Department of Physics Hosts the 69th Fullerenes–Nanotubes–Graphene General Symposium (FNTG69)
The 69th Fullerenes–Nanotubes–Graphene General Symposium (FNTG69), a long-running international meeting dedicated to research on carbon-based nanomaterials, was held at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) from September 24 to 26. The symposium convened at NTNU’s Gongguan Campus II and brought together researchers and students from institutions across Asia and the Americas for three days of presentations and discussion.
A total of 150 participants from leading Japanese universities, including the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Osaka University, Tohoku University, Nagoya University, Kyushu University, and Hokkaido University, joined the meeting alongside 50 faculty members and students from universities in Taiwan. Scholars from South Korea, India, Indonesia, the United States, and Brazil also participated.
Professor Hsiang-Lin Liu of the Department of Physics noted that the symposium had been held exclusively in Japan for more than sixty years. Its relocation to NTNU this year followed the recommendation of Yushan Scholar and Chair Professor Riichiro Saito, making it the first time the meeting has convened outside Japan. Professor Liu said holding the event in Taiwan created opportunities for direct exchange among researchers working in fullerenes, nanotubes, and graphene.
For NTNU faculty and students, FNTG69 provided access to current international research in the field and opportunities to establish academic connections. Professor Liu encouraged students to consider how participation in such events can support future research experiences, including potential internships, short-term visits, or graduate study abroad.
The program also featured contributions from researchers at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Professor Liu noted that the development of new materials benefits from collaboration between academic and industrial researchers, particularly as the semiconductor sector explores alternatives to silicon to address technical limitations.
Fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene are widely viewed as key materials for next-generation technologies. As the semiconductor industry confronts technical limits in long-used silicon, the search for alternatives has become a common priority for both academic researchers and industry. The symposium provided a setting for bringing current academic work into conversation with practical needs in the industrial sector and for considering possible directions for future technological development.