CNR – ISMN Institute of Nanostructured Materials Ad interim Director: Dr. Giuseppina Padeletti

The research activities of the ISMN (set up in 2002 by the union of 5 CNR Institutes internationally recognised for the past 20 years) focus on the development of nanostructured materials and nanotechnologies such as semiconductors for optoelectronic and photonic, environmental catalysis, surfaces functionalisation, biomolecules for biosensor applications and bioelectronic devices.
ISMN Institute was founded when the national and international materials panorama was strongly addressed to the innovation via the control of materials at a nanometric scale.

AFM image of TiO2 based film with immobilized glucose oxydase.

The possibility to investigate the nano-structured materials by means of stylus microscopy techniques has offered the unique possibility also to manipulate them and to tailor their final properties.
The material features and are consequently, in many cases, drastically innovative with respect to the same bulk material.
Among the nano-structured materials of greater interest there are bi-dimensional materials (2D), such as thin films, three-dimensional one (3D), such as atom clusters (quantum dots, nanodots, macromolecules, etc, fibers such as nanotubes nanofibers, quantum wires, etc. and catalytic systems constituted of metallic particles, oxides and molecular complex dispersed on solid matrix.

The main aim of ISMN is:
To implement a scientific skilled aggregation and to realise a dynamic structure able to deeply interact with other public and private Research Institutions at national and international level;
To gain a flexible and high quality scientific and technological know-
how considering the most relevant topics in the international framework;
To realise an high level education activity;
To improve the dissemination of scientific results and technologies towards other Research Institutions and Private Companies.

Flexible organic illuminator realized within the European Project EUREKA -E!2541 FOLIA.

Specific excellence features of ISMN are:
- A long-term experienced co-operation among Italian and European research groups, developed through the most important actions of CNR, MIUR and EC in the area of the Innovative Materials; co-operation that facilitates the planning and the proposal of finalised projects;
- An unique patrimony, both in competencies and instrumentations, in the field of epitaxial and vapour phase deposition of organic and inorganic systems;
- A strong experience in the design, modelling and synthesis of molecular systems;
- A patrimony of methodologies and techniques for the characterisation of materials at a nanometric scale;
- The capability to manipulate materials on a nanometric scale.

The research activities of the ISMN Institute are performed at the:
- CNR Research Area of Roma1;
- CNR Research Area of Bologna;
- CNR Research Area of Palermo;
- University Roma1 "La Sapienza".