.

LESSON 6

Nanotechnology

Content Standard:
The learners demonstrate an understanding of the meaning, uses and significance of .
Nanotechnology

Learning Outcomes:
The students will be able to:
1. State the meaning of Nanotechnology;
2. Describe the development of Nanotechnology and its importance to society;
3. Describe some devices that develop nanotechnology;
4. Understand the use and implications of Nanotechnology.

Word Bank:
Nanotechnology, nanorobot, nanomedicine, nanomachine, nanoelectronics, scanning -
tunneling microscope
DISCUSSION

Statistics provides that human population is increasing and its natural resources are -
dwindling with an increasing risk of depletion due to ever increasing demand. This
chapter will discuss how our scientists find solutions to meet our growing needs and
solve our problems.
Nanotechnology is a field of science that deals with developing and innovating tools
and machines utilizing the scale size of atoms and molecules. A nanometer size is
described as one-billionth of a meter which is equivalent to ten times the diameter of
a hydrogen atom. (Cambridge, 2018)

A Nanometer is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one billionth of a meter
or 10-meter. It is roughly the width of three or four atoms. (The average human hair is
about 25,000 nanometers wide.)

Nanomachine is a tiny machine capable of doing human tasks at nano level.

Nanorobot is a tiny machine that performs work like miniature surgeon which are
implanted in the body to diagnose or treat disorder.

Nanomedicine is a field of science which deals with using nanotechnology in the field of
medicine.

Nanoelectronics is a field of science in electronics that uses nanotechnology

Brief History of Nanotechnology

The first ever concept of nanotechnology was presented in 1959 by the famous
professor of physics and Nobel prize winner, Dr. Richard P. Feynman during the Annual
Meeting of the American Physical Society. The topic of his talk was about “There is
Plenty of Room at the Bottom” explained that size of things can be decreased to
perform specific tasks according to how they were designed to be. He envisioned
building tiny factories that can produce goods simultaneously inspired by how nature
works in nanoscale (National Nanotechnoolgy Initiative).
Feynman suggested the use of cylindrical nanotubes made of carbon atoms which can
be manipulated to create new nano materials which'was eventually developed by Dr.
Sumio lijima in 1991 at electronics maker NEC. The technology is now being used in
sports stadium flood lights.

In 1998, US National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) of the White House, realizing
the benefits of nanotechnology, created the Interagency Working Group on
Nanoscience Engineering and Technology (WGN). In January 2000, then President Bill
Clinton helped fund the nanotechnology research and development with the sum of
$500M. This helped developed nanoscale technology, described as anything with a size
between 1 and 100 nanometers with novel properties focusing on semiconductor and
material development.
Nanotechnology has impressed many scientists in developing materials that show
different properties when they are reduced to nano size. They observed that inert
platinum becomes a catalysts material, aluminum becomes combustible, solid gold at
room temperature turns into liquid state, and insulators become conductors. There
are endless ways to create new materials and new discoveries.

Smaller transistor means more of them on a wafer, producing lower cost of

processors and increasing CPU power but creating a reduction in production costs.

Richard Feynman was a Nobel Prize-winning American physicist, known for his
contributions to quantum physics, quantum electrodynamics, particle physics, as well
as quantum computing and nanotechnology (Martin, 2009).

The term Nano-technology had been invented by Norio Taniguchi in 1974 (Kirtisingh,
2013) at University of Tokyo. He described it as a process which involves separation,
consolidation, and deformation of materials by one atom or one molecule. Richard
Feynman

Norio Taniguchi (Taniguchi Norio, May 27, 1912November 15, 1999) was a professor of
Tokyo University of Science. He created the term nano-technology in 1974 to describe
semiconductor processes such as thin film deposition and ion beam milling exhibiting
characteristic control on the order of a nanometer: “Nano-technology'mainly consists
of the processing of separation, consolidation, and deformation of materials by one
atom or one molecule” (http://friendlyscienceguy. blogspot.com, 2013)

In 1981, Eric Drexler published a paper about basic concepts in nanotechnology. In 1992,
he used the term “molecular nanotechnology” or “molecular manufacturing” to
distinguish his ideas from other scientists.

