Preface to Proceedings of ISSS-4

On behalf of the Program/Publication Committee of International Symposium on Surface Science and Nanotechnology ISSS-4 (The Organizing Committee Chairman: Prof. Kunio Takayanagi) which was held on November 14 to 17, 2005, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all participants in ISSS-4 and all contributors to the Proceedings. The first ISSS Symposium was held in 1989 in commemoration of the 10^th anniversary of The Surface Science Society of Japan. Then, the second ISSS was held at the 15^th anniversary, featuring “catalysts”, and the third ISSS was at the 20^th anniversary, featuring “devices”. Since this ISSS-4 at the 25^th anniversary was featuring “nanotechnology” including nano-bio, soft-materials, etc. as well as “surface science”, the number of participants in the Symposium reached 617 which was the largest in this symposium series.

At the Symposium, we had three splendid Plenary Lectures by Prof. Akira Fujishima (KAST, JAPAN) “Photocatalysis: present situation and future direction”, Dr. Phaedon Avouris（IBM, USA） “Single Carbon Nanotube Electronics and Optoelectronics”, and Prof. Daniel J. Muller (Max-Planck-Institute, Germany) “Imaging, detecting and directing molecular interactions to drive biological machines and processes”.

All papers were classified into four categories including 13 sessions as follows;

<Theory and dynamics>

1. Theoretical approaches to surface- and nano-structures and properties
2. Dynamical phenomena at surfaces

<Design, control, fabrication, properties and physics>

3. Atomic-scale controlled surfaces, thin films and nanostructures
4. Nano Materials (nano-tubes, nanowires, nanoparticles, nano-dots etc.)
5. Self-assembly and self-organization for nanostructure formation, and characterization
6. Micro/nano-fabrications for device applications: ULSI fabrication processes, electronic, magnetic and optical devices
7. Device applications of bio, metal, ceramics and hybrid, and organic films

<Novel characterization methods>

8. Characterization of novel surface/interface- and nano-structures: SPM
9. Characterization of novel surface and nano-structures: Tools and standards for micro/nano analysis

<Chemistry and Biology>

10. Colloidal chemistry and nano chemistry (supramolecules, biomaterials, and membrane)
11. Surface chemistry and catalysis
12. Photochemical Reactions at Surfaces
13. Biological applications of nanotechnology and surface science

At the Symposium, 568 contributed papers from all over the world were presented including 3 plenary talks, 39 invited talks and 129 oral papers. Among them, about 130 papers have been accepted for publication in the Proceedings of ISSS-4. All papers have been already uploaded on the web page of e-Journal of Surface Science and Nanotechnology. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/ejssnt

The ISSS-5 is scheduled to be held at Tokyo in 2008. We look forward to seeing you again at ISSS-5. Thank you very much for your great contribution to ISSS4.

July 19, 2006

Masaharu Oshima

The University of Tokyo

Chairman of ISSS-4 Program/Publication Committee