Nanotechnology

From ArticleWorld

Nanotechnology is an emerging technology involving the creation and use of materials or devices at scales falling in the range of 1 to 100 nanometres (nm). One nanometre is equivalent to a length more than 50,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. Physical properties expected at the nanoscale are vastly different, which is why scientists are particularly fascinated by this field. Nanoscale objects, for instance, exhibit varied electromagnetic and optical properties due to the so-called “quantum confinements”. The Gibbs-Thomson effect i.e. the lowering of the melting point of a material is another phenomenon that is seen. The material science departments of universities across the world are working in tandem with physics, mechanical engineering and biochemical engineering laboratories to bring about breakthroughs in nanotechnology.

Applications

Nanotechnology is already being applied in several fields of science and engineering. Breakthroughs have already been made in fields like electronics, chemistry and medicine.

In the arena of semiconductor electronics and high-speed processing, nanowires and nanotransistors are used by a number of manufacturers. Self-assembling techniques use atomic force microscopes and scanning tunnelling microscopes. By using the so-called ‘top-down’ approach, structures at the nanoscale can be carved out. Billions of transistors can be assembled in a processor using this technology. Intel Corporation has already announced transistor prototypes measuring 65, 45, 32 and 22 nanometres.

Another important field of application is in the creation of new polymers using atomic-level assembly. For instance, carbon nanotubes (sheets of rolled up carbon atoms) can be synthesized and used in a variety of electronic applications. Nanoparticles can be useful in catalysis due to the greatly increased surface area in which molecular reactions can take place. Nanorobots, if created, can resemble molecular motors (found in living cells) in behaviour. The field of medicine has seen some good strides in nanotechnology. Sunscreen treatment has proven successful using UV blocking materials like titanium oxide. Nanorobots, if introduced into the blood stream of cancer patients, can be effectively used to identify and destroy cancerous cells without damaging healthy cells. The military can also benefit from nanotechnology. Existing radar-absorbing materials could be replaced by extremely effective nanomaterials to boost stealth.

Future of nanotechnology

The idea of manipulating individual atoms and molecules was first mentioned by American physicist Richard Feynman in 1959. Since then vast research has seen the field of nanotechnology burgeoning. Many techniques to create structures at sizes less than 100nm have been developed. Productive nanosystems could be used extensively for the fabrication of precise structures using mechanosynthesis. Nanofactories could become a reality in the future. Nanoscale machines could ultimately change the face of society, bringing with it both positive and negative impacts.