Think about a world which can never be seen but really exists. Yes, this is the nanotechnology world which is not visible to the naked eye even with a light microscope.
It is denoted as nano because a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter, smaller than the wavelength of visible light and has a width hundred-thousandth times less than a human hair. In general, nanotechnology makes sense when something measures within the range between 1 and 100nm.
It was 1986 when Eric Drexler introduced the term nanotechnology and from then on the nano world went through many revolutionary changes. Recently more than 13,000 patents have been registered in the US. Nanotechnology has broad spectrum approach that successfully attracts biologists, chemists, physicists and engineers.
Until recently, researchers discovered two nano-sized structures namely nanowires and carbon nanotubes. Nanowires has very small diameter -- near about 1 nanometer. Researchers have developed it to construct tiny transistors for computer chips and other digital accessories. But the advent of carbon nanotube blurred the prospects of nanowires.
Basically carbon nanotube is a nano-size cylinder of carbon atoms. Imagine a sheet made of carbon atoms. If you roll the sheet and insert it into a tube then it becomes a carbon nanotube. Carbon nanotube properties depend on how you roll the sheet. Furthermore, although all carbon nanotubes are made of carbon, they can be very different from each other based on how the atoms are organised.
Due to the proper combination of atom, it is possible to develop a carbon nanotube which is hundreds of times stronger than steel, but six times lighter.
Modern day engineers seriously consider carbon nanotubes as a manufacturing element to produce cars and aircrafts. A relatively weightless vehicle ensures easy to handle opportunity and reduces fuel cost.
With the proper combination of atoms it is possible to develop high quality semiconductor device. Scientists are still working on finding ways to make carbon nanotubes a realistic option for transistors in microprocessors and other electronics.
Nowadays nanotechnology is implemented in several areas which is very astonishing. Many sunscreen-manufacturing companies today use nanoparticles of zinc oxide or titanium oxide to produce sunscreens. Older sunscreen ingredients are larger particles that are responsible for their whitish colour. Smaller particles are less visible, meaning that when you rub the sunscreen onto your skin, it doesn't give you a whitish tinge.
Researchers are now thinking about the prospects of nanotechnology in apparel industry. Integrating nanoparticles of zinc oxide, manufacturers can create clothes that act as protective shield to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Some clothes have nanoparticles in the form of little hairs or whiskers that help repel water and other materials, making the clothing stain-resistant.
Nanotechnology has also its presence in solar power technology. Researchers are currently exploring the prospects of nanotechnology-based solar cell against traditional silicon-based solar cell. This new category of solar cells derived from nanocrystals will be capable of converting sunlight into electricity at a fraction of the cost of silicon solar cells.
Silicon-based solar cells are made from a refined, highly purified silicon crystal, similar to those used in the manufacturing of integrated circuits and computer chips. The high costs of these silicon solar cells and their complex production process have generated interest in developing alternative photovoltaic technologies.
Besides high-end solutions nanotechnology can be utilised to develop stylish gadgets. A company called Pilkington offers a product they call Activ Glass, which uses nanoparticles to make the glass photocatalytic and hydrophilic. The photocatalytic effect means that when UV radiation from light hits the glass, nanoparticles become energized and begin to break down and loosen organic molecules on the glass. Hydrophilic means that when water makes contact with the glass, it spreads across the glass evenly, which helps wash the glass clean.
In medical science nanotechnology has a great significance. Nanotechnology has been used to create new and improved imaging techniques to find small tumours. Researchers have shown that incredibly small iron oxide particles (nanoparticulates) can be used with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to accurately detect cancers that have spread to lymph nodes, without requiring surgery.
In the near future, nanoscale devices may be available to detect the earliest stages of cancer while simultaneously delivering anticancer agents to the tumour. Early research has shown that nanoparticulate sensors can detect the cell death that occurs when a cancer cell succumbs to the effects of an anticancer drug.
It is worth mentioning that nanotechnology can effectively address the biological complexities. Nanrobots will mix with fluids programmed to attack and reconstruct the molecular structure of cancer cell and viruses. There's even speculation that nanorobots could slow or reverse the aging process, and life expectancy could increase significantly.
Environmental concern is a great issue in recent times. Nanotechnology can bring breakthroughs to eliminate environmental catastrophes. For instance, scientists could program airborne nanorobots to rebuild the thinning ozone layer. Nanorobots could remove contaminants from water sources and clean up oil spills. Manufacturing materials using the bottom-up method of nanotechnology also creates less pollution than conventional manufacturing processes.
Although nano world promises substantial changes in the traditional world, suspicion remains about its side effects because elements at the nanoscale behave differently than they do in their usual form.
Some doctors worry that the nanoparticles are so small that they could easily cross the blood-brain barrier, a membrane that protects the brain from harmful chemicals in the bloodstream.
Nanotechnology may create some social obligations. For instance, this technology could be used to create more powerful weapons, both lethal and non-lethal. It may create imbalance in power which may result in unrest in the society. To deal with this phenomenon, some organisations have urged scientists and politicians to examine carefully all the possibilities of nanotechnology before designing increasingly powerful weapons.
In essence, there is no doubt that nanotechnology has the power to empower the modern civilization. But implementers should first thrash out the ethical aspects of this new age technology.