Nano has been the most listened to word in recent years, almost in various industries as well as in science fiction films, and media, and associated with food or other products. But what exactly is nanotechnology? Who came up with the opinion of researching the properties of tiny particles, and how was it discovered? Let’s learn.
What is Nanotechnology?
The word ‘Nanotechnology’ is acquired from two words – Nano and technology, where Nano means microscopic and technology refers to the study of nano (tiny) particles. Nanotechnology directs the research and application of matters related to science, engineering, and technology at the nanoscale with dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers.
Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary domain that recruits approach, technology, and facility obtainable in conventional and progressive avenues of engineering, physics, chemistry, and biology. Nanotechnology refers to the scientific analysis and research of the belongings of atoms and molecules. During the early 1980s, specific microscopes were developed, called Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), to examine small objects as atoms, precisely used to analyze nanoparticles. They can help assess, evaluate, and research the belongings inside atom particles or materials at the nanoscale.
Discovery of Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology was first oriented in 1959 by an American physicist ‘Richard Feynman.’ He examined the ideas and concepts of nanotechnology and nanoscience in his entitled speech ‘There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom’ at an American Physical Society conference at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech). Feynman explained the possible prospect of synthesis via direct manipulation of atoms and analyzed how scientists would be able to manipulate and manage individual atoms and molecules. Richard Feynman was called the father of Nanotechnology.
Nevertheless, few say that the term Nanotechnology was stamped in 1974 by Norio Taniguchi from the Tokyo Science University to describe semiconductor processes such as thin-film deposition that deal with control on the order of nanometers. The standard description of Nanotechnology framed by Norio is–“Nanotechnology mainly consists of the processing of separation, consolidation, and deformation of materials by one atom or one molecule.”
Relevancy of Nanoscale Materials
It has been observed that the physical, chemical, and biological properties of a cluster of several matter, including their color, strength, conductivity, and reactivity, are different compared to the properties of the same matter at a single-molecule scale. For example, carbon nanotubes are undersized and chemically reactive than carbon atoms and integrate the attributes of the two naturally emerging bulk forms of carbon, strength (diamond) and electrical conductivity (graphite). Likewise, carbon nanotubes are 100 times more substantial than steel but six times more lightweight.
Thus, nanotechnology analyzes the remarkable properties of matter at the nanoscale to generate unique abilities with potential applications across all fields of science, technology, engineering, and medicine.
Applications and Trends
Nanotechnology applications generally incorporate industrial, medicinal, and energy uses. These contain more durable construction materials, therapeutic drug delivery, and higher-density hydrogen fuel cells that are environmentally friendly.
Nanotechnology is benefiting considerably improve, even revolutionizing, numerous technologies and enterprise sectors: information technology, medicine, transportation, energy, food safety, homeland security, and environmental science, among others.
Some revolutionary applications in leading sectors are:
Medical Applications
The advantages of nanotechnology in medicine have supported the healthcare industry to provide refined diagnosis measures and treatment of diseases. Nanotechnology has enabled more suitable imaging and diagnostic tools, delivering additional exact diagnosis and imaging.
Medical researchers and scientists investigate gold nanoparticles as potential treatments for acute life-threatening diseases such as cancer.
Nanotechnology could one day provide breakthroughs assisting in the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis, develop novel gene sequencing technologies, create several different therapeutics to treat cancer cells directly and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy.
Nanotechnology is implemented in various skincare and personal use products. For example, zinc oxide and nanoscale titanium dioxide are utilized in sunscreens to nourish extra protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays and are also lightweight.
Commercial Products and Techniques
Explicit Nanoscale films are used on eyeglasses, camera displays, windows, mobile/computer screens, and similar surfaces. It delivers more accurate outcomes and features, including water-repellent, antimicrobial, residue-repellent, UV protection, scratch resistance, anti-fog, anti-reflective, and other cutting-edge features.
Nanoscale materials build lightweight cars, aircraft, trucks, spacecraft, boats, and other vehicles, which could lower fuel consumption.
Environment Sustentation Applications
Global warming is a significant problem that can be observed with constant changes in weather, extreme air pollution, disasters, cyclones, and other changes. Individuals constantly acquire environment-friendly measures and exchange for biodegradable products and electric vehicles.
Using nanotechnology, scientists and researchers have also invented nano fabric ‘paper towels’ created from tiny wires of potassium manganese oxide. These nano fabric towels can soak 20 times their weight in oil for cleanup applications. These days, most air filters have been developed using nanotechnology that allows mechanical filtration.
Nanotechnology contributes in several ways to aid in executing environment-friendly procedures. It will help quick, low-cost detection and treatment of impurities in water and weather.
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The Future
Nanotechnology is said to be “the future technology” that can solve multiple troubles. Some even say nanotechnology is a revolution creator. Nanotechnology has tremendous advantages and potential.
It is asserted that it could solve environmental problems such as pollution and climate change. The usefulness of nano packaging promotes lengthier shelf life of food, which signifies that the meals continue to be transported over prolonged distances.
Several advances have been made using nanoscale materials. For instance, the first hard disk that IBM completed in 1956 was the size of a refrigerator with a total storage capacity of just 5MB. It required at least 3-4 individuals to move, and that hard disk had to be transported in a vehicle. Hard disks come in a sleek, lightweight design with much more storage capacity.
Another excellent example of nanotechnology solutions appearing is wearable fitness gadgets. With the help of nanoscale materials, several devices have been introduced in the market, like a smart band, fitness tracker, smartwatch, and several others that can monitor our health and body.
Such practical and flourishing advancements and implications, research, and study on nanoscience and nanotechnology will continue to grow in the future.
