Atomically flat noble and aluminium films with a thickness in range 1-50 atomic layers have been grown on silicon. Excellent quantum wells are formed in this way and quantization effects have been recorded using photoemission and optical second harmonic generation. These nanosized metallic contacts could help miniaturize today's integrated circuits. Recently, the investigations have involved * Silver, gold and copper quantum wells on silicon(111) substrates * Use of copper as a buffer-layer for improved growth of silver and gold quantum wells * Aluminium quantum wells formed on sillicon studied by various experimental and theoretical methods