Nanotechnology

What is nanotechnology? The engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale Building machines on the scale of molecules – a few nanometres wide Involves the controlling and restructuring matter at the nanoscale Endless possibilities regarding its uses Extra info: A nanometre is a billionth of a metre. That’s half of the diameter of a strand of DNA!

The 4 generations of nanotechnology 1st generation: Passive nanostructures Dispersed and contact nanostructures: aerosols, colloids Products incorporating nanostructures: coatings, nanoparticle reinforces composites, nanