them at ultra-high-speed scan rates, and providing true material mechanical properties. These achievements will expand AFM significantly, especially in the fields of nanodevice inspection and quality control, nanolithography, tissue engineering, and development of nanomaterials; an exciting leap forward. With designing the microscope add-on proposed in this work to fit existing microscopes, thousands of scientists will have the option to utilize smart and fast scanning with their existing equipment. The features provided in this smart and fast AFM will add important capabilities for imaging and characterization that will be used by professionals dedicated to engineering the future in research and development institutions and departments worldwide.