Summary
Nanotechnology explores phenomena and structures in the 1–100 nm range, where quantum and interfacial effects yield properties distinct from bulk materials. By combining top-down patterning methods—such as photolithography and nanoimprint—with bottom-up strategies including molecular self-assembly and colloidal synthesis, researchers fabricate devices and materials with atomic-level precision. At these dimensions, large surface-to-volume ratios enhance catalytic activity and chemical reactivity, while quantum confinement in semiconductors tunes optical bandgaps. Plasmonic nanostructures concentrate electromagnetic fields into subwavelength volumes, enabling ultrasensitive sensing and nonlinear optics. Integrated nanofabrication workflows underpin advances in high-density memory, low-loss photonics, programmable catalysts, targeted drug delivery and environmental remediation. Current efforts focus on scalable, maskless patterning and hybrid assembly to achieve wafer-scale uniformity, adaptive architectures and sustainable production routes that address global challenges in computing performance, energy efficiency and healthcare.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have shown that monodisperse tetrahedral nanoparticles at liquid interfaces can reorganise into two-dimensional superlattices exhibiting uniform handedness. By fine-tuning electrostatic, van der Waals and depletion interactions, individual tetrahedra undergo coordinated rotations to form hexagonal chiral domains, offering a route to planar metamaterials without molecular asymmetry. In parallel, a two-dimensional lateral superlattice of MoS₂–MoSe₂ domains has been used as a template for area-selective atomic layer deposition, achieving half-pitch patterning below 10 nm for oxides, metals and semiconductors on centimetre-scale substrates without photomasks. Another advance employs in situ photolithography of perovskite quantum dots, where lead-halide complexes catalyse photopolymerisation to yield high-resolution, lift-off-free light-emitting arrays with pixel densities above 2 400 PPI.
Topic trend for the past 5 years
The graph below shows the article count in Nature Index journals for nanotechnology.
* The ‘Current Index’ represents data for a 12-month rolling window, the current window is 1 May 2025 - 30 April 2026.
Technical terms
Self-assembly: Spontaneous organisation of nanoscale components into ordered structures via minimisation of free energy.
Photolithography: Use of patterned light exposure on photosensitive resists to define nanoscale features for subsequent etching or deposition.
Atomic layer deposition (ALD): Sequential, self-limiting chemical reactions that deposit conformal monolayers of material one atomic layer at a time.
Superlattice: A periodic arrangement of different materials or particles with lattice constants larger than the atomic scale.
Colloidal nanoparticle: A particle of 1–100 nm diameter stably dispersed in a fluid by surface ligands or charges.
Quantum confinement: Restriction of charge carriers to dimensions comparable to their de Broglie wavelength, resulting in discrete energy levels.
Notable articles in nanotechnology
- Assembly of planar chiral superlattices from achiral building blocks. Nature Communications (2022).
- Direct in situ photolithography of perovskite quantum dots based on photocatalysis of lead bromide complexes. Nature Communications (2022).
- Area-selective atomic layer deposition on 2D monolayer lateral superlattices. Nature Communications (2024).
About these summaries
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Research
Position of Nanotechnology in Nature Index by Count
Leading institutions
| Institution | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) | 344 | 100.09 |
| Peking University (PKU) | 115 | 40.02 |
| Nanjing University (NJU) | 73 | 35.41 |
| Tsinghua University | 107 | 35.36 |
| University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) | 99 | 31.39 |
| University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) | 121 | 28.35 |
| Fudan University | 67 | 27.92 |
| Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) | 59 | 26.27 |
| Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) | 49 | 24.82 |
| Xidian University | 37 | 24.28 |
Collaboration
Top 5 leading collaborators in Nanotechnology
Collaborating institutions
Note: Hover over the bars to view details about each institution's Share.
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