Enabling technologies for innovative new materials

In a relatively short time, nanotechnology has captured the imagination of the research and business community. Already, we have, seen some examples of the intriguing properties that these new materials exhibit, bot these products have come about in a rather ad hoc manner. However, successful rational design of nanomaterials will be achieved only by understanding the fundamental atomic and molecular properties of the materials at. the nanoscale and a systematic approach to engineering design for commercialization.