Our research themes
To provide excellent scientific research and propose practical solutions to contemporary challenges, LCN research is broadly organised into three areas:
Challenges
Underpinning Science
Techniques
CHALLENGE
Planet care
Overcoming Energy Bottlenecks
CHALLENGE
ICT
Realising Quantum Advantage
CHALLENGE
Healthcare
Life Matter Interface
UNDERPINNING SCIENCE
Devices and Applications
Learn more about (opto)electronics and photonics, electrochemical technologies, Micro/Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems, quantum technologies, and renewable technologies.
Natural World
Learn more about nanobiology, nano in the environment, nanomedicine, and nanotoxicology.
Phenomena
Learn more about light-matter interactions, ordering and dynamics, quantum, transport and magnetism, and nanomechanical properties.
Nanomaterials
Learn more about advanced characterisation, nanoassembly, surfaces and interfaces, and nanostructuring
Techniques
Characterisation
Learn more about optical and electron microscopy, probe microscopy, scattering, spectroscopy, and transport
Performance
Learn more about biological interactions and bioelectronics, electrochemistry mechanics, photon-matter interactions, spin and magnetism, and electrical transport.
Synthesis & Fabrication
Learn more about bottom up (chemical manipulation), bottom up (physical manipulation), integration and devices, and top down.
Theory
Learn more about analytical, data science, multidomain, numerical, and AI/ML
Our people
The LCN is home to 240 principal investigators, 300 post doctoral researchers, and 500 PhD students
Latest news
LCN Researcher named 2026 Blavatnik Awards Laureate
Professor Maxie Roessler of Imperial College London’s Department of Chemistry has been named a Laureate of the 2026 Blavatnik Awards ... Find out more
LCN co-director receives 2026 SPIE Directors’ Award
LCN co-director Professor Anatoly Zayats has been awarded the 2026 SPIE Directors’ Award. SPIE, the International Society for Optics ... Find out more