Experiment

The production of 2D-Nano Template (retry) has started on board Kibo

All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)

The production of Two-Dimensional Nano Template in Microgravity (2D-Nano Template; Takatoshi Kinoshita, Executive Vice-President, Nagoya Institute of Technology) has started on board Kibo.

The 2D-Nano template experiment develops and creates a streaky nano-sized two-dimensional pattern (mask pattern, a high quality template for manufacturing semiconductor substrate) on a plate (substrate) in space by arranging and nano-sized peptide-PEG* array on the substrate.

*Peptides consist of amino arrays of amino acids. PEG is a polymer compound called polyethylene glycol.

The first experiment was conducted between July 9, 2010 and November 16, 2010. The attained scientific results were less than planned since the sample pattern developed too much while each space shuttle launch and return date delays. However, as the first experiment method was proved effective, this experiment has started to gain the predicted scientific results.

In this time experiment, a half of eight samples which were delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the space shuttle Endeavour (STS-134 mission) lifted off on Monday, May 16, 2011, are being used. Samples had been stored in the Minus Eighty degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for the ISS (MELFI). Astronaut Furukawa removed the clip which separated the peptide-PEG solution and the substrate and started the experiment on Tuesday June 14, 7:57 p.m. The samples will be developed in the MELFI and are to be collected by the space shuttle Atlantis (STS-135 mission), which will launch in July.
The experiment for the rest of the samples will start in fall this year, and the pattern will be returned in the beginning of next year.

For more details of the 2D-nano template production, see below:

• 2D-Nano Template Began on board Kibo
• 2D Nano Template Completed

Message from Experiment Team Member (Masayoshi Tanaka, Assistant Professor, Nagoya Institute of Technology)

Followed by the first one we again conduct an experiment to create a mask pattern of self-organizing peptides. In this experiment, the condition has improved based on the experience learned in the previous experiment to gain more reproducible and high quality samples.
I hope to find something new at the interface between microgravity research and polymer research.

I would like to express our gratitude to JAXA and all those who have devoted to the coordination of the schedule for holding the appropriate experiment time.

*All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)