Nanoscience and nanotechnology are relatively new subjects and as such they are accompanied by many uncertainties as to their impact on modern society. Nanotechnology does not only refer to techniques that are used to study the world at nanometer scale (the scale of a few atoms) but also to the technology used to design and fabricate the building blocks with nano-scale precision. These building blocks will allow the development of revolutionary new materials, consumer articles and appliances, a promise already made for years now by nano-scientists. But when can we really expect these new applications? And how can one deal with these technologies in a responsible way?
These are the type of questions that will be treated in this new Series of
Lectures. In the academic year 2007-2008, 8 lectures will be given by international experts on various topics such as new important developments in nanotechnology, the opportunities for nanotechnology applications, the ethics and risks of nanotechnology developments. These
Lectures are organized during the second semester of the Academic Year.
This year however one seminar was already organized in the first semester, on 10 October 2007.
These Lectures are an integral part of the Erasmus Mundus Master program but are also open to others interested in these important and fundamental and societal aspects. The lectures are organized using a
Virtual Classroom concept in which all participating universities will be linked. Each lecture will be followed by a discussion session involving the lecturers, the students and nanotech professionals

The Virtual Classroom Lectures for Leuven, Belgium take place at the
Audio-Visual Department of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
AVNet
Kapeldreef 62
3001 Heverlee
België
Route met de wagen
Via E40 Brussel-Luik en E314 Lummen-Leuven: u verlaat de autosnelweg via uitrit 15 (Leuven). De expresweg die u nu volgt, is de Koning
Boudewijnlaan. Op het tweede kruispunt met verkeerslichten slaat u rechtsaf
(Celestijnenlaan).
Vanaf de Celestijnenlaan slaat u de tweede straat rechts in (Kapeldreef).
AVNet bevindt zich in het laatste gebouw, vlak naast het Innovatie- en Incubatiecentrum
K.U.Leuven.

Lecture Series Erasmus Mundus Master of
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Speakers and Topics
Wednesday, 10 October 2007, 5-7pm
Prof. Yoshishige Suzuki, Osaka University, Japan
Spin-injection, Spin-Torque Diode Effects and future
Tuesday, 12 February 2008, 5-7pm
Prof. Victor Moshchalkov, K.U.Leuven, Belgium
Enhancing Superconducting Critical Parameters through Nanostructuring: Dream or Reality?
Tuesday, 19 February 2008, 5-7pm
Prof. Gianaurelio Cuniberti, Institute of Materials Science, TU Dresden, Germany
Tuning the conductance of a molecular switch
Tuesday, 11 March 2008, 5-7pm
Dr. Zoran Konkoli, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden
Diffusion controlled reactions in small and structured spaces as a tool for describing living cell biochemistry
Tuesday, 18 March 2008, 5-7pm
Dr. Stephan Grill, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics and
Max Planck Institute of Physics of complex Systems, Germany
Transcription by RNA Polymerase II
Tuesday, 8 April 2008, 5-7pm
Dr. Sven Rogge, TUDelft, The Netherlands
The Transistor: from Shockley, Bardeen, and Brattain to single molecules and atoms
Tuesday, 6 May 2008, 5-7pm
Prof. Fredrik Höök, Chalmers University of Technology and Lund University,
Sweden
Miniaturized Bioanalytical Sensors : Challenges and Opportunities
Tuesday, 13 May 2008, 5-7pm
Dr. Hans-Georg Braun, Max Bermann Center, IPF, Germany
The impact of military research on nanotechnology

