Customers Profile: University of Alaska

Dr. Hong Liang is an associate professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. The primary focus of her research is the study of nanostructured materials and nanotribology. Of primary interest is the understanding of friction and wear at the nanometer scale. In the fall of 2002 Dr. Liang needed to purchase an AFM system for her research and for training students in the emerging disciplines of Nanotechnology.

Dr. Liang and her colleagues at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks initiated an exhaustive search of the commercially available atomic force microscopes and decided to purchase the Nano-R™ AFM from Pacific Nanotechnology. Their primary reason for purchasing the Nano-R™ AFM included meeting their applications requirements at a price that was within their budget.

After the installation of the Nano-R™ at University of Alaska, Fairbanks, students began measuring useful images immediately. Both graduate and postgraduate students enjoy operating the Nano-R™ AFM. During the first six months of ownership the University of Alaska research groups have studied metals, semiconductors and nanoparticles with their Nano-R™ AFM system.

Images courtesy of Guizhen Xu, Post Doctoral fellow at University of Alaska Fairbanks, Department of Mechanical Engineering.