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Center for Nanostructures

Center for Nanostructures

Welcome to the Center for Nanostructures

Nanoscale science and technology is a new frontier in engineering that deals with the creation of functional materials, devices, and systems at a scale of less than one hundred nanometers to one ten-thousandth of a millimeter*#8212;about one thousand times thinner than human hair.

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Research in this rapidly growing field focuses on how the novel properties—physical, chemical, biological, electrical, magnetic, mechanical, and optical —of various nanomaterials can be exploited for a wide variety of applications. Demand for enhanced performance and increased reliability in electronic systems and advances in bioengineering are fueling the enormous growth in this highly competitive field. 

The Center for Nanostructures (CNS) pursues interdisciplinary research and education through partnerships with other universities, industry, and government. These efforts allow CNS to position Santa Clara University as a national center of innovation in nanostructures research. CNS brings together engineering and science faculty and students to collaborate on innovative research. 

Nanoscale science and technology is a highly interdisciplinary field incorporating all biological and physical sciences and engineering. The Center is continually developing education programs and curricula at both undergraduate and graduate levels to complement its research activities.

The Center has equipment resources available for faculty, undergraduate and graduate students which includes a high-resolution scanning electron microscope equipped with a nanomanipulator system, an electrical measurement system consisting of a wafer probe station and parameter and network analyzers, and an atomic force microscope.

Mission and Goals

The mission of the Center for Nanostructures (CNS) is to conduct, promote, and nurture nanoscale science and technology interdisciplinary research and education activities at the University, and to position the University as a national center of innovation in nanoscience education and nanostructures research.

The main goals of the Center are to:

  1. Initiate and sustain interdisciplinary research efforts in the areas of nanoscale science and technology related to the interests of participating faculty
  2. Pioneer curriculum development in nanoscale science and technology, integrated with ongoing research
  3. Collaborate with SCU's Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship in studying the impact of nanoscale science and technology on society

Contact Us

Director: Dr. Emre Araci
Director of Dry Laboratory Operations: David Zheng

Santa Clara University
School of Engineering
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053

Daly Science 200, Bldg. 211

408-551-1712