Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine

National Academy of Sciences

National Academy of Engineering

Institute of Medicine

National Research Council

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm. A.Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an advisor to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Kenneth I.Shine is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce Alberts and Dr. Wm. A.Wulf are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council.

The Workshop on Structural Nanomaterials, planned and organized by the members and staff of the National Materials Advisory Board (NMAB) of the National Research Council (NRC), was conducted under a contract with the U.S. Army’s National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC). NGIC sponsored the workshop to help its Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Working Group, under the auspices of the Scientific and Technical Intelligence Committee, identify the key enabling technologies, junctures, and “choke-point” areas that are deemed critical to the scientific, technological, and commercial advancement of structural nanomaterials. NGIC intends to use the input gained from this workshop as a guide and reference in drafting a classified report on the technology status of nanomaterials, with an emphasis on structural nanomaterials.

The workshop focused on nanomaterials having properties particularly suitable for structural applications. Appendix A lists the workshop participants and the agenda. The objectives of this workshop were as follows:

• Develop a consistent definition of the terms used in the field, to include nanoscale, nanotechnology, nanoscience, nanophase, nanoparticle, nanotube, nanolayer, nanomaterial, nanostructure, and nanostructural material.

• Identify the scientific and technological challenges and the commercial opportunities in the following areas:

  • Synthesis of nanomaterial building blocks,

  • Assembly of nanomaterials from the building blocks,

  • Characterization of nanomaterials, and

  • Potential structural applications of nanomaterials.

• Discuss key examples of structural nanomaterials science and technology. For each example identify the current level of understanding of the system, particularly with respect to synthesis, assembly, and chemical and physical characterization. Identify interdisciplinary issues.

• Determine the major barriers to scientific understanding and technological utility of structural nanomaterials. Identify the requirements to overcome the barriers.

The NMAB staff would like to thank all those who attended the workshop (see Appendix B), and the following individuals, who prepared presentations:

NMAB thanks the session chairs: Julia Weertman, Northwestern University; T.S. Sudarshan, Materials Modification Inc.; Delcie Durham, National Science Foundation; Robert Dowding, Army Research Laboratory; Lawrence Kabacoff, Office of Naval Research, and Thomas Gates, NASA-Langley Research Center. It is particularly grateful to Dr. Dowding and Dr. Durham for acting as the workshop’s rapporteurs and for preparing the workshop summary. Dr. Sudarshan and Professor Weertman were invaluable as co-chairs of the workshop.

This summary has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council’s (NRC’s) Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published summary as sound as possible and to ensure that the summary meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the workshop objectives. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their participation in the review of this summary: Mike Davey, NRC; Thomas Gates, NASA Langley Research Center; and Henry Rack, Clemson University.

Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they did not see the final draft of the summary before its release. The review of this summary was overseen by Ganesh Skandan, Nanopowder Enterprises. Appointed by the National Research Council, he was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this summary was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this summary rests entirely with the rapporteurs and the institution.

Comments and suggestions may be sent via e-mail to NMAB at NMAB@nas.edu or by fax to (202) 334–3718.