About The Center

Nanoscience and nanotechnology deal with the making of tiny objects, measuring between 1 and 100 nanometers (1 nm = one billionth of a meter) and with the study of their properties. These objects, intermediate in size between isolated atoms and bulk materials, manifest size dependent electronic, optical, and mechanical properties and phenomena, presenting fascinating challenges for basic scientific research. They also serve as a basis for the development of high technology in diverse fields such as advanced materials, microelectronics, optoelectronics, medicine, biotechnology, and more. Much of nanotechnology is a result of the exploitation of the novel and significantly different size dependent properties, phenomena, and processes of these systems. Nanotechnology further capitalizes on our ability to manufacture and utilize such structures and devices through tailoring properties at atomic and molecular levels.

Nanotechnology is an enabling technology for diverse fields and applications, and is expected to be the revolutionary force for industrial and economical development in the 21st century. This revolution will lead to significant benefits for society, such as powerful miniaturized electronic and optical systems, development of new alternative energy sources and materials, development of novel drug delivery schemes, new medical and environmental technologies, and more. The Hebrew University is internationally recognized as a leading driving force in nanotechnology and serves as the nucleus for developing this emerging area of high-technology in Jerusalem and in Israel.

In response to the inestimable importance of this exciting field of research at the forefront of modern science and technology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has established in 2001 the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. The Center, operating within the Faculty of Science, aims to create the necessary conditions for the flow of knowledge, expertise and research means between researchers from different disciplines such as chemistry, physics, applied and life sciences, engineering and medicine. Its purpose is to bring together researchers from various disciplines that deal with nanotechnology; the Center already has about 40 member groups and is expected to expand further through recruitment of promising young faculty members.

An important and critical activity of the Center is providing extensive state-of-the-art multi-user research infrastructure to promote nanoscience and nanotechnology. The Center includes two such multi-user units: The Unit for Nanoscopic Characterization(UNC), which was officially launched in November 2003 and has already proven to be an invaluable research facility, and the Unit for Nanofabrication (UNF) – a ‘nano-workshop’ for the preparation of nanometric structures, which began to operate in the summer of 2007. Apart from its significant role in advancing nanoscience research, this infrastructure is essential also as training and teaching facility for educating the future generations of Israel’s leading scientists and engineers. Moreover, the infrastructure and expertise offered at the facility are open for external users from other academic institutions as well as from industry.

Research at the Center deals with diverse fields of nanoscience such as new materials, molecular and nano-electronics, nano-electrooptics, nanomedicine and nano-biology. The research will enable technological development of new transistors, memory elements, sensors and biosensors, renewable energy sources, directed drug delivery schemes, and more. The research at the Center already has made significant scientific impact worldwide. It will also serve to create new nanotechnology based industry in Israel.

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