Nanotechnology can be a complicated topic with new advances being made on an almost

daily basis. Many people need a resource for learning about and keeping up with changes in the
field. Whether you're a student, industry professional, or just curious about the future of our
world, you can use the articles and explanations on this site to keep up to speed on everything
Nano. Focused around the uses of nanotechnology, Understanding Nano also offers information
about companies and research labs involved in nanotechnology, as well as descriptions of
nanomaterials and lesson plans for teachers and students.

Nanotechnology in Medicine
 Researchers at the University of Toronto have demonstrated the use of nanoparticles
designed to concentrate in a tumor and generate oxygen can increase the effectiveness of
the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin.
 Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have demonstrated a bandage that applies
electrical pulses to a wound using electricity produced by Nano generators worn by the
patient.
 Researchers at Oregon State University are developing nanoparticles that deliver three
anti-cancer drugs to the lymph nodes. The intent is to target cancers that use the lymph
nodes to spread through the body. Testing of this technique, so far, has been with lab
animals.
 Researchers at IBS are developing a graphene based device to monitor the glucose level in
people with diabetes.
 Researchers have determined that the surface charge of protein filled
nanoparticles affects the ability of the nanoparticle to stimulate immune responses. They
are thinking that these nanoparticles may be used in inhalable vaccines.
 A study has shown that nanoparticles called "nanomimics" may be effective in blocking
malaria parasites from spreading to new red blood cells.
 Nanofiber mesh containing zeolites have been shown to absorb toxins in the bloodstream.
Researchers believe this nanofiber can be used in compact and inexpensive blood
purification systems as an alternative to dialysis.
 Researchers at University of Washington have developed a nanoparticle carrying proteins
that works as a vaccine to stimulate immune responses. The researchers believe that this
type of vaccine could be produced quickly to prevent the spread of an epidemic.

Nanotechnology in Electronics
 Researchers at Ames Laboratory have developed split-ring resonators made of
metamaterials that can generate tera-hertz frequency signals.
  Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed sensors using silver
nanowires that may be useful in robots and prosthetics. The nanowire sensors can
measure strain and pressure, and are flexible enough to work over the range of motion
required by prosthetics.
 Researchers at Georgia Tech have demonstrated antennas made of graphene. They are
working toward antennas and transceivers that would require very little power and allow
communication between nanomachines.
 Researchers at ETH Zurich have demonstrated an optical switch that can be changed
between ON and OFF states by moving a single silver atom.

Nanotechnology in Energy
 Researchers at Rice University are using carbon nanotube films to stop the growth of
dendrites on lithium metal anodes. This step may help develop lithium metal batteries,
which could have much higher capacity and faster charging than lithium ion batteries.
 Researchers at UC Berkeley are working on a catalyst consisting of thin sheets of metal
carbide(instead of expensive platinum) for the generation of hydrogen from water.
 Researchers at MIT are working on incandescent light bulbs that use some of the waste
heat present in conventional incandescent light bulbs by surrounding the conventional
filament with crystalline material that absorbs infrared and converts it to visible light.
 Researchers at Berkeley Lab have demonstrated that the combination of magnesium
nanocrystals and graphene may be useful in storing hydrogen for use in fuel cells.
 Researchers at Rice University have performed computational studies that suggest that
layers of graphene could be used to store hydrogen in cars.
 Researchers at the Technical University of Munich and Ludwig Maximillian University have
produced flexible. The researchers believe this material can be used to produce
lightweight solar cells for mobile applications.
 Researchers at Berkely Lab have developed a type of Metal-Organic-Frameworks (MOFs)
that has the ability to store natural gas. The researchers believe this material could be used
to improve natural gas storage tanks for vehicles and allow wider use of natural gas to fuel
cars.
 Researchers at MIT have demonstrated a type of solar cell called
a thermophotovoltaic that could have much higher energy conversion than other solar
cells. In this cell carbon nanotubes absorb light over a broad range of frequencies and
converts the light to heat. A photonic crystal absorbs the heat and converts it to back to
light at a frequency that can be absorbed by the solar cell.
 Researchers at the University of Houston have demonstrated the use of cobalt oxide
nanoparticles as a photo catalyst to produce hydrogen and oxygen gas from water using
 visible light. More work needs to be done, both to increase the energy efficiency and the
lifespan of the nanoparticles, before this catalyst is commercially feasible.
 Researchers at MIT have shown that iron oxide nanoparticles in water can be used to
increase the amount of heat transfer out of a system at localized hot spots. The
researchers believe this technique could be applied to cooling a wide range of devices,
from electronics devices to fusion reactors.

