topics in (nano) biotechnology introduction to nanotechnology

TOPICS IN (NANO) BIOTECHNOLOGY

Introduction to Nanotechnology

May 12th, 2004

PhD Course

Nanotechnology: What is it?

• ‘Nano’ derived from Greek word for dwarf.

• Nanotechnology is defined in terms of linear scale.

• It describes materials, systems & devices with characteristic dimensions in the range 1-100 nanometer.

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In 1999, less than 2% of Fortune 2000 executives were able to define the term, but products are on the high street now!

And how small is nano?

And how small is nano?

Applied Nanotechnology – Examples of Current Research

and Applications

Lithography, Dip Pen Lithography, AFM, MEMS

Devices

MRAM, NRAM, Q-Dots, Q-BitsElectronics

Genomics, Proteomics, Lab on a Chip, C-Nanotubes,BuckyBalls

Medicine/Biotech

Solar Power and PhotoVoltaics, Hydrogen Fuel Cells, LED White Light

Energy

Powders, Coatings, Carbon Nano-Materials,C-NanoFabrics

Materials Science

Disruptive Apps - Materials• Fiber that is stronger than spider web• Metal 100 x’s stronger than steel, 1/6 weight• Catalysts that respond more quickly and to more agents• Plastics that conduct electricity• Coatings that are nearly frictionless –(Shipping Industry) • Materials that change color and transparency on demand.• Materials that are self repairing, self cleaning, and never

need repainting.• Nanoscale powders that are five times as light as plastic

but provide the same radiation protection as metal.

Changing properties on nanoscale

Disruptive Apps - Energy

• Fuel cell technology becomes cost effective within 3 years.

• Batteries that store more energy and are much more efficient

• Plastics and paints that will store solar power and convert to energy for $1 per watt.

Disruptive Apps - Computing

• Silicon is hitting its size limit, Moore’s law reaches maximum in 2007

• SuperChips –Combination of Silicon and Galium Arsenide create wireless chips

• Plastic semiconductors manufactured by regular printing devices – cheaply produced.

• Electronic Paper

Disruptive Apps – Bio Medicine• Cosmetics that can penetrate the skin• Cures for Aids, Cancers, Alzheimer's, Diabetes• Ability to view cells In vivo - Fast Drug Creation• Nanomaterials that can see inside vessels for

plaque buildup• Technology that can re-grow bone and organs• NanoSensors for disease detection – 10x’s faster

and 100,000 x’s more accurate• Nanofilters will help create impurity free drugs.

Key Terms You Need to Know

• BuckyBalls• Carbon Nanotubes• MEMS• Quantum Dots• Molecular Self

Repair/Assembly• MRAM/Spintronics• Lithography

Carbon Nanotubes

• 4 nm width (smaller diameter than DNA)

• 100x’s stronger than steel 1/6 weight

• Thermal/electrically conductive

• Metallic and Semi-Conductive

BuckyBalls – C60

• Roundest and most symmetrical molecule known to man

• Compressed – becomes stronger than diamond

• Third major form of pure carbon

• Heat resistance and electrical conductivity

MEMS and Quantum Dots

Micro Sized Motor

Quantum Dot

Technology Momentum Reminders

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." (Ken Olsen, Digital Equipment Corp, 1977)

"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons." (Popular Mechanics, 1949)

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." (IBM's Thomas Watson, 1943)

History of the integrated circuit

• 1958-1959: Integrated circuit invented by– Jack Kilby (Texas Instruments)– Robert Noyce (Fairchild Semiconductor)

• 1965: Gordon Moore (Intel)– Observes that the density of transistors

(computing elements) has been doubling every two years

– Predicts this will continue or speed up– Predicts 65,000 transistors per chip by 1975

Moore observed an exponential growth in the number of transistors per integrated circuit and predicted that this trend would continue. Through Intel's relentless technology advances, Moore's Law, the doubling of transistors every couple of years, has been maintained, and still holds true today.

Moore’s Law

Approaches: Top-Down & Bottom-Up

macro world

world of atoms

Bottom-up approach*• designer molecules• chemical synthesis• SPM manipulation*• self-organisation* • self-assembly*

Top-down approach• precision engineering• microelectronics/MEMS

lithography deposition etch

Intersection occurred ~AD2000

History

Richard Feyman Eric Drexler

History• 5000 BC: Democritus postulates atoms to be the

fundamental building blocks of the visible world: ‘atom’ – ‘not cleavable’

• 1959: Feynman delivers Caltech lecture ‘There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom’ http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/feynman.html)

• 1974: Norio Taniguchi conceives the word ‘nanotechnology’

• 1981: Binnig & Rohrer build first scanning tunnelling microscope (STM)

History cont…

• 1989: Eigler writes IBM company logo using Xe atoms placed in position using a STM

• January 2000, Bill Clinton announces $0.5B National Nanotechnology Initiative

• April 2000, Bill Joy (co-founder of Sun Microsystems) stated that research into nanotechnology should stop immediately, as developments in the wrong hands could end life, as we know it!

History “But I am not afraid to consider the final

question as to whether, ultimately – in the great future – we can arrange the atoms the way we want; the very atoms, all the way down!” – Feynman, 1959

D.M. Eigler, E.K. Schweizer. Positioning single atoms with a scanning tunneling microscope. Nature 344, 524-526 (1990).

History cont…• 2001 - Prince Charles refers to ‘grey goo’ and

Michael Crichton writes Prey

In the Nevada desert, an experiment has gone horribly wrong. A cloud of nanoparticles -- micro-robots -- has escaped from the laboratory. This cloud is self-sustaining and self-reproducing. It is intelligent and learns from experience. For all practical purposes, it is alive. It has been programmed as a predator. It is evolving swiftly, becoming more deadly with each passing hour. Every attempt to destroy it has failed. And we are the prey.

General Comments

• Exponential increase in use of the word ‘nano’ in the popular press (~point on hype-line that equates to 1993 for the internet.

• Different from the internet in that nanotechnology requires an integrated understanding and collaboration between multiple fields of science (biology, physics, chemistry, material and computer science, mechanical and electrical engineering)

General Comments cont.

• Biology has evolved nano-components and systems that exhibit motor, memory, sensor, signal processing, catalysis, synthesis, circuitry, and delivery functions.

Mimicking the precision and efficiency already present in biological systems is likely to yield the greatest results - the starting position being components and processes that have been perfected through millions of years of evolution under diverse environment conditions.

General Comments cont.

• Nanotechnology commercial enterprises must have tangible products or processes, not just information (.com)

• Not all nanotechnology is new (nano-sized carbon black particles have been used as a reinforcing agent in car tyres for the last 100 years)

Funding for Nanotechnology

Soft Lithography

Dip-Pen Lithography

Nanoelectronics

Nanomechanisms

Nanobiotechnology

Nanobiotechnology

DNA computing

Some Quotes• “Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more

complex and more violent. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction” (A. Einstein)

• “Nanotechnology is like ladies lingerie; the more one invests the less one gets.” (Evolution Capital, January 2001)

• “Nano says: ‘Socialists not perfect, but still best’.” (General Nano, Tirana, May 2001)

What we’re going to look at…

• Importance of size• Fundamental sciences• Tools for nanosciences• Smart Materials• Sensors• Biomedical applications• Optics & electronics• Nanobusiness