Lancaster Joins Nanotechnology Network

Lancaster University has been invited to join a prestigious international research network investigating future applications of nanotechnology.

The European Network of Excellence, known as SANDiE (Self -Assembled Semiconductor Nanostructures for New Devices in Photonics and Electronics) is funded by the European Commission, and aims to strengthen the structure of scientific and technological research in this important field.

SANDiE has 31 partners located in 14 countries across Europe, including universities, research institutes and industrial companies such as Intel and Toshiba. The network receives a budget of €9.2m, while the partners working in this area have a total research budget of around €70m.

Lancaster University is the first organisation to be invited to join the network as a Full Partner since its launch in July 2004.

Nanoscience is the science of objects on a very small scale: smaller than 100 nanometres. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter, which is three to five atoms across. To put that into context, 100 nanometers is 1,000 times smaller than the average human hair. Nanoscience has the potential to radically reshape the world around us. It could lead to revolutionary breakthroughs in areas such as communications, manufacturing and health care.

SANDiE focuses on researching devices exploiting nanoscale phenomena in the areas of photonics and electronics. Practical uses for such devices range from lasers and amplifiers for optical-fibre telecommunications to computer memories.

Dr Manus Hayne of Lancaster University Department of Physics said: “As well as participating in the research programme, Lancaster University will formulate the projects research strategy. It is a significant achievement for the university to be recognised as a partner in this internationally intensive and highly competitive research field.”