Nano-Science Center > Study programmes > About nanoscience

What is nanoscience?

Nanos means dwarf

Nanos means dwarf in Greek. A nanometer is one billion of a meter. Nanotechnology is the ability to work on an atomic, molecular and supramolecular level. By controlling the atomic and molecular structure, we are able to invent new materials, components and systems with new attractive features and functions.

Nanotechnology have emerged within the borderland between physics, chemistry and biology. The classic sciences have taught us how atoms and molecules behave. In the future, we should like to control and organize them into new structures with new abilities.

Small sizes with great potential

With molecules as building blocks, nanotechnology will create new structures and constructions. Electronic nanocircuits that assemble themselves, intelligent nanocontainers, which are able to apply medicine without side effects and in accordance with the needs of the patient, super-strong materials, or new ecologically desirable catalysts, are just some of the promising opportunities. There is moreover research with new biocompatible materials for implants and with optical nanostructures for fast communication.

Research at Nano-Science Center

Learn more about the research at Nano-Science Center. See a movie about the SINGLE collaboration project in which scientists gain a better understanding of how single molecules can ultimately be used as transistors, diodes, switches, or memory. You can also read about the different research groups at Nano-Science Center.