WHAT IS NANOTECHNOLOGY?
A NANOMETER
There are 1 billion (1,000,000,000) nanometers in
1 meter
 There are 1 million (1,000,000) micrometers (or
microns) in 1 meter
 A line of ten hydrogen atoms lined up side by side
is 1 nanometer long
 Your finger nail grows 1 nanometer in 1 second
 The diameter of your hair is approximately
50,000 nanometers
 The abbreviation for nanometer is “nm”
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http://nanopedia.case.edu
NANOSTRUCTURES/NANOMATERIALS
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Nanostructures are materials that, in at least one
dimension, measure approximately 1 – 100 nm
Nanostructures or nanomaterials exhibit properties
different from their macroscale counterparts (their “big
brothers”) such as:
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Mechanical strength (how hard they are to break)
Electrical conductivity (how fast electrons flow through them)
Thermal conductivity (how fast heat flows through them)
Chemical reactivity (how well/fast they react with other
chemicals)
Transparency (how well you can see through them)
Magnetism (whether or not they are magnetic)
… and many more…
Microstructures, the cousin to nanostructures, typically
measure between 100 nanometers and 100 micrometers in
at least one dimension, but likely do not exhibit unique
properties like nanostructures do
http://nanopedia.case.edu
TYPES OF
NANOSTRUCTURES/NANOMATERIALS
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Nanoparticles or nanospheres:
nanoscale lengths are measured in all
three dimensions
Nanotubes or nanowires or nanorods:
nanoscale lengths are measured in two
dimensions only
Nanoscale thin films or ultra-thin films:
nanoscale lengths are measured in one
dimension only
Nanocomposites: a material comprised
of many nanoscale inclusions (such as
nanoparticles)
Nanostructured materials: a material
that exhibits a unique structure that
can be measured at the nanoscale
http://nanopedia.case.edu
COMMON EXAMPLES OF
NANOSTRUCTURES/NANOMATERIALS
Quantum dots: nanoparticles 2–10
nm in diameter, made from
semiconductors, emit light in a
specific wavelength range
 Carbon nanotubes: hollow
cylinders one to tens of nanometers
in diameter, extremely strong (hard
to break), conduct heat faster than
any other known material
 Buckyballs: nanoparticles
comprised of exactly 60 carbon
atoms (though there are other
types), forming a network that
resembles a soccer ball
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http://nanopedia.case.edu
WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?
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Nanostructures obey the same fundamental laws of
the universe as everything else in nature
But… some things that are negligible (can be ignored)
at big scales cannot be ignored at small scales
For example:
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Imagine you are an electron moving through a “big”
copper wire 1 cm in diameter – you may never see the
boundaries of the wire because you are so small
compared to its diameter
Imagine you are an electron moving through a “small”
copper wire 1 nm in diameter (more comparable to the
electron’s size) – now you bump into the boundaries of
the wire often, which affects how you move through that
wire
Therefore, the 1 nm diameter copper wire exhibits
different electrical properties than its macroscale
counterpart!
http://nanopedia.case.edu
SO WHAT IS NANOTECHNOLOGY?
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Nanotechnology is:
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Comprised of nanomaterials with at least one dimension
that measures between approximately 1 and 100 nm
Comprised of nanomaterials that exhibit unique
properties as a result of their nanoscale size
Based on new nanoscale discoveries across the various
disciplines of science and engineering
The manipulation of these nanomaterials to develop new
technologies/applications or to improve on existing ones
Used in a wide range of applications from electronics to
medicine to energy and more
http://nanopedia.case.edu
SOME CURRENT APPLICATIONS
OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
SOLAR CELLS
Nanotechnology enhancements provide:
Improved efficiencies:
novel nanomaterials can
harness more of the sun’s
energy
 Lower costs: some novel
nanomaterials can be made
cheaper than alternatives
 Flexibility: thin film
flexible polymers can be
manipulated to generate
electricity from the sun’s
energy
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http://nanopedia.case.edu
COMPUTING
Nanotechnology enhancements provide:
Faster processing speeds:
miniaturization allows more
transistors to be packed on a
computer chip
 More memory: nanosized
features on memory chips allow
more information to be stored
 Thermal management solutions
for electronics: novel carbonbased nanomaterials carry away
heat generated by sensitive
electronics
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http://nanopedia.case.edu
CLOTHING
Nanotechnology enhancements provide:
Anti-odor properties: silver
nanoparticles embedded in textiles
kill odor causing bacteria
 Stain-resistance: nanofiber coatings
on textiles stop liquids from
penetrating
 Moisture control: novel
nanomaterials on fabrics absorb
perspiration and wick it away
 UV protection: titanium
nanoparticles embedded in textiles
inhibit UV rays from penetrating
through fabric
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http://nanopedia.case.edu
BATTERIES
Nanotechnology enhancements provide:
 Higher energy storage capacity and
quicker recharge: nanoparticles or
nanotubes on electrodes provide high
surface area and allow more current
to flow
 Longer life: nanoparticles on
electrodes prevent electrolytes from
degrading so batteries can be
recharged over and over
 A safer alternative: novel nanoenhanced electrodes can be less
flammable, costly and toxic than
conventional electrodes
http://nanopedia.case.edu
SPORTING GOODS AND EQUIPMENT
Nanotechnology enhancements provide:
 Increased strength of
materials: novel carbon
nanofiber or nanotube-based
nanocomposites give the
player a stronger swing
 Lighter weight materials:
nanocomposites are typically
lighter weight than their
macroscale counterparts
 More “perfect” fabrication of materials: controlling
