‘It’s (Probably) Not Rocket Science’ gives an inside look into UNM’s NanoFab

On the latest episode of It's (Probably) Not Rocket Science, Maya Narayanan Kutty, the manager of the UNM NanoFab Lab, joins host Cameron Goeldner to discuss the research capabilities the lab provides.

Driving up Avenida Cesar Chavez to University Stadium, you might have noticed The University of New Mexico's Center for High Technology Materials (CHTM) building across from Lobo Village. What you might not know is that inside that building is the NanoFab laboratory, a lab where devices finer than a strand of hair are fabricated.

The NanoFab lab was created as part of the plans for the CHTM. Its purpose was to work with materials beyond silicon to build chips for your phone and tablets. Silicon is the leading standard when it comes to computer chips, but the NanoFab works with other elements such as gallium arsenide and gallium antimonide to make devices that have never been made before.

"Here at the NanoFab at the university, we are mainly a research facility, so we work on things that have not been created before; we are creating technology 50-60 years ahead," said Kutty.

That technology is pioneered in the cleanroom. A cleanroom is a monitored space that is measured by the parts per million of skin cells and dust in the air. This is important because months of work can be ruined if a speck of dust falls on the device. UNM's cleanroom is the premier space in New Mexico for both university research and outside entities to use. This is because of an open-door policy at the NanoFab, which allows anyone to come use their facilities.

Kutty said, "Anybody off the street can come in and work in our NanoFab," the only caveat was that they would first need to be trained and walked through the safety measures of the lab. A service that UNM NanoFab does offer.

While anyone can use the lab, there is an associated cost which limits use. To address this for researchers, startups, and government labs, there is a voucher program. The program is open quarterly for external applicants who will be able to use the lab for eight hours for free, assisted or eleven hours unassisted. The application for the voucher program can be found on the website NanoFab voucher program.

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