Scanning Probe Microscopy in US Department of Energy Nanoscale Science Research Centers: Status, Perspectives, and Opportunities

摘要

For the last two decades, the concepts of nanoscience and nanotechnology have been integral to much of the scientific progress. The early visionaries of nanoscience such as Richard Feynman famously predicted that "there is plenty of room at the bottom," and offered a challenge for how this space can be explored and used. Almost 30 years after that quote was first expressed, the interest in nanoscience was rekindled by a 1986 book by Eric Drexler titled "The Engines of Creation", bringing forward the concept of nanoscale control of the structure of matter, self-reproducing machines, and enormous impact on all areas of human knowledge and technology from large-scale manufacturing to medicine they will offer. While many concepts envisioned by Drexler still wait for experimental implementation, the inspiration it bestowed onto generations of scientists entering the field is undeniable. Many areas that emerged since then-from molecular electronics to plas-rnonics to nanomagnetism -have become the inseparable part of modern research. The National Nanotechnology Initiative established by a consortium of US government agencies and multiple scientific leaders (most notably Michael Roco) has provided an integrated roadmap for nanoscience and nanotechnology development in the US and worldwide.