User Facilities

Several Federal agencies operate nanotechnology research facilities that are available to outside users. The resources described on this page are generally available both to U.S.-based researchers and to international visitors. Access rules, costs, and provisions for proprietary research are determined by the individual facilities and their funding agencies.

Many other NNI projects and programs welcome new collaborators. Interested parties should contact the researchers directly or the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office for assistance. Below is an overview of what the participating agencies offer at their respective user facilities.

Department of Energy (DOE)

The U.S. Department of Energy operates five Nanoscale Science Research Centers (NSRCs). These are open to the research community on a peer-reviewed basis. Each NSRC is located at a DOE National Laboratory, providing users with access to many other facilities and additional opportunities for collaboration. A uniform set of general policies and procedures for user access governs the use of the DOE centers. Prospective users should submit a proposal to the center of their choice:

• Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory
• Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory
• Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies at Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory

The Department of Energy also has three Electron-Beam Microcharacterization Centers, which operate as user facilities:

• Electron Microscopy Center for Materials Research at Argonne National Laboratory
• National Center for Electron Microscopy at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Shared Research Equipment (SHaRE) User Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services (NCI/NIH/HHS)

The National Cancer Institute's Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) provides knowledge and services to help researchers transition nanomaterials-based cancer treatments from the laboratory into FDA-approved clinical trials. NCI, a component of the National Institutes of Health, established the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory to perform pre-clinical efficacy and toxicity testing of nanoparticles intended for cancer therapeutics or diagnostics. Information on participating in the NCL program is available on the NCI Website.

National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Commerce (NIST/DOC)

The National Institute of Standards and Technology operates the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST), one of NIST’s two user facilities. The CNST supports the U.S. nanotechnology enterprise from discovery to production by providing industry, academia, NIST, and other government agencies with access to world-class nanoscale measurement and fabrication methods and technology. The CNST's shared NanoFab resource gives researchers economical access to and training on a state-of-the-art, commercial tool set required for cutting-edge nanotechnology development. The simple application process is designed to get projects started in a few weeks. Looking beyond the current state of the art, CNST research is creating the next generation of nanoscale measurement instruments and methods, which are made available through collaboration.

National Science Foundation (NSF)

The National Science Foundation supports two networks of user facilities, the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN) and the Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN).  Each is operated by a consortium of universities.

The NNIN sites operate on an open-access model, subject to review for technical feasibility. See the NNIN Technical FAQs to learn how to choose and use an NNIN facility, and for information on costs and fees.

A searchable list of nanofabrication and nanocharacterization tools available at the 14 NNIN sites is available online.

The NCN provides simulation services and educational material through nanoHUB.org, supporting over one hundred thousand users from around the world. Many interactive educational materials can be viewed by guests, but users must register to run simulations.