What is nanotechnology and what are nanomaterials?
Small Times magazine, a business publication covering the fast-emerging nanotechnology and microsystems markets, listed the University of Virginia among the top 10 universities in the country for the strength of its micro- and nanotechnology programs in an annual survey of research universities based on the responses from more than 50 universities on five key categories — research, education, facilities, industrial outreach and commercialization. Nano-related research at UVa is expected to grow as Wilsdorf Hall (Material Science and Engineering and Nanotechnology) acts as a magnet for additional faculty and research staff joining a global interest and surge in nanotechnology research. Despite an official definition of nanotechnology, the National Nanotechnology Initiative (a federal program established to coordinate multiagency efforts), defines nanotechnology as “the understanding and control of matter at dimensions of roughly 1 to 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable novel a
