Nanotechnology engineering is a multi-disciplinary engineering field that simultaneously draws from and benefits areas such as materials science and engineering, chemistry, physics, and biology. Indeed, it is all about generating new solutions based upon atomic- and molecular-scale concepts and manipulations.
Nanotechnology commonly refers to the fabrication, study, and manipulation of structures having sizes in the range from one to one hundred nanometers (a nanometer is a billionth of a metre). This length scale bridges the important gap between atoms and molecules (which are typically less than five nanometers in size) and bulk materials, thereby requiring a knowledge of fundamental chemistry and quantum physics. To develop this new cluster of technologies, there is an acute need for highly trained personnel who have a thorough understanding of the natural laws that govern the workings not only of atoms and molecules but also of natural or manufactured nanoscopic and mesoscopic structures and systems (such as, clusters, fullerenes, nanotubes, macromolecules, nanorobots, and nanosystems more generally).
This field is loosely divided into four categories, namely: micro and nano-instrumentation, nano-electronics, nanobiosystems, and nano-engineered materials. The first category addresses some of the most far-reaching, yet practical, applications of miniaturized instrumentation for the study of molecular-scale species in chemical, clinical, or biochemical analysis, in biotechnology for agent detection, and in environmental analysis. The second category concerns the development of systems and materials required for the electronics industry in order to move beyond current technological limits – producing even finer detail than currently featured in high-performance microprocessor chips. Also, in this category is a new generation of electronic devices based upon organic and plastic materials, which is expected to create new markets with applications ranging from smart cards to tube-like computers. The third category can be described as molecular manipulation of biomaterials and the associated miniaturization of analytical devices in terms of DNA, peptides, proteins, and cell chips. The final category examines several classes of advanced materials, including nanocrystalline materials and nanopowders, that can be utilized in electronics and photonics applications, in the automobile, food, and pharmaceutical industries, as membranes for fuel cells, and as industrial-scale polymers.
The Nanotechnology Engineering honours degree program is designed to provide an education in key areas of nanotechnology, including the fundamental chemistry, physics, and engineering of nanostructures or nanosystems and the theories and techniques employed in the modelling, design, fabrication, and characterization of technological applications. Emphasis is placed on training with the same modern instrumentation techniques employed in research and development in these emerging technologies. The University awards a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) degree in Nanotechnology Engineering to students who successfully meet all program requirements.
This engineering program is a collaborative effort among three departments: the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering, and the Department of Chemistry in the Faculty of Science.
Administrative Structure
Leadership for the Nanotechnology Engineering program is provided by the Nanotechnology Engineering program director, normally a faculty member chosen from one of the Departments of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or Electrical and Computer Engineering, and holding a joint or cross appointment in the other departments. The program director is responsible for academic issues associated with the program operation, including student liaison and advisement. Two associate program directors assist the program director in managing the program's day-to-day operations and in student advisement.
The Nanotechnology Engineering Program Board oversees the program's operation and evolution. This inter-faculty board normally meets once a year. It consults with the three home departments and reports to the two faculty councils. Board membership comprises the following.
- Nanotechnology Engineering Program Director, Chair of committee
- Dean, Faculty of Engineering
- Dean, Faculty of Science
- Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering
- Chair, Department of Chemistry
- Chair, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Undergraduate Associate Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering
- Undergraduate Officer, Department of Chemistry
- Undergraduate Associate Chair, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
The Board delegates issues of program operation to the Nanotechnology Engineering Executive Committee and issues of program curriculum to the Nanotechnology Engineering Curriculum Committee.
The Nanotechnology Engineering Executive Committee monitors the operation of the Nanotechnology Engineering program. It normally meets monthly and co-ordinates requests for instructors, teaching assistants, or resources for courses and laboratories. It reports to the Nanotechnology Engineering Program Board. Its membership comprises the following.
- Nanotechnology Engineering Program Director, Chair of committee
- Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering
- Chair, Department of Chemistry
- Chair, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Nanotechnology Engineering Associate Program Director, Internal
- Nanotechnology Engineering Associate Program Director, External
The Nanotechnology Engineering Curriculum Committee is responsible for curriculum issues of the Nanotechnology Engineering program and reports to the Nanotechnology Engineering Program Board. Its membership comprises the following.
- Nanotechnology Engineering Associate Program Director, Internal, Chair of committee
- Nanotechnology Engineering Program Director
- Nanotechnology Engineering Associate Program Director, External
- Undergraduate Associate Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering
- Undergraduate Officer, Department of Chemistry
- Undergraduate Associate Chair, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Teaching faculty member, Department of Chemical Engineering
- Teaching faculty member, Department of Chemistry
- Teaching faculty member, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Graduate Attributes Lecturer for the Nanotechnology Engineering Program
The three teaching faculty members are appointed by their respective department chairs.
At the faculty level, academic responsibility for Nanotechnology Engineering rests with the Faculty of Engineering and is handled via its normal procedures and committees.