Kim Eric Drexler (born April 25, 1955) is an American engineer who popularized the
potential of molecular nanotechnology (MNT), from the 1970s and 1980s. His 1991 doctoral
thesis at Massachusetts Institute of Technology was revised and published as the
book Nanosystems: Molecular Machinery Manufacturing and Computation (1992), which
was awarded by the Association of American Publishers for Best Computer Science
Book of 1992 (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2018)

The invention of the scanning tunneling microscope in 1981 and the discovery
fullerene(C60) in 1985 lead to more products of nanotechnology.
In the year 2000, commercial applications of nanotechnology began to increase si as
the use of silver- nanoparticles as an antibacterial agent, nanoparticle-based
cosmetics transparent sunscreens, and carbon nanotubes clothing material which are
effective as sta resistant textiles.

Important devices that help develop nanotechnology includes:

Atomic force microscope (AFM). A device with a probe that is used to analyze surface
of solids, viewing its surface up to 100,000,000 times magnification to an almost size of
an atom that can produce a three dimensional image of that surface. It is also used to
measure local properties, such as height, friction, magnetism, of the small material
being analyzed using a probe. This technique was developed from the technology of
Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) (Margaret Rouse, 2011).

Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) are scanning probes that launched

nanotechnology. Its difference from AFM is that AFM does not require its sample
ability to conduct electricity, whereas STM does. AFM also works in regular room
temperatures, while STM requires special temperature and other conditions.

Carbon nanotubes are made from one of the allotropes of carbon called fullerene
which is known to have a cylindrical nanostructure. Fullere have length-to-diameter
ratio of up to 132,000,000:1. The name nanotube is derived from their long, hollow
structure with the walls formed by one-atom-thick sheets of carbon, called a
graphene. Properties of graphene includes highest strength to weight ratio, which
helps in creating light weight spacecrafts. They can also easily penetrate membranes
such as cancer cell walls, which helps in cancer treatment without destroying healthy
human cells. Graphene electrical resistance changes significantly when other
molecules attach themselves to the carbon atoms. This helps in developing sensors
that can detect chemical vapors (Margaret Rouse, 2011).

Applications of Nanotechnology

a. Nanomedicine is an application of nanotechnology in the field of medicine which

deals with creating tiny machines to help prevent and treat diseases of the human
body. These tiny machines include activity monitors, chemotherapy, pacemakers,
biochips, OTC tests, insulin pumps, nebulizers, needleless injectors, hearing aids,
medical flow sensors and blood pressure, glucose monitoring and drug delivery
systems. (Freitas 2016)

Examples of medical procedures currently being developed using nanomedicine:

a.1 Diagnostic nanomachines in the form of nanorobots, are equipped with wireles
transmitters, could travel around the blood and lymph systems, and can seu warnings
when chemical imbalances are detected.
a.2 Nanomachines could be planted in the nervous system to monitor pulse, brainwave
activity, and other functions.
a.3 Nanotechnology devices could help dispense, drugs or hormones as needed by the
patient.
a.4 Nanorobots that act like miniature surgeons can help repair damaged cells, or get
inside cells to remove and replace or assist damaged intracellular structures. They
can be designed into replicating themselves to help correct genetic deficiencies by
altering or replacing DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecules, and can be used to
remove blockage in arteries(Freitas, 2016).
a.5 -Established and near-future nanomedicine applications include activity monitors,
chemotherapy, pacemakers, biochips, OTC tests, insulin pumps, nebulizers, needleless
injectors, hearing aids, medical flow sensors and blood pressure, glucose monitoring
and drug delivery systems.
a.6 Nanomedicine is also capable of using nanoparticles to deliver precisely to the
right place and correct dosage in the body such as drugs, heat, light or other
substances to specific types of cells, such as cancer cells that help reduce damage to
healthy cells compared to traditional chemo treatment employed in the body (Bradley,
2011)