Wednesday, 10 October 2007, 5-7pm
Prof. Yoshishige Suzuki, Osaka University, Japan
Spin-injection, Spin-Torque Diode Effects and future
Spin-injection magnetization switching technique [1] made it possible to control magnetization by a direct current. A discovery of spontaneous rf oscillation from
CPP-GMR nano-pillars and a real time observation of the switching process have revealed essential amplification function of a precession in the magnetic nano-pillars under a direct current [2]. Beside of those progresses, developments of giant tunneling magneto-resistive (GTMR) effect using an MgO barrier [3] made it possible to utilize a very large resistance change according to the magnetization switching.
In this talk, several attempts to utilize interplay between spin-torque and giant-TMR effect will be presented referring to a “spin-torque diode effect”[4] and other properties such like rf noise control and possible signal amplification using magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs).
If time allows, new results on the spin-injection into the C60[5], Rubrene, Alq3 and graphine[6] will be introduced.
References:
[1] J. C. Slonczewski, J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 159, L1 (1996) , L.
Berger, Phys. Rev. B 54, 9353 (1996), and E. B. Myers, et al., Science 285, 867
(1999).
[2] S. I. Kiselev et al., Nature 425, 380 (2003), I. N. Krivorotov et al., Science, 307,
228 (2005).
[3] W. Wulfhekel, et al. Appl. Phys. Lett. 78, 509--511 (2001), M.
Bowen, et al. Appl. Phys. Lett. 79, 1655--1657 (2001), J.
Faure-Vincent, et al. Appl. Phys. Lett. 82, 4507--4509 (2003), S.
Yuasa, et al., Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. Part 2, 43, L588 (2004), S. Yuasa, et al., Nature Mat.
3, 868 (2004), S. S. P. Parkin et al., Nature Mat.
3, 862 (2004), and D. D. Djayaprawira et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 86,
092502 (2005).
[4] A. A. Tulapurkar, et al., Nature, 438, 339 (2005).
[5] S. Miwa, et al., “Spin-Dependent Transport in C60-Co Nano-Composites”,
Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 45, No.
28, 2006, pp. L717-L719.
[6] M. Oishi, et al., “Spin injection into a Graphene thin film at room temperature”,
Japn. J. Appl. Phys., 46, No. 25 (2007) L605-L607.
Prof. Dr. Yoshishige SUZUKI
Affiliation:
Full professor at Osaka University, Graduate School of Engineering Science,
Department of Materials Engineering Science,

Career:
March 1984 Master degree, Tsukuba University
"Current controlled LPE growth of GaAs"
Apr. 1984 Electrotechnical Laboratory, AIST, MITI, Japan (Researcher)
"Research on magnetic artificial superlattices".
July, 1990 Doctor of Engineering Science, Tsukuba University
(by paper application.)
Aug. 1993-Sep. 1994 Visiting scientist at Universite Paris-Sud,
Institute d'electronique fondamentales Apr. 1998- Electrotechnical Laboratory,
AIST, MITI, Japan (Labo. Leader)
"Nanostructured spin-electronics materials"
Apr. 2001- Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology(AIST)
(Senior Researcher / Group Leader)
“Researches on spintronics-devices and materials”
Mar. 2003- Osaka University, Graduate School of Engineering Science, (Professor)
“Researches on spintronics-devices and materials”
Apr. 2003- Guest researcher at AIST, Tsukuba
Aug. 2007- Visiting fellow at IMEC

Tuesday, 12 February 2008, 5-7pm
Prof. Victor Moshchalkov, K.U.Leuven, Belgium
Enhancing Superconducting Critical Parameters through Nanostructuring:
Dream or Reality?
Superconductivity is a remarkable example of macroscopic quantum phenomena. It exists only below the critical surface in the space of the three variables: temperature – magnetic field – current. Superconducting condensate is confined by the sample boundaries, very much like the wave function being confined by a quantum box.
Through the optimisation of the confinement, the superconducting critical parameters can be substantially improved. This concept of nanostructuring is applied systematically to different nanostructured superconductors by moving from individual nanoplaquettes via their clusters to their huge arrays.
If boundaries of nanostructures themselves define a potential well confining the quantum condensate of Cooper pairs, then why not to use it to tune superconducting critical parameters by changing only the topology of the samples taking the same superconducting material to make these samples? This was checked in experiments on the samples of different topology: the critical field separating the normal from the superconducting state indeed has turned out to be strongly topology dependent! It means that the statement “critical fields of a superconductor are determined by the material”, mentioned in textbooks on superconductivity, is not correct for nanostructured materials for which the superconducting critical field is dependent not only on material but also on the topology and the length scale used for the nanostructuring of that material. Lateral nanostructuring can in fact create such conditions for the flux line pinning by huge arrays of nanofabricated antidots or magnetic dots which maximize also the second important superconducting critical parameter - critical current- up to its theoretical limit - depairing current. It implies that “quantum design” of the two important superconducting critical parameters - critical current and critical field – is a reality.
This work was supported by the Belgian IAP, the Flemish GOA and FWO
Programmes and the ESF “NES” Programme.
Professor Victor V. Moshchalkov
M.Sc. in Physics, 1975, cum laude, ranking the first among 450 M.Sc graduates in Physics;
Ph.D in Physics, 1978; “Habilitation”, 1985; Head of the Laboratory of High Temperature
Superconductivity, 1988-1991; - all at Lomonosov Moscow State University; Professor of
Physics at the K.U.Leuven, 1991- up to now, since 2005 – Director of INPAC-Institute for
Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry. Over 640 publications in international journals - more than
6800 SCI-citations. Promoter of 37 Ph.D theses. Chairman of the ESF Pogrammes VORTEX,
1999-2004; NES, 2007-… Co-Editor “Superconductor Science and Technology” 2007-…,
“Physica C” 2007-….
Laureate of the USSR State Prize for Young Researchers, 1986; Laureate of the USSR Ministry of High Education Scientific Prize, 1988; ISI Thomson Scientific Award
“Top Cited Paper in Flanders”, 2000; Laureate of the Belgian FWO Dr. A. De Leeuw -Damry-
Bourlart Prize for Exact Sciences, 2005.

