CU Wizards began presenting FREE STEM Saturday morning shows over 4 decades ago at CU Boulder. Since then, tens of thousands of PK-12 students and their families have enjoyed learning about wonders of the natural world at these spectacular monthly shows! CU Wizards, free educational community fun for all! For more info visit: www.colorado.edu/cuwizards

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Interested in building nano-scale devices for cutting-edge scientific and technological applications? Join the Colorado Shared Instrumentation in Nanofabrication and Characterization (COSINC) for a one-day, immersive workshop exploring electron beam lithography (EBL).
This introductory, hands-on experience is designed for prospective users interested in applying EBL to research, proof-of-concept development and prototyping. Participants will gain foundational knowledge of EBL and observe a live fabrication demonstration using COSINC’s state-of-the-art 100kV Raith EBPG 5150+ system.

Applications span a wide range of fields, including quantum systems, integrated photonics, biomedical engineering, MEMS/NEMS, nanoscience and semiconductor technologies. No prior experience is required.

Attendance is limited to 10 participants.

Workshop Agenda

9 a.m.–12 p.m. | Morning Session: EBL Fundamentals & Applications

Overview of COSINC and National Quantum Nanofab (NQN) updatesFundamentals of electron beam lithographyIntroduction to the Raith EBPG 5150+ systemEBL capabilities at COSINCApplication examples in quantum devices, photonics, MEMS and microelectronics, biomedical technologies, and semiconductor systems12–1 p.m. | Lunch & Networking
Pizza lunch provided; connect with researchers and COSINC staff.

1–5 p.m. | Live Fabrication Demonstration
Observe a real-time EBL process and gain insight into nanoscale fabrication workflows.

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Lithium-ion batteries have transformed modern society, powering everything from mobile electronics and electric vehicles to emerging energy storage infrastructure. Yet despite fifty years of development, today's lithium batteries still achieve only a fraction of their theoretical performance potential, leaving significant scientific, engineering, and manufacturing challenges unresolved. Join 2019 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry M. Stanley Whittingham, whose pioneering work laid the foundation for modern lithium-ion battery technology, for a discussion of the next generation of energy storage systems and the challenges facing the United States as it seeks to build a globally competitive battery industry. Professor Whittingham will examine the scientific limits of current lithium-ion technologies, emerging alternatives to today's dominant battery chemistries, and the critical research questions that must be addressed to achieve higher performance, longer lifetimes, and more sustainable energy storage systems. He will also provide an informed perspective on which battery technologies are technically viable, which remain highly speculative, and how researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers should think about the future of energy storage.

The Nobel Committee citation read: “They have laid the foundation of a wireless, fossil fuel-free society, and are of the greatest benefit to humankind.” Now the world needs to take action. Although lithium batteries celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2022, they still achieve only 25% of their theoretical energy density. Even at that level, they now dominate portable energy storage. The dominant anode and cathode today are graphitic carbon and the layered NMC oxides, LI[NiMnCoAl]O2. Both need improving. We must push the chemistry to its limits. Ten-year lifetimes demand 99.95% reaction selectivity.

Alternatives to Li-NMC cells will also be discussed, including the phosphates, with also a discussion of what is very technically and/or politically challenging and maybe not viable in an attempt to correct some of the exponential hype in the battery energy storage arena. A key challenge in the Western world is to build a sustainable supply chain and manufacturing capability that leapfrogs the present 30 year old technology. We need to stop building new “old gigafactories” in North America.

Hosted by the College of Engineering and Applied Science Research Support Office

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Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees who confirm attendance by Aug. 1.

Boulder Black Blossoms aims to support the lived and individual experiences and achievements of Black women. This program is open to all CU Boulder graduate students in STEM or Education and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, veteran status, marital status, political affiliation, political philosophy, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression in accordance with state, federal, and Regent law.

Registration required: https://cuboulder.zoom.us/meeting/register/f_VKiZIzTvidB9AlXt8DPA

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