NIST’s Nanotechnology Stra

Meeting of NIST’s Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology October 29, 2008 Robert Celotta 
Questions for the VCAT 

• Are we addressing the right technology se

societal needs, and NIST needs? 

• Is NIST missing other opportunities? • Is NIST using the right metrics to evaluat

program performance? Other metrics?
 
Outline 

• The Breadth of Nanotechnology • NIST’s Role in Nanotechnology • Organizing Nanotechnology at NIST
 • Our Current Portfolio • Areas of Future Investment • External Relationships • Performance Metrics 
The Breadth of Nanotechnolog

•	 biosensors enabling early treatment of diseases, biosensors applied to drug discovery, ra

paint, cold lighting systems, dye solar cell, biosensors for diagnostics, molecular electron

nanoparticles for total UV protection, food wraps that use nanoparticles to improve gas b

enhanced windows - self cleaning, solar control, switchable, photovoltaic, paint additives surfaces to stay relatively cool and light surfaces to absorb heat, sensors of temperature, 

fibers for clothing, air quality monitors and enhancers, stress sensors embedded in build"smart spaces" that sense and act, communicate, reason, and interact, magnetic sensors, 

storage, electronic switches, optical filters, new lasers, nanostructured catalysts, reinforcprobes, thermal barriers, ink-jet inks, molecular sieves, high hardness tools, antimicrobinanocomposite materials, contrast agents, labs-on-a-chip, water purification materials, ebatteries, stronger materials, lubricants, rocket propellant, improved coolants, synthetic wear resistant materials, porous membranes, translucent ceramics, radar absorbing coat

storage devices, coal liquefaction systems, conductive plastics, displays, lightning arresto

microscopes, electrostatic dissipation, antistatic materials, conductive adhesives, nanomsystems and sensors, x-ray zoneplates, fast-absorbing drugs and nutrients, ultra-capacitosemiconductor devices, novel optoelectonic devices, quantum computers, light aerospace storage and packaging materials, scratch resistant optics, tissue engineering materials, fufunctional fertilizer, all optical information processing, neural prosthetics, nanoplasmonfilms used in displays for laptops, cell phones, digital camera, smart goods; nanoelectronelectronics, imaging systems, nanosurgery, transistors, nanofluidics, molecular scale moprecise assembly, space elevator, tennis, golf, and bowling balls, water repellants, magnematerials, disk drive heads, bandages, man-made skin, packaging to sense spoiled food, 

phase change memory, dental bonding agent, compasses, self repairing materials, tags a

nanofabrication, nanoscale analysis, etc. 
Investment in Nanotechnology 

Continues to Grow Worldwide
 
NIST’s Responsibility is for 

Measurement 

• 60 nm gold particles • What might you want 

know? 

Imaged using helium ion 

microscopy (NIST/MEL)
 
NIST’s Role 

• To advance measurement science • To provide needed standards • To support the critical measurement need

industry 

• To support national priorities 
Nanotechnology: The Logical 

Imperative 

• Most of NIST’s nanotechnology flows as a 

extension from our responsibility for the measurement on a larger scale 

• milli > micro > nano 
Nanotechnology: New Directions 

• Many of the best new opportunities in 

nanotechnology involve multiple disciplin

• Example: Engineered drug delivery • Example: Molecular electronics 

Chemists Chem

Biologists PhysPhysicists ElecMaterials Scientists Mate

M. Ferrari 

Toxicologists Biolo
Organizing NIST for Nanotechnolo

• Discipline taxonomy 

▫ Logical imperative, milli>micro>nano 

• Multidisciplinary approach 

▫ Center for Nanoscale Science and Technol

x Shared resources 

• Multilateral strategic planning is essentia

▫ Information sharing 

▫ Coordination 
Match to Mission: Examples
 
NIST’s Nanotechnology Portfo
Areas of Strong Demand for 

Measurement Solutions 

• Nano-EHS 

▫ Protect the population ▫ Reduce the risk barrier to innovation 

• Post-CMOS Electronics 

▫ Extend the electronics enterprise 

• Nano-enhanced energy 

▫ Optimize the first step in conversion, storage, transpor

• Nanomanufacturing 

▫ Allow industry to capitalize on discovery 

• Nano-bio/medical 

▫ Enable personalized medicine ▫ Reduce costs 

• Nanophotonics 

▫ Enhance communications, lighting, and inspection 
How Do We Determine Need?
 

• Knowledge of the field 

▫ Staff expertise 

▫ Professional meetings, seminars, etc. ▫ Expert consultants 

• Directed Workshops 

▫ Specifically designed to determine need 

• Industrial Community Interactions 

▫ Trade organizations, government representatives, etc. 

▫ Industrial collaborations, consortia ▫ Industry roadmaps, e.g., ITRS 

• Committed Partners 

▫ Nanotechnology Research Initiative 

• Government Reports 

▫ NNI, European NanoStrand, etc. 

▫ US Measurements Survey 
External Relationships 

•	 Objectives 

▫	 Inform our program decisions 

x	 Semiconductor Research Corporation, Telecommunication

Association, National Storage Industry Consortium, CouncChemical Research, Vision 2020, Nanobusiness Alliance, 

▫	 Complement the abilities of our staff and facilities 

x	 Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (University 

U. of Texas (Austin), NASA, IBM, Intel, Micron, etc. 

▫	 Participate in important research programs 

x	 Nanoelectronics Research Initiative, National Cancer Insti

DARPA - Atomically Precise Assembly 

▫	 Develop widely accepted standards 

x	 NIST represented on multiple standards committees, e.g., 

iNEMI, VAMAS, etc. 
Performance Metrics 

•	 Accomplishments 

▫	 Innovations transferred, instruments introduced, publ

measurement protocols established, standards releaseddiscoveries made, patents filed, facility users, postdocs SRMs offered, fabrication processes established, etc. 

•	 Peer Recognition 

▫	 Citations, lecture invitations, prizes, awards, postdocto

applications, fellowships, visiting professor application

•	 Associations 

▫	 Collaborations, institutional pairings, industrial partne

industry associations, etc. 
Summary 

•	 Nanotechnology: a rapidly growing, ubiquitous technolog

•	 A natural and critical extension of most of NIST’s measur

responsibilities
 

•	 A field known to benefit greatly by a multidisciplinary app

the economical use of shared facilities 

•	 Strategic planning for nanotechnology at NIST must invo

▫	 Extension of measurements to nano realm 

▫	 Multidisciplinary solutions to new measurement proble

•	 Areas of need and opportunity are selected based on the e

of an abundance of inputs from multiple sources 

•	 Integration of NIST-wide planning for nanotechnology cu

identifies six areas as requiring added attention over the nyears: 

▫	 Nano-EHS Nanomanufacturing 

▫	 Post-CMOS Electronics Nano-bio/medical 

▫	 Nano-enhanced Energy Nanophotonics 
Questions for the VCAT 

• Are we addressing the right technology se

societal needs, and NIST needs? 

• Is NIST missing other opportunities? • Is NIST using the right metrics to evaluat

program performance? Other metrics?