The scientific background of the Nanoscience collaboration is strongly connected to two recently established Centers of Excellences. These two centers builds upon close relations to Chinese research groups from Chinese Academy of Science (CAS): The National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNT) and Institute of Chemistry (ICCAS) both situated in Beijing.

The research plans cover broad aspects of nanoscience from synthesis, self‐assembly, characterisation and theoretical understanding of surface‐bound functional molecules to synthesis of nanomaterials, which have new thermoelectric properties, as well as the possibilities for allowing molecules and other nanostructures to take part in electronic circuits. The research builds on broader themes that can be summarised as follows:

Functional Nanomaterials

Materials composed of nanosized structures may possess novel physical, chemical or biological properties that can be utilized to perform specific functions unattainable with conventional materials. The availability of such functional nanomaterials is likely to revolutionize industrial manufacturing capabilities and capacities to an extent we can hardly envision. Therefore, the ability to design and synthesize such materials with desired functionality is a key element for nanotechnology. The role of nanoscience in this context is to procure the necessary scientific knowledge base to ensure successful implementation into technology. This will require a detailed understanding of the fundamental properties of nanostructures, which can be achieved only through a close interplay between theory and experiment.

Self‐assembly of molecular nanostructures

One of the major fundamental challenges within the area of nanoscience is to learn the basic mechanisms behind the assembly of nanoscale materials. Organic molecules and other nanosized materials such as nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes have a variety of fascinating properties, which may be useful in, e.g. molecular electronics, optics, and molecular mechanics. However, today there are still no simple and efficient methods for assembling individual components into functional devices such as electronic circuits, photonic networks, or nano‐robotics. From an interplay between novel synthesis techniques, device fabrication and state‐of‐the‐art scanning probe microscopy, we plan to build functional nanoarchitectures in a bottom‐up approach.

Nano‐energy‐materials

A large scale transition to renewable energy sources is dependent on major scientific and technological breakthroughs. The research and development efforts must have a broad focus to reflect the diversity of technologies that will most likely make up the future energy supply. Important research areas include solar cells, hydrogen technology, wind energy, gas conversion, synthetic diesel, biofuels and so forth. A key element in all of these research areas is the development of novel materials with new and improved properties. In other words the key to the development of technologies for a sustainable energy supply lies in the ability to characterize, design and control materials. With the new capabilities offered by nanotechnology to control materials at the atomic level, the potential for materials design has vastly improved. By designing new materials atom by atom, we can create completely new classes of materials with properties not found in any known materials.

Nanomedicin

Nanomedicine is a rapidly emerging new research field with exciting possibilities for generation of new scientific concepts for improvement of quality of life through the development of novel strategies for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. The driving force for nanomedicine is the fact that nanoscience and associated nanotechnologies can be merged with the biomedical sciences in a clinical setting, which results in a radically novel approach to combat human disease. We suggest to focus on four subthemes:

1. Nanoparticles for drug delivery and bioimaging
2. Regenerative medicine and nanofunctionalised soft and hard implants
3. Nanodrug design
4. Nanobiosensors

Nanoelectronics and -photonics

The miniaturization of the current Si-based electronics will most likely come to an end within 1-2 decades. Some of the visions within the field of nanoelectronics and nanophotonics are to make logical elements from individual molecules and efficient optical components based on nanocrystals. Major challenges within this field are to assemble molecules or nanocrystals on predefined nano-templates and to create interconnects between functionalized units. Such issues will be addressed on a fundamental level.