Nanotechnology Defined
Nanotechnology refers to science, engineering and technology that is implemented at the nanoscale (scale or size ranging between 1 & 100 nm) and has applications in the real world. For better understanding and conceptualise nanotechnology, one need to imagine the extreme tiniest size one can ever imagine in reality. The term “nano” in nanometre literally means one-billionth smaller in comparison to a meter that we use in our everyday measurements. By thinking of the size of a human hair or the thickness of the sheet of a newspaper, it would measure approximately a hundred of thousands (100 000) nanometres wide or thick, respectively. Nanotechnology involves the design, fabrication and application of nanostructures or nanomaterials and the fundamental understanding of the relationships between physical properties or phenomena and material dimensions. The fundamental bases of nanotechnology centred on the manipulation, control and integration of atoms and molecules to produce nanoscale materials that are employed in various applications for industrial and commercial purposes. Many believe that nanotechnology will become one of the most significant scientific and industrial transformations of the 21st century.
Nanotechnology
Application
Nanoscience is that popular word coined to the science involving the manipulation of nanomaterials or ability to observe and control individual atomic/ molecular structures that are tailored for various applications. Many of the applications of nanotechnology involve engineering of new materials possessing distinct properties together with new effects when being compared to the same bulk materials. This is due to the very high surface to volume ratio of nano-sized particles compared to larger particles. In their widest diversified scope, some of the nanotechnology applications includes energy and water treatment, pharmaceutical, medicine, health and environment, electronics, automotive, textiles, cosmetics, sensors etc. The integration of nanotechnology into larger systems has provided breakthrough solutions to many current environmental, medical, and industrial problems, including smart materials, manufacturing, electronics, drug delivery, energy and water, biotechnology, information technology, and national security.
Nanotechnology
Benefits and Trends
Nanotechnology offers the potential for new and faster kinds of computers, more efficient power sources and life-saving medical treatments. In manufacturing, nanotechnology has already showed to be making new ways through novel materials that could revolutionize many areas of this industry.
Nanostructured materials such as nanotubes and nano particles, which are tubes and particles that are only a few atoms across, and aerogels, materials which composed of very light and strong materials with remarkable insulating properties, seem to have potential in paving the way for new techniques and superior products. In addition, robots that are only a few nanometres in length, called nanobots, and nanofactories could help construct novel materials and objects.
Development of new class of artificially created 2D molecules that spontaneously assemble nanoribbons that are stronger than steel will fast track growth in manufacturing industry (i.e., automobile, aerospace, spaceship, and communication & information technology).
In energy, nanotechnology paved ways to the provision and supply of electricity to remote areas where infrastructure was the issue, especially by promoting applications of renewable energy resources such as wind and solar.
This nanotechnology has made solar power more economical by reducing the cost of constructing solar panels and related equipment. Also, the integration of energy storage devices that make use on nanomaterials to improve their capacity promises the exponential growth and applications of clean and sustainable energy sources such as renewables.
In the field of electronics, the advent of quantum dots (a tiny light-producing cells) that could be used for illumination or for purposes such as display screens has made this industry to continue improving demand and growth in technology, especially since silicon chips which already contain millions of components and have been used for several years, reached its limit.
Others sectors such as environment, medicine, pharmaceutical, water etc. also experiences extreme benefits on the role that nanotechnology plays within their respective industries.