MU (Masbah) Hakim MSc

Hi! I'm Masbah, originally from Bangladesh. I am a researcher with a background in Mechanical Engineering (BSc) and a Joint European MSc in Tribology of Surfaces and Interfaces, completed across four leading European universities: University of Leeds, University of Ljubljana, University of Coimbra, and Luleå University of Technology.

In May 2024, I began my PhD at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in collaboration with the innovation leader in the semiconductor industry ASML, focusing on nanoscale surface interactions in lithography systems. In ASML lithography machines, variations in friction between silicon wafers and the wafer stage cause positional errors, limiting the minimum achievable chip feature size. My research aims to understand and control these nanoscale interactions to improve system precision.

Currently, I am studying self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as functional surface to enhance relevant surface properties and will investigate the chemical and mechanical changes under mild stress. In the future, I will explore organic contamination affecting surface properties, identifying best cleaning methods and the behavior of realistic surface coatings under stress at the nanoscale. Using Atomic Force Microscopy-based Infrared Nanospectroscopy (AFM-IR), I aim to resolve chemical changes within real contact areas, advancing nanoscale microscopy and spectroscopy to shed light on the advanced functional surfaces for lithography applications.

Research Interests

• Functional Surfaces
• Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
• Infrared Nanospectroscopy (AFM-IR)
• Nanotribology

If you are interested in an exciting thesis opportunity or collaboration with us in nanoscale chemistry of functional surfaces, feel free to reach out to me!