Nanoscale Science and Technology (NST) is emerging as a leading frontier of research and development in natural sciences and engineering as well as one of the anticipated pillars of the high-tech industry in the 21st century. This field encompasses the art and wisdom of forming artificial nano-sized (one nanometer = one millionth of a millimeter) structures with atomic precision, their characterization, and their utilization for studying new phenomena and for conceiving novel devices and systems unattainable with conventional technologies. The field takes advantage of physical, chemical, and biological principles that are set by the nanometer size, often in a fundamental way.

By its very nature, research in NST calls for truly interdisciplinary efforts, exploiting physical, chemical, biological and medical sciences, together with state-of-the-art engineering expertise. All of these traditional disciplines virtually loose their identity when dealing with nano-scale systems. Tel Aviv University (TAU) has recognized the emerging needs and opportunities in the field of NST and has established in 2000 the TAU Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology TAU-NST. The TAU-NST Center encompasses activities coordinated with four faculties (Exact Sciences, Engineering, Life Sciences and Medicine).

The center will provide the intellectual framework, to catalyze the necessary interdisciplinary research, as well as the necessary physical infrastructure, which are vital for nurturing a leading-edge activity in NST The NST Center aims to:

• nucleate multidisciplinary research activities in NST at TAU
• support research by means of organizing the access to, the maintenance, and upgrading of the central equipment facilities.
• promote new research alliances and grant programs between faculty members at TAU, nationally, and internationally.
• launch special activity to address the need for special educational programs for young researchers and for public education.
• endorse-through ties with the industry, venture capital and government bodies— alliances with private-sector affiliates as well as the genesis for new start-up companies.

The central facility of the TAU-NST, about 1200 sq. meters, hosts the shared laboratories, including technical and administrative staff responsible for their operation and maintenance. It encompasses state of the art equipment for construction, realization and general characterization of nano-structures. In order to optimize its activity the central facility will include the laboratories of 5-8 faculty members, which will represent the diverse expertise, necessary for developing the new “nano-culture”. This core is extended and supported by additional “circles” of more than 50 research group distributed in the above four faculties. Researchers in these “circles” contribute to, and benefit from the activities at the center to various degrees.

The Center relies on its existing characterization equipment (E-beam lithography, HRSEM, HRTEM, AFM etc.), Wolfson Materials Center (Auger spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometer, SIMS analysis, etc.) and fabrication equipment in the recently established clean rooms of Micro-Technologies Laboratories.

In addition to its primary research activities, the Center will support education programs in nanoscience (mainly for the Master degree and beyond), host visiting scientists, and promote contacts and collaborations with granting agencies and with advanced technology industries.