New technologies, new and versatile facilities, and new insights have recently been developed, enabling practical and robust application of ion beams for spatially defined and custom-tailored fabrication of devices with nanoscale 1D, 2D or 3D spatial definition. Emerging basic insights and modeling of the ion-solid interaction, as well as the arrival of sub-nanometer beam facilities, have led to exciting research results. Ion beam processing now offers unique methods for patterning and lithography, or synthesis of nano-structured surfaces and features, that can surpass the performance of other available technologies.

Structural changes caused by an energetic ion or ion-cluster in an irradiated solid may include collisional damage and disorder, local ionization, and in the case of organics, (or photo-resists), chain scission or cross-linking, and perhaps selective sputtering of a surface layer, leading to self-organized patterned surface topography. Ion irradiation may also be used to locally activate a surface to grow 3D columns in the presence of a suitable gas precursor. Self-assembly may be directed by patterned beam exposure. Nano-wires, nano-pores, and intricate 3D structures, can also be created using energetic ion nano-beams.

The ability of beam-patterned substrate surfaces to selectively adsorb cells from fluid suspension offers selective manipulation of bio-materials and their interactions, having important clinical or pharmaceutical applications. Related advances are emerging today in the fields of biomolecular technology and bio-medicine. It is hoped that this Symposium will provide a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue among researchers with expertise in ion-beam physics/chemistry/technology and those engaged in the bio-sciences and medical/clinical applications.