In Western Australia, NANO is based at the University of Western Australia’s Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis.

At least two important research trends have driven the need for a national facility in order to understand and control the relationship between structure and properties of both physical and biological devices and systems.

Specialised instrumentation: ‘Top down’ research (miniaturisation) is now overlapping ‘bottom-up’ research (atom and molecular self-assembly and manipulation), placing new and acute requirements on microscopy, microanalysis, characterisation and metrology. Analysis of materials at the atomic and molecular level of detail is vital in fields such as nanotechnology and biotechnology, where sub-units with atomic or molecular dimensions control function. The NANO-MNRF possesses a uniquely powerful range of instrumentation and expertise. The nodes of the NANO national network are highly complementary because they collectively allow complete structural and chemical characterisation of materials at an atomic or molecular level.

Manipulation: Microscopy is passing from the passive approach, involving observation and inference, to an active process, involving design and construction of nanomaterial prototypes. Research increasingly combines characterisation of structure and chemistry at high resolution with the fabrication of new structures through manipulation of individual atoms and molecules.

The benefits of a network organisation such as NANO means new national and international linkages will allow resource sharing between a grid of new and existing instrumentation in microscopy and microanalysis.

The delivery of new capabilities in atomic and molecular level imaging, analysis and manipulation will support and enable Australian nanotechnology and biotechnology research. In pursuing this objective, NANO will develop and promote strategic Australian expertise and intellectual capabilities as well as instrumentation.

For more information about NANO, click here.