LANEF associates five fundamental research labs, and it identifies common objectives between these labs in the domain of nanosciences, energies for the future and nanosensors for healthcare. It enhances the synergy between the different teams acting towards these objectives, and connections with R&D. It offers new opportunities for students and scientists to join these teams.

Nanotechnologies have been driven over the last years by applications in Information and Communication Technologies, based mainly on a race to the nanometer range within silicon technology. It is recognized however that it requires now more research in materials as well as new paradigms and co-integration of various diversified components, so that it will also contribute towards solutions to major societal challenges – that is, nanotechnology will benefit the environment, energy and healthcare.

New paradigms: while today’s electronic devices manipulate the charge of the electrons, spintronics uses also their spin for information processing and storage, and semiconductor lasers will solve the problem of fast interconnection within such devices. It is now possible to manipulate single electrons, single photons and single spins, in accordance with the rules of quantum mechanics, instead of a current, a light beam or magnetization.

New materials and new nanostructures: diamond is expected to replace silicon and silicon carbide in high power devices, but it also opens new avenues for biosensors; superconductors will make wires for efficient electrical networks, but also hybrid structures are at the cutting edge for quantum nanoelectronics; semiconductor nanowires are developed for photovoltaics, and single photon emitters for quantum cryptography; ferromagnets are at the heart of spin valves for information storage, but also in new microsystems and actuators, in smaller and lighter electric engines, and they can even be used to manipulate cells in biology.