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FOREWORD
The College of Arts and Sciences at
Shaw University in Raleigh, NC, is setting up a research and
education center in order to bring-in the latest developments in
science and technology. In light of this, the Nanoscience and
Nanotechnology Research Center (NNRC), aims at actively creating and
nurturing a dynamic learning environment in which qualified
individuals of different perspectives, life experiences, and
scientific backgrounds will pursue their academic goals and enhance
Shaw University’s capacity and academic values. Faculty and students
will contribute in the building of knowledge and the economic
growth, and they are expected to positively impact their community.
Nanotechnology and nano-materials
have been introduced in order to significantly improve the quality
of life. Smart combinations of nanoscale properties can allow one to
create new functionalities developed by systems that have new,
extraordinary, and sometimes astonishing characteristics. As a
result, a wide range of new applications envisioned in the labs are
making their way to the fabrication lines. It is forecast that these
applications will promote a dynamic economy and a broader welfare.
Presently, industry is moving forward with the integration of
nanoscale features to make macro-systems increasingly more effective
for solving issues of paramount importance to the welfare of
mankind. For instance, the outstanding physical, electronic, and
biological properties of nano-engineered materials have led to the
design and production of high performance devices and systems, which
can be rendered economical. These groundbreaking solutions can be
made suitable for critical applications. Nano-materials offer a wide
range of unique properties, spanning from chemical, physical, and
biological, to optical and electronic. All of which are enabling the
construction of sub-micrometric machines and robots with new and
outstanding functionalities. These are (i) fast, since they operate
in pico- and nano-second time scales, thanks to their small sizes
and the involvement of molecular and atomic processes, (ii)
powerful, because they use materials with atomically tuned
properties (including self-organization of atoms and clusters) and
because they can be scalable, and (iii) extremely sensitive due to
the fact that they are designed to respond to extremely small
stimuli, in addition to the microelectronic environment which can
generate strong signals out of nanoscale changes of properties of
these miniature devices. Systems that use nanoscale properties are
expected to become very reliable thanks to the possible robust
design, construction, and that they are insignificantly affected by
their environment. Nanoscale electronic and optoelectronic systems
are expected to be power‑efficient since the functional parts will
consume an extremely small amount of power. In addition, we have
been seeing progressive replacement of energy-avid machines with
micro- and nano-systems that achieve better functionality. Such
nanotechnology based machines are expected to substantially reduce
energy consumption, which consequently will improve the quality of
life.
About five elements have given birth
to Nanoscience in the eighties; the most prominent are: (i) the
establishment of first principles and molecular dynamics methods
that ended up producing powerful computer programs capable of
solving any type of atomic and molecular problem, (ii) the
development of a variety of scanning nanoscopes, (iii) the huge
progress achieved in semiconductor material and device physics, (iv)
the systematic integration of electronic devices that led to micro-
and sub-micro-electronics, and (v) the mingling of physicists with
chemists for studying quantum systems. Late landmarks in the
development of nanoscience are for instance the fabrication of
exotic materials such as fullerene, carbon nanotubes,…
multi-disciplinary thrust for developing bio-inspired, such as
self-organized, systems,...
New nanotechnology visions, being
born daily nowadays, stem from extensive imagination, collective
knowledge, and large team investigations. However, the majority of
"dream projects" still require a vast amount of research and
development before reaching the cost effectiveness and the required
safety in the industrial environment. For instance, exploiting the
feature of the nanoscale size and short time processes necessitates
new type of tools and experimental approaches based on deep
theoretical knowledge, usually on the brink of the frontier of human
knowledge and capacity. Also, handling nanoscale size systems
requires new fabrication and measurement techniques for which their
implementation is preceded by tremendous efforts of imagination and
modeling. It should be noted that the complications of the nanoscale
world are mainly due to what was admitted last century as
"unavoidable quantum effects". These can only be understood and
advantageously utilized by using multiscale modeling. To this end
systematic use of high performance computing (HPC), first principle
calculations, etc., have incredibly proliferate over the last three
decades. High performance computing is not meant just as a resource
and time saving mean, but is proved to be an essential tool and
guide for the discovery of unknown properties, which in turn yield
usually impressive new solutions. Although HPC remains necessary for
designing small nanoscale systems, it is still a heavy task for
today's supercomputers. Another complication of nanotechnology comes
from its multidisciplinary aspect. This has forced scientists to
reeducate themselves in fields new to them, while simultaneously
deepening their knowledge in their respective areas, or looking at
their knowledge from different perspective. The two decades and half
of revamping knowledge facilitated an unprecedented scientific
exchange. On going HPC seems to be one common platform that is
unifying scientists and breaking the impeding classical boundaries
of science.
It has become clear that research in
nanoscience and nanotechnology requires a new culture and a new
scientific approach, particularly the multidisciplinary aspect and
the expanded theoretical foundation. The Nanoscience and
nanotechnology thrust, upheld by the NNRC, will boost the
integration of research and teaching. This is seen in the design of
the center structure (see flowchart), particularly the three
intercommunicating research divisions including the "trait-d'union"
Computational Materials and Atomistic Engineering Division that
takes care of the needed HPC. Furthermore, with an entire division
overseeing the education and outreach within the NNRC, the college
of Arts and Science wants to overhaul its STEM[1]
curriculum, while offering its faculty members the option of
creating research projects and advancing their respective fields.
A. Karoui
Associate Director
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Research Center
Shaw University
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