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Diamondoid Mechanosynthesis for Tip-Based Nanofabrication

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Tip-Based Nanofabrication

Abstract

Diamond mechanosynthesis (DMS), or molecular positional fabrication, is the formation of covalent chemical bonds using precisely applied mechanical forces to build nanoscale diamondoid structures via manipulation of positionally controlled tooltips, most likely in a UHV working environment.  DMS may be automated via computer control, enabling programmable molecular positional fabrication. The Nanofactory Collaboration is coordinating a combined experimental and theoretical effort involving direct collaborations among dozens of researchers at institutions in multiple countries to explore the feasibility of positionally controlled mechanosynthesis of diamondoid structures using simple molecular feedstocks, the first step along a direct pathway to developing working nanofactories.

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Abbreviations

AFM:

Atomic force microscope

CPU:

Central processing unit

CVD:

Chemical vapor deposition

DFT:

Density functional theory

DMS:

Diamond mechanosynthesis

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

MEMS:

Microelectromechanical systems

NIST:

National Institute of Standards and Technology (U.S.)

NMAB:

National Materials Advisory Board (U.S.)

NNI:

National Nanotechnology Initiative (U.S.)

NRC:

National Research Council of the National Academies (U.S.)

ONR:

Office of Naval Research (U.S.)

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

SPM:

Scanning probe microscope

UHV:

Ultra-high vacuum

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Acknowledgments

The author acknowledges private grant support for this work from the Life Extension Foundation, the Kurzweil Foundation, and the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Molecular Manufacturing, Palo Alto, CA, 94301, USA

    Robert A. Freitas Jr

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  1. Robert A. Freitas Jr
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Correspondence to Robert A. Freitas Jr .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Mechanical &, Aerospace Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA

    Ampere A. Tseng

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Freitas, R.A. (2011). Diamondoid Mechanosynthesis for Tip-Based Nanofabrication. In: Tseng, A. (eds) Tip-Based Nanofabrication. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9899-6_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9899-6_11

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