So What Is Nanotechnology - Weebly
Transcript of So What Is Nanotechnology - Weebly
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
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/