About the Center for Functional Nanomaterials

The Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) at Brookhaven National Laboratory provides state-of-the-art capabilities for the fabrication and study of nanoscale materials, with an emphasis on atomic-level tailoring to achieve desired properties and functions. The CFN is a science-based user facility, simultaneously developing strong scientific programs while offering broad access to its capabilities and collaboration through an active user program. The overarching scientific theme of the CFN is the development and understanding of nanoscale materials that address the Nations’ challenges in energy security, consistent with the Department of Energy mission.

The CFN is one of five nanoscale science research centers (DOE NSRCs) funded by the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. The CFN supports Brookhaven’s goal of leadership in the development of advanced materials and processes for selected energy applications.

As a premier user facility for conducting interdisciplinary nanoscience research, the CFN serves as a focal point and enabler of advanced materials study in the northeastern United States. Together with the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) and, in the future, the proposed NSLS-II, these facilities will complement each other to facilitate the nanoscale revolution. The synergy among these world-class machines, with Brookhaven’s own scientific staff working collaboratively with university, industrial and government laboratory researchers, offers unique opportunities for breakthroughs in energy research.

The science at the CFN is organized around three scientific themes:

• Interface Science and Catalysis
• Soft and Biological Nanomaterials
• Electronic Materials

and two cross-cutting research groups:

• Electron Microscopy
• Theory and Computation

The experimental capabilities at the CFN are arranged into seven laboratory facilities: materials synthesis, nanofabrication, proximal probes, theory and computation, electron microscopy, ultrafast optical sources, and an end station at the NSLS. Access to the user program at the CFN is through a simple, peer-reviewed proposal process with a call for proposals that takes place three times per year. Details of the programs, capabilities and access are all described in more detail below. Discussion of the scientific programs and capabilities of the DOE’s other nanoscale science research centers may be found here.

Organization Chart

Staff List

Science Advisory Committee

>CFN Fact Sheet Available in PDF format. Read this if you have PDF problems.

Last Modified: July 15, 2008
Please forward all questions about this site to: Stephen Giordano.

One of ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major scientific facilities available to university, industry and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed for DOE’s Office of Science by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited-liability company founded by Stony Brook University, the largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a nonprofit, applied science and technology organization.

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