Welcome to the Münster Nanofabrication Facility
a DFG Core Facility
The MNF is a state-of-the-art, 300 m² nanofabrication and nanoanalytics machine park classified from ISO 5 to 7. Located at the University of Münster, we provide nanostructuring and nanofabrication technologies for an interdisciplinary research community of scientists and engineers in physics, chemistry, earth sciences and biology, both within and outside the university.
If you are interested in exploring advanced nanofabrication and nanoanalytics techniques, the MNF is here for you.
Learn more...
Register to join us on November 7th for our annual Open Day
This year’s event promises to be as engaging as always, with:
- Multidisciplinary talks from leading experts in nanoanalytics and fabrication
- Networking over lunch and afternoon coffee
- Poster presentations, with a prize awarded to the most popular submission
- An awards ceremony, including recognition and a prize for the best entry in our imaging contest
- Opportunities for connecting with the companies that supply our cutting-edge equipment
We are pleased to have the following companies join us this year: Nanoscribe, KLA (Filmetrics), EVG, Lesker, and REACH
In den Reinräumen der Münster Nanofabrication Facility haben Studierende und Forschende die Möglichkeit, mikroskopisch kleine Strukturen herzustellen, die mit bloßem Auge kaum zu erkennen sind. Sauberkeit ist das höchste Gebot: Ein Haar oder Staubpartikel könnte das Experiment zerstören. Die Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmer des Praktikums „Grundlagen der Nanofabrikation“ müssen sich daher an genaue Vorschriften halten.
New project to protect critical infrastructure against cyberattacks
Carsten Schuck’s research group is designing, building and testing a receiver unit for a quantum key generation process and the operation of secure communication in a gas pipeline system produced by PSI Software SE. “Any attempt at eavesdropping would be noticed immediately, rendering the key generation system independent of the measuring devices,” explains Carsten Schuck. His team is building this system at the Münster Nanofabrication Facility (MNF) using a special technology designed in-house. It uses superconducting single-photon detectors which are embedded in advanced photonic integrated circuits. The circuits are embedded in chips that are cooled to around two Kelvin in order to make the best possible use of their superconducting properties.
University News
AG Schuck / Department for Quantum Technology
History of the MNF
The first cleanroom at the University of Münster was established in the Center for NanoTechnology (CeNTech) in 2003. Following the University's expanding presence in nanoscience, this original facility required significant upgrades to meet the needs of researchers and remain competitive with peer institutions.
Through the approval of the Center for Soft Nanoscience (SoN) research program, the WWU received a multi-million euro investment, including a capital equipment upgrade and several large instrument grants. In 2017 the MNF expanded into brand new cleanroom facilities in the SoN building.
Supporting its full transformation into the Münster Nanofabrication Facility (MNF), the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) provided funding in 2020 to establish the MNF as a core university facility providing services for university members and external users.