The federal government gave Northwestern researchers $2.4 million to develop flash-memory devices with enhanced capacity for U.S. military and intelligence use, according to a news release on Sen. Dick Durbin’s (D-IL) Web site.
Allocated to NU’s Center for Integrated Nanosystems and International Institute for Nanotechnology, the money represents “substantial and welcome funding” for the field of nanoelectronics, said Fraser Stoddart, CINS director and NU Board of Trustees professor of chemistry.
The funding is part of $45.4 million for Illinois-based projects approved by Congress on Dec. 19 in a 2010 defense spending bill, according to the news release.
Stoddart said he will serve as the principal investigator for the project, which will require state-of-the-art research.
Developing memory chips will involve building and mounting mechanical switches into infinitely stretching three-dimensional scaffolds on the molecular level, he said.
“Over 10 years ago, we developed two-dimensional switches, and this piece of research will put what we did with two into three (dimensions),” Stoddart said. “If we managed to do this, it would create very dense flash memory.”
Although funded by the Defense Department, the technology will not be limited to surveillance and battlefield operations but could be used to increase the capacity of any flash memory device, he said.
Stoddart and Chad Mirkin, director of the IIN, said they hope the project will be underway next fall. The cutting-edge research will provide valuable experience to NU graduate and post-doctoral students, Stoddart said.
Additionally, the project will use NU’s existing resources in the fields of nanotechnology and nanoelectronics, Mirkin said.
“It is a unique project, but it builds on the enormous strength of Northwestern in nanofabrication, molecular technologies and nanoelectronics,” he said. “There are teams already formed that are excited about developing this area under this project, and as soon as the money is transferred, it will get started.”[email protected]
