Evolution of nanotechnology to intelligent nanosystem

Abstract

The progress of miniaturization and integration of discrete semiconductor devices toward the dimension of nanoscale range according to the Moore’s Law has led a dramatic increase in the performance of electronic systems and brought about IT revolution. It has been a major driving force for the progress of nanotechnology these days. Today, we are facing many industrial and social issues, such as physical difficulties of device miniaturization, threats to the environmental sustainability represented by a global warming, and growing demands for medical and health care in an aged society. Nanotechnology is highly expected to provide solutions to these issues through technological innovation. They include further increase in the performance of electronic devices by introducing new nanomaterials or quantum effects occurring in nanoscaled structures, renewable energy generation by using functional nanomaterials, and highly sensitive detection and characterization of biomaterials by microchips. In order to fulfill those demands as a whole, the development of nanotechnology would be required to evolve to the intelligent nanosystem through the pursuit of the technological limit of individual nanotechnologies and their fusion. This book contains the attempts of research members participating in the Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology programs of the Japan Science and Technology Agency with title of “Creation of Nanosystems with Novel Function through Process Integration” to realize the intelligent nanosystem. While there is still a long way to go, these attempts are important steps without doubt toward effectively applying nanotechnology to resolve issues in the fields of energy, electronics, and medical and health care.