NANOTECHNOLOGY
NANOTECHNOLOGY
Nanotechnology (or "nanotech") is the use of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale
for industrial purposes. The earliest, widespread description of nanotechnology
referred to the particular technological goal of precisely manipulating atoms
and molecules for fabrication of macroscale products, also now referred to
as molecular nanotechnology. A
more generalized description of nanotechnology was subsequently established by
the National Nanotechnology
Initiative, which defined nanotechnology as the manipulation
of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nano meters. This definition reflects the fact
that quantum mechanical effects
are important at this quantum-realm scale, and so the definition
shifted from a particular technological goal to a research category inclusive
of all types of research and technologies that deal with the special properties
of matter which occur below the given size threshold. It is therefore common to
see the plural form "nanotechnologies" as well as "nanoscale
technologies" to refer to the broad range of research and applications
whose common trait is size.
Example
Computers:
Without nanotechnology, we wouldn’t have many of the electronics we use in
everyday life. Intel is undoubtedly a leader in tiny computer processors, and
the latest generation of Intel’s Core processor technology is a 10-nanometer chip. When you think a nano meter
is one-billionth of a meter, that’s incredibly impressive!
Applications
of nanotechnology
In
Electronics
Nanotechnology is used in
many communications, computing and electronic applications, it provides faster,
smaller and more portable systems, these systems can manage and store larger
and larger amounts of information. Researchers at NIST have demonstrated
an LED build with zinc oxide
nanostructures called fins which generates much higher light
output than existing designs of similar size. The researchers also found that
raising the current caused the structure to generate laser light.
Researchers
at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology have demonstrated atomically-thin
indium-tin oxide sheets that may make touchscreens that are
cost less to manufacture and well as being flexible and consumes less power. Cadmium
selenide nanocrystals deposited on plastic sheets have been shown to form flexible
electronic circuits. Researchers are aiming for a combination of
flexibility, a simple fabrication process and low power requirements.
In
Medicine
The use of
nanotechnology in medicine offers some exciting possibilities. Some techniques
are only imagined, while others are at various stages of testing, or actually
being used today. Nanotechnologies are new areas of research focusing on
affecting matter at the atomic and molecular levels. It is beyond doubt that
modern medicine can benefit greatly from it; thus nanomedicine has become one
of the main branches of nanotechnological research. Currently it focuses on
developing new methods of preventing, diagnosing and treating various diseases.
Nanomaterials show very high efficiency in destroying cancer cells and are
already undergoing clinical trials. The results are so promising that
nanomaterials might become an alternative to traditional cancer therapy, mostly
due to the fact that they allow cancer cells to be targeted specifically and
enable detailed imaging of tissues, making planning further therapy much
easier. Nanoscience might also be a source of the needed breakthrough in the
fight against atherosclerosis, since nanostructures may be used in both preventing
and increasing the stability of atherosclerotic lesions.
Food processing
The nanostructured
food ingredients are being developed with the claims that they offer improved
taste, texture, and consistency (Cientifica
Report, 2006). Nanotechnology increasing the shelf-life of different
kinds of food materials and also help brought down the extent of wastage of
food due to microbial infestation (Pradhan et
al., 2015). Nowadays nanocarriers are being utilized as delivery
systems to carry food additives in food products without disturbing their basic
morphology. Particle size may directly affect the delivery of any bioactive
compound to various sites within the body as it was noticed that in some cell
lines, only submicron nanoparticles can be absorbed efficiently but not the
larger size micro-particles (Ezhilarasi et
al., 2013).
An ideal delivery
system is supposed to have following properties: (i) able to deliver the active
compound precisely at the target place (ii) ensure availability at a target
time and specific rate, and (iii) efficient to maintain active compounds at
suitable levels for long periods of time (in storage condition). Nanotechnology
being applied in the formation of encapsulation, emulsions, biopolymer
matrices, simple solutions, and association colloids offers efficient delivery
systems with all the above-mentioned qualities.
In Fuels
Nanotechnology
can do all this by increasing the effectiveness of catalysts. Catalysts can
reduce the temperature required to convert raw materials into fuel or increase
the percentage of fuel burned at a given temperature. Catalysts made from
nanoparticles have a greater surface area to interact with the reacting
chemicals than catalysts made from larger particles. The larger surface area
allows more chemicals to interact with the catalyst simultaneously, which makes
the catalyst more effective. This increased effectiveness can make a process
such as the production of diesel fuel from coal more economical, and enable the
production of fuel from currently unusable raw materials such as low-grade
crude oil.
Nanotechnology, in the form of
genetic engineering, can also improve the performance of enzymes used in
the conversion of cellulose into ethanol. Currently ethanol added
to gasoline in the United States is made from corn, which is driving up the
price of corn. The plan is to use engineered enzymes to break down cellulose
into sugar, is fermented to turn the sugar into ethanol. This will allow
material that often goes to waste, such as wood chips and grass to be turned
into ethanol.
References
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