Precisely controlling materials, devices and information is critical to enabling science, technology, and industry. At Sandia, we are enabling new and increasingly powerful capabilities for critical national systems through our research increasing understanding of physical phenomena across the quantum- to microscale continuum, creating novel nano- and microscale devices, achieving new methods of integration, and realizing novel microsystems-based complex systems.
Why Our Work Matters
Sandia’s research in these areas is helping to create radiation-hardened microsystems technologies, novel remote and in-situ sensors, advanced radio frequency (RF) devices and RF microsystems, and power electronics and energy conversion innovations for use across numerous enduring and emerging national security missions.
Our Unique Value
Sandia has extensive scientific and engineering expertise in areas such as material growth and process development for silicon and compounds, device and product design, advanced packaging technologies for 3-D integration, and reliability and failure analysis expertise.
Sandia leverages the Microsystems Engineering Sciences and Applications (MESA) Complex, a 400,000-square-foot facility designed to integrate the scientific disciplines needed to produce functional, robust, and integrated microsystems.
The MESA Fabrication Facilities provide high-mix, low-volume production of custom integrated microsystem products and support for research; technology advancement and maturation; and small-lot, fast-turn prototyping.
MANTL comprises four buildings with office and lab space and Sandia’s Plating Research Laboratory. MANTL research focuses on mechanical and electrical engineering, chemistry, radiography plating, and more.
MESA integrates scientific disciplines to produce functional, robust, integrated microsystems. Today researchers pursue advanced concepts that integrate not only electronics at the micro scale, but embody sensors, photonics, and MEMS...
Microelectronics & MEMS • Novel grayscale lithography technique delivers 100x cost reduction and same-day mask production for enhanced microfabrication capabilities across industries Business Problem Grayscale Lithography by Annealed Resin Engineering (GLARE) offers industry partners...
Microelectronics & MEMS • By addressing thermal expansion mismatch, this innovative molecular system can enhance polymer durability for a wide range of applications. Business Problem Polymers are lightweight, cost-effective, easily molded, and have good...
Microelectronics & MEMS • A new method of additive manufacturing that leverages fluidics and electrochemistry to rapidly produce high-quality parts with engineering materials. Existing methods of metal 3D printing are ineffective in creating micro-resolution...
Microelectronics & MEMS • A computing hardware approach that aspires to emulate the brain. Ruthenium-based Prussian blue analogue for artificial synapses have transformational potential in neuroprosthetics, brain disease diagnostics, and ubiquitous edge computing. In...
Microelectronics & MEMS • An oxygen vacancy Electrochemical Random Access Memory (ECRAM) for neuromorphic computing. Artificial neural networks have become increasingly relevant and desired in today’s market; however, they are extremely energy intensive. Neuromorphic...
Microelectronics & MEMS • A two-step additive manufacturing approach for forming highly conductive, high-resolution electrical traces and components with properties suited for flexible and hybrid electronics Electrical traces and conductive components are essential features...
Microelectronics & MEMS • A micronozzle adapter capable of printing line widths and thicknesses 10x finer than existing 3D plasma jet printers Heightened interest in next-generation printable and flexible electronics is accelerating research and...
Microelectronics & MEMS • Reduces the area and energy consumption of neural network accelerators using nonvolatile memory components (NVM) Analog matrix vector multiplication (MVM) using nonvolatile memories is limited by the accuracy of the...
Microelectronics & MEMS • Dual-mode oscillator architectures for use with SC cut resonators Sandia researchers have developed two architectures that allow dual oscillators to operate simultaneous modes from a single resonator with a high...
Microelectronics & MEMS • Scaling of magnetic passive components such as inductors and transformers has not kept pace with advances in high power semiconductor devices employing wide/ultra-wide band gap SiC, GaN, and AlN in...
Microelectronics & MEMS • To support next generation computing, communication, and sensing needs, Sandia researchers have successfully developed a silicon photonics platform that leverages the semiconductor and nanotechnology capabilities of Sandia’s Microsystems and Engineering...
Microelectronics & MEMS • Ultra-wide bandgap power electronics to miniaturize and vastly improve the performance and efficiency of power systems for electrical grids, vehicles, power supplies, and motors Power electronics used for routing, control,...
Microelectronics & MEMS • Sandia’s mini-PDID makes it possible to diagnose illnesses by identifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with certain diseases and infections on a patient’s breath or in the headspace of biological...
Microelectronics & MEMS • Laser combs are increasingly used to provide precision measurements. Typical frequency comb systems use non-linear elements, distinct from the laser gain media, to create a set of emission lines with...
Microelectronics & MEMS • Sandia National Laboratories has developed a latching switch for optical fibers. One or more fibers are moved by an actuator between two positions, off and on. In the off position,...
Microelectronics & MEMS • A low profile, controlled force, minimal torque push plate for ball grid array multi-chip module (MCM) test sockets The ball grid array (BGA) is an enabling technology for multi-chip modules,...
Microelectronics & MEMS • Reliable determination of the presence and/or quantity of a particular analyte in the field can be greatly enhanced if the analytical instrument is equipped with a time-of-use calibration standard. While...
Microelectronics & MEMS • Current methods of producing titanium dioxide nanoparticles require costly surfactants and/or high temperature and pressure processing. Processing under these conditions results in nanoparticles with extremely wide particle size distributions and...
Microelectronics & MEMS • Summary Inexhaustible, miniature electrical power supplies offer the means to power battery-free microelectronic systems, or at a minimum provide a recharging capability to reduce battery size and extend their lifetimes....
