Established in 2017, the NSF Center for Chemo-Mechanical Assembly (CCMA) is dedicated to solving the challenge of controlling fluid flow at the micro- and nano level. By manipulating the behavior of particles using catalytic chemical reactions, we can drive the self-organization of particles and form useful micro-devices.
Potential applications for this research includes the creation of stand-alone microfluidic devices that autonomously perform multi-stage chemical reactions and assays for biomedical applications; automated materials assembly in harsh environments; and small-scale factories that can operate autonomously to build microscale components for use in fine instrumentation and robotic systems.
The CCMA is established through the NSF Centers for Chemical Innovation (CCI) Program, which supports research centers focused on major, long-term fundamental chemical research challenges.