What is Nanotechnology? ↓
Nanotechnology refers to a plain of applied scientific discipline whose topic is the command of affair on an atomic in addition to molecular scale. Generally nanotechnology is about 100 nanometers or smaller in addition to involves developing materials or devices inside that size. Nanotechnology is a highly multidisciplinary field, drawing from a number of fields such every bit applied physics, materials science, interface in addition to colloid science, device physics, supramolecular chemistry, self-replicating machines in addition to robotics, chemic engineering, mechanical engineering, biological engineering, in addition to electrical engineering.
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Two psyche approaches are used inwards nanotechnology. In the 'bottom-up' approach, materials in addition to devices are built from molecular components which get together themselves chemically past times principles of molecular recognition. In the 'top-down' approach, nano-objects are constructed from larger entities without atomic-level control. The impetus for nanotechnology comes from a renewed involvement inwards Interface in addition to Colloid Science, coupled amongst a novel generation of analytical tools such every bit the atomic forcefulness microscope (AFM), in addition to the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Combined amongst refined processes such every bit electron beam lithography in addition to molecular beam epitaxy, these instruments permit the deliberate manipulation of nanostructures, in addition to Pb to the observation of novel phenomena.
Examples of nanotechnology include the industry of polymers based on molecular construction in addition to the pattern of reckoner chip layouts based on surface science. Despite the hope of nanotechnologies such every bit quantum dots in addition to nanotubes, existent commercial applications accept mainly used the advantages of colloidal nanoparticles inwards mass form, such every bit suntan lotion, cosmetics, protective coatings, drug delivery, in addition to stain resistant clothing.
Applications of Nanotechnology ↓
The biological in addition to medical query communities accept exploited the unique properties of nanomaterials for diverse applications (e.g., contrast agents for jail cellular telephone imaging in addition to therapeutics for treating cancer). Terms such every bit biomedical nanotechnology, bionanotechnology, in addition to nanomedicine are used to depict this hybrid field. Functionalities tin give notice endure added to nanomaterials past times interfacing them amongst biological molecules or structures. The size of nanomaterials is similar to that of most biological molecules in addition to structures; therefore, nanomaterials tin give notice endure useful for both inwards vivo in addition to inwards vitro biomedical query in addition to applications. Thus far, the integration of nanomaterials amongst biological scientific discipline has led to the evolution of diagnostic devices, contrast agents, analytical tools, physical therapy applications, in addition to drug delivery vehicles.
1. Diagnostics
Nanotechnology-on-a-chip is 1 to a greater extent than dimension of lab-on-a-chip technology. Biological tests measurement the presence or activeness of selected substances give-up the ghost quicker, to a greater extent than sensitive in addition to to a greater extent than flexible when surely nanoscale particles are seat to travel every bit tags or labels. Magnetic nanoparticles, saltation to a suitable antibody, are used to label specific molecules, structures or microorganisms. Gold nanoparticles tagged amongst brusk segments of deoxyribonucleic acid tin give notice endure used for detection of genetic sequence inwards a sample. Multicolor optical coding for biological assays has been achieved past times embedding different-sized quantum dots into polymeric microbeads. Nanopore engineering for analysis of nucleic acids converts strings of nucleotides take into electronic signatures.
2. Drug delivery
The overall drug consumption in addition to side-effects tin give notice endure lowered significantly past times depositing the active agent inwards the morbid percentage exclusively in addition to inwards no higher dose than needed. This highly selective approach reduces costs in addition to human suffering.
An instance tin give notice endure establish inwards dendrimers in addition to nanoporous materials. They could agree modest drug molecules transporting them to the desired location. Another vision is based on modest electromechanical systems; NEMS are beingness investigated for the active release of drugs. Some potentially of import applications include cancer handling amongst Fe nanoparticles or gilded shells. Nanotechnology is also opening upwards novel opportunities inwards implantable delivery systems,' which are often preferable to the utilisation of injectable drugs, because the latter often display first-order kinetics (the blood concentration goes upwards rapidly, exactly drops exponentially over time). This rapid rising may displace difficulties amongst toxicity, in addition to drug efficacy tin give notice diminish every bit the drug concentration falls below the targeted range.
3. Tissue engineering
Nanotechnology tin give notice assistance to reproduce or to repair damaged tissue. This in addition to then called 'tissue engineering' makes utilisation of artificially stimulated jail cellular telephone proliferation past times using suitable nanomaterial-based scaffolds in addition to growth factors. Tissue applied scientific discipline powerfulness supervene upon today's conventional treatments similar organ transplants or artificial implants. On the other hand, tissue applied scientific discipline is closely related to the ethical fence on human stalk cells in addition to its ethical implications.