Tuesday, 19 February 2008, 5-7pm
Prof. Gianaurelio Cuniberti, Institute of Materials Science,
TU Dresden, Germany http://nano.tu-dresden.de/new/
Tuning the conductance of a molecular switch
One key element to realize nanoscale electronics is the ability to manipulate in a controlled way the conductance of single molecules. Azobenzene, which undergoes a trans-cis isomerization transition upon irradiation, offers the possibility to realize a conformational, light-driven molecular switch. It is thus crucial to clarify the electrical transport characteristics of this molecule. Here, we investigate theoretically charge transport in a system consisting of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) acting as electrodes which are bridged by cis/trans azobenzene. In clear contrast to Au-electrodes, CNTs can act as true nanoscale electrodes, inducing a strong chirality-dependent renormalization of electronic states near the Fermi level. The low energy conduction properties may thus be dramatically modified by changing the molecule-CNT contact topology and/or the tubes chirality. We propose some possible experimental ways to realize a controlled electrical switching with CNT electrodes.
[1] M. del Valle, R. Gutiérrez-Laliga, C. Tejedor, and G. Cuniberti, Nature
Nanotechnology 2 , 176 (2007); arXiv:0705.0527v1
Figure caption: Schematic view of the unimolecular switching device.

Prof. Dr. Gianaurelio Cuniberti
Affiliation
Institute for Materials Science, Dresden University of Technology
Career
1970
1981
1997
1998
Born, April 28, Genoa, Italy
Laurea (M.S.) in Physics University of Genoa, Italy
Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics University of Genoa, Italy
Post Doc University of Hamburg, Germany
1999-2002 Guest scientist Max Planck Institute for the Physics of
Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
2003 -2008 Group Leader
2007
University of Regensburg, Germany
Chair Professor (W3, Ordinarius), Dresden University of Technology,
Germany

Tuesday 11 March 2008, 5-7pm
Dr. Zoran Konkoli, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
Diffusion controlled reactions in small and structured spaces as a tool for describing living cell biochemistry
Chemical reaction kinetics in vivo differs significantly from the one in pipette and care has to be taken when devising computational frameworks or experimental setup to deal with such environment. For example, geometry can be quite complicated and there is an experimental evidence that cell is structured in many ways, already starting that the cytoplasm level. Cytoplasm is not smooth and homogeneous; for a single cell total amount of protein content can be as high as 17-30% by weight which results in extremely structured and crowded space. In addition, cell interior (roughly 10 in diameter) is further partitioned in smaller spaces such as organelles (e.g. mitochondria with 50 nm in diameter), and roughly 50% of cell volume is filled by organelles. Also, for typical physiological concentrations one has ca 1000 copies of individual protein molecules which results in large spatial fluctuations of protein number across the cell interior and delivery of proteins can become an issue.
Which theory should one use to describe such environment? The lecture will provide some of the answers to this question.
Prof. Zoran Konkoli
Associate Professor in the field of Theoretical and Applied Biology since 2007.
Zoran received his PhD in 1996 in the field of Theoretical Chemistry and since then worked on number of problems on border between Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Zoran actively contributed in developing methods for theoretical analysis of wide range of problems: diffusion controlled reactions (many-particle density function formalism, field theory, stochastic simulation, and number of other methods); macromolecular dynamics (protein folding, polymer translocation); Quantum
Chemistry first principle calculations (multi-configuration perturbation theory, vibrational spectroscopy). His current research interests focus on understanding workings of diffusion controlled reactions in environments reminiscent of the living cell (structured spaces with large, medium, and small volumes) and development of appropriate calculation methods. His research interests are clustered around understanding various topics related to metabolic control, signalling, chemotaxis, and biocomputing.

