Innovations and Advancements

in Nanotechnology

Submitted by:
Cachin, Rusty
Ribaya, Marco
 China

Figure: Antibacterial Vinyl Material Nano Rubber Masterbatch For

Plastic Products

Introduction

China’s imports include organic chemicals, oil and

mineral fuels, medical and optical equipment, plastics,
metal ores and electrical and other machinery. The
country’s exports include data processing equipment,
textiles, optical and medical equipment, steel, iron,
apparel and other machinery. The key to China's
economic success is the fact that the country is a low-
cost producer. This is attributed to a combination of good
infrastructure, cheap labor, high productivity, an
undervalued exchange rate and favorable government
policies.

Nanotechnology Organizations

A brief introduction to the key nanotechnology-related

organizations in China is given below:

 Suzhou Nanotech - aims to establish industries and

talents that represent China’s advancements in
nanotechnology. This is achieved by providing
services, infrastructure, investment environment and
a suitable platform to promote nanotech
industrialization and innovation in China.
 CHINano Summit - this summit, organized by
various forums and organizations, focuses on
introducing cutting edge nanotechnology and its
future applications. It allows entrepreneurs, scientists
and business executives to discuss new technology
trends and their applications, along with an emphasis
on nanotech commercialization.

Nanotechnology Companies

The major nanotechnology-related companies in China

are listed below, along with a brief introduction to their
activities:
 Arry - Arry Nano is a professional supplier of a wide
variety of nanomaterials, ranging in quantities from
grams to tons, suited to academic research purposes
or industrial development. Their representative
products are carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and
nanoelements, as well as nanooxides (rare earth,
metal and non-metal).
They have carried out a lot of research and
development work on carbon nanotubes synthesis
and their applications. Furthermore, they have ten
years’ experience in developing a scalable CVD
method to produce high purity, single-walled carbon
nanotubes (SWNTs) and multi-walled carbon
nanotubes (MWNTs) with various diameters, narrow-
diameter distributions and very low purity.
 
 Nano Powder R&D Center - involved in the frontal
research and development of nanomaterials and
belongs to Chengdu Alpha Nano Technology Co., Ltd.
They are committed to supplying their customers
with high-quality CNTs at low prices. They cater to
independent researchers or large-volume users of
CNTs and welcome all kinds of collaboration to
develop CNT production and applications.
 
 Timesnano - a professional CNT manufacturer and
the exclusive CNT provider to the Chinese Academy
of Sciences (CAS). Since 1996, they have been
committed to CNT synthesis and application research
and began to commercialize CNTs in 2003. They can
provide hundreds of different kinds of CNTs and
related products. Their equipment can produce
100kg of an SWNT with a purity >90%, and 30t of an
 MWNT with OD 20-30nm and a purity >95%. These
products have earned a good reputation worldwide.
The company invented moving-bed catalysis
technology for CNTs, enabling continuous production
and can produce CNTs with high purity, low cost and
consistent quality.
 
 EPRUI Nanoparticles and Microspheres Co.
Ltd - a high-tech enterprise focusing on R&D of
nanomaterials and microsphere products. They have
cooperated closely and steadily with well-known
research universities, national laboratories and
innovative corporate giants in China. They are one of
the largest high-tech factories in the field of
preparing nanocomposites, metal nanoparticles,
alloy nanoparticles, oxide nanoparticles, rare earth
oxide nanoparticles, nanocomposites and
microspheres products. They are successful because
they are committed to providing the highest quality
products with the most competitive price for their
customers and have formed a complete cycle of
researching, manufacturing, marketing and
aftersales servicing.
 
 FCC - since 1958, FCC ®INC has been a division of
Sino-Holding Chemicals Co.,Ltd. located in Zhejiang,
China. The company is an ISO-9001:2008 and
ISO14001 registered advanced high-technology
enterprise engaged in research, development,
manufacture and supply specialty chemicals
including organoclay, organoclay rheological
additives (organic bentonite thixotropic agent ),
nanoclay, nanocalcium carbonate, carbon nanofibers,
nanographite, bleaching earth, oil drilling fluid
viscosifier, cat litter, synthetic hectorite, synthetic
 hydrotalcite, polyamide wax, PE wax, modified
nonionic cellulose ethers based rheological
additive/rheology modifiers and environmental
chemicals.
 
 Haizisi Nano Technology - Suzhou Haizisi (HZS)
Photoelectricity Technology CO., LTD is a high-tech
company which specializes in system solutions for
nano-detection, nano-fabrication and nano-
metrology. With almost 20 years of technology
experience, HZS is dedicated to SPM research,
manufacturing and services.
 
