The purpose of this research project is to propose practical micro-systems through the development of a nano-technology that is useful for conserving resources and preserving environment with the eventual goal of augmenting the quality of our life (QOL).

One aspect of QOL is to keep our health in good condition. To do so, we need to monitor constantly the condition of our health. One of the micro-systems for health monitoring is a "molecular recognition system". The other aspect of QOL is our mental satisfaction with cultural environment. To monitor these two aspects of QOL, it is important to take full advantage of information technology. The micro-systems useful for this technology include ultra high-density data recording systems for a "home library and/or home theater", and micro-energy devices as a power supply for wearable computers and health monitoring systems.

Since a micro-system is composed of molecular size structures measuring nanometers, we first need to develop a practical nano-technology to fabricate nanostructure arrays and their functions such as the interaction with bio-molecules. Nano-structure arrays are expected to have novel characteristics such as high density, high efficiency, high sensitivity, and resource-saving capability. We designate the academic field shedding light on these novel functions as "molecular nano-engineering".

To produce nanostructure arrays, we utilize single ion implantation (SII) and focused electron beam technologies. The SII is our original technology, which enables us to implant dopant ions one by one into a target with a diameter of about 50 nm. By using this technology, we can generate a two dimensional array of dopant atoms (NDA) in a semiconductor, or we can form ion irradiated sites of nm scale which are subsequently patterned into a nanostructure array by selective chemical etching. As far as the nm scale modification of solids is concerned, the focused electron beam irradiation can form modified sites with even smaller dimensions. In fact, we have succeeded in making a nano etch pit array (NEPA) with a side of 8 nm and a pitch of 20nm. This corresponds to a data recording density of 1.56 Tbits/square inch.

By making full use of our original technologies we intend to develop, in addition to the high density data recording, an improved secondary battery with a longer life and a higher energy density for use as a wearable power supply. We intend to develop also an intelligent health monitoring system, which collects stealthily the data form perspiration and excretion, analyze the user's health condition, and provide a warning signal when needed. In view of the prediction that a key technology required to realize a quantum computer is the NDA, we plan to verify this prediction by taking advantage of the SII technology as an additional challenging target of our research project.