Nanoscience: Engineering at the Atomic Scale

French nanoscience builds on strong traditions in surface physics and chemistry. The ability to manipulate individual atoms, demonstrated globally in the 1980s, found eager adoption in French laboratories. Creating materials atom by atom enables properties impossible in bulk materials.

Carbon nanotube research in France contributed to understanding these remarkable structures. Tubes of carbon atoms, stronger than steel but lighter than aluminum, promise revolutionary applications. French researchers developed synthesis methods and explored applications from electronics to composite materials.

French nanomedicine research explores using nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery. Particles designed to accumulate in tumors while avoiding healthy tissue could revolutionize cancer treatment. This requires understanding both nanomaterial properties and biological interactions—interdisciplinary research at its most challenging.

The environmental implications of nanomaterials receive significant French attention. How do nanoparticles interact with living systems? What happens when they enter the environment? French researchers lead in developing safe-by-design approaches, engineering nanomaterials to minimize risks while maximizing benefits.