The ACT node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF), which will assist researchers and industry in developing and prototyping new materials, has been officially opened. 

 

Established under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy, the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) links 8 university-based nodes across Australia. The capability provided by ANFF enables users to process hard materials (metals, composites and ceramics) and soft materials (polymers and polymer-biological moieties) and transform these into structures that have application in sensors, medical devices, nanophotonics and nanoelectronics.

 

Located at the ANU, the ANFF ACT node, working in collaboration with the WA node, provides access to facilities based on photonic/electronic materials growth, processing and fabrication of devices including micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). It also provides access to the ANU Laser Physics Centre and the Department of Electronic Materials Engineering.

 

Launching the node, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Senator Kim Carr, said already, researchers using the facility had developed an innovative approach to making high-performance nanowire solar cell technology which will contribute to Australia's low carbon future.

 

"This will make solar cells more economically viable by increasing their energy conversion efficiency and reducing the cost of manufacturing by enabling larger scale production.

 

Information on the ACT node is available at http://anff-act.anu.edu.au/