Nanotechnology in Materials
 Researchers at Rice University have developed a method of depositing a film containing
carbon nanotubes that can measure the strain in a structure. The frequency of the carbon
nanotubes fluorescence changes with the level of strain, allowing the strain level in a
structure to be measured.
 Researchers at Rice University have demonstrated a composite containing
nanoribbons that can apply heat to helicopter rotor blades, this may work to de-ice the
blades.
 Researchers at UCLA have demonstrated a method to add ceramic silicon carbide
nanoparticles to magnesium, producing a strong, lightweight material.
 Researchers at Rice have demonstrated lightweight electrical cables made from carbon
nanotubes.
 NIST researchers have developed a coating made with carbon nanotubes that reduces the
flammability of foam used in furniture.
 Researchers have shown how to make magnesium alloy stronger. They introduced Nano-
spaced stacking faults in the crystalline structure of the alloy. The stacking faults prevent
defects in the structure of the alloy from spreading, making the alloy stronger. The
researchers believe that the techniques they used to strenghten the alloy can be
implemented in existing plants, allowing a fast implementation.
 Researchers at Rice University have developed a composite material using plastic
and graphene nanoribbons that block the passage of gas molecules. This material may be
used in applications ranging from soft drink bottles to lightweight natural gas tanks.

Nanotechnology in Manufacturing
 Researchers at the University of Illinois have reported the development a method to make
transparent, flexible conductive films with a one-step spray process using silver nanowires
in water.
 Researchers at Purdue University have demonstrated a method they call laser shock
imprinting to form nanoscale shapes such as gears.
 Researchers have produced yarn from carbon nanotubes coated with diamond. They
believe this material can be used in thin saw blades that reduce the waste produced when
 cutting high cost material, such as sawing silicon ingots into wafers for the semiconductor
or solar industries.
 Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a desktop nanofabrication tool.
The desktop tool uses beam-pen lithography arrays to create nanoscale structures.
 Researchers have demonstrated a molecular motor that can be controlled by electrons
from a scanning tunneling microscope tip. This motor is an initial step in building molecular
motors for use in areas such as medicine.
 Rolith, Inc. and Asahi Glass Company are working to bring anti-reflective glass to the
architectural glass market. The glass uses a technique developed by Rolith to produce a
nanostructured, which will reduce the glare seen from the outside of buildings.

Environmental Nanotechnology
 Using photocatalytic copper tungsten oxide nanoparticles to break down oil into
biodegradable compounds. The nanoparticles are in a grid that provides high surface area
for the reaction, is activated by sunlight and can work in water, making them useful for
cleaning up oil spills.
 Using carbon nanotubes, that have been treated with a plasma, in membranes to remove
salt and organic contamination from water. Researchers believe these membranes can be
used in small, inexpensive water purification devices needed in developing countries.
 Using Nano scavengers, in which a layer of reactive nanoparticles coat a synthetic core
which is designed to be easily magnetized. The nanoparticles, for example silver
nanoparticles if bacteria are a problem, attach to or kill the pollutants. Then when a
magnetic field is applied the Nano scavengers are removed from the water.
 Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have demonstrated a method of removing
antibiotics contaminating waterways. The method uses vesicle nanoparticles that absorb
antibiotics.
 Using pellets containing nanostructured palladium and gold as a catalyst to breakdown
chlorinated compounds contaminating groundwater. Since palladium is very expensive the
researchers formed the pellets of nanoparticles that allow almost every atom of palladium
to react with the chlorinated compounds, reducing the cost of the treatment.
 Using graphene as a membrane for low cost water desalination. Researchers have
determined that graphene with holes the size of a nanometer or less can be used to
remove ions from water. They believe this can be used to desalinate sea water at a lower
cost than the reverse osmosis techniques currently in use.