Services at LCN
The LCN offers access to a wide range of scientific equipment at three of the UK’s leading academic institutions: UCL, Imperial College London and King’s College London. LCN researchers are experts in modelling, design, fabrication and characterisation on the nano-scale.
Equipment & Facilities
Below is a selection of facilities and equipment at the LCN:
The LCN Cleanroom Facility at UCL consists of three laboratories located in the Bloomsbury site: a 250 m2 ISO Class 6 space with ISO Class 5 zones for optical and electron beam lithography; a 40 m2 ISO Class 7 space hosting electron and focused ion beams systems; and a 27 m2 “back-end” lab.
LCN equipment at King’s College London is housed in the Strand Research Facility, Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging, London Metallomics Facility and the Nikon Imaging Centre, offering a wide variety of tools for researchers working at the nanoscale.
The LCN at Imperial has equipment at its South Kensington and White City campuses. The Quantum Science and Device Facility (QSDF) is Imperial’s state-of-the-art facility for studying quantum devices. Facilities also housing equipment include Royce at Imperial, SPIN Lab and the Imperial Centre for Cryo Microscopy of Materials.
Spin-out Portfolio
The London Centre for Nanotechnology actively supports the commercialisation of research through the creation of spin-out companies. These ventures apply innovative nanoscience to real-world challenges, delivering impact across sectors including healthcare, energy, advanced materials and communications. From hydrogen storage and wireless connectivity to medical diagnostics and authenticity testing, LCN spin-outs demonstrate the breadth and depth of our interdisciplinary research. Some have grown into established commercial enterprises, while others have been acquired by global industry leaders. Together, they showcase how pioneering academic work at LCN translates into practical technologies that benefit society and drive economic growth.