Tuesday, 18 March 2008, 5-7pm
Dr. Stephan Grill, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics and
Max Planck Institute of Physics of complex Systems, Germany
Transcription by RNA Polymerase II
RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) is responsible for transcribing all mRNAs in eukaryotic cells in a highly regulated process that serves as a central control point for cellular function. We have investigated the transcription dynamics of single RNAP II molecules against force in the presence and absence of TFIIS, a transcription elongation factor that enables the enzyme to remove copy errors. Using a single- molecule dual-trap optical-tweezers assay, we found that the response of RNAP II to force is entirely determined by enzyme backtracking. We show that backtrack pause durations follow a t^−3/2 power law, implying that during backtracking RNAP II performs a random walk in discrete base-pair steps and suggesting that backtracks may account for most of RNAP II pauses. Unexpectedly, we find the polymerase to be naturally biased in the downstream direction while backtracked, possibly due to transient secondary structures that form behind the polymerase within the RNA transcript. Finally, we propose that this intrinsic force bias is a novel mechanism that is central to transcription and that acts to prevent the occurrence of fatally long pauses.
Dr. Stephan Grill
From 2006
Group-Leader, jointly at the Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and
Genetics, Dresden, and the Max-Planck-Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems,
Dresden
2004-2005
Postdoctoral work at the Department of Physics, University of California in Berkeley
2003
Postdoctoral work at MPI-CBG Dresden
1998-2002
PhD work at EMBL Heidelberg; PhD in Physics from the Technical University
München

Tuesday, 8 April 2008, 5-7pm
Dr. Sven Rogge, TUDelft, The Netherlands
The Transistor: from Shockley, Bardeen, and Brattain to single molecules and atoms
In this lecture we will review the working principles of transistors and their evolution from the first bipolar device in 1947 to state-of-the-art field-effect nanodevices that will power future computers. This evolution was not only based on the invention of the transistor concept. The key development was actually material control--
Germanium in the beginning, then Silicon, now compound semiconductors--which remains a core issue for today’s nanodevices. We will focus both on the quest for smaller, faster and more energy efficient industrial devices as on the ultimate limit of transistors where a single molecule or atom determines the current flow in the device.
The functionality of the latter is not based on the evolutionary scaling of the original transistor concept, but rather on the quantum nature of the device. Besides the bulk physics of the bipolar and field-effect transistor, the atomistic approach needed to understand the ultimate limit of transistors such as resonant tunneling, charging and orbital effects will be discussed. Finally, a brief outlook will be given on the combination of electronics and photonics which is a current trend to solve communication problems on ultrafast chips and enhance their functionality.
Dr. Sven Rogge
Sven Rogge, age 37, obtained his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1997 (Stanford,
USA). In 2003 he was appointed as faculty member at the Kavli Institute of Nano-
Science (Delft, The Netherlands) where he is the group leader for atomic-scale electronics.