Admissions
The Nanotechnology Engineering Program Board, in consultation with the Faculties of Engineering and Science and their admissions committees, recommends admission requirements for the Nanotechnology Engineering program to the Faculty of Engineering. For details on admission in this program, see the Academic Course Requirements.
Academic Program
The curriculum in Nanotechnology Engineering is designed to teach those fundamental physical and engineering sciences that form the basis of the work of nanotechnology engineers. The program in Nanotechnology Engineering consists of a set of core courses complemented by nine technical elective courses plus four non-technical elective courses in addition to NE 109 and MSCI 261 in order to satisfy the Complementary Studies Requirements for Engineering Students.
Technical Electives
Generally speaking, the Nanotechnology Engineering program may be divided broadly into four areas of concentration, identified herein as micro and nano-instrumentation, nano-electronics, nanobiosystems, and nanomaterials. A set of nine technical elective course choices is provided in this program to enable students to focus upon at least two of these areas of concentration. The nine technical elective courses may be chosen from amongst approximately 15 Nanotechnology-Engineering-specific technical elective courses that are offered annually. In addition, students may obtain permission from the Nanotechnology Engineering program advisor (normally the associate director, internal) to employ up to four courses (one each in the 3B and 4A terms, two in the 4B term), appropriate to their choices of areas of concentration, that are offered under other Faculty of Engineering academic programs.
The normal recommended program shown below typically involves a course load (excluding seminars) of five to six lecture courses per term. Permission from the associate director of nanotechnology engineering internal, will be required for departures from the normal load in any given term. Permission to carry more than the normal load in any given term will normally be approved only for students who have attained an 80% or higher average in the preceding term.
The sequence of co-op work terms for Nanotechnology Engineering students comprises two four-month work terms following the 1B and 2A terms, and two eight-month work terms following the 2B and 3B terms. The rules of the Co-operative Education System apply, as further described in the Engineering Work Terms section. Three credited work reports conforming to the Nanotechnology Engineering Work-Term Report Guidelines are required for graduation.
The promotion criteria used to determine progression through the Nanotechnology Engineering Program are as described in the Engineering Examinations and Promotions section of this Calendar.
Available Options
The normal Nanotechnology Engineering program shown below has been designed to offer a well-balanced and rewarding education. Students wishing to enrich their education further may elect to follow a Faculty of Engineering Designated Option. Students who complete the requirements for an option will have a designation of completion of that option recorded on their transcripts. Students should be aware that an option normally requires additional courses to be completed. An 80% average is required to enter the options in Life Sciences, Mathematics, or Physical Sciences. Faculty Options of special interest to Nanotechnology Engineering students are described in the Options, Specializations and Electives for Engineering Students of this section of the Calendar under the following headings.
- Option in International Studies in Engineering
- Option in Life Sciences
- Option in Management Sciences
- Option in Mathematics
- Option in Physical Sciences
Academic Curriculum
Glossary of descriptions for the next table
| Code |
Description |
| Cls |
Class |
| Tut |
Tutorial |
| Lab |
Laboratory |
| 0-10 |
Number of hours per week for Class, Tutorial, or Laboratory |
| † |
More than one course may be offered simultaneously under a given special topic. |
| ‡ |
NE 102, NE 201, NE 202, and NE 301 provide milestones that must be passed before a student may proceed in the academic program. Successful completion is required by the end of the academic term following that having the scheduled meets. Specifically, a student will not be allowed to enrol in any academic term beyond 2A without credit for NE 102, beyond 2B without credit for NE 201, beyond 3A without credit for NE 202, beyond 3B without credit for NE 301. |
| ≠ |
NE 111 is taught online. Students enrolled in the 1A term will be able to go online prior to the start of classes in September. |
| ≠≠ |
NE 450L has ceased to be a degree requirement for the Nanotechnology Engineering program. It is available as an extra course (i.e., not required and not in average [NRNA]) for nanotechnology engineering students who wish to acquire practical exposure to Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) technology during fall 2016. Contact your academic advisor. |
The term by term academic component of the program is as follows:
| Term |
Course and Title |
Cls |
Tut |
Lab |
|
1A Fall
|
MATH 117 Calculus 1 for Engineering |
3 |
2 |
0 |
| NE 100 Introduction to Nanotechnology Engineering |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| NE 101 Nanotechnology Engineering Practice |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 109 Societal and Environmental Impacts of Nanotechnology |
