World's largest nanotechnology research facility being developed in China, reports official media

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World's largest nanotechnology research facility being developed in China, reports official mediaWorld's largest multifunctional research platform for nanotechnology is being developed in China, in a bid to develop more powerful computers and intelligent robots.
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As per Ding Sunan, deputy director of the project at ‘Vacuum Interconnected Nano-X Research Facility’ in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, it integrates state-of-art capabilities of material growth, device fabrication and testing in one ultra-high vacuum environment.

"We are exploring a new technology route of nano-scale devices production on the platform, which simulates the ultra-high vacuum environment of space," said Ding.

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The facility has received initial funding of 320 million yuan (about $46.5 million) and will eventually have a budget of 1.5 billion yuan, as per report from official Chinese media.

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Started in 2014, the construction of the facility is expected to be completed in 2018. While it has 100-metre-long ultra-high vacuum pipelines connecting 30 pieces of equipment, it would eventually have ultra-high vacuum pipelines of about 500 metres, connecting more than 100 large pieces of equipment at completion.

The facility is able to prevent surface contamination from the air, which keeping a material's intrinsic properties intact while also realising quantum manipulation and control, Ding added.

China, which has for long been a global manufacturing hub, is now trying to transform itself into high technology centre so that it can tackle the economic slowdown it has recently faced.

(Image source: GE Sustainability)