His mechanical sensor research includes AFM tips, pressure sensors and accelerometers. In basic research Dr. Madou is interested in applying micromaching to explore new physics and chemistry by working with micromachined devices where macro physical laws break down. Beyond searching for non-linear effects through micromachining, Dr. Madou is also working on developing smart materials including an attempt to make artificial muscle by combining micromachinging in Si with actuator polymers. These are more than nineties' buzzwords, competing for popular press and research dollars, this jargon zoo, summarized best as the Science of Miniaturization,' holds real potential for groundbreaking new discoveries and applications. In this presentation we review research strategies and explore the potential for further innovation in devices featuring nanoscale dimensions.
Emphasis is on biological and chemical applications.
The latter concerns a new fluidic platform merging fluidics with informatics.