The Advancement of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in China

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the achievements and present status of China in the field of nanomaterials, nanodevices, and construction and characterization of nanostructures. Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the creation and utilization of materials, devices, and systems through the control of matter on the nanometer scale. Its essence is the ability to work at these levels to generate larger structures exhibiting novel physical, chemical, and biological properties and phenomena. The control of matter on nanoscale has already played an important role in scientific disciplines as diverse as physics, chemistry, materials science, biology, medicine, engineering, and computer simulation. Chinese scientists have followed the mainstream in the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology since its initial stage. Tens of national conferences have been held in China since 1990 covering a wide range of topics in the related fields. In Beijing, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) sponsored the 7th International Conference on Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM93) and the 4th International Conference on Nanoscale Science and Technology (Nano IV). Till date, more than 20 institutes of CAS, 50 universities, and 300 enterprises have engaged themselves in the research and development of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Several centers for research and development of nanoscience and technology have been established in CAS, Tsinghua University, Peking University, Nanjing University, and East China University of Science and Technology. The principal fields supported by CAS include bond-selective chemistry under the control of laser and the manipulation of single atoms with scanning probe microscopy (SPM); molecular electronics research on molecular materials and molecular devices; giant-magneto resistance materials and related physics; photo catalytic and photoelectronic chemistry study of nanosemiconductors; SPM studies on surface and interface; study on carbon nanotubes and other nanomaterials; and study on the structure and physical properties of artificial superatom.