The Nano technology Laboratory was one of the six founding laboratories of Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology Chinese Academy of Science, known as Nanyang Technological Institute which was set up in 2006. According to the national nano technology strategic plan and global field development, the lab revolves around frontier fields of science and technology including nano-electronic materials & devices, nano biology chip and micro energy. The key research areas are new phase change materials and phase change random access memory (PCRAM), micro-nano biochemical sensor and Ni-H fuels& materials.

Within a few years, the lab has expanded its research and development activities in a number of key areas in nano-electronic materials & devices, micro-nano biochemical sensor system, micro energy& materials. The current research activities in the laboratory mainly include:

New phase change materials and phase change random access memory (PCRAM), invent and develop the theory of detector new phase change materials, achieve many new materials with independent intellectual property rights including memory materials SiSb, GeTi and buffer layer materials TiO2, GeN. Major breakthroughs are achieved in nano process and assemble technique research to fabricate high density, mass storage cell. A data analyst and testing system deducting accumulative effect to do with the storage unit, array and chip is set up and in good operation. The 1Mbit PCRAM chip was developed and its storage function is performed, providing a solid foundation for developing our own PCRAM chip with independent IP. We are now in the leadership position in the PCRAM research area and have attained the advanced level in China, in the forefront of the world.

The research group of DNA Chips has developed several gene array chips for rapid critical disease detection such as HBV gene polymorphism detection chips, MTB drug resistance diagnosis chips and HCV gene typing detection chips. The HCV gene typing detection chips have received the certificate of national type one new drug. The urine protein analyzer based on electrophoresis microchip has received the registration of medical instrumentation. It can be used to separate and analyze protein and nucleotide, and has been well applied in clinical application. The model machine of coronary heart disease detection microsystem has been well accomplished.

Specific features of novel composite micro power sources: 300 Wh/kg and 700 Wh/L. In 2006, the group co-established Wanghong Power Co., LTD with its technology as holding stock. The power-assistant Ni-MH batteries produced by us have passed the certification of the National Testing Center of China. Our products have high power density and long cycle life, and are featured by excellent high- and low-temperature performance. The upper limit of the state of charge (SOC) of the battery could be automatically adjusted by monitoring the internal potential and integrating ampere hours, thus solving the problem of inaccurate estimation of the SOC of Ni-MH and Li-ion batteries.