Nanotechnology : Man ‘s Nanotechnology : Man ‘s Symbiosis with nano Symbiosis with nano

world world

Aditya JamwalAditya Jamwal

What is NanotechnologyWhat is Nanotechnology► NanotechnologyNanotechnology refers to a field of refers to a field of applied scienceapplied science and and

technology whose theme is the control of matter on the technology whose theme is the control of matter on the atomicatomic and and molecularmolecular scale, generally 100 scale, generally 100 nanometersnanometers or smaller, and or smaller, and the fabrication of devices that lie within that size range.the fabrication of devices that lie within that size range.

► Nanotechnology is a highly Nanotechnology is a highly multidisciplinarymultidisciplinary field, drawing from fields field, drawing from fields such as such as applied physicsapplied physics, , materials sciencematerials science, , interface and colloid scienceinterface and colloid science, , device physicsdevice physics, , supramolecularsupramolecular chemistry chemistry (which refers to the area of chemistry that focuses on the noncovalent (which refers to the area of chemistry that focuses on the noncovalent bonding interactions of molecules), bonding interactions of molecules), self-replicating machinesself-replicating machines and and roboticsrobotics, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, biological , chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, biological

engineering, and electrical engineering.engineering, and electrical engineering.

► Nanotechnology is about building things one atom at a time, Nanotechnology is about building things one atom at a time,

about making extraordinary devices with ordinary matter.about making extraordinary devices with ordinary matter.

NanobotsNanobots

► Small high frequency robots, (or Small high frequency robots, (or nanitesnanites) will work ) will work at the limits of matter processing cheap, abundant at the limits of matter processing cheap, abundant components (molecules).components (molecules).

Defined as a Tiny robots engineered on a Defined as a Tiny robots engineered on a microscopic or even molecular level. Capable of microscopic or even molecular level. Capable of replicating millions or billions of nanobots, all replicating millions or billions of nanobots, all carrying out their specific tasks at a molecular carrying out their specific tasks at a molecular level, but in total, producing macro effectslevel, but in total, producing macro effects

HistoryHistory► ""There's Plenty of Room at the BottomThere's Plenty of Room at the Bottom," a talk given by ," a talk given by

physicist physicist Richard FeynmanRichard Feynman at an at an American Physical SocietyAmerican Physical Society meeting at meeting at CaltechCaltech on on December 29December 29, , 19591959 . .

► Jumbotron lampsJumbotron lamps. For example, a new form of carbon, . For example, a new form of carbon, the nanotube, was discovered by Sumio Iijima in 1991. the nanotube, was discovered by Sumio Iijima in 1991. In 1995, it was recognized that carbon nanotubes were In 1995, it was recognized that carbon nanotubes were excellent sources of field-emitted electrons. By 2000, excellent sources of field-emitted electrons. By 2000, the “jumbotron lamp,” was comercially used in the “jumbotron lamp,” was comercially used in atheletic stadiums.atheletic stadiums.

► BuckyballsBuckyballs. The discovery of another nanoscale . The discovery of another nanoscale carbon form, C60, the fullerene (also called the carbon form, C60, the fullerene (also called the buckyball) brought the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996 buckyball) brought the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996 to Robert F. Curl Jr., Sir Harold W. Kroto, and Richard E. to Robert F. Curl Jr., Sir Harold W. Kroto, and Richard E. Smalley. It also started an avalanche of research into Smalley. It also started an avalanche of research into not only the novel characteristics of C60, but also other not only the novel characteristics of C60, but also other nanoscale materials. nanoscale materials.

Current Research StatusCurrent Research StatusAnd And

ApplicationsApplications

►Nation Nanotechnology Initiative.Nation Nanotechnology Initiative.►MIT Institute for Soldier MIT Institute for Soldier

Nanotechnologies.Nanotechnologies.►Center for Nanotechnologies ,University Center for Nanotechnologies ,University

of Berkeley.of Berkeley.►National Science foundation.National Science foundation.

Drug-Delivery TechniquesDrug-Delivery Techniques

Dendrimers carrying different materials on their Dendrimers carrying different materials on their branches can do several things at one time, such as branches can do several things at one time, such as recognizing diseased cells, diagnosing disease recognizing diseased cells, diagnosing disease states (including cell death), drug delivery, states (including cell death), drug delivery, reporting location , and reporting outcomes of reporting location , and reporting outcomes of therapy.therapy.