b. Electronics

Nanoelectronics is the application of nanotechnology to help develop electronics

devices to nanoscale and be able to reduce their weight and power consumption,
improved display screens on electronics devices to increasing the density of memory
chips. Nanotechnology has also reduced size of transistors used in integrated circuits
of silicon chips to bring out powerful devices in the palm of your hand with less
emitting heat but less energy consumption(Paul Bradley, 2011).
Nokia Research Center (NRC) and the University of Cambridge (UK) has been trying to
develop mobile devices to be bent, stretched and be folded.
c. Environment
Nanotechnology is presently being used to solve pollution problems in the
environment.
c.1 Solutions are in the form of producing iron nanoparticles that help facilitate the
decomposition of organic solvents disposed into water. This method is found to be
significantly lesser in cost compared to traditional water treatment process. Another
nanoparticle that is being developed is the use of silver nanoclusters that acts as
catalyst that help generate less polluting by products in the manufacture of propylene
oxide, a raw material for producing plastics, paints and detergents (Paul Bradley, 2011)
c.2 .The use of nanotubes mixed with epoxy is found to produce windmill blades with
lesser weight but stronger blades that help generate greater electricity output.
c.3 Another cost effective nanomaterial recently discovered are solar cells that use
silicon nanowire that can generate electricity at a competitive cost as compared to
coal or oil.
d. Consumer Products
Nanotechnology is already into consumer products used every day like cloth and
cosmetic products. Some examples include:

d.1 Silver nanoparticles embedded in fabrics help destroy odor causing bacteria
making it odor-resistant.
d.2 Skin care products that contain nanoparticles that could easily penetrate skin pore
to facilitate absorption of vitamins deeper into the skin.
d.3 Lithium ion batteries that use nanoparticle-based electrodes helps in powering
plug-in electric cars
d.4 Flame retardant used in coating the foam used in furniture are using carbon
nanofibers.
2
d.5 Fabrics are made dirt and stain repellent, by producing nanofibers which are
hydrophobic.
d.6 Cutting tools made of nanocrystalline materials of tungsten carbide, tantalum
carbide and titanium carbide, are great against damages, and can last longer than the
traditional materials used at present time.

e. Sporting Goods

Sporting goods have been improved by nanotechnology. Nanotechnology applications

in the field of sports include:
e.1 Adding nanotubes to the tennis racquets frame help increase its strength and
provide increase control and power when you hit the tennis ball.
e.2 Nano particles in golf club shaft materials improve the quality of the material
that makes up the shaft and create an improved shaft swing.
e.3 Nanoparticles in tennis balls help reduce air leaks that help keep their ball bounce
longer (Paul Bradley, 2011)
e.4 CarboNanoTubes are used now in making bicycle components and in the
manufacture of light weight boats.

f. Impact of Nanotechnology to humans

f.1 Health - Nano-particles, because of their tiny particles that are invisible to the naked
eye can come across our body through the skin, nose, lungs and digestive system,
which can cause damage to our cells. And if these particles enter our blood vessels,
they will be able to flow to our brain, our central control system. f.2 National Security -
Nano-bomb containing self multiplying deadly virus can be used as terror weapon that
are capable of annihilating thousands to billions of the Earth's population. Nanobotss
or nanorobots can be made into self replicating machine that may go out of control
and have the ability to consume all living matter on planet Earth. They are also called
gray goo or grey goo.
f.3 Social Interaction - Because of the speed in communication many false news
can be spread easily and can cause many chaos and misunderstanding.
f.4 Cultural - Slow traditional practices may be refused by the millennials as they
marvel the speed of modern technology, comparing the old activities as slow versus
the fast pace of nanotechnology.
f.5 Economy Investment in developing nanomachines to create nanorobots,
nanomedicine and the like involves huge cash outputs. Nanotechnology is believed to
take years (20 to 50 years) to become fully commercialized but may be the next
industrial revolution that will completely change the way we live. f.6 Political - While
nanotechnology is a work of human hands, its use must be regulated and used in
moderation just like the proper use of the existing technology like synthetic drugs and
high powered weapons. Appropriate laws must be enacted about its use that it may
not go beyond manipulating humans and destroying our environment.
-
DO YOU KNOW?
afme
+
Atomic Force Microscope (Anasys Instruments, 2018)
AFM is being used to understand characteristics of materials that can be applied in
many areas such as: data storage, telecommunications, biomedicine, chemistry, and
aerospace.
In data storage, researchers are finding ways on how to make a disk storage acquire
a higher capacity between today's 20 and 50 gigabits (billions of bits) per square inch
of storage to between 40 gigabits and 300 gigabits per square inch. At present IBM is
actively conducting a study about it.
165