So What Is Nanotechnology

© 2011 Project Lead The Way, Inc.Science of Technology

What Is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology allows the manipulation of atoms or molecules to create or modify materials at the nanoscale.

“If I were asked for an area of science and engineering that will most likely produce the breakthroughs of tomorrow, I would point to nanoscale science and engineering.”~Neal LaneFormer Assistant to the President for Science and Technology

http://ipt.arc.nasa.gov/Graphics/rdd_talk.pdf

What’s So Special About Nanotechnology?

• Materials can have different properties at the nanoscale– Better at conducting electricity or heat– Stronger– Different magnetic properties– Reflect light better– Change color

• Larger surface area, so more surface is available for interactions with other materials

Nanotechnology Products

• Anti-bacterial wound dressings• Nanoscale dry powder neutralizes gas and

liquid toxins in chemical spills• Batteries deliver more power, more

quickly, and with less heat• Sunscreen to prevent sunburns• Scratch and glare resistant coatings for

eye glasses, windows, and car mirrors

What Is a Buckyball?

• Hollow spherical molecule made up of 60 carbon atoms arranged into 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons

• 1 nanometer in diameter• Resembles the shape of a

soccer ball, but is 10 septillion times smaller (10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000)

1 nm

22 cm

Buckyball

• Extremely strong for use in building materials– May replace silicon in electronic devices

• Scientists and engineers are exploring their usefulness in:– Vehicles for drug delivery– Tiny environmental sensors– Light detectors– Surface coatings to improve wear resistance

What’s a Carbon Nanotube (CNT)?

• Tubular form of carbon with diameter of 1 nanometer and length of few nanometers to microns

• Graphene sheet rolled into a tube

http://ipt.arc.nasa.gov/carbonnano.html

http://ipt.arc.nasa.gov/Graphics/arl_talk.pdf

Nanotubes

• Extraordinary properties– Stiff as a diamond– Very high tensile strength– Strongest and most flexible

molecular material– Can be metallic or

semiconducting– Very high current-carrying

capacity

Tools for Nanotechnology

• New tools are needed to manipulate and measure objects this small

Scanning Electron Microscope

• Used to show detailed, three-dimensional images at very high magnification

• Extends observation beyond objects that are too fast, too small, too far away, or invisible to the naked eyeHow the SEM Works

A three-dimensional ultrastructural image analysis of a T-lymphocyte (right), a platelet (center), and a red blood cell (left) using a scanning electron microscope (SEM)

Atomic Force Microscope

• Used to image, measure, and manipulate matter at the nanoscale

• Information gathered by “feeling” the surface with a mechanical probe

Atomic force microscope topographical scan of a glass surface.

Microscopes Help Us SeeMeter

Centimeter

Ruler/Caliper

Millimeter

Optical Microscope

Micrometer

Electron Microscope

Nanometer

Atomic Force Microscope

Clean Room• Scientists and engineers

build structures at the nano scale in clean rooms.

• They wear suits to protect the clean room from dirt that may be on clothes, bodies, or shoes.

Nanotechnology Applications• Nanoelectronics and

computing– Diodes and transistors– Capacitors– Data storage– Flat panel displays– Energy efficient processors

• Structural, mechanical– Composites– Cables, beams– Multifunctional materials– Body armor, space suits– Self-healing materials

Carbon nanotubes used in bats and racquets because of their great strength

http://www.nano.gov/html/res/200711NanotechnologyBigThingsfromaTinyWorld.html

Nanotechnology Applications

Drug Delivery

http://www.nano.gov/html/res/200711NanotechnologyBigThingsfromaTinyWorld.html

• Sensors– Force– Pressure– Chemical– Batteries– Life detection

• Biomedical– Drug delivery– DNA sequencing– Artificial muscles– Bone replacement– Bionic eye

Nanotechnology Applications• Energy and Environment

– Clean, less expensive sources– High efficiency and durable

lighting

• Transportation– Wear resistant coatings– High strength, light weight

composites – increase fuel efficiency

– Improved displays– Battery technology– Wear-resistant tires– Automated highways

Water Filtration

http://www.nano.gov/html/res/200711NanotechnologyBigThingsfromaTinyWorld.html

Nanotechnology Applications

• National Security– High sensitivity, low power

sensors to detect threats– Light weight military

platforms– Reduce carry-on weight of

soldier gear

• Space– Probes for planet surfaces– Micro-Rovers– “Thinking” spacecraft

http://ipt.arc.nasa.gov/spacetransport.html

Summary

• Nanotechnology is an enabling technology that will impact– Electronics and computing– Materials and manufacturing– Energy and environment– Health and medicine– National security – Space exploration– . . . the possibilities are endless

Image Resources

Microsoft, Inc. (2008). Clip art. Retrieved September 10, 2008, from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (n.d.). Nanotechnology: Opportunities and challenges. Retrieved February 3, 2009, from http://ipt.arc.nasa.gov/Graphics/rdd_talk.pdf

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (n.d.). Nanotechnology gallery. Retrieved February 3, 2009, from http://ipt.arc.nasa.gov/spacetransport.html

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (n.d.). An overview of recent developments in nanotechnology. Retrieved February 3, 2009, from http://ipt.arc.nasa.gov/Graphics/arl_talk.pdf

National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). (n.d.). Big things from a tiny world. Retrieved February 3, 2009, from http://www.nano.gov/