 Hefei Kaier Nanometer Energy and Technology
Ltd - Hefei Kaier Nanometer Energy & Technology
Co., Ltd is a non-governmental and state-private
enterprise, renamed in April 2009 from Hefei Kaier
Nano-Meter Technology & Development Co., Ltd
founded in 1999.  The company is engaged in the
research and manufacture of nanoceramic powder
and other related downstream products. Their
products are exported to the U.S, the EU, Japan and
Korea, amongst others.
 
 Nano Medtech - their beliefs provide excellent
guidance in the engineering of “complete body
system” biotechnology. At Nano Med Tech they have
engineered polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)
immuno-nanoparticles, specifically for targeting
invasive epithelial tumor cells.
 
 Sun Nanotech - a leading supplier of CNTs to the
world market. They provide facilities that include
CVD furnaces. Their products can be used in a wide
 variety of application areas.
 
 TiPE - the leading nano photocatalyst manufacturer
in China, which owns advanced Nano-
hydrosynthetic™ technology. TiPE™ is also the
largest hydrosynthetic photocatalyst manufacturer in
China. They are the certified nano advanced material
manufacturer approved by STCSM (Science &
Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality).
They hold advanced core technologies in the nano
photocatalyst field and are constantly improving
their overall competitive strength. Their vision is to
improve human life with nanotechnology.
The company possesses two products lines of
nanoproducts - consumer nano photocatalyst
products and professional nano photocatalyst
products. TiPE™ has the most diversified products in
the photocatalyst field. They focus on mature
manufacturer technologies to contribute to the high-
quality products.
 
 XP Nano - since 1998, XP Nano Material Co. Ltd was
the earliest high-tech enterprise involved in
nanomaterials development and production. Relying
on independent intellectual property rights of
nanotechnology, XP-Nano took the lead in realizing
the industrialization of carbon nanotubes, graphene
and nanopowders.
XP-Nano has successfully devised a process suited to
the production of bulk quantities of a wide variety of
different nanoscale powders of the highest quality at
affordable prices. They produce mainly nano metals
and related nanomaterials for electronic, chemical,
clean energy, biological and powder metallurgical
applications. Currently, they supply nano metals,
 such as nanosilver, nanocopper, nanonickel, nanotin
and nanoindium etc. They also produce nanooxides
and other compounds such as carbides, nitrides,
borides and nano NiO, Ni(OH)2, nano Cu2O, nano
CoO, nano ZnO, In2O3 and nano SnO2 using their
nanotechnology.
 
 Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Limited
(NAMI) - hosted by the Hong Kong University of
Science and Technology (HKUST), the organization
was incorporated as a not-for-profit company in Hong
Kong. In partnership with local industries, NAMI
conducts market-driven, demand-led development of
nanotechnology and advanced materials. Such
materials are relevant to the sustained economic
growth of Hong Kong as a knowledge-based
economy.

Nanotechnology Education and Research

Some of the leading academic institutes in China

offer courses and research programs in nanoscience and
nanotechnology, and are listed below:

City University of Hong Kong

Promotes nanotech-based research and awareness

through the research center given below:

Centre of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films

(COSDAF) - conducts research on nanotechnology and
nanomaterials. COSDAF brings together academic staff
with multi-disciplinary expertise from varied departments
and with research interests in nanoorganic light-emitting
displays, diamond and advanced nanocoatings and
semiconductor nanomaterials.

Hong Kong University of Science and

Technology

Promotes the significance of nanotechnology through

the following research institutes and programs:

 William Mong Institute of Nano Science and

Technology - aims to pursue research in the area of
nanostructured materials; generating new knowledge
in the physics and chemistry of nanostructured
materials and their attendant properties; educating
students on the study of nanostructured materials;
and enabling industries to understand the scientific
importance of nanomaterials.
 
 Nano Science and Technology Program -
educates students with the interdisciplinary
knowledge that is required for long-term nanoscale
research and development that will lead to
significant innovations in areas such as
nanoelectronics, materials and manufacturing,
environment, medicine and healthcare,
biotechnology, chemicals and energy.
 
 Institute of NanoMaterials and
NanoTechnology - conducts nanotech-based
research on a range of project areas.
Soochow University

Promotes the significance of nanotechnology through

the research laboratory mentioned below:

Functional Nano & Soft Materials Laboratory

- concentrates on innovative research and technology
development of functional nano and soft materials.
Fundamental and applied research activities are carried
out in an interdisciplinary manner on molecular design
and synthesis of functional nano and soft materials; nano
biosensing and detecting technology; organic
optoelectronic materials and devices; and the physics
and characteristics of soft materials.

