Colloquium

Nanotechnology: where is it headed? How to get there?

Henry I. Smith   
Prof. of Electrical Engineering
MIT
Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Higgins 310, 4 pm

Living systems provide “living proof” of the importance of nanostructures, since all of their functions originate from nanoscale molecular assemblies (e.g., mitochondria, motor proteins, etc.). A living system, whether a bacterium or a human being, can be considered “information embodied in macromolecular assemblies.” The current interest in nanoscale science and engineering is aimed ultimately at achieving high functionality from molecular and nanoparticle assemblies. Such high functionality will be achieved only if we are able to introduce deterministic structural complexity i.e., information, into such assemblies. By using lithographically patterned surfaces to guide the self assembly of block copolymers, and to control the location of dislocations, we have taken the first tiny steps in the direction of putting information into nanoscale assemblies. We’ll discuss our current research in nanopatterning and templated self-assembly, and possible extensions to greater complexity and 3-dimensional organization.