i just read about this small thing that has a great implication in our daily living. because of this scientist had explored, created and manipulated materials.. responsible for the fast changing world of technology.. discoveries here and there..
an image of nanotechnology
A basic definition: nanotechnology is the engineer of functional systems at the molecular scale. this covers both current work and concepts that are moved advance.
In its original sense, 'nanotechnology' refers to the projected ability to construct items from the bottom up, using techniques and tools being developed today to make complete, high performance products.
http://www.crnano.org/whatis.htm
Imagine a world where diseases are fought by little machines in the infected body. Imagine a world where homes, cars, offices, shopping malls, and convenience stores are no longer powered by fossil fuels. Imagine a world where computers are more compact, more powerful, and can hold infinitely more. Imagine a world where every person has clean water to drink and enough food to eat. Is this a dream? Can it ever happen? The answer to both questions is yes, and the cause of all of these great advancements is nanotechnology.
http://bart.tcc.virginia.edu/classes/200R/Projects/fall_2002/nanotechnology/projectintro.htm
Nanotechnology involves research and technology development at the atomic, molecular, or macromolecular levels in the dimension range of approximately 1-100 nanometers to provide fundamental understanding of phenomena and materials at the nano scale and to create and use structures, devices, and systems that have novel properties and functions because of their small and/or intermediate size. The novel and differentiating properties and functions are developed at a critical length scale of matter typically under l00 nm. Nanotechnology research and development includes control at the nano scale and integration of nano scale structures into larger material components, systems, and architectures. Within these larger scale assemblies, the control and construction of their structures and components remains at the nanometer scale.
Nanotechnology Applications
The Understanding Nanotechnology Website is dedicated to providing clear and concise explanations of nanotechnology applications. Scan the listings below to find an application of interest, or click any topic on the navigation bar to the left to go directly to the page discussing an application of interest.
Nanotechnology Applications in:
Space
Nanotechnology may hold the key to making space-flight more practical. Advancements in nanomaterials make lightweight spacecraft and a cable for the space elevator possible. By significantly reducing the amount of rocket fuel required, these advances could lower the cost of reaching orbit and traveling in space.
Photo courtesy of NASA Medicine
Researchers are developing customized nanoparticles the size of molecules that can deliver drugs directly to diseased cells in your body. When it's perfected, this method should greatly reduce the damage treatment such as chemotherapy does to a patient's healthy cells. Check out our Nanotech in Medicine page to see how nanotech is being used in medicine.
Electronics
Nanotechnology holds some answers for how we might increase the capabilities of electronics devices while we reduce their weight and power consumption. Check out our Nanotech in Electronics page to see how nanotech is being used in electronics.
Food
Nanotechnology is having an impact on several aspects of food science, from how food is grown to how it is packaged. Companies are developing nanomaterials that will make a difference not only in the taste of food, but also in food safety, and the health benefits that food delivers. Check out our Nanotech & Food page for the details.
Fuel Cells
Nanotechnology is being used to reduce the cost of catalysts used in fuel cells to produce hydrogen ions from fuel such as methanol and to improve the efficiency of membranes used in fuel cells to separate hydrogen ions from other gases such as oxygen. Check out our Nanotech in Fuel Cells page for the details.
Solar Cells
Companies have developed nanotech solar cells that can be manufactured at significantly lower cost than conventional solar cells. Check out our Nanotechnology in Solar Cells page for the details.
Batteries
Companies are currently developing batteries using nanomaterials. One such battery will be a good as new after sitting on the shelf for decades. Another battery can be recharged significantly faster than conventional batteries. Check our our Nanotech in Batteries page for details.
Fuels
Nanotechnology can address the shortage of fossil fuels such as diesel and gasoline by making the production of fuels from low grade raw materials economical, increasing the mileage of engines, and making the production of fuels from normal raw materials more efficient. Check our Nanotech in Fuels page for details.
Better Air Quality
Nanotechnology can improve the performance of catalysts used to transform vapors escaping from cars or industrial plants into harmless gasses. That's because catalysts made from nanoparticles have a greater surface area to interact with the reacting chemicals than catalysts made from larger particles. The larger surface area allows more chemicals to interact with the catalyst simultaneously, which makes the catalyst more effective. Check our Nanotechnology and Air page for details.
Cleaner Water
Nanotechnology is being used to develop solutions to three very different problems in water quality. One challenge is the removal of industrial wastes, such as a cleaning solvent called TCE, from groundwater. Nanoparticles can be used to convert the contaminating chemical through a chemical reaction to make it harmless. Studies have shown that this method can be used successfully to reach contaminates dispersed in underground ponds and at much lower cost than methods which require pumping the water out of the ground for treatment. Check out our Nanotechnology and Water Quality page for details.
Chemical Sensors
Nanotechnology can enable sensors to detect very small amounts of chemical vapors. Various types of detecting elements, such as carbon nanotubes, zinc oxide nanowires or palladium nanoparticles can be used in nanotechnology-based sensors. Because of the small size of nanotubes, nanowires, or nanoparticles, a few gas molecules are sufficient to change the electrical properties of the sensing elements. This allows the detection of a very low concentration of chemical vapors. Check out our Chemical Sensors and Nanotechnology page for details.
Sporting Goods
If you're a tennis or golf fan, you'll be glad to hear that even sporting goods has wandered into the nano realm. Current nanotechnology applications in the sports arena include increasing the strength of tennis racquets, filling any imperfections in club shaft materials and reducing the rate at which air leaks from tennis balls. Check out our Sporting Goods and Nanotechnology page for details.
Fabric
Making composite fabric with nano-sized particles or fibers allows improvement of fabric properties without a significant increase in weight, thickness, or stiffness as might have been the case with previously-used techniques. For details see our Nanotechnology in Fabrics page.
http://www.understandingnano.com/nanotech-applications.html
