January 2025
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Reflecting on 2024: ASU Core Research Facilities' Highlighlights
As 2025 approaches, we are excited to reflect on the highlights of ASU Core Research Facilities' impactful achievements and milestones from 2024.
Throughout the year, we have proudly supported groundbreaking research by providing access to advanced equipment, offering in-depth consultations and delivering individualized services tailored to your unique needs. Our mission is to empower researchers to achieve their goals while contributing to the innovation and success of Arizona State University.
By the numbers
1,400 people trained every year, including principal investigators, undergraduate students and industry personnel. 518 capital equipment assets and growing. 45,000+ square feet of clean room space. See report on ISSUU.
ASU and Deca Technologies selected to lead $100M SHIELD USA project to strengthen U.S. semiconductor packaging capabilities
$100M SHIELD USA Project
ASU's Advanced Electronics and Photonics Core, located at MacroTechnology Works in the ASU Research Park, will be the forefront of advancing wafer-level and panel-level manufacturing technologies currently unavailable in the U.S.
ASU and Deca Technologies will lead the $100 million SHIELD USA project, funded by the CHIPS National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program. The initiative aims to revolutionize the U.S. semiconductor packaging ecosystem, with research in our Advanced Electronics and Photonics Core driving innovations in wafer- and panel-level manufacturing—technologies not yet available domestically.
SHIELD USA to position U.S. as leader in semiconductor packaging.
Sen. Kelly's visit to ASU's NanoFab Core
This visit underscores the pivotal role of university-led innovation in advancing U.S. microelectronics manufacturing and workforce development.
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly toured ASU’s NanoFab Core, one of our Core Facilities, with Knowledge Enterprise Executive Vice President Sally Morton to discuss building the U.S. semiconductor workforce. He observed students gaining hands-on experience, explored their microelectronics research during a poster session and saw ASU’s impact on advancing the field.
Sen. Kelly's visit highlights ASU's role in advancing U.S. microelectronics.
Celebrating innovation: New cutting-edge equipment arrives as ASU's Eyring Materials Center
On Friday, March 22, the ASU Core Research Facilities celebrated the arrival of state-of-the-art equipment at the Eyring Materials Center Core in the Goldwater Center, ushering in a new era of innovation and research excellence at ASU. Special thanks to Sally Morton for her inspiring opening remarks and to the ASU faculty and staff who made this achievement possible.
Highlighted new additions
- Kratos Axis Supra+: X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy.
- STOE STADI P: X-ray Diffractometer, acquired with the support of Christina Birkel and Candace Chan.
- Sigray QuantumLeap H2000: for X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, brought in with Maria Bertoni's assistance.
- Xenocs Xeuss 3.0: for Small Angle X-ray Scattering, acquired through the efforts of Timothy Long and Matthew Green.
Advancing innovation through collaboration and cutting-edge resources.
New METAL Core equipment advances forensic science
This year, our METAL Core added a Thermo Fisher Scientific Neoma Multicollector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer and NWR193UC Laser Ablation System to its arsenal of tools.
ASU Assistant Professor Shirly Montero used that equipment to pioneer a forensic technique that analyzes microscopic glass particles embedded in bullets to reconstruct crime scenes more accurately.
By comparing the chemical profiles of these tiny glass fragments, her method can differentiate between various scenarios, such as determining whether a bullet passed through a windshield or a side window.
This innovative approach enhances precision of forensic investigations.
The Core Facilities ever expanding toolbox
Our Solar Fab and Instrument Design and Fabrication (IDF) Cores also procured new equipment this year.
The Solar Fab added the Veeco Fiji and Veeco Savannah Atomic Layer Deposition systems to support solar cell and semiconductor R&D.
IDF added a Hexagon Scan+ 900x1200x800mm Coordinate Measuring Machine, allowing the Core to take detailed assessments of size and form of components they manufacture with its superior tactile scanning capabilities.
Instrument Design and Fabrication Core certified to build sensitive aerospace, defense instruments
ASU's Instrument Design and Fabrication Core Facility has achieved AS9100D certification, enabling it to produce sensitive aerospace and defense instruments in-house.
This distinction positions ASU among a select group of U.S. universities with such capabilities, streamlining the development of custom instruments for research and industry applications.
The certification enhances ASU's ability to support specialized research and development projects, reducing reliance on external contractors and fostering innovation within the university.
Elevating innovation with in-house aerospace and defense capabilities.
Publications
Generation of a human induced pluripotent stem cell line expressing a magnetic resonance imaging reporter gene
Authors: Yura Son, Pengsheng Li, Dakota Ortega, Huiliang Qiu, Hannah Prachyl, Ming Yang, Wuqiang Zhu
The ASU Core Research Facilities Biosciences Core supported this research from the Mayo Clinic.The collaboration provided essential imaging support for the study, demonstrating the role of ASU Core Research Facilities in advancing research.
Abstract
This study demonstrates a method to track transplanted hiPSC-CMs in live animal hearts using MRI by overexpressing ferritin heavy chain (FHC).
Introduction
Study introduces a method to track hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes using MRI, enabling precise graft assessment in large animal models and advancing stem cell therapy.
Conclusion
The results from this study demonstrate that the use of FHC overexpression to label hiPSC-CMs for MRI is feasible.
Explore how ferritin-based MRI tracking is advancing stem cell therapy.
Molecular beam epitaxy growth and characterization of GePb alloys
Abstract
This study demonstrates molecular beam epitaxy growth of GePb alloy thin films on Ge(100) substrates.
Introduction
GePb alloys are particularly intriguing for their potential to form direct bandgap semiconductors at low Pb concentrations.
Conclusion
This study presents the first MBE-grown single-crystal GePb thin film.
Discover more about MBE-grown GePb thin films and their applications.
Interested in seeing new capital equipment brought to the Core Facilities? Fill out the form to request equipment.