For the last few years, the promising area of nanotechnology has attracted both industrial and academic support. Nanomaterials, defined as materials with at least one phase having one dimension in the range of the nanometre, has clearly benefited from this wave of activity. New fabrication routes are being developed, although much work remains to be done to increase the knowledge and usability of these new materials.

Nanomaterials have properties that are applicable for a wide range of everyday objects. The benefits of carbon nanotubes used as conductive wires, of polymer-based nanocomposites with outstanding properties (fire resistance, conductivity, impact resistance, stiffness), of nanostructured ceramics, are early examples of the potential of nanomaterials.

The NPL Materials Centre (MATC) is currently working on developing measurement methods for nanomaterials and understanding the behaviour of nanomaterials at the nanoscale. This overview outlines both current and future work on nanomaterials, as well as the evolution of the Centre's traditional core competencies towards newer cutting-edge technologies, which will permit the tailoring of nano-phased structures for achieving desired properties.