Due to the rapid developments in nanoscience and nanotechnology in the last three decades, handling micrometer (μm) and nanometer (nm) scale objects and accessing tiny spaces down to nanometer level have become critical issues. Combining scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and advanced micro/nanomanipulation technologies extends both eyes and hands of humans to the nanoscale wonderland, which provides an intuitionistic, real-time, and in situ way to study mechanical and electrical properties of individual nanostructures and can correlate their physical properties with their respective functional applications.

Since the 1990s, various nanoscale manipulation and measurement systems had been proposed. With the help of SEM visual detection and vision-based motion control, researchers even realized automated manipulations of individual nanoscale objects, such as nanoparticles and nanowires, which effectively accelerated the characterization of the nanostructure properties. Not only has the nanomanipulation system become an enabling technology for characterizing the mechanical and electrical properties of low-dimensional (1D and 2D) nanomaterials, but also it can be further applied for the construction and assembly of nanoscale building blocks for their functional devices.

The purpose of this special issue is to publish high-quality research papers as well as review articles addressing recent advances on in situ SEM nanomanipulation and nanoscale mechanical (and electro/thermomechanical) measurements. The development of critical SEM technologies that can simplify the design and control of robotic system inside SEM are also welcomed. Original, high quality contributions that are not yet published or that are not currently under review by other journals or peer-reviewed conferences are sought.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Development of advanced SEM technologies
• SEM-assist manipulation and control theory
• Mechanical design of novel nanomanipulation and nanorobotic systems
• High precision and automated nanomanipulation systems and their applications
• In situ SEM mechanical and electrical characterization of 1D (nanowire/nanotube) and 2D (graphene/MoS2 etc.) nanomaterials
• Bottom-up assembly with in situ SEM nanorobotic manipulation
• Biomedical applications of nanomanipulation systems
• Biomechanics and cell mechanics inside SEM