|   InformationThe International conference "Advanced Carbon 
                                Nanostructures" (ACN) integrates the 10th 
                                Biennial International Workshops "Fullerenes 
                                and Atomic Clusters" and the 4th International 
                                Symposiums "Detonation Nanodiamonds: Technology, 
                                Properties and Applications".  This integration of two international conferences 
                                is a result of discussion among members of International 
                                Advisory and the Program Committees of the conferences. 
                                In fact, the new carbon nanostructures - fullerenes, 
                                carbon nanotubes, carbide derived carbon, onions, 
                                nanographite and nanodiamonds and the most popular 
                                now graphene are members of one nanocarbon family. 
                                There are general approaches to technology of 
                                their production and the methods of characterizations. 
                                The most important feature is that knowledge of 
                                physical and chemical properties of one nanostructure 
                                of the nanocarbon family helps at research of 
                                other carbon nanostructure. What is more, some 
                                competition in applications of different nanocarbons 
                                gives a chance to choose the best structure for 
                                the specific application. For example, to solve 
                                whether carbide derived carbon or carbon nanotubes 
                                could be the best for supercapacitors, or to solve 
                                whether nanodiamond films or nanotubes could be 
                                the best for field electron emitter.  Indeed, unique possibility of carbon atoms to 
                                form sp, sp2 and sp3 bonds provides the basis 
                                of the diversity on carbon nanostructures and 
                                attracts attention of nanocarbon community to 
                                the joint conference. Both conferences mentioned above were arranged 
                                by St Petersburg research centers and Universities 
                                and held in St Petersburg, and this helps to arrange 
                                the joint conference. It is important to remind shortly a history of 
                                the previous conferences.
 The Biennial International Workshops "Fullerenes 
                                and Atomic Clusters" (IWFAC) started in St 
                                Petersburg in October 1993. Since that time, the 
                                IWFAC has become one of the most representative 
                                world meetings in the field of fullerenes and 
                                carbon nanotubes. It is important to note the 
                                participation in the IWFAC'93-09 of the founders 
                                of this science and of the scientists who determine 
                                main directions in this field. The first International Symposium "Detonation 
                                Nanodiamond. Technology, Properties and Applications" 
                                (NanoDiamond) was held in St Petersburg in July, 
                                2003, then NATO Advanced Research Workshop and 
                                the Symposium were arranged in 2004, 2006, 2008. The lists of invited speakers of the past IWFAC's 
                                and the Symposiums included well-known members 
                                of the nanocarbon world:H.Kroto (UK, Univ. of Sussex), M. Dresselhaus 
                                (USA, MIT), M. Endo (Japan, Shinshu University), 
                                D.R.Huffman (USA, Univ. of Arizona), S.Iijima 
                                (Japan, NEC Corporation), W.Kraetschmer 
                                (Germany, Max-Plank-Institute), E.Osawa 
                                (Japan, Nanocarbon Research Institute), M. 
                                Prato (Italy, University of Trieste), H. 
                                Shinohara  (Japan, Nagoya University), R.Taylor 
                                (UK, Univ. of Sussex), F. Wudl (USA, UCLA), 
                                T. Enoki (Japan, Tokyo Institute of Technology), 
                                D. Gruen (USA, Argonne National Laboratory), 
                                O. Williams (Belgium, Hasselt University), 
                                R. Carlson (USA, Molecular Diamond Technologies, 
                                Chevron Technology Ventures), J.L. Davidson 
                                (USA, Vanderbilt University), J. Wrachtrup 
                                (Germany, Stuttgart University), D. Ho 
                                (USA, Northwestern University), C.E. Nebel 
                                (Germany, Fraunhofer Institute) and others top-level 
                                scientists.
 Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian 
                                Federation and Russian Foundation for Basic Research 
                                are permanent sponsors of the IWFACs and the NanoDiamonds. 
                                Besides the Russian Academy of Sciences, International 
                                Science and Technological Center, Frontier Carbon 
                                Corporation (Japan), Marcel Dekker, Inc (USA) 
                                and Rusnano as well as NT-MTD sponsored the conferences. 
                               The Organizers would like to provide ACN'2011 
                                as an international forum for the exchange of 
                                information on the latest progress in carbon nanostructures. 
                                The scientific program consists of both oral and 
                                poster presentations as well as lectures by invited 
                                keynote speakers who survey areas of major interest. General topics include synthesis and technology, 
                                physical properties, chemistry of carbon nanostructures 
                                as well as their main applications for industry, 
                                biology and medicine. Progress in modern nanotechnologies requires development 
                                of new, and refinement of already available methods 
                                of diagnostics. It is the reason to arrange the 
                                conference school for young scientists "Diagnostics 
                                of Carbon Nanostructures" which will be held 
                                in the course of the ACN'2011 on July 3, 2011.
 Based on experience of the previous conferences, 
                                the number of the participants of the ACN'2011 
                                will be about 300, including 200 from Russia and 
                                100 from European countries, Japan, USA, and other 
                                countries. The Proceedings of the ACN'2011 will be published 
                                as a special issue of "Fullerenes, Nanotubes, 
                                and Carbon Nanostructures" in 2012. In spite of their short history, the conferences 
                                have their own traditions.The science on nanocarbons is radically interdisciplinary 
                                in nature. Physics, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, 
                                and medicine represent an incomplete list of fields 
                                dealing with the research of fullerenes, nanotubes, 
                                nanodiamond and graphene. Indeed, fullerene science 
                                opens ways for constructing new materials with 
                                predetermined properties on the atomic scale and 
                                actually creates the fundamentals of material 
                                science in the XXI century.
 Therefore discussion of nanocarbon applications 
                                is one of the traditions of the conferences. The 
                                Sponsors and the Organizing Committee have been 
                                trying to help and promote young participants, 
                                and it is also one of the traditions of the conferences. 
                                The Program committee has arranged a special award 
                                for young scientists for best presentation.
 In conclusion, some words about our Social Program. 
                                St Petersburg is both a scientific and a cultural 
                                center. It is a beautiful city designed and built 
                                by Russian and Western architects. It is often 
                                called "the Venice of the North". As 
                                usual along with the Scientific Session, a Social 
                                Program is planned. The organizers will arrange 
                                a sightseeing program to introduce the guests 
                                and accompanying persons to St Petersburg. The 
                                ACN'2011 will be held in the period of "white" 
                                nights, when the city looks especially beautiful.
 We are looking forward to seeing all of you in 
                                the July 2011 during white nights in St Petersburg.
 
 The 
                                Organizers are pleased to welcome members of the 
                                world nanocarbon community to St Petersburg. 
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