NanofilmsNanofilms Different nanoscale materials can be used in Different nanoscale materials can be used in

thin films to make them thin films to make them ►Water-repellentWater-repellent► Anti-reflectiveAnti-reflective► Self-cleaningSelf-cleaning► Ultraviolet or infrared-resistantUltraviolet or infrared-resistant► AntifogAntifog► Anti-microbialAnti-microbial► Scratch-resistant, or electrically conductive.Scratch-resistant, or electrically conductive. Nanofilms are used now on eyeglasses, Nanofilms are used now on eyeglasses,

computer displays, and cameras to protect computer displays, and cameras to protect or treat the surfaces.or treat the surfaces.

Solar PlasticsSolar Plastics

►Thin, flexible, lightweight rolls of Thin, flexible, lightweight rolls of plastics containing nanoscale plastics containing nanoscale materials are being developed that materials are being developed that could replace traditional solar energy could replace traditional solar energy technologies .technologies .

►Nanoscale materials absorb sunlight Nanoscale materials absorb sunlight and, in some cases, indoor light, which and, in some cases, indoor light, which is converted into electrical energy is converted into electrical energy

Nano TransistersNano Transisters

► In computers, the more transistors, the In computers, the more transistors, the greater the power .greater the power .

►New transistor’s made from a single New transistor’s made from a single carbon nanotube, with minute size and carbon nanotube, with minute size and low-energy requirements .low-energy requirements .

►Construction capabilities of DNA and Construction capabilities of DNA and the electronic properties of carbon the electronic properties of carbon nanotubes to create the self-nanotubes to create the self-assembling nano-transistor. assembling nano-transistor.

Nano Water-filter’sNano Water-filter’s

►Carbon nanotube-based membranes Carbon nanotube-based membranes for water desalination .for water desalination .

►Nanoscale sensors to identify Nanoscale sensors to identify contaminants in water systems e.g contaminants in water systems e.g Nanoscale titanium dioxide known to Nanoscale titanium dioxide known to neutralize bacteria.neutralize bacteria.

Military ApplicationMilitary Application

►Today’s hefty radio worn on a harness Today’s hefty radio worn on a harness might be reduced to a button-sized tab might be reduced to a button-sized tab on the collar. on the collar. (The Institute for Soldier (The Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN) at MIT )Nanotechnologies (ISN) at MIT )

► And a waterproof poncho could be And a waterproof poncho could be replaced by a permanent nano-thin replaced by a permanent nano-thin coating applied to everything the coating applied to everything the soldier carries. soldier carries.

FutureFuture► Self-assembling consumer goods Self-assembling consumer goods ► Computers billions of times faster Computers billions of times faster ► Extremely novel inventions (impossible today) Extremely novel inventions (impossible today) ► Safe and affordable space travel Safe and affordable space travel ► Medical Nano... virtual end to illness, aging, death Medical Nano... virtual end to illness, aging, death ► No more pollution and automatic cleanup of already No more pollution and automatic cleanup of already

existing pollution existing pollution ► Molecular food syntheses... end of famine and Molecular food syntheses... end of famine and

starvation starvation ► Access to a superior education for every child on Access to a superior education for every child on

Earth Earth ► Reintroduction of many extinct plants and animals Reintroduction of many extinct plants and animals ► Terraforming here and in our Solar System Terraforming here and in our Solar System ► Wear-resistant tires made by combining nanometer-Wear-resistant tires made by combining nanometer-

scale particles of inorganic clays with polymers scale particles of inorganic clays with polymers

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

►Global Monetary Crisis (money is Global Monetary Crisis (money is worthless)worthless)

► Loss of jobs (manufacturing, farming, etc)Loss of jobs (manufacturing, farming, etc)►Oil Becomes worthlessOil Becomes worthless►Diamonds become worthlessDiamonds become worthless► Atomic weapons more accessible and Atomic weapons more accessible and

destructivedestructive► Biological warfareBiological warfare►Health hazardsHealth hazards► Nano wasteNano waste

ConclusionConclusion

Boon to the Human race .Boon to the Human race .

Secure and fast future .Secure and fast future .

Must be handled carefully in sight of Must be handled carefully in sight of the major disadvantages.the major disadvantages.