Nanoscience and Technology

Nano science and technology is the branch of science that studies systems and manipulates matter on atomic, molecular and supramolecular scales (the nanometre scale). On such a length scale, quantum mechanical and surface boundary effects become relevant, conferring properties on materials that are not observable on larger, macroscopic length scales.

Nanotechnology, the manipulation of matter at the atomic and molecular scale to create materials with remarkably varied and new properties, is a rapidly expanding area of research with huge potential to revolutionize our lives and to provide technological solutions to our problems in agriculture, energy, the environment and medicine. In order to fully realize this potential, we need to be able to control the synthesis of nanoparticles, the construction of nano-devices, and the characterization of materials on the nanoscale and to understand the effects of these things on environment and health.