University of Science and Technology of

China

Promotes interdisciplinary research through the Deng

Research Group which conducts interdisciplinary research
including analytical and physical aspects of bio-
nanotechnology, chemistry and materials science. This
group aims to manufacture functional nanosystems and
utilize electrochemical approaches and bio-inspired
processes to develop new tools for nanotechnological
applications.
National Center for Nanoscience and
Technology

Promotes nanotechnology-based research through the

research divisions listed below:

 Laboratory for Nanomaterials

 Nanofabrication Laboratory
 Laboratory for Nanodevices
 The Testing Laboratory for Nanostructures
 Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials
and Nanosafety
 Laboratory for Nanostandardization
 Laboratory for Nanomanufacture and Applications
 Laboratory for Nanocharacterization

Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-

Bionics (SINANO)

Conducts research in the field of nanotechnology

through the following research divisions:

 Division of Nano-devices and Materials      

 Division of Nanobiomedicine Research        
 Division of System Integration & IC Design            
 Division of Interdisciplinary Research          
 International Laboratory for Adaptive Bio-
nanotechnology
  Printable Electronics Research Center          
 Nanobionic Research Division

Further Developments

In February 2015, Chinese researchers achieved a

major breakthrough in nanocarrier drugs for pancreatic
cancer. The new multi-layer hybrid nanocarrier developed
by the research team achieves layered carrying of three
active pharmaceutical agents. This bridges the
technology gap for the application of a nanocarrier as
part of multi-drug treatment of pancreatic cancer. The
new nanocarrier also significantly improves tumor
targeting and the effectiveness of the drug while reducing
its toxicities. The research findings have been published
in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

Researchers from Fudan University invented a

nanolithium titanate material with high electronic
conductivity. This material is highly suited to improving
the safety of lithium-ion batteries and is also suitable for
usage in solar and wind energy road lights whose lithium
batteries need to be replaced every 15 years, unlike the
conventional lithium-ion batteries that need to be
changed after every two years.

Chinese researchers from Inner Mongolia University

of Technology have analyzed ‘nano-scale deformation of
a crack tip’. Through this study, researchers have
analyzed nanoscale deformation fields of crack-tips and in
turn, developed a new method to analyze the
deformation of crack-tips at a very small scale.

Researchers present at the 6th International

Conference on Nanotoxicology, held in Beijing in
September 2012, emphasized the need for an increase in
nanomaterials-based safety studies and improvements in
regulatory oversight of synthetic nanomaterials. These
implementations are expected to increase the
nanotechnology sector in China, promote China’s export
of nanotech products and ensure the safe use of
nanotechnology in all walks of life.

China and the US are looking to increase their

bilateral R&D cooperation following a meeting between
Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Barack
Obama. This follows on from 2012, a year in which US
researchers collaborated on more research papers than
the next four highest nations combined (Japan, UK,
Germany and Australia).

Chinese researchers contributed to a paper that reveals

how the dynamic lithiation process of anode materials
such as SnO2 nanowires takes place, using aberration-
corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy.
This new study provides a new level of understanding to
the lithium-ion battery industry.

Chinese researchers have also collaborated with

Norwegian researchers at the Centre for Integrated
Petroleum Research on a project that revealed as much
as 50% of the residual oil from abandoned oil wells can
be retrieved using elastic nanoparticles.

Researchers at Renmin University of China have

developed a versatile and readily scalable approach to
fabricate a cheap and sensitive paper gas sensor based
on single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Meanwhile, another team at The University of

Science and Technology of China have developed a
reversible contraception method for males that uses gold
nanorods in a non-surgical procedure. The technique
involves injecting gold nanorods into the testes and
heating with an infrared laser. Testing identified reduced
fertility in mice and an expectation it may work to treat
tumors.

China's science, technology and industry system has

changed from a Soviet-style science-based R&D system
to a firm-centred market-based innovation system.
China's gross expenditure on research and development
(GERD) doubled in the period 2005-10 to 179 billion US
dollars or 1.77% of GDP. In 2009, their expenditure on
R&D was the second highest in the world after the USA.

China’s open-door policy has helped attract foreign

investment, including capital and technologies. This has
also encouraged international collaboration which has no
doubt helped accelerate technological development,
providing access to foreign expertise and infrastructure.

China also has a medium and long-term plan for

science and technology which provides a blueprint for
their conversion to an innovation-driven economy by
2020, with expenditure on R&D to reach 2.5% of GDP.

There is no doubt that China is very active in the

area of scientific development and nanotechnology. Their
willingness to embrace collaboration, the large number of
researchers and a commitment to a knowledge-based
economy is expected to cement China as a leading
country for nanotechnology research.

References

 China's innovation challenge – and opportunity

 Atomic-Scale Observation of Lithiation Reaction Front
in Nanoscale SnO2 Materials
 Forced Assembly of Water-Dispersible Carbon
Nanotubes Trapped in Paper for Cheap Gas Sensors
 Reversible Male Contraception With Gold Nanorods