material characteristics at the nanoscale helps ensure
that a ball flies in the direction of applied force and/or
reduces the chance for fracture of equipment
http://nanopedia.case.edu
CARS
Nanotechnology enhancements provide:
 Increased strength of
materials: novel carbon
nanofiber or nanotube
nanocomposites are used in
car bumpers, cargo liners and
as step-assists for vans
 Lighter weight materials:
lightweight nanocomposites
mean less fuel is used to
make the car go
 Control of surface characteristics: nanoscale thin films
can be applied for optical control of glass, water
repellency of windshields and to repair of
nicks/scratches
http://nanopedia.case.edu
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
Nanotechnology enhancements provide:
 Better, more environmentally
friendly adhesives for fast
food containers: biopolymer
nanospheres instantly tack
surfaces together
 Anti-bacterial properties:
Nano silver coatings on
kitchen tools and countertops kill bacteria/microbes
 Improved barrier properties for carbonated
beverages or packaged foods: nanocomposites
slow down the flow of gas or water vapor across
the container, increasing shelf life
http://nanopedia.case.edu
THE ENVIRONMENT
Nanotechnology enhancements provide:
 Improved ability to capture
groundwater contaminants:
nanoparticles with high surface
area are injected into
groundwater to bond with
contaminants
 Replacements for toxic or scarce
materials: novel nanomaterials
can be engineered to exhibit
specific properties that mimic
other less desirable materials
http://nanopedia.case.edu
SOME FUTURE APPLICATIONS OF
NANOTECHNOLOGY
BODY ARMOR
Nanotechnology enhancements will provide:
 Stronger materials for better protection:
nanocomposites that provide unparalleled
strength and impact resistance
 Flexible materials for more form-fitting
wearability: nanoparticle-based materials
that act like “liquid armor”
 Lighter weight materials: nanomaterials
typically weigh less than their macroscale
counterparts
 Dynamic control: nanofibers that can be
flexed as necessary to provide CPR to
soldiers or stiffen to furnish additional
protection in the face of danger
http://nanopedia.case.edu
DRUG DELIVERY
Nanotechnology enhancements will provide:
New vehicles for delivery:
nanoparticles such as buckyballs
or other cage-like structures
that carry drugs through the
body
 Targeted delivery: nano vehicles
that deliver drugs to specific
locations in body
 Time release: nanostructured
material that store medicine in
nanosized pockets that release
small amounts of drugs over
time
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http://nanopedia.case.edu
CANCER
Nanotechnology enhancements will provide:
Earlier detection: specialized
nanoparticles that target cancer
cells only – these nanoparticles
can be easily imaged to find
small tumors
 Improved treatments: infrared
light that shines on the body is
absorbed by the specialized
nanoparticles in the cancer cells
only, leading to an increased
localized temperature that
selectively kills the cancer cells
but leaves normal cells
unharmed
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http://nanopedia.case.edu
MOLECULAR MANUFACTURING
Nanotechnology enhancements will provide:
Ability to build structures,
materials, devices and
systems from the “bottom-up”
atom by atom or molecule by
molecule
 “Nanobots” or “nanomachines”
that can position atoms or
molecules to build with atomic
accuracy
 Zero to little waste because
atoms are placed exactly
where they should go
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http://nanopedia.case.edu
SENSORS
Nanotechnology enhancements will provide:
Higher sensitivity: high surface
area of nanostructures that
allows for easier detection of
chemicals, biological toxins,
radiation, disease, etc.
 Miniaturization: nanoscale
fabrication methods that can be
used to make smaller sensors
that can be hidden and integrated
into various objects
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http://nanopedia.case.edu
NEXT GENERATION COMPUTING
(QUANTUM, DNA, MOLECULAR)
Nanotechnology enhancements will provide:
 The ability to control atomic
scale phenomena: quantum
or molecular phenomena that
can be used to represent data
 Faster processing speeds
 Lighter weight and
miniaturized computers
 Increased memory
 Lower energy consumption
http://nanopedia.case.edu
NANOROBOTICS
Nanotechnology enhancements will provide:
Miniaturized fabrication of
complex nanoscale systems:
nanorobots that propel
through the body and detect/
cure disease or clandestinely
enter enemy territory for a
specific task
 Manipulation of tools at very
small scales: nanorobots that
help doctors perform
sensitive surgeries
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http://nanopedia.case.edu
WATER PURIFICATION
Nanotechnology enhancements will provide:
Easier contamination removal:
filters made of nanofibers that
can remove small contaminants
 Improved desalination
methods: nanoparticle or
nanotube membranes that
allow only pure water to pass
through
 Lower costs
 Lower energy use
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http://nanopedia.case.edu
MORE ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT APPLICATIONS…
Nanotechnology enhancements will provide:
Improvements to solar cells
 Improvements to batteries
 Improvements to fuel cells
 Improvements to hydrogen
storage
 CO2 emission reduction:
nanomaterials that do a better
job removing CO2 from power
plant exhaust
 Stronger, more efficient power
transmission cables: synthesized
with nanomaterials
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http://nanopedia.case.edu
TOP-DOWN AND BOTTOM-UP
FABRICATION
TOP-DOWN FABRICATION
Start with a large piece of material
 Remove sections of material to “carve” a specific
pattern or shape
 Has been used for centuries
to manufacture artwork,
tools and devices
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http://nanopedia.case.edu
BOTTOM-UP FABRICATION
Start with catalyst particles
and/or a substrate
 Expose to a gas or liquid
 Reaction leads to the growth of a
solid nanostructure or nanoscale
self-assembled layer
 Properties such as temperature,
pressure, surface quality,
composition, catalyst size, etc.
influence growth characteristics
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http://nanopedia.case.edu