Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R35551/01
Title:	Nanoprober : Multi-terminal Scanning Station for In Situ Electrical Measurements of Individual Nanostructures
Principal Investigator:	Geim, Professor Sir A
Other Investigators:	Grigorieva, Professor I
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Victoria University of Manchester, The
Department:	Physics and Astronomy
Organisation:	University of Manchester, The
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 August 2001	Ends:	31 January 2005	Value (£):	513,844
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
In the same way as microelectronics industry and research cannot exist without probe stations for testing of individual elements of microcircuits, nanoelectronics is unlikely to come of age without a similar facility working at the nanometer scale. We request funding for an ambitious goal of developing such a probe station. This will be the first instrument in the world to allow multi-terminal electrical measurements of individual nanostructures, so that any nanoparticle or macromolecule placed in the station can be electrically tested. To achieve this, the nanoprober will emphasize combination of scanning probe techniques. First, using atomic force microscopy (AFM), the instrument can provide visualisation of nanostructures < the possibility to select one of them for further analysis. After that, electrical probes, similar to the tips used in scanning tunnelling microscopy, can I attached to the chosen nanostructure for its investigation. The process of moving and attaching the probes can be viewed and controlled in AFM.Development of such a nanoprober is crucial and even inevitable for progress in nanotechnology. This project will allow us to be ahead of other groups and gain a strong competitive edge in nanophysics for years to come. Our initial intention is to demonstrate the power and flexibility of the technique measuring conductance through individual DNA or polymer molecules. In future research, we plan to use the new instrument for studies of superconductivity and ferromagnetism in nanoclusters as well as to apply the nanoprober to new systems that will appear as nanotechnology develop
Key Findings
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Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.man.ac.uk