U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Red glowing "stick" on black background

Electronics

Overview

In the realm of electrons and light, NIST provides the standards, develops the instruments and performs the calibrations necessary to keep both the smallest electronic components and the largest power grids running smoothly and safely.

Featured Content

Smart Grid program
Measuring the Cosmos

The Research

Projects & Programs

The excellent agreement of measured and simulated TSOM images allow for more reliable quantitative results

Three-Dimensional Nanometer Metrology

Ongoing
We use physics theories to understand and simulate the interaction of electrons, light, and mechanical probes with nanometer-scale structures, devices and
View All Projects/Programs

Additional Resources Links

Publications
Closeup of metallic plate shows circular sensors.

Measuring the Cosmos

Scientists around the world use state-of-the-art telescopes to understand our universe. 

Take a look under the hood and see the NIST technology that helps answer many cosmic questions.

Learn more

News

the D squared M squared CM device in action. Red and green cells filter through membranes to meet in the middle of an X pattern.

Paving the Way for Electronic Organs-on-a-Chip

It may sound like science fiction, but “organ on a chip” systems — devices capable of imitating the interaction of cells in a specific organ such as the lungs or liver — have begun to be used to test the effectiveness of drugs in the past few years. We use these systems to quantify the physical properties of cells, which provide information regarding the cells’ health before and after treatment
Read more
sound setup

Now Hear This!

Read more
idealized versus reality illustration

On the Road to Tiny Transistors, How Flat is Flat?

Read more
A tiny glass vial on a white stand has a copper headphone-shaped structure over it.

Custom ‘Headphones’ Boost Atomic Radio Reception 100-Fold

Read more

Stay in Touch

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date with the latest research, trends, and news for Electronics.