The Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility (KNMF) offers access to a uniquely complete set of fabrication and characterization technologies. External users from academia and industry, either national or international, can apply for open and – if the results are published – free access. Annual deadlines for the submission of proposals are January 15 and June 15. Applications for urgent and commercial projects can be submitted at any time (proposal submission). The highly qualified KNMF staff will guide users through the relevant processes and techniques to address their processing goals and characterization needs. KNMF encourages the early discussion of planned projects and scientific goals and is open for long-term collaborations.
Welcome to Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility (KNMF)
KNMF is a high-tech platform for structuring and characterizing a multitude of functional materials at the micro- and nanoscale.
Limitations in KNMF operation due to the Corona virus
April 2020
The operation of KNMF is currently inhibited by measures to slow the spread of the Corona virus. Many of our staff are working from home and some technologies are not in operation. Currently no external guests are allowed on the KIT campus. This disruption is expected to continue until at least 19th April. Up to date information on the Corona virus and the current situation at KIT can be found on www.kit.edu.
In case of questions on your planned work or ideas for a new proposal, please use email to contact the user office or your scientifc host and we will respond as soon as possible.
Updated assessment criteria for proposals
December 06, 2019
Please note that future proposals with insufficient information will be strictly rejected. We have adapted our guidelines as follows:
Assessment criteria are scientific value, relevance to KIT research, commitment of user to KNMF, and in the case of returning users, success of previous work, proper reporting and high-value publications arising from the previous proposals. The proposal must include sufficient information to allow the technology experts and reviewers to evaluate the feasibility and scientific excellence of the proposed work.
3D printing lab supports Maker vs. Virus Initiative
April 2020
All over Germany, 3D printers are running at full speed to produce urgently needed protective equipment in the fight against Covid-19. Through its 3D printing lab of KNMF, the IAI-PIA group participates in the emergency services and support the Maker vs. Virus initiative in the production of urgently needed protective face shields. The 3D printing lab uses and modifies the existing design of 3D printable face shields, and optimizes the printing parameters to improve the print quality of the printed parts. With a total of 15 3D printers, around 900 frames for face shields have already been printed and delivered to different hubs and fabrication labs for distribution to hospitals, doctors, nursery homes and refugee camps within and outside Germany.
The 3D printing project was initiated in close cooperation with the company NewTec GmbH in Ulm and its managing director Harald Molle. This cooperation has enabled an optimal, fast and target-oriented alignment of the printing activities in Karlsruhe and Ulm since the beginning of the project.
We would like to thank all team members for their commitment and active support in the (future) support actions in the fight against Covid-19.
Read more: Press Release 027/2020
New molecular printer for fast and flexible surface patterning
December 17, 2019
The new molecular surface patterning system complements the lithography systems already available in the portfolio of technologies offered by KNMF. This state of the art Molecular Printer was designed and developed by n.able GmbH, a start-up company from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Thanks to its modular design, the printer can address the needs of users working in various fields of nanoscience ranging from biomedicine, material sciences to microelectronics. As it allows for flexible choice and combination of various functional modules, it can cover a wide range of applications and research projects.
Features:
- Base printing module with a choice of different printing technologies (ranging from cantilever arrays and soft polymeric stamps to microcapillary pens)
- High-Resolution module for increased patterning control down to the low nanoscale
- Optical module for in-situ process control and analysis
The printer can print on various surfaces and topologies and can be used with a wide range of ink chemistries. It can create numerous single- or interdigitated multi-ink patterns (multiplexing) covering very large areas (dm²) with micron- and nanoscale features in a fast and intuitive way. Additionally, an in-built microscope provides a possibility to check the quality of fabricated samples on-the-fly and even conduct experiments in-situ.
