London Centre for Nanotechnology
Encyclopedia
The London Centre for Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary research centre in physical and biomedical nanotechnology
in London
, United Kingdom
. It brings together two institutions that are world leaders in nanotechnology, University College London
and Imperial College London
. It was conceived from the outset with a management structure allowing for a clear focus on exploitation and commercialisation. Although based at UCL's campus in Bloomsbury
, the LCN includes research in departments of Imperial's South Kensington
campus.
The LCN's work requires it to draw on the combined skills of multiple departments, including medicine, chemistry, physics, electrical and electronic engineering, biochemical engineering, materials and earth sciences, and two leading business centres. The LCN’s stated vision is to become Europe’s premier research centre in nanotechnology applied to health care, information technology and the environment.
in 2003 following the award of a £13.65m higher education grant under the Science Research Infrastructure Fund. In October 2006 the LCN installed the first monochromated electron microscope in the UK at its site on the Imperial College London
campus.
In October 2008 the LCN published research about the possibility of using microscopic "nanoprobes" to discover new drugs to combat antibiotic resistance. In October 2009 a team at the Science and Technology Facilities Council's ISIS facility led by Stephen Bramwell of the LCN published research showing that single magnetic charges be made to behave and interact like electrical ones through the use of the magnetic monopoles that exist in spin ice
.
• Information Technology: Computing and communications needs continue to grow and underpin all other human endeavours. Current technologies are limited and new nanotechnology-driven paradigms such as quantum computing and spintronics are needed.
• Health care: Under development are specialised sensors and novel cancer-diagnosis systems, as well as new insights into cellular biophysics and nanotechnology-based instrumentation.
• Planet Care: The LCN uses its expertise, ranging from biology to chemistry and materials science, to conduct research in areas including novel photovoltaics, new approaches to exploring current energy supplies, low-power lighting and computing, new materials, instrumentation for the nuclear industry, and storing hydrogen efficiently at room temperature.
LCN has access to a range of tools that include:
• Nano-CAD: techniques to simulate, visualize and design nano-scale structures and devices in the biological and non-biological areas; first principles atomic/molecular level theory, systems modelling and other powerful computational tools.
• Nano-characterisation: the full range of optical, electron, ion and scan-probe based technologies required to image and understand nanostructures in both the biological and non-biological areas - measuring nano-electrical, structural, mechanical, rheological, acoustic, thermal and magnetic properties.
• Nano-fabrication: large clean-room space with the ability to produce nano-materials and devices using various biological and non-biological materials; silicon, III-V fabrication and unconventional fabrication – for example, of organics and diamond.
• Systems: the range of techniques required to translate nanotechnology into workable products for industry; hybridisation and integration techniques, error handling and re-routing algorithms, methods to connect bio- and non-bio systems.
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It brings together two institutions that are world leaders in nanotechnology, University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
and Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
. It was conceived from the outset with a management structure allowing for a clear focus on exploitation and commercialisation. Although based at UCL's campus in Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury
-Places:* Bloomsbury is an area in central London.* Bloomsbury , related local government unit* Bloomsbury, New Jersey, New Jersey, USA* Bloomsbury , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
, the LCN includes research in departments of Imperial's South Kensington
South Kensington
South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It is a built-up area located 2.4 miles west south-west of Charing Cross....
campus.
The LCN's work requires it to draw on the combined skills of multiple departments, including medicine, chemistry, physics, electrical and electronic engineering, biochemical engineering, materials and earth sciences, and two leading business centres. The LCN’s stated vision is to become Europe’s premier research centre in nanotechnology applied to health care, information technology and the environment.
History
The London Centre for Nanotechnology was established as a joint venture between UCL and Imperial College LondonImperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
in 2003 following the award of a £13.65m higher education grant under the Science Research Infrastructure Fund. In October 2006 the LCN installed the first monochromated electron microscope in the UK at its site on the Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
campus.
In October 2008 the LCN published research about the possibility of using microscopic "nanoprobes" to discover new drugs to combat antibiotic resistance. In October 2009 a team at the Science and Technology Facilities Council's ISIS facility led by Stephen Bramwell of the LCN published research showing that single magnetic charges be made to behave and interact like electrical ones through the use of the magnetic monopoles that exist in spin ice
Spin ice
A spin ice is a substance that is similar to water ice in that it can never be completely frozen. This is because it does not have a single minimal-energy state. A spin ice has "spin" degrees of freedom , with frustrated interactions which prevent it freezing...
.
Research areas
LCN's work is organised around three themes, which it characterizes as follows:• Information Technology: Computing and communications needs continue to grow and underpin all other human endeavours. Current technologies are limited and new nanotechnology-driven paradigms such as quantum computing and spintronics are needed.
• Health care: Under development are specialised sensors and novel cancer-diagnosis systems, as well as new insights into cellular biophysics and nanotechnology-based instrumentation.
• Planet Care: The LCN uses its expertise, ranging from biology to chemistry and materials science, to conduct research in areas including novel photovoltaics, new approaches to exploring current energy supplies, low-power lighting and computing, new materials, instrumentation for the nuclear industry, and storing hydrogen efficiently at room temperature.
| IT | HealthCare | Planet Care |
|---|---|---|
| Quantum computing | Medical diagnostics & sensor | Photovoltaics/solar cells |
| Material growth/synthesis | Nanoscale drug testing | Fuel cells and electrodes |
| Scan-probes | Bio-inspired materials | Hydrogen storage |
| Modelling/simulation | Lab on chip/tip | Composite Materials |
| Novel materials | Molecular simulation | Novel displays |
| Hybrid devices and systems | Disease studies | Nuclear fusion and fission |
| Large-scale electronics | Cell & tissue-device interfaces | Eco-processing |
| MEMS and vacuum devices | Medical imaging | Novel manufacturing methods |
| Spintronics/superconductors | Cell biomechanics | Nanoparticle applications |
| Photonics | Multifunctional bionanoparticles | Fossil fuel exploration |
LCN has access to a range of tools that include:
• Nano-CAD: techniques to simulate, visualize and design nano-scale structures and devices in the biological and non-biological areas; first principles atomic/molecular level theory, systems modelling and other powerful computational tools.
• Nano-characterisation: the full range of optical, electron, ion and scan-probe based technologies required to image and understand nanostructures in both the biological and non-biological areas - measuring nano-electrical, structural, mechanical, rheological, acoustic, thermal and magnetic properties.
• Nano-fabrication: large clean-room space with the ability to produce nano-materials and devices using various biological and non-biological materials; silicon, III-V fabrication and unconventional fabrication – for example, of organics and diamond.
• Systems: the range of techniques required to translate nanotechnology into workable products for industry; hybridisation and integration techniques, error handling and re-routing algorithms, methods to connect bio- and non-bio systems.