##  [Nanoscale, Surface, and Interface Science Group](/nanoscale-surface-interface-science-group) 

Materials Science Division

# Nanoscale, Surface, and Interface Science Group



 







 

 

 

 

 

We design, develop, and characterize nanoscale architectures for a wide array of applications ranging from water purification to energy storage and quantum devices.

While working at the intersection of physics, materials science, engineering, and chemistry, our group makes advances in nanoscience—the synthesis, characterization, and manipulation of structures, objects, and features at the scale of atoms and molecules.

Using some of the most advanced imaging and analytical instruments and fabrication tools and processes available, we study:

- How atoms and molecules assemble at the nanoscale.
- How material structure affects its properties, including electrical, mechanical, and thermal behavior.
- The significance of surface boundary and quantum mechanical effects and how they may confer properties on materials.

Our findings help us develop diverse and sophisticated materials in support of the Laboratory’s [national security mission](https://www.llnl.gov/purpose/missions) and [foundational science research](https://pls.llnl.gov/).



 







 

 

 

 

## In the news



 



 
  var news_data_1041 = "[{"nid":"49721","tid":"501","vid":"tags","category":null,"name":"Materials Science","title":"Target evolution is a key to LLNL\u0027s continued success","source":"pao","ext_link":"https:\/\/www.llnl.gov\/archive\/news\/target-evolution-key-llnls-continued-success","pub_date":"April 26, 2023","terms":"756:Advanced Materials and Manufacturing,901:Extreme Light, Matter and Fusion,896:Lasers,891:Lasers and Optical S\u0026T,501:Materials Science,881:Physical and Life Sciences","alias":"http:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/\/article\/49721\/target-evolution-key-llnls-continued-success","alias_path":"\/article\/49721\/target-evolution-key-llnls-continued-success","body_value":"Part 8 in a series of articles describing the elements of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory\u0027s fusion breakthrough. The intricate, delicate targets used in Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)\u2019s National Ignition Facility (NIF) experiments are marvels of design, engineering and precise manufacturing. \u201cWe\u2019ve been working over the last 16 years on continuously\u2026","body_mini_value":"Part 8 in a series of articles describing the elements of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory\u0027s fusion breakthrough. The intricate,\u2026","thumbnail_380_380":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/thumbnail_380_380\/public\/news\/2023-04\/targets-diaz875x500.jpg?itok=Wn_MDjDl","crop_thumbnail":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/thumbnail_400_225\/public\/news\/2023-04\/targets-diaz875x500.jpg?itok=GbMO7y26","scaled_1140w":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/scaled_1140w\/public\/news\/2023-04\/targets-diaz875x500.jpg?itok=YNK-5FTr","original":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/news\/2023-04\/\/targets-diaz875x500.jpg"},{"nid":"49596","tid":"501","vid":"tags","category":null,"name":"Materials Science","title":"Breaking it down, carbon nanotube style","source":"pao","ext_link":"https:\/\/www.llnl.gov\/archive\/news\/breaking-it-down-carbon-nanotube-style","pub_date":"March 14, 2023","terms":"756:Advanced Materials and Manufacturing,501:Materials Science,881:Physical and Life Sciences,866:Science","alias":"http:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/\/article\/49596\/breaking-it-down-carbon-nanotube-style","alias_path":"\/article\/49596\/breaking-it-down-carbon-nanotube-style","body_value":"When it comes to studying particles in motion, experimentalists have followed a 100-year-old theory that claims the microscopic motion of a particle is determined by random collisions with molecules of the surrounding medium, regardless of the macroscopic forces that drive that motion. Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the Massachusetts\u2026","body_mini_value":"When it comes to studying particles in motion, experimentalists have followed a 100-year-old theory that claims the microscopic motion of\u2026","thumbnail_380_380":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/thumbnail_380_380\/public\/news\/2023-03\/NatureManotechnology_crop_875x500px.jpg?itok=03PaSz4t","crop_thumbnail":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/thumbnail_400_225\/public\/news\/2023-03\/NatureManotechnology_crop_875x500px.jpg?itok=ec1RWBZz","scaled_1140w":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/scaled_1140w\/public\/news\/2023-03\/NatureManotechnology_crop_875x500px.jpg?itok=k0HM9WqA","original":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/news\/2023-03\/\/NatureManotechnology_crop_875x500px.jpg"},{"nid":"49531","tid":"161","vid":"tags","category":null,"name":"Engineering","title":"LLNL researchers develop method for real-time defect detection in metal 3D-printed parts","source":"pao","ext_link":"https:\/\/www.llnl.gov\/archive\/news\/llnl-researchers-develop-method-real-time-defect-detection-metal-3d-printed-parts","pub_date":"March 1, 2023","terms":"756:Advanced Materials and Manufacturing,471:ASC,851:Computing,161:Engineering,846:HPC, Simulation, and Data Science,501:Materials Science,881:Physical and Life Sciences,866:Science","alias":"http:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/\/article\/49531\/llnl-researchers-develop-method-real-time-defect-detection-metal-3d-printed-parts","alias_path":"\/article\/49531\/llnl-researchers-develop-method-real-time-defect-detection-metal-3d-printed-parts","body_value":"Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) engineers and scientists have developed a method for detecting and predicting strut defects in 3D-printed metal lattice structures during a print through a combination of monitoring, imaging techniques and multi-physics simulations. The high-strength and low-density properties of metallic lattices have found applications in\u2026","body_mini_value":"Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) engineers and scientists have developed a method for detecting and predicting strut defects\u2026","thumbnail_380_380":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/thumbnail_380_380\/public\/news\/2023-03\/metal3d_875x500px.jpg?itok=6_m90hdU","crop_thumbnail":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/thumbnail_400_225\/public\/news\/2023-03\/metal3d_875x500px.jpg?itok=vwmt_Zb3","scaled_1140w":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/scaled_1140w\/public\/news\/2023-03\/metal3d_875x500px.jpg?itok=13uyOeWN","original":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/news\/2023-03\/\/metal3d_875x500px.jpg"}]";
  var www_domain = "https://www.llnl.gov";
 

