Functional materials, organic and inorganic, play an important role in modern physics, chemistry and technology. This field develops towards systems which operate on the nanoscale. Combining talent and expertise of physicists and chemists are the key to success in this area of science.

The programme Nanomaterials Science focusses on condensed matter and nanomaterial science. This includes nanoscience, nanotechnology and catalysis. The fundamental units such as macromolecules, quantum structures and catalysts have dimensions on the nanometre scale.

Exciting challenges in this field include:

• the synthesis of functional units and their manipulation to form novel and 'artificial' solids;
• the study of fundamental processes in (nano)structured systems and the development of theory and models to explain new phenomena;
• the elucidation of structure-property relations;
• materials engineering and the application of materials in improved and novel devices.