Kuwait University Nanotechnology Research Facility

Kuwait University Nanotechnology Research Facility (KUNRF) is a scientific laboratory facility that provides support to Kuwait University (KU) researchers in advanced engineering materials and nanotechnology fields. KUNRF is a part of the general facility laboratories of the College of Engineering and Petroleum (CEP) at KU.

The initiative to establish KUNRF began in 2007 with the efforts of several engineering departments at the CEP and the KU research sector. KUNRF proposal was approved in 2008 and assigned as a general facility project (Grant No. GE 01/07). Since then, KUNRF has been run under the supervision of the Vice-Dean of Academic Affairs at CEP, and a general facility committee was formulated to establish and operate its activities.

KUNRF provides multi-disciplinary research services and experiences for researchers in different fields related to the study of advanced engineering materials and nanotechnological applications in renewable energy, oil and gas industries, and biomedicine. It comprises 26 major equipment and secondary instruments and is staffed by 8 qualified and trained research assistants with multidisciplinary research experience in engineering, materials science, physics, and chemistry.

The functions of KUNRF equipment generally fit one of the following categories: material testing, characterization, and fabrication, sample preparation, and experimental data analysis. Some of the major characterization methods include scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, ion chromatography, spectrophotometry, and optical emission spectrometry. Testing equipment includes a rheometer, a tribometer, a nanoindenter, and a universal testing machine, while electron beam evaporator serves as the major fabrication technique.

In summary, KUNRF is a state-of-the-art research facility that supports KU researchers in advanced engineering materials and nanotechnology fields through its top-notch equipment and highly trained staff. It serves as a hub for multi-disciplinary research and innovation and has the potential to contribute significantly to Kuwait's scientific development.

The mission of KUNRF is to promote and facilitate the advancement of scientific research in the College of Engineering and Petroleum in particular and Kuwait University at large in the fields of advanced engineering materials and nanotechnology.

In pursuit of KUNRF vision and mission, we seek:

- To establish large-scale high impact research programs in nanotechnology and advanced engineering materials.

- To expand interdisciplinary interactions between KU researchers.

- To create and support collaboration opportunities for KU researchers with prestigious technology institutions and industries at local, regional, and international levels.

- To support knowledge-based development in the fields of nanotechnology and advanced engineering materials with respect to education, research, and industry.

- To enhance KU research capabilities by the continuous upgrade of current facilities and the development of human resources via training, seminars, and workshops.

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