4. Chemistry in addition to Environment
Chemical catalysis in addition to filtration techniques are 2 prominent examples where nanotechnology already plays a role. The synthesis provides novel materials amongst tailored features in addition to chemic properties: for example, nanoparticles amongst a distinct chemic surrounding (ligands), or specific optical properties. In this sense, chemical scientific discipline is indeed a basic nanoscience. In a short-term perspective, chemical scientific discipline volition supply novel "nanomaterials" in addition to inwards the long run, superior processes such every bit 'self-assembly' volition enable liberate energy in addition to fourth dimension preserving strategies.
5. Filtration
A strong influence of nanochemistry on wastewater treatment, air purification in addition to liberate energy storage devices is to endure expected. Mechanical or chemic methods tin give notice endure used for effective filtration techniques. One grade of filtration techniques is based on the utilisation of membranes amongst suitable hole sizes, whereby the liquid is pressed through the membrane. Nanoporous membranes are suitable for a mechanical filtration amongst extremely modest pores smaller than 10 nm (nanofiltration) in addition to may endure composed of nanotubes. Nanofiltration is mainly used for the removal of ions or the separation of dissimilar fluids. On a larger scale, the membrane filtration technique is named ultrafiltration, which works downward to betwixt 10 in addition to 100 nm. One of import plain of application for ultrafiltration is medical purposes every bit tin give notice endure establish inwards renal dialysis. Magnetic nanoparticles offering an effective in addition to reliable method to withdraw heavy metallic contaminants from waste materials H2O past times making utilisation of magnetic separation techniques. Using nanoscale particles increases the efficiency to absorb the contaminants in addition to is comparatively cheap compared to traditional atmospheric precipitation in addition to filtration methods.
6. Energy
The most advanced nanotechnology projects related to liberate energy are: storage, conversion, manufacturing improvements past times reducing materials in addition to procedure rates, liberate energy saving (by ameliorate thermal insulation for example), in addition to enhanced renewable liberate energy sources.
7. Reduction of liberate energy consumption
A reduction of liberate energy consumption tin give notice endure reached past times ameliorate insulation systems, past times the utilisation of to a greater extent than efficient lighting or combustion systems, in addition to past times utilisation of lighter in addition to stronger materials inwards the transportation sector. Currently used lite bulbs exclusively convert about 5% of the electrical liberate energy into light. Nanotechnological approaches similar light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or quantum caged atoms (QCAs) could Pb to a strong reduction of liberate energy consumption for illumination.
8. Increasing the efficiency of liberate energy production
Today's best solar cells accept layers of several dissimilar semiconductors stacked together to absorb lite at dissimilar energies exactly they nevertheless exclusively care to utilisation xl per centum of the Sun's energy. Commercially available solar cells accept much lower efficiencies (15-20%). Nanotechnology could assistance increment the efficiency of lite conversion past times using nanostructures amongst a continuum of bandgaps. The grade of efficiency of the internal combustion engine is almost 30-40% at the moment. Nanotechnology could improve combustion past times designing specific catalysts amongst maximized surface area. In 2005, scientists at the University of Toronto developed a spray-on nanoparticle pith that, when applied to a surface, straightaway transforms it into a solar collector.
9. Use of to a greater extent than eco-friendly liberate energy systems
An instance for an environmentally friendly shape of liberate energy is the utilisation of fuel cells powered past times hydrogen, which is ideally produced past times renewable energies. Probably the most prominent nanostructured stuff inwards fuel cells is the catalyst consisting of carbon supported noble metallic particles amongst diameters of 1-5 nm. Suitable materials for hydrogen storage comprise a large number of modest nanosized pores. Therefore many nanostructured materials similar nanotubes, zeolites or alanates are nether investigation. Nanotechnology tin give notice contribute to the farther reduction of combustion engine pollutants past times nanoporous filters, which tin give notice create clean the exhaust mechanically, past times catalytic converters based on nanoscale noble metallic particles or past times catalytic coatings on cylinder walls in addition to catalytic nanoparticles every bit additive for fuels.
10. Information in addition to Communication
Current high-technology production processes are based on traditional overstep downward strategies, where nanotechnology has already been introduced silently. The critical length scale of integrated circuits is already at the nanoscale (50 nm in addition to below) regarding the gate length of transistors inwards CPUs or DRAM devices.
11. Quantum Computers
Entirely novel approaches for computing exploit the laws of quantum mechanics for novel quantum computers, which enable the utilisation of fast quantum algorithms. The Quantum reckoner volition accept quantum fleck retentivity infinite termed qubit for several computations at the same time.
12. Optics
The starting fourth dimension sunglasses using protective in addition to antireflective ultrathin polymer coatings are on the market. For optics, nanotechnology also offers scratch resistant surface coatings based on nanocomposites. Nano-optics could permit for an increment inwards precision of student repair in addition to other types of Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation oculus surgery.