3 |
1 |
0 |
| NE 111 Introduction to Programming for Engineers ≠ |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 112 Linear Algebra for Nanotechnology Engineering |
3 |
1 |
0 |
| NE 121 Chemical Principles |
3 |
1 |
0 |
| 1B Winter |
MATH 119 Calculus 2 for Engineering |
3 |
2 |
0 |
| NE 102 Introduction to Nanomaterials Health Risk; Nanotechnology Engineering Practice ‡ |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 113 Introduction to Computational Methods |
3 |
1 |
2 |
| NE 125 Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering |
3 |
1 |
0 |
| NE 131 Physics for Nanotechnology Engineering |
4
|
1
|
0
|
NE 140 Linear Circuits
|
3
|
2 |
1.5 |
| 2A Fall |
NE 201 Nanotoxicology; Nanotechnology Engineering Practice ‡ |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 215 Probability and Statistics |
3 |
1 |
0 |
| NE 216 Advanced Calculus 1 for Nanotechnology Engineering |
3 |
1 |
2 |
| NE 220L Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory |
0 |
0 |
1.5 |
| NE 222 Organic Chemistry for Nanotechnology Engineers |
3
|
1
|
1.5
|
| NE 232 Quantum Mechanics |
3 |
1 |
0 |
| NE 241 Electromagnetism |
3 |
2 |
1.5 |
| 2B Spring |
NE 202 Nanomaterials and Environmental Impact; Nanotechnology Engineering Practice ‡ |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 217 Advanced Calculus 2 for Nanotechnology Engineering |
3 |
1 |
2 |
| NE 224 Biochemistry for Nanotechnology Engineers |
3
|
1
|
1.5
|
| NE 225 Structure and Properties of Nanomaterials |
3 |
1 |
0 |
| NE 226 Characterization of Materials |
3 |
1 |
0 |
| NE 226L Laboratory Characterization Methods |
0 |
0 |
1.5 |
| NE 242 Semiconductor Physics and Devices |
3 |
2 |
1.5 |
| NE 250 Work-term Report 1 |
| 3A Spring |
MSCI 261 Engineering Economics: Financial Management for Engineers |
3
|
1
|
0
|
| NE 301 Nanomaterials and Human Risks, Benefits; Nanotechnology Engineering Practice ‡ |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 318 Continuum Mechanics for Nanotechnology Engineering |
3 |
1 |
0 |
| NE 320L Characterization of Materials Laboratory |
0 |
0 |
1.5 |
| NE 333 Macromolecular Science |
3 |
1 |
0 |
| NE 334 Statistical Thermodynamics |
3 |
1 |
0 |
| NE 343 Microfabrication and Thin-film Technology |
3 |
1 |
0 |
| CSE Complementary Studies Elective |
| 3B Fall |
NE 302 Nanotechnology Engineering Practice |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 307 Introduction to Nanosystems Design |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 330L Macromolecular Science Laboratory |
0 |
0 |
1.5 |
| NE 336 Micro and Nanosystem Computer-aided Design |
3 |
1 |
1.5 |
| NE 340L Microfabrication and Thin-film Technology Laboratory |
0 |
0 |
1.5 |
| NE 350 Work-term Report 2 |
| CSE Complementary Studies Elective |
| Three Technical Electives |
| 4A Fall |
NE 408 Nanosystems Design Project |
0 |
0 |
10 |
| Two Senior Laboratory course electives selected from: |
| NE 454A Nano-instrumentation Laboratory 1 |
0 |
0 |
1.5 |
| NE 454B Nano-electronics Laboratory 1 |
0 |
0 |
1.5 |
| NE 454C Nanobiosystems Laboratory 1 |
0 |
0 |
1.5 |
| NE 454D Nanomaterials Laboratory 1 |
0 |
0 |
1.5 |
| CSE Complementary Studies Elective |
| Three Technical Electives |
| Optional course taken as an extra: ≠≠ |
| NE 450L Nanoprobing and Lithography Laboratory |
0 |
0 |
1.5 |
| 4B Winter |
NE 409 Nanosystems Design Project and Symposium |
0 |
0 |
10 |
| NE 450 Work-term Report 3 |
| Two Senior Laboratory course electives selected from: |
| NE 455A Nano-instrumentation Laboratory 2 |
0 |
0 |
1.5 |
| NE 455B Nano-electronics Laboratory 2 |
0 |
0 |
1.5 |
| NE 455C Nanobiosystems Laboratory 2 |
0 |
0 |
1.5 |
| NE 455D Nanomaterials Laboratory 2 |
0 |
0 |
1.5 |
| CSE Complementary Studies Elective |
| Three Technical Electives |
Technical Electives
| Course and Title |
Cls |
Tut |
Lab |
| NE 335 Soft Nanomaterials |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 344 Electronic Circuits
|
3
|
0
|
0 |
| NE 345 Photonic Materials and Devices |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 352 Surfaces and Interfaces |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 353 Nanoprobing and Lithography |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 381 Introduction to Nanoscale Biosystems |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 451 Simulation Methods |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 452 Special Topics in Nanoscale Simulations |
3 |
0 |
0 |
NE 453 Special Topics in Nanotechnology Engineering
|
3
|
0
|
0 |
| NE 459 Nanotechnology Engineering Research Project |
9 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 461 Micro and Nano-instrumentation |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 469 Special Topics in Micro and Nano-instrumentation † |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 471 Nano-electronics |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 479 Special Topics in Nano-electronics † |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 481 Nanomedicine and Nanobiology |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 489 Special Topics in Nanoscale Biosystems † |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 491 Nanostructured Materials |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| NE 499 Special Topics in Nanostructured Materials † |
3 |
0 |
0 |