Nanotechnology
What is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at dimensions between
approximately 1 and 100 nanometers.

A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter. A sheet of paper is about 100,000
nanometers thick; a single gold atom is about a third or a nanometer in diameter.

Dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers are known as the
nanoscale.

Unusual physical, chemical, and biological properties can emerge in materials at
the nanoscale. These properties may differ in important ways from the properties
of bulk materials and single atoms or molecules.
The history of Nanotechnology
Double-click on the picture below to access hyperlink.
The size of Nano (courtesy of the National Center for Electron Microscopy,
Lawrence Berkeley Lab, US Department of Energy)
Courtesy of Basic Energy Sciences, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy
Applications
Cheap and clean energy
The difficulty of meeting the world’s energy demand is compounded by the growing
need to protect our environment. Many scientists are looking into ways to develop
clean, affordable and renewable energy sources.

Prototype solar panels incorporating nanotechnology are
far more efficient than standard designs in converting
sunlight to electricity, promising cheap solar power in the
near future.

Nanotechnology is already being used in new batteries,
and nanostructured materials look to greatly improve
hydrogen storage materials and catalysts needed to
realize fuel cells for alternative transportation.
Picture taken from http://progressivestates.org/content/746/building-a-progressive-majority-bills-for-2008
Clean Water
Clean water is a precious natural resource
and a basic necessity. While the worldwide
supply of potable water is limited, the
demand continues to increase.

Nanotechnology could help meet the
need for affordable clean water through
inexpensive water purification, as well as
rapid, low cost detection of impurities.
Picture taken from
http://www.unisa.edu.au/researcher/issue/2008/may/sto
ry3.asp

Researchers
unexpected
already
discovered
magnetic
interactions
between ultra small specks of rust, which can help remove arsenic from drinking
water.
Pollution Reduction and Environmental Progress
There are many eco-friendly possibilities for
nanotechnology,
including
lighter
cars
and
machinery that requires less fuel; alternative fuel
and energy sources; and materials that detect
and clean up environmental contaminants.

Scientists are examining the potential for
nanosilver, which is known to have antimicrobial properties, to clean up oil spills and
other
hazardous
chemicals
in
the
environment.

Nanotech-enabled sensors may one day be
able to detect and identify harmful chemical
Picture taken from
or biological agents in the environment.
http://www.chrismadden.co.uk/eco/air-pollutionillustration.html
Picture taken from http://www.advancedagrotech.com/a/pr_nanopaints.htm
Improved Materials and New Products
The very structure of materials can be improved through nanotechnology, by
developing nanomaterials that are stronger, lighter, more durable or better conductors,
among other traits.

Adding nanoparticles to plastics can make them stronger, lighter and more durable.
Nanoparticles are currently used in baseball bats and tennis rackets, but someday
may also be used in bulletproof vests and light, fuel efficient vehicles.

Different nanoscale materials can be used in thin films to make them waterrepellent, anti-reflective, self-cleaning, ultraviolet or infrared-resistant, antifog, antimicrobial, scratch-resistant, or electrically conductive. Nanofilms are used now on
eyeglasses, computer displays, and cameras to protect or treat the surfaces.

Nanoscale transistors may someday lead to computers that are faster, more
powerful and more energy efficient than those used today. Nanotechnology also
holds the potential to exponentially increase information storage capacity; soon
your computer’s entire memory will be able to be stored on a single tiny chip.
Further reading on the applications of nanotechnology:
http://www.discovernano.northwestern.edu/affect/applications_content
Nano-solar cells

More productive than the commercial solar cells which are very inefficient.

Current solar cell models on the market only convert about 8 to 13 percent of the
sunlight hitting them.

This inefficiency makes the cost of producing energy via solar platforms too costly.

Nanotechnology has already shown
huge breakthroughs in the solar field
- in certain studies, the use of nano
applications
has
improved
the
conversion rate of solar cells to 65
percent, an increase from the current
8 to 13 percent rate.

Although none of the applications are
currently refined enough to be turned
Nanosolar panel (taken from
into commercial products, they are
http://www.advancedagrotech.com/a/pr_nanopaints.htm)
getting close.
Nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes are tubular carbon
molecules provided with very particular
properties.

Nanotube diameter is of the order of a
few nanometers, while their length can
be of the order of several millimeters.

The physical properties of nanotubes
make
them
nanometric
potentially
scale
useful
electronic
in
and
mechanical applications, since they show
unusual
strength,
unique
electrical
properties and extremely high thermal
conductivity.
The promise of nano-architecture
Nanomaterial producers promise numerous benefits from nano-enhanced construction
products, including:

low maintenance windows

long lasting scratch
resistant floors

super strong structural
components

improved longer lasting
house paint

healthier and safer indoor
climates

self cleaning skyscrapers

antimicrobial steel
surfaces

improved industrial building
Artist impression of future buildings (taken from
http://www.inhabitat.com/tag/future-architecture/)
maintenance

lower energy consuming buildings

longer lasting roads and bridges
Videos

Introduction to Nanotechnology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyLtGj8dAJs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sITy14zCvI8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZs3FolkI-8

Video on nano-solar technology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XIL9BgPZX0

The new species of architecture: nano-architecture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp-y1Vw5dEE