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

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.