Nanoscience Research

Nanoscience is the study of materials at ultra-small dimensions — on the scale of a nanometer, which is a billionth of a meter (0.000000001 meter). For example, today’s smallest electronic component in an integrated circuit is 250 nanometers per side. Proteins, the molecules that catalyze chemical reactions in cells, are 1 to 20 nanometers in size. In contrast, the diameter of a human hair is approximately 10,000 nanometers.

Nanoscale science, engineering, and technology is an emerging, interdisciplinary area involving materials scientists, chemists, physicists, biologists, and other researchers. Their goal: to work atom by atom, molecule by molecule to design and assemble new materials that have desired properties and functions. Once developed, these nanomaterials will be the basis of the products and processes of tomorrow.

What are the possible benefits of nanoscience?

• Faster computers
• Improved solar energy conversion
• Stronger and lighter materials
• Improved chemical and biological sensing
• Efficient and rapid detection and remediation of pollutants and pathogens in the environment
• More efficient catalysts to speed up chemical processes
• Molecular motors
• New drugs

The Center for Functional Nanomaterials

The Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) at Brookhaven Lab provides scientists with state-of-the-art capabilities to tailor materials at the atomic level, with the aim of understanding how to improve materials’ chemical or physical functioning. The “functional nanomaterials” resulting from this understanding are expected to have broad applications as the basis of future technology, such as faster computers, improved solar energy conversion, and more efficient catalysis of chemical reactions.

Last Modified: February 28, 2008

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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