Tuesday, 6 May 2008, 5-7pm
Prof. Fredrik Höök, Chalmers University of Technology and Lund University,
Sweden
Miniaturized Bioanalytical Sensors : Challenges and Opportunities
Within diagnostics and drug discovery there is currently an eager search for new technical solutions that provide high-through-put analysis of pathogenic markers and drug candidates. The intensive research devoted to this area has provided numerous new bioanalytical concepts capable of detecting biorecognition reactions related to many disease states. However, despite promising, very few of these techniques have yet reached the clinics or the pharmaceutical industry. The reasons for this are many fold, but there is no doubt that one critical component is the need for more efficient interdisciplinary research efforts. In parallel with the progress made by electrical, physical and chemical engineers, who currently make significant progress with respect to highly sensitive transducer principles, biochemists, biophysicists and biologists gain deeper and deeper insights about the chemical pathways that orchestrate living organisms. With particular emphasis on means to probe cellmembrane mediated biorecognition reactions, the importance of interdisciplinary efforts will be exemplified by presenting our work devoted on miniaturized bioanalytical sensors.
Besides the challenges that must be overcome in order to eventually reach practical applications, I will discuss in some detail our current efforts aimed to extend already well-established macroscopic sensors to highly miniaturized formats, exemplified with label-free single-molecule studies and localized-surface plasmon resonance concepts made compatible with studies of cell-membrane mimics.
Prof. Dr. Fredrik Höök
FREDRIK HÖÖK
is a Professor of Biological Physics at Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg,
Sweden. In 1992, he earned a master degree in physics from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. In
1997, he completed Ph.D. studies in physics at Chalmers, where he worked under the supervision of Prof. Bengt
Kasemo (Dept of Applied Physics) and Prof. Peter
Brzezinski (Dept of Biochemistry and Biophysics). From
1998-2000, he was Postdoctoral Fellow under the direction of Prof. Hans Elwing at the Dept of Cell and
Molecular Biology, Göteborg University. He was appointed Assistant Professor of biological physics at
Chalmers in 2000. In 2004 he was appointed professor in nanoscience for biophysics at the Dept of Physics at Lund
University, Sweden, and moved in 2007 to his current position at Chalmers. He has been granted several awards and honors for his research, including AkzoNobels Nordic research award in 2002 and the prestigious Individual Grant for the Advancement Research Leaders in 2005. He has authored more than 50 research publications, including PNAS, JACS and Nano

Letters, and has many patents and patents pending. He is co-founder of Q-Sense AB,
Sweden, who manufactures the internationally recognized quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) monitoring technique and LayerLab AB, who develops smart lipid-based surface modifications. Professional activities include participation in numerous scientific societies and consultation on research directions for Swedish and
European funding agencies. His research is currently funded by several federal
(including European) and industrial sources. His current research interests include miniaturized bioanalytical sensors, supported cell-membrane mimics, antibody arrays and micro-/nanofluidics.

Tuesday, 13 May 2008, 5-7pm
Dr. Hans-Georg Braun, Max Bermann Center, IPF, Germany
The impact of military research on nanotechnology
The success of military actions either offensive or defense measures has often been related to the progress in military based research. During history several people of high reputation in art, science and engineering such as Archimedes or Leonardo da
Vinci were engaged in the development of “military machinery”.
From the beginning of the still increasing interest in nanotechnology (around 1990) some enthusiastic interest from military people for this area of science could be recognized. It even increased after September 11 due to new technological demands related to the “US war against terrorism”. With respect to these developments a number of questions arises as for example:
1) What are the main areas of interest in nanotechnology (from the viewpoint of military people)?
2) How much do especially the US support military oriented research at universities and public research institutions ?
3) Can we already recognize areas of research that are still highly speculative but that could have a strong impact on the civil society both negative and positive?
4) Has a new race in the nanotechnology armament already started or is it about to start?
The lecture should address some areas of interest which are still at the fundamental research level and which could branch both into a useful or dangerous direction for the future social existence.
Dr. Hans-Georg BRAUN
Affiliation:
Group leader at the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden , Max Bergmann
Center of Biomaterials
Career:
1980
1980-1984
1984-1985
Diploma in chemistry at the University of Freiburg i. Br.
(Thesis on “
Electron microscopic investigations on the the oligomerisation and polymerization of Distyrlpyrazine”
PhD Thesis at the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of Freiburg with
Prof. G. Wegner on the topic: The oligomerisation of Distyrylpyrazine in the solid state – A topochemical single crystal to single crystal reaction (1980/81)
Guest visitor at the Institut of Materials Science University of Saarbrücken at
Prof. Gleiter / Prof. Petermann)
Post-doc at the Dept. of Chemical Eng. University of Kyoto (Japan) with
Prof. T. Hashimoto

1985-1994 Head of the Electron Microscopy Laboratory at the Polymer Physics departement of BASF Central Research Laboratory in Ludwigshafen
1994-today Head of the Polymer Micro- and Nanostructure Group at the IPF (Max
Bergmann Center of Biomaterials)