Integrated Nanotechnology 2.0: 3D, Smart, Flexible, and Dynamic [Highlights]

In recent decades, the extreme miniaturization in very large-scale microchip fabrication and the development of ultrasensitive instrumentation such as scanning probe microscopy and bottom-up macromolecular chemistry, have allowed integrated nanotechnology to transform human engineering. Now, an emergent thrust seeks to move this field into new areas, such as biological interfaces, wearables, and small-scale robotics. Many of these functions are already embodied in our bodies, plants, and organisms, and they require unique attributes, including three dimensionality, heterogeneous materials integration, flexibility, motion, and shape change. Integrated nanotechnology 2.0 focuses on the design, fabrication, and assembly of nanostructured devices that could significantly impact human life through artificial intelligence, smart medicine, and robotics. In this article, a few examples, principles, and perspectives are outlined.