In 2025, Gadea acquired an additional compact plasma ashing system for the clean room. This device allows researchers to remove carbon contaminants before depositing layers onto a sample. Likewise, a new CO 2 snow-jet cleaning gun enables ef- fective and comparatively gentle removal of contaminations by using high pressure to eliminate even the smallest particles. The NF Lab also acquired a new semiautomatic wire bonder. This serves as a backup device, as numerous groups depend on a functioning wire bonder in order to connect microstructures with macroscopic measurement components that are used to investigate the properties of functional nanomaterials. In another improvement, the NF Lab modernized its existing annealing furnace, further enhancing the lab’s capabilities. The new setup is safer and allows components to be heated at a low and controlled pressure (vacuum annealing), thereby expanding the range of possible applications. New acquisitions also include a 3D microscope equipped with various light sources, lenses and tilt axes that ensure excellent imaging for the quality control of samples with complex, three-di- mensional microscopic features. Satisfied users The research groups active at the NF Lab value both the service provided and the lab’s continually improving equipment, as these allow them to carry out sophisticated fabrication processes on site. As well as providing infrastructure, the NF Lab now also offers complete fabrication service packages. For example, in 2025, the team developed specialized test structures on behalf of the Nano Imaging Lab to evaluate the focused ion/electron beam deposition techniques used at the NI Lab. Micro and nanofabrication for teaching and the public Students working at the Nano Fabrication Lab receive individual instruction and supervision on how to use the various instru- ments from the NF Lab team. Together with Marcus Wyss from the Nano Imaging Lab, Gerard Gadea also gives a lecture for master’s students of the nanosciences, biology and physics, pro- viding an overview of the different techniques. Several school groups and individual interns who visited the SNI in 2025 were also given guided tours that offered an insight into work in clean rooms — environments that require particu- larly stringent cleanliness and safety measures, which are en- sured by the NF Lab team. The new CO 2 snow-jet cleaning gun removes even the tiniest particles with high pressure while remaining relatively gentle. Xavier Wildermuth inspects the fabricated structures using the new 3D microscope. Gerard Gadea operates the modernized annealing furnace, which now allows sample preparation at controlled pressures. 58 SNI Annual Report 2025