Kamil Ekinci

Knudsen Transport in Atomically-Smooth Nanochannels

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
In everyday flow of gases in macroscopic pipes and channels, collisions between gas molecules take place much more frequently than those between gas molecules and channel walls. In nanochannels, however, one can easily attain the other limit, where the mean free path between collisions is significantly larger than the channel diameter. This is called the Knudsen transport regime. This means that, because of negligible molecule-molecule collisions, transport in a nanochannel takes place via a series of free flights and statistical flight direction changes after collisions with the walls of the channel.

LEARNING GOALS
The overarching goal of this project is to study Knudsen transport in nanofabricated ultra-smooth nanochannels. The participant will be working closely with a graduate student; she/he will nanofabricate the nanochannel and design the front end vacuum apparatus for the transport measurements. The nanochannels will be fabricated using standard techniques of lithography, etching and wafer bonding. In carrying out this task, the participant will make an effort to make smooth channel walls. Using a variety of optical and scanning probe microscopy techniques, available in the Photonics Center, will characterize the smoothness of the walls. After the nanochannel is built, leak-free gas lines will be interfaced with it. This will require micromachining holes into semiconductors and glass in order to attach macroscopic pipes. If the device is built successfully, it will be attached to an existing vacuum system for transport measurements.

PROJECT PARTICIPANTS

Learn more about Professor Ekinci’s work at his lab website.