NCCR "Nanoscale Science – Impact on Life Sciences, Sustainability, Information and Communication Technologies" (2001-2013)

​NCCR Director: Prof. Hans-Joachim Güntherodt (2001-2006),
Christian Schönenberger (2006-2013)

Home Institution: University of Basel

Research in the NCCR and major results

At the start of the NCCR Nanoscale Science, a strong movement towards nanoscience and in particular towards an interdisciplinary approach became apparent worldwide. Researchers from different disciplines like physics, chemistry or biology gathered to share a common vision and to explore new possibilities at the borders of their disciplines. The NCCR has made important scientific contributions in a large variety of fields within the nanosciences and nanotechnology. Examples are: detection of osteoarthritis by atomic force microscope stiffness measurements; progress in the field of quantum coherence and decoherence, which represents one of the main hurdles towards building a quantum computer; investigation of new low-dimensional materials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene and other monolayer materials at the border between classic material and molecule; development of a wide range of new functional materials and surface structures, molecular systems, and even ‘artificial organelles’.

Overview of NCCR projects and of participating research groups (PDF)