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Researchers develop holes 60,000 times smaller than human hair

KTH PhD student Fabio De Ferrari pictured with samples from his research on DNA sensing. He believes this has potential to advance personalized medicine worldwide. Photo: Cecilia Aronsson
KTH PhD student Fabio De Ferrari pictured with samples from his research on DNA sensing. He believes this has potential to advance personalized medicine worldwide. Photo: Cecilia Aronsson

New process offers extreme precision that could revolutionize medical diagnostics and beyond.

KTH PhD student Fabio De Ferrari and colleagues have discovered a cost-effective way to create ultra-small pores in silicon – smaller than 5 nanometers in diameter.

Using gold nanoparticles and a method called metal-assisted chemical etching, the researchers also discovered a self-limiting effect—like a drill that stops automatically at just the right depth—making the technique highly precise and scalable.

Highlights and events

2026 06 15
Myfab , Myfab Chalmers , Myfab KTH , Myfab Lund , Myfab Uppsala

Several researchers active within Myfab awarded associate senior lecturer grants

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Simone Gasparinetti
2026 06 15
Myfab Chalmers , Myfab

Simone Gasparinetti awarded Nagel Prize in Physics, by KVA

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2026 06 03
Myfab , Myfab Chalmers , Myfab KTH , Myfab Lund , Myfab Uppsala

Nordic Nanolab meeting reaches record-high attendance

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2026 05 27
Myfab , Myfab Chalmers , Myfab KTH , Myfab Lund , Myfab Uppsala

New report highlights the need to strengthen Sweden’s semiconductor ecosystem

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