Research
Within the Swiss Nanoscience Institute (SNI), scientific research
is focused to provide new ideas and impact for the life sciences, for the sustainable use of resources, and for
information and communications technologies. The aim is to research in nanoscale dimensions and to identify and
apply pioneering new principles. The SNI places particular emphasis on
interdisciplinary innovative collaboration between different branches of science and different institutions,
the goal of the various teams being to come up with outstanding scientific achievements that will secure the
position of the SNI as a leader in the nanoscale sciences.
As with other technical achievements, the nanoscale science too has to start from basic scientific research.
Once a comprehensive understanding of the nanoworld has been established, nanotechnology with applications
showing commercial potential will emerge. The aim of the SNI is to support and encourage this science and
technology transfer.
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A low temperature scanning force microscope image of the Si(111) 7x7 surface in ultrahigh vacuum. In addition to the
twelve adatoms also the six rest atoms of the unit cell are clearly resolved for the first time with SFM. The short
range chemical bonding forces above specific atomic sites are measured.