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What is Nanoscience and Nanotechnology?
The word Nanoscience refers to the study, manipulation and engineering of matter, particles and structures on the nanometer scale (one millionth of a millimeter, the scale of atoms and molecules). Important properties of materials, such as the electrical, optical, thermal and mechanical properties, are determined by the way molecules and atoms assemble on the nanoscale into larger structures. Moreover, in nanometer size structures these properties are often different then on macroscale, because quantum mechanical effects become important.
Nanotechnology is the application of nanoscience leading to the use of new nanomaterials and nanosize components in useful products. Nanotechnology will eventually provide us with the ability to design custom-made materials and products with new enhanced properties, new nanoelectronics components, new types of “smart” medicines and sensors, and even interfaces between electronics and biological systems…
These newborn scientific disciplines are situated at the interface between physics, chemistry, materials science, microelectronics, biochemistry, and biotechnology. Control of these disciplines therefore requires an academic and multidisciplinary scientific education.
Why Study Nanoscience and Nanotechnology?
Nanoscience and nanotechnology are at the forefront of modern research. The fast growing economy in this area requires experts who have an outstanding knowledge of nanoscience in combination with the skills to apply this knowledge in new products. A multidisciplinary scientific education is crucial to provide industry and research institutes with top quality experts who have a generic background in the different subdisciplines such as electronics, physics, chemistry, material science, biotechnology, and at the same time be experts in one particular field. This is what is offered in this master programme.
Why Study Nano at KU Leuven ?
At KU Leuven the program runs over the disciplines of three contributing Faculties:
- Science: Departments of Physics and Chemistry
- Engineering: Departments of Electrical Engineering and Material Science
- Bioscience Engineering
The program at KU Leuven is strongly research-oriented. KU Leuven has a strong research component in the areas of nanoscience,nanotechnology,nanomaterials, nanoelectronics and bionanotechnology. The research in this area is done in the research groups of the three faculties at KU Leuven. Moreover there is a strong interaction with the world-leading nanotechnology research institute IMEC, which is Europe’s largest independent research center in nano-electronics and nano-technology, headquartered in Leuven on the same campus of the KU Leuven. Part of the teaching staff is related to IMEC, bringing a strong component in the area of nanoelectronics. The research groups at KU Leuven and at IMEC are recognized worldwide in this field. During your master thesis, you will have the opportunity to work in the exciting research programs of these institutes.
IMEC has research programs spanning the range of academic research and industrial research with important industrial players. Important research topics are spintronics, nanoelectronic materials and fabrication methods, bionanosystems, nanofluidics, nanometrology, nanophotonics and nanolithography.
Both IMEC and KU Leuven provide access to world-class infrastructure for nanotechnology research and development as well as opportunities for graduating students to continue their studies with a PhD. This strong link between education and research ensures a contemporary program at the cutting edge of state-of-the-art research.
