In year 1990, Professor Tien Tzou Tsong founded the Nanoscience Laboratory at the Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica (IPAS). Prof. Tsong, a prominent leading figure in surface science came back to his motherland, Taiwan, as the director of IPAS under the invitation from the late President of Academia Sinica, Dr. Ta-You Wu. Concurrently, a world-class laboratory focusing on cutting-edge surface science research was established with the full support from President Wu and the institute. In 1991, Dr. Chia-Seng Chang was invited as a Research Fellow into the group and made significant contributions to the setting up of the lab. The infrastructure of the laboratory in instruments and personnel were well established within two years through the endeavors of several postdoctoral research associates and research staffs. Furthermore, Dr. Ing-Shouh Huang joined this team from Harvard University in 1994. He boosted the advancements of the lab in various aspects, including reaching out the investigation into an even broader range of topics. In 2001, the Laboratory changed its name from “Surface Science Laboratory” to “Nanoscience Laboratory” in accordance with the research interests that had evolved from traditional surface sciences to nanoscale sciences; Dr. Wei Bin Su of the group was offered the position of Assistant Research Fellow in the same year.
In order to achieve the highest efficiency in allocating its research personnels and to yield the most fruitful outcomes in scientific research, the Nanoscience Laboratory, since initiation, holds to a strict principle in regulating its human resources. The research topics to be explored are thus carefully chosen and the staffs are fully supported in response to their needs. The research group is typically composed of three Research Fellows, five to seven postdoctoral research associates, one or two visiting scholars, seven to ten research assistants and graduate students.
Nanoscience Laboratory is well-equipped with a complete line of nanoscale analysis and manipulation tools. In spite of typical surface analysis instruments like LEED and AES, other main facilities include one FIM, one FEM, three variable temperature UHV-STM systems, two room temperature UHV-STM systems, two low-temperature UHV-STM systems, five AFM systems and one UHV-TEM. Two pioneering tools: the integrated system combining UHV-TEM and STM and an ultra low temperature system.
The Nanoscience Laboratory, as a well performing and cutting-edge scientific research lab, places great emphasis on cultivating young scientists and specialists so as to fulfill the need of our country. More than eight PhDs, currently holding significant positions in respected academic institutions or high-tech industries, have completed their doctoral educations from the Nanoscience Laboratory. In addition, there have been more than ten postdoctoral research associates and several research assistants who benefited in their careers through the training and research experiences offered by this laboratory.