 

 





 

 

 

 

## Research areas



 



  ![Direct-ink-write 3D printing of a carbon fiber composite material](/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2024-01/polymer-featured.jpg?itok=iniuOZdh)

 

 [**Applied polymer science**](https://nanoscience.llnl.gov/research/applied-polymer-science)

Focusing on a diverse range of applied research—with a unified theme of polymer science



   

 



  ![Water in a carbon nanotube.](/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2023-12/nanofluidics-water-nanotube-featured.jpg?itok=gOhencKE)

 

 [**Nanofluidics and precision separations**](https://nanoscience.llnl.gov/research/nanofluidics-precision-separations)

Delivering cutting-edge science to address fundamental research problems relevant to national security



   

 



  ![The circulator device made from quantum anomalous Hall materials, which is smaller than a US dime.](/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2024-01/quantum-materials-featured.jpg?itok=NROCG1Gd)

 

 [**Quantum materials and devices**](https://nanoscience.llnl.gov/research/quantum-materials-devices)

Addressing research challenges in quantum science and technology through fundamental advances in physics, materials, engineering design, and prototype development



   

 



  ![A custom coating system](/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2026-01/custom-coating-system.png?itok=QBx5o882)

 

 **[Thin film science and technology](https://nanoscience.llnl.gov/research/thin-film-science-technology)**

Advancing thin film materials through integrated physical vapor deposition, plasma diagnostics, and advanced characterization



   

 







 

 

 

 

 

## Our team



 





 

 

 

 

 

### Leadership



 



 [![Bagge-Hansen, Michael](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/baggehansen1.png)](https://people.llnl.gov/baggehansen1) [Michael Bagge-Hansen](https://people.llnl.gov/baggehansen1) 

Research Scientist

 

 

 

 [![Kucheyev, Sergei O.](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/kucheyev1.png)](https://people.llnl.gov/kucheyev1) [Sergei Kucheyev](https://people.llnl.gov/kucheyev1) 

Deputy Group Leader, Nanoscale Integration Science

 

 

 

 [![Lewicki, James](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/lewicki1_0.png)](https://people.llnl.gov/lewicki1) [James Lewicki](https://people.llnl.gov/lewicki1) 

Associate Deputy Division Leader, Operations

 

 

 

 

 







 

 

 

 

 

### Group members



 



 [![Bayu Aji, Leonardus Bimo](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/bayuaji1.png)](https://people.llnl.gov/bayuaji1) [Leonardus Bimo Bayu Aji](https://people.llnl.gov/bayuaji1) 

Staff Scientist

 

 

 

 ![Biener, Juergen](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/biener2.png) Juergen Biener 



 

 

 

 ![Braun, Tom](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/braun8_1.png) Tom Braun 



 

 

 

 ![Chung, Julia](https://nanoscience.llnl.gov/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2023-12/people-placeholder-msd.jpg?itok=UJJz3Ojb) Julia Chung 



 

 

 

 [![Engwall, Alison](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/engwall1.png)](https://people.llnl.gov/engwall1) [Alison Engwall](https://people.llnl.gov/engwall1) 

Staff Scientist

 

 

 

 [![Fears, Tyler](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/fears1.png)](https://people.llnl.gov/fears1) [Tyler Fears](https://people.llnl.gov/fears1) 

Staff Scientist

 

 

 

 [![Forien, Jean-Baptiste](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/forien1.png)](https://people.llnl.gov/forien1) [Jean-Baptiste Forien](https://people.llnl.gov/forien1) 

Staff Scientist

 

 

 

 ![Hensley, Jon Brian](https://nanoscience.llnl.gov/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2023-12/people-placeholder-msd.jpg?itok=UJJz3Ojb) Jon Hensley 



 

 

 

 ![Li, Yuhao](https://nanoscience.llnl.gov/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2023-12/people-placeholder-msd.jpg?itok=UJJz3Ojb) Yuhao Li 



 

 

 

 [![Noy, Alex](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/noy1_0.png)](https://people.llnl.gov/noy1) [Alex Noy](https://people.llnl.gov/noy1) 

Staff Scientist

 

 

 

 [![Orme, Chris](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/orme1.png)](https://people.llnl.gov/orme1) [Chris Orme](https://people.llnl.gov/orme1) 

Scientific Researcher

 

 

 

 [![Qu, Dongxia](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/qu2.png)](https://people.llnl.gov/qu2) [Dongxia Qu](https://people.llnl.gov/qu2) 

Staff Scientist

 

 

 

 [![Shin, Swanee](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/shin5.png)](https://people.llnl.gov/shin5) [Swanee Shin](https://people.llnl.gov/shin5) 

Staff Scientist

 

 

 

 ![Steelman, Michael Eugene](https://nanoscience.llnl.gov/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2023-12/people-placeholder-msd.jpg?itok=UJJz3Ojb) Michael Steelman 



 

 

 

 ![Taylor, Gregory Vincent](https://nanoscience.llnl.gov/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2023-12/people-placeholder-msd.jpg?itok=UJJz3Ojb) Gregory Taylor 



 

 

 

 [![Xu, Xiaojie](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/xu17.png)](https://people.llnl.gov/xu17) [Xiaojie Xu](https://people.llnl.gov/xu17) 

Staff Scientist