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Hub Overview
Greater Chicago combines a major university institute with a national laboratory user facility. Northwestern University runs the International Institute for Nanotechnology, long associated with spherical nucleic acids and dip pen nanolithography, two techniques invented there, and operates the NUFAB cleanroom. The University of Chicago contributes the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and its Pritzker Nanofabrication Facility, with particular strength in quantum. Argonne National Laboratory adds the Center for Nanoscale Materials, a Department of Energy user facility open to researchers nationwide.
The three anchors sit at the points of a wide triangle: Northwestern in Evanston just north of the city, the University of Chicago in Hyde Park on the South Side, and Argonne in Lemont to the southwest. The combination of a heavily funded university institute and two open national lab and university cleanrooms gives the region unusual depth for the Midwest. Strengths run through nanomedicine, quantum materials, catalysis, and self-assembly.
Research Map
Locations of nanotechnology research labs and companies across the Greater Chicago area. Click any marker for the institution’s profile and to find hotels nearby.
Research lab
Company
Key Institutions
Northwestern University
12 nano groups
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
8 nano groups
University of Illinois Chicago
4 nano groups
University of Chicago
3 nano groups
Argonne National Laboratory
1 nano group
University of Illinois
1 nano group
Research Labs & Groups
The following nanotechnology research groups and labs are based in the Greater Chicago area.
Argonne
University
Argonne
The Center for Nanoscale Materials at Argonne is a DOE Office of Science user facility providing researchers with expertise and instrumentation for multidisciplinary nanoscience and nanotechnology research, including characterization, synthesis, nanofabrication, nanophotonics, quantum and energy materials, and theory and modeling.
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Chicago
University
Chicago
When material dimensions reach the nanometer scale, quantum mechanical and thermodynamic properties that are insignificant in larger materials dominate, causing nanomaterials to display new and interesting properties. The group seeks to understand these properties and exploit them for technological applications, including semiconductor quantum dots, colloidal nanocrystals, quantum information, catalysis, and optoelectronic applications.
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University
Chicago
The Lin Lab works on interdisciplinary research concerning sustainability and human health, including metal-organic frameworks, catalysis, renewable energy, nanomedicine, drug delivery, biomedical imaging, and cancer therapy.
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University
Chicago
The Park Group focuses on the science and technology of precisely engineered nanomaterials, including atomically-thin integrated circuitry, growth and characterization of two-dimensional materials, and low-dimensional nanostructures for advanced electronic, optical, thermal, and mechanical devices.
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University
Chicago
The Jiang Research Lab applies scanning probe-based nanotechnology to nanostructure design and property investigation. The lab combines scanning probe microscopy with optical spectroscopy to understand single-molecule processes at the nanoscale, including charge transfer, electron localization, photoabsorption, and photoemission.
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University
Chicago
The Laboratory for Integrated Nanosystems develops research in on-chip nanolabs, nanoelectrochemical systems, electrokinetic nanoengineering, nanowire mechanics, battery materials interfaces, and predictive assembly of nanowire arrays.
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University
Chicago
Materials and Nanoscience at UIC is a multidisciplinary research area focused on the properties and behavior of materials, nanotechnology for nanoscale structures, charge transfer and electron localization, nanocrystals, nanomedicine, nanofluidics, and semiconductor nanomaterials.
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University
Chicago
The NEAT Research Lab Group advances the sustainable design of next-generation nano-enabled antimicrobial materials and engineered nanomaterials at the nexus of environment and public health, including nanoparticle synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial efficacy.
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Evanston
University
Evanston
NUANCE Center integrates three existing complementary instrumentation facilities at NU: EPIC, NIFTI, and Keck-II under a unified management umbrella, and consolidated into contiguous space. These three facilities are a unique, centralized, resource for the NU community and beyond.
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University
Evanston
The center's mission is to pursue academic excellence and high-level research in compound semiconductor science and nanotechnology.
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University
Evanston
Research at the Mohseni Lab covers the entire gamut of building new quantum optoelectronic devices with breakthrough performance. Their research includes developing advanced simulations, novel materials, advanced devices, novel nano-fabrication, and breakthrough systems. They tackle real world problems and advance technologies that show promise for making orders-of-magnitude performance improvements.
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University
Evanston
The Hersam Research Group at Northwestern University develops scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques that enable sensing, characterization, and actuation at the single molecule level.
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University
Evanston
The Institute for Nanotechnology was established as an umbrella organization for the multimillion dollar nanotechnology research efforts at Northwestern University. The role of the Institute is to support meaningful efforts in nanotechnology, house state-of-the-art nanomaterials characterization facilities, and nucleate individual and group efforts aimed at addressing and solving key problems in nanotechnology.
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University
Evanston
The Keten Research Group, also known as the Computational Nanodynamics Laboratory, studies mechanics and dynamics of biological, bioinspired, and polymeric systems at multiple length scales, beginning at the nanoscale to develop materials-by-design approaches for strong, tough, sustainable, and lightweight materials.
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University
Evanston
Prof. Koray Aydin's group is mainly focused on the broad area of nanophotonics, an emerging field strategically positioned at the intersection of electrical engineering, applied physics, materials science and nanoscience.
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University
Evanston
The MEMS and Nanomechanics group is focused on characterizing mechanical behavior and properties of materials at small scale, biomaterials and artificial bio-inspired materials, materials at high strain rates, and on developing the expertise and tools to address micro and nanoscale fabrication and testing.
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University
Evanston
The research of the Mirkin Research Group at Northwestern focuses on developing methods for controlling the architecture of molecules and materials on the 1-100 nm length scale, and utilizing such structures in the development of analytical tools that can be used in the areas of chemical and biological sensing, lithography, catalysis, and optics.
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University
Evanston
The Rogers Research Group studies soft materials and hybrid combinations with inorganic micro- and nanomaterials, developing soft lithographic and biomimetic patterning approaches as well as unusual electronic and photonic devices, with emphasis on bio-integrated and bio-inspired systems.
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University
Evanston
The group harnesses molecular recognition and self-assembly processes in template-directed protocols for the synthesis of functionalized and mechanized molecules, prior to their being introduced into integrated nanosystems.
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Urbana
University
Urbana
Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Group center on the structure and function of supramolecular systems in the living cell, and on the development of new algorithms and efficient computing tools for structural biology.
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University
Urbana
The general goal of the Molecular & Electronic Nanostructures (M&ENS) Research Initiative at the Beckman Institute is to develop a fundamental understanding of chemical and physical processes involving structures on the nanometer scale.
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University
Urbana
The Cao Research Lab, based in Materials Science & Engineering and the Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, develops advanced materials for electronics and optoelectronics, including new materials and processing techniques for high-performance extremely-scaled devices, next-generation memory for neuromorphic and in-memory computing, and hybrid bioelectronics for healthcare and neuroscience.
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University
Urbana
The FS-MRL brings together world-class faculty and students in condensed matter physics, materials chemistry, and materials science in a highly collaborative research environment.
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University
Urbana
The lab is one of the nation's largest and most sophisticated university-based facilities for semiconductor, nanotechnology, and biotechnology research.
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University
Urbana
The group of Prof William King designs, fabricates, and uses tools for thermal and thermomechanical processing at micrometer and nanometer length scales. Their research involves the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nanoimprint lithography for thermal and thermomechanical modification of surfaces.
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University
Urbana
The Nanomechanics and Materials Research Laboratory houses advanced microscopy, micromechanics instrumentation, high speed cameras, and microfabrication tools for studying the mechanical behavior of materials at small length scales, including micro- and nanoscale deformation of films, fibers, nanostructured materials, and nanoscale structures.
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University
Urbana
The Nanosensors Group, also known as the Cunningham Lab, uses electromagnetics, optics, and nanostructures to develop tools for disease diagnostics, life science research, pharmaceutical screening, point-of-care diagnostics, personalized medicine, global health, and liquid biopsy monitoring.
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University
Urbana
The group is pioneering CAD for nanoscale machines made using DNA nanotechnology.
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Nanotech Companies
Commercial nanotechnology companies based in the Greater Chicago area.
Products
Addison
Using lapping, optical polishing, single point diamond machining, low stress grinding and honing, Surface Finishes provides Angstrom level tolerances on prototype or production components such as: mirrors for optical imaging and scanning, air bearings, optical disc molds, large area reference surfaces and custom gauging.
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Materials
Arlington Heights
Ambeed offers a portfolio of MOF (Metal Organic Framework) ligands, catering to researchers in their pursuit of novel MOFs synthesis.
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Products
Bedford Park
NanoChem is at the forefront of providing unique protein-based polymers that provide competitive performance for various products and processes environmental concerns for the creation of non-toxic products for a wide range of industrial, agricultural and consumer markets.
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Biomedical
Chicago
Dimension Bio is a Chicago biotechnology company developing regenerative therapeutics and biomaterial-based products designed to restore organ function lost to disease, trauma or aging.
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Products
Chicago
NanoGraf develops high-energy-density silicon anode materials designed to improve lithium-ion battery performance for applications ranging from consumer electronics to electric vehicles.
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Materials
Chicago
Numat develops and manufactures metal-organic framework (MOF) materials, integrating precision chemistries into industrial products and processes at manufacturing scale.
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Services
Downers Grove
Particle Technology Labs is an analytical contract laboratory specializing in particle characterization testing, including particle size, shape, surface area, porosity and related materials characterization services.
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Materials
Evanston
Ssupplier of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) of uniform diameter and/or electronic type as well as graphene nanoplatelets.
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Materials
Lake Forest
The company manufactures and supplies uniform nano- and microparticles for biomedical and diagnostic applications.
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Products
Naperville
Nalco has a long history of work in nanotechnology dating to the 1950s and the development of colloidal silicas. Recent innovations such as Core Shell® polymers, modified at the molecular level for use in wastewater treatment and as process aids in papermaking, petroleum refining, mining and food and beverage processing. Joint venture partner in NanoSpecialties, an R&D company for nanotechnology water and process treatments.
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Products
Northfield
The company's materials expertise is in the conversion of nanoscale materials into enhanced fluids, phase change materials, and polymeric composites into respectively nanofluids, nano-PCMs and nanocomposites.
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Materials
Romeoville
Solésence, formerly Nanophase Technologies, develops and manufactures mineral-based, zinc oxide enabled skin health and beauty science products using engineered materials platforms.
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Products
Schaumburg
LDB Corp provides metrology instruments to industrial component and semiconductor companies.
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Products
Skokie
TERA-print develops nanofabrication instruments based on beam pen lithography for nanoscale and microscale patterning, including applications in bioengineering, microarrays, electronics, sensing and microfluidics.
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Hotels & Accommodation in Greater Chicago
Planning a lab visit, conference, or interview? Find hotels, apartments, and hostels near the area’s research institutions and nanotech companies.
Related Events
Upcoming nanotechnology events in the Greater Chicago area:
Chicago, IL, USA · Aug 23, 2026
Chicago, IL, USA · Dec 8, 2026