1. Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
  2. School of Mechanical Engineering
  3. Research and innovation
  4. Research projects
  5. 3D Tribo-Nanprinting: Nanoscale Additive Manufacturing of Functional Materials Using Tribofilms

Research project

3D Tribo-Nanprinting: Nanoscale Additive Manufacturing of Functional Materials Using Tribofilms

  • Start date: 1 February 2019
  • End date: 30 September 2023
  • Funder: IT-CDT
  • Primary investigator: 00901695
  • Co-investigators: 00989612
  • Postgraduate students: Simon Duston

3D Tribo-Nanoprinting is a method by which nanoscale structures can be additively manufactured using an Atomic Force Microscope.

In my project I am investigating the production of Zinc Dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) tribofilms via this method with the aim of better understanding how these films form. I will also look into applying the method to other materials in order to be able to print structures with a range of engineering properties (eg. electrical, magnetic, semiconductors to name a few).

Possible applications of this work will be the creation of novel methods of producing flexible electronics, biosensors, NanoElectroMechanical Systems (NEMS) and surface patterning.