Kristofer S.J. Pister (Advisor)

Microfabrication, the set of manufacturing techniques used to make computer chips, displays, MEMS, and other devices, is famously difficult, slow, and capital equipment heavy. In this dissertation we propose a much simpler path toward rapid prototyping of microfabricated devices by deposition of nanoparticles in vacuum.

We will discuss generation of nanoparticles of standard microfabrication materials such as metals, oxides, and semiconductors, as well as methods to manipulate these as aerosols in low-pressure gas, culminating in a demonstration of multimaterial printing. We will...

Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the United States. Recovery from stroke is complex and ultimately limited by the brains limited ability to regenerate damaged tissue. Ideally, we would want to drive neurogenesis and angiogenesis in a stroke lesion to aid in recovery. We propose a multimodality platform for stimulating neurogenesis which simultaneously allows for electrophysiological recording of neurons in the lesion area after stroke. Our aim is to provide a paradigm for making complex substrates for nervous tissue. With various devices integrated, multiple functions can be...