China building world's largest multifunctional nano research facility

NANJING, March 28 (APP/Xinhua): Chinese scientists are building the world's largest multifunctional research platform for nano-science and nano-technology that could help develop more powerful computers and more intelligent robots. The Vacuum Interconnected Nano-X Research Facility in Suzhou, JiangsuProvince, integrates the state-of-art capabilities of material growth, device fabrication and testing in one ultra-high vacuum environment, said Ding Sunan, deputy director of the project. "We are exploring a new technology route of nano-scale devices production on the platform, which simulates the ultra-high vacuum environment of space," said Ding, a researcher at the Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Nano-X has received initial funding of 320 million yuan (about 46.5 million U.S. dollars), and will eventually have a budget of 1.5 billion yuan.