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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

bachelor students from the Introduction to Engineering Physics course offered by the Faculty of Science and Technology at Uppsala University. Pictured here is just part of a larger group of around 60 curious and motivated future engineers.
2025 10 01
Myfab Uppsala

Future engineers visit Myfab Uppsala

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The material features a magnetic alloy made from both magnetic and non-magnetic elements (cobalt, iron, germanium and tellurium), allowing ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism to coexist within a sin
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Myfab Chalmers

Material breakthrough paves way for major energy savings in memory chips

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At the event: Peter Modh, Chalmers - Vanya Darakchieva, Lund University - Mikael Östling, KTH
2025 09 24
Myfab , Myfab Chalmers , Myfab KTH , Myfab Lund

Inauguration – WBG Pilot Line

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The second gear from the right has an optical metamaterial that react to laserlight and makes the gear move. All gears are made in silica directly on a chip. Each gear is about 0.016 mm in diameter.
2025 09 22
Myfab Chalmers

Light-powered motor fits inside a strand of hair

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