Experiment

2D-Nano Template production was completed on board Kibo

All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)

The production of Two Dimensional NanoTemplate in Microgravity (2D-NanoTemplate)*, which has been performed on board Kibo, was completed.

*Principal Investigator (PI): Takatoshi Kinoshita, Executive Vice-President, Nagoya Institute of Technology

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 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 in 2010, however, obtained scientific results were not enough. This is a re-try to obtain planned scientific results.

In this time experiment, the samples were delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the space shuttle Endeavour (STS-134 mission) lifted off on Monday, May 16, 2011. They had been stored in the Minus Eighty degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer on the ISS (MELFI). The experiment started last fall and completed on Wednesday, 10:54 p.m., April 25. The obtained samples were returned to the Earth aboard Soyuz TMA-22 (28S).

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

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

Message from PI, Takatoshi Kinoshita, Executive Vice-President, Nagoya Institute of Technology

We appreciate the astronauts who conducted this experiment for us and all the support staff. The production a pattern is essential for preparing a device, has been completed successfully under the controlled temperature. For this experiment, samples' safe return to the Earth and the delivery are also crucial. We all hope the safe return of Soyuz TMA-22 (28S) and the collection of the samples. We also will enhance cooperation and proceed to the next steps to gain new knowledge.

*All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)