MRI

The new LEO storefront feature has had a limited release and is being piloted by the Nanofabrication Facility. This feature makes it easier for researchers to request supply and consumable items for their research projects. The automated request system has been embedded into the LEO interface and allows researchers to request items without having to track down a staff member. Fulfillment notifications from staff indicate where and when the item(s) can be picked up. This new feature will be refined and further improved through user feedback.

The Nanofab now offers the Eshylon Charging Station and electrostatic carrier wafers—an advanced solution for mounting thin wafers and small parts in etch tools. This system improves thermal stability, eliminates adhesive residue, and enables damage-free handling of fragile substrates. It ensures uniform contact and heat transfer, making it ideal for high-temperature or delicate processes. For implementation support, contact Guy Lavallee.

The Nanofab now offers advanced, automated electron beam lithography calibration using GenISys Inspec software, integrated with our Zeiss Crossbeam 550L. This powerful SEM-based solution enables rapid, high-precision pattern inspection and seamless data export to Tracer and Beamer software, creating a fast, automated feedback loop for optimizing pattern fidelity and process control. Researchers can contact Chad Eichfeld or Bangzhi Liu to get started.

This unique one-credit course, offered by Penn State’s Materials Characterization Laboratory, is designed to teach students the fundamental theory and practical skills required to properly operate a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The class will consist of a mixture of hands-on activities on the microscope and lectures.  Topics covered will include basic operation and components of the microscope, imaging modes and detectors, imaging variables, imaging of non-conductive samples, sample preparation, and elemental mapping using energy dispersive spectroscopy.

FREE WORKSHOP
JULY 22 - 23, 2025
The Materials Characterization Lab (MCL) and Bruker are excited to co-host a two-day workshop on July 22–23 at the Millennium Science Complex. Dive into the latest innovations and real-world applications in atomic force microscopy, nanoscale infrared spectroscopy, and nanoindentation.

Whether you're working in materials science or the life sciences, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to explore how these powerful techniques are transforming research at the nanoscale.

LEO is the online software program used by select Penn State Core Facilities, including 2DCC, the Materials Characterization Lab (MCL), and the Nanofabrication Laboratory, for reserving tools, tracking lab and tool usage, tracking staff-performed operations, and making consumable and supply purchases.

We’re thrilled to announce that the Penn State Nanofab is expanding its cutting-edge capabilities with the addition of the Raith PicoMaster 200, a state-of-the-art direct write lithography tool, set to be available for use in July 2025!

We’re excited to welcome back Wanlin Zhu to the Penn State Nanofab Staff! Wanlin returns with a focus on our advanced and quantum packaging toolset, including glass laser patterning, electroplating, and wafer bonding to drive cutting-edge innovations. Join us in welcoming Wanlin’s back!  See Wanlin's full profile here.

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The MCL and the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Ghana have a collaboration enabled by the International Centre for Diffraction Data's (ICDD) generous donation of 2 years of access to the PDF-5+ database - the world’s most comprehensive powder diffraction database. The collaboration aims to advance education and research at all three organizations (UCC, PSU, ICDD) and publish research results in Powder Diffraction.