University of California, Riverside: Haberer Lab

Customer Application

Prof. Elaine Haberer’s research group at the University of California, Riverside employs two Zaber motorized linear stages in their custom-built near-field electrospinning apparatus. The platforms are orthogonally oriented, serving as XY positional control for this high-precision, direct-write nanomanufacturing process. In near-field electrospinning, an electric field applied to the spinneret balances forces associated with stage motion, solution viscosity, and surface tension, permitting fibers with nano- to micro-scale diameters to be drawn from a polymer droplet. Stage translation carefully controls the fiber pattern generated. In Prof. Haberer’s lab, the apparatus is used to fabricate suspended, optically isolated polymer microfibers. The smooth circular cross-sections of these fibers support high quality optical resonances that have potential for use in a variety of sensing and biosensing applications including bedside diagnostics and wearables.

Figure: Near-field electrospinning apparatus

Figure: Sample containing suspended optically isolated polymer microfibers

About the Haberer Lab

Strong light confinement within micro- and nano- resonators has enabled the observation of important optical phenomena. The Haberer Lab uses photons recirculated within these tiny high quality (Q) cavities as an optical probe to detect minute concentrations of biomolecules. An emphasis is placed on polymer-based resonators produced with low-cost, scalable manufacturing techniques that allow incorporation of a variety of functional materials.

Learn More: https://intra.ece.ucr.edu/~haberer/