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Nanotechnology |
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Nanotechnology is
an amazing field with an immense potential to increase
the quality of life for people around the world. As defined
by the National Nanotechnology Initiative, nanotechnology
is (i) research and technology development at the atomic,
molecular or macromolecular levels, in the length scale
of approximately 1 - 100 nanometers, (ii) creating and
using structures, devices and systems that have novel
properties and functions because of their small and/or
intermediate size, or (iii) the ability to control or
manipulate on the atomic scale. The prefix nano- comes
from the SI unit system of measure. Like the prefixes
centi- or kilo-, nano- is affixed to a unit of measure
to indicate a given multiple of that unit. While kilo-
is 1 x 103 or 1,000 of a unit, a nanometer
is 1 x 10-9 or 0.000000001 (one billionth)
of a unit. This scale is the regime of single atoms, but
such dimensions are difficult to imagine. For instance,
in a given second, light can travel around the circumference
of the Earth seven times. In a nanosecond, it travels
11 inches, or you could fit a trillion carbon nanotubes
(1 nm in diamter) on the head of a pin. These types of
comparisons could continue forever, but as unfathomable
as the nanoscale may be, these dimensions have been the
target of scientists for centuries (the early ones just
didn’t know it).
In its continual pursuit
of applied reason and logic, science has always sought
to increase its understanding of nature. Since the behavior
of matter is determined by the actions of its smaller
constituents, science’s perpetual quest for knowledge
has always led it to smaller and smaller scales. By
controlling the behavior of these smaller components,
macroscopic properties are controlled and in turn nanostructered
materials lend themselves to certain applications and
uses. The behaviors and properties of particles thousands
of times smaller than anything humans can see determine
the characteristics of all matter from glowing stars
to people walking down the street. As such, the stones
of ancient Greece gave way to Pastur’s microbes,
and 18th century alchemistry gave way to 21st century
nanotechnology.
Richard Feynman is recognized
as the first person to identify the concept of nanotechnology
in his 1959 lecture entitled “There’s Plenty
of Room at the Bottom”. The advent of the scanning
tunneling electron microscope in 1981 allowed clusters
of atoms to be seen, and in 1991, single Xenon atoms
were manipulated with an atomic force instrument by
IBM (1).
At the nanoscopic level,
the constituents of matter (atoms, molecules, and the
particles which compose them) exhibit amazing behaviors.
Take for instance an electron. In classical physics
(a set of laws which govern the behaviors of everyday
objects moving at everyday speeds) an electron is like
an extremely small baseball. According to classical
laws, it should move between two points by traversing
the distance between (like a baseball thrown between
a pitcher and catcher). However, quantum physics (laws
that describe behavior on the nanoscopic scale) allows
an electron to move between two points without crossing
the interstitial distance. It can tunnel between two
points. Amazing properties, like electron tunneling,
abound in the nanoscopic realm – silver becomes
antimicrobial (kills small cellular organisms), iron
becomes flammable, and carbon forms highly conductive
compounds that are 400 times stronger than steel. Nanotechnology
is loosely a quest to harness these and other awesome
properties to create materials and devices for a variety
of existing as well as novel applications.
Nanotechnology implementations
can roughly be divided into a framework of three categories
(2):
1. Incremental nanotechnology
– improving materials by controlling their nanoscale
structure
2. Evolutionary nanotechnology
– designing complex nanoscopic devices for specific
applications
3. Radical nanotechnology
– developing complex machines as convergences
of nanotechnology, biotechnology, traditional materials
science, quantum physics, organic chemistry, etc.
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Incremental Nanotechnology |
| Incremental nanotechnology can be found in several products
currently available. These materials commonly benefit
from nanoscopic improvements to their surface area which
is an important factor in determining their macroscopic
behaviors. Incremental nanotechnology commonly relies
on already existing technology processes to function,
and it is therefore easier to develop, market, and produce
now and shortly in the future. A popular class of incremental
nanotechnology is nanoparticles. They can be seen in
nanoceramic powders, ceramic coatings, and polymer composites.
These products help to harden the hulls of Navy ships,
lighten and strengthen sports equipment, treat groundwater,
and propel rockets. |
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Evolutionary Nanotechnology |
| Evolutionary nanotechnology takes advantage of various
quantum effects present at the nanoscopic level in addition
to significant increases in chemical reactivity. These
materials are under research and expected to enter their
markets starting within five years. Evolutionary nanotechnology
commonly relies upon non-existing technologies including
hardware, software, and complex device engineering.
The largest effort in research and development is within
this segment of nanotechnology and includes products
such as biological, chemical, and radiological sensors,
organic light-emitting displays, advanced surface coatings,
and many more. |
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Radical Nanotechnology |
| Radical nanotechnology takes advantage of multiple levels
of nanotechnology, biotechnology, materials science,
quantum behaviors, and advanced electronics. These products
and materials are decades away, but they promise to
have a huge impact. Radical nanotechnology products
include next generation combat uniforms, nanoscopic
transistors (a basic component of computer processors),
self-assembling molecules, and many more. |
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Nanotechnology Investments |
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Nanotechnology offers a tremendous opportunity. The
National Science Foundation estimates the business impact
of nanotechnology will reach $1 trillion by 2015, and
the number of workers employed in nanotechnology is
expected to increase from the current 20,000 to 40,000
to between 800,000 and 2 million by 2015. Lux Research
produced a market report in 2004 highlighting investments
into nanotechnology. In this report, it stated
• Governments, corporations,
and investors spent $8.6 billion worldwide on nanotechnology
research and development in 2004.
• National and local
governments around the world alone will spent $4.6 billion
on nanotechnology research and development in 2004 (an
estimated sevenfold increase since 1993) – 35%
North America, 35% in Asia, 28% in Europe, and 2% elsewhere.
• The United States
government has established a nanotechnology research
initiative within it’s research and development
spending. The National Nanotechnology Initiative has
been appropriated more than $3.16 billion for nanotechnology
research and development since 2000.
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Current Indicators of nanotechnology |
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Nanotechnology is undoubtedly the greatest advancement
in physical and materials science. In addition to the
research and development spending, several other indicators
of technology implementation and growth exist such as
the formation of industry associations (NanoBusiness
Alliance) and stock indices (Merryl Lynch and Punk,
Ziegel, and Company). In addition, the number of nanotechnology
related patent applications increased tenfold from 1994-2000.
Over the last several years,
there has also been a rise in the number of interdisciplinary
academic programs associated with nanotechnology. More
than 300 programs exist today concerning nanotechnology,
200 of which are within the United States. Scientists
across the nation are working to lessen the barriers
between cross disciplinary education and increase the
applicability of education to the complex field of nanotechnology.
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Conclusion |
| Nanotechnology is an amazing science with incredible
opportunities to improve the quality of life for people
around the world. Continued funding into research and
development, increased public awareness, and steady
progress will bring the benefits of nanotechnology to
markets. Through the efforts of hundreds of researchers
and companies dedicated to the advancement of the science,
nanotechnology will improve our world. |
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Works cited |
(1) W. Hunt,
"Nanomaterials: Nomenclature, Necessity, and Novelty",
Journal of Minerals, Metals, and Materials; October 2004,
Vol. 56, Iss. 10
(2) R. Jones, “The Future of Nanotechnology”
(August 2004), nanotechweb.org/articles/feature/3/8/1/1. |
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