Editing Molecular engineering (section)

== Techniques and instruments used ==
Molecular engineers utilize sophisticated tools and instruments to make and analyze the interactions of molecules and the surfaces of materials at the molecular and nano-scale. The complexity of molecules being introduced at the surface is increasing, and the techniques used to analyze surface characteristics at the molecular level are ever-changing and improving. Meantime, advancements in high performance computing have greatly expanded the use of computer simulation in the study of molecular scale systems.

=== Computational and Theoretical Approaches ===
* [[Computational chemistry]]
* [[Supercomputer|High performance computing]]
* [[Molecular dynamics]]
* [[Molecular modelling|Molecular modeling]]
* [[Statistical mechanics]]
* [[Theoretical chemistry]]
* [[Circuit topology|Topology]]
[[File:Environmental Transmission Electron Microscope.jpg|thumb|An EMSL scientist using the environmental transmission electron microscope at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The ETEM provides in situ capabilities that enable atomic-resolution imaging and spectroscopic studies of materials under dynamic operating conditions. In contrast to traditional operation of TEM under high vacuum, EMSL's ETEM uniquely allows imaging within high-temperature and gas environments.]]

=== Microscopy ===
* [[Atomic-force microscopy|Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)]]
* [[Scanning electron microscope|Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)]]
* [[Transmission electron microscopy|Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)]]

=== Molecular Characterization ===
* [[Dynamic light scattering|Dynamic light scattering (DLS)]]
* [[Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization|Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) spectrocosopy]]
* [[Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy|Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy]]
* [[Size-exclusion chromatography|Size exclusion chromatography (SEC)]]

=== Spectroscopy ===
* [[Ellipsometry]]
* 2D [[X-Ray Diffraction|X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)]]
* [[Raman spectroscopy|Raman Spectroscopy/Microscopy]]

=== Surface Science ===
* Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry
* [[Mass spectrometry#Time-of-flight|Time of Flight-Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS)]]
* [[X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy|X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)]]

=== Synthetic Methods ===
* [[DNA synthesis]]
* [[Nanoparticle#Synthesis|Nanoparticle synthesis]]
* [[Organic synthesis]]
* [[Peptide synthesis]]
* [[Polymerization|Polymer synthesis]]

=== Other Tools ===
* [[Focused ion beam|Focused Ion Beam (FIB)]]
* [[Profilometer]]
* [[Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy|UV Photoelectron Spectroscopy]] (UPS)
* [[Sum frequency generation spectroscopy|Vibrational Sum Frequency Generation]]