Binnig and Rohrer Nanotechnology Center, IBM Research Zurich

Nanotechnology @ IBM Research

IBM marks three decades of nanotechnology leadership. Two milestone IBM inventions—the Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) in 1981 and the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) in 1986—provided researchers around the world with the specialized tools they needed to explore the nanocosm and manipulate materials at the atomic level for the first time.

“For a long time, people had dreamed of making a circuit out of a molecule. Now we can make devices.”

—Dr. Phaedon Avouris
Manager of Nanoscale Science, IBM Research

Highlights spanning more thirty years of scientific discoveries and innovations in nanoscience and nanotechnology from IBM Research Labs are featured on our historical timeline. (Viewing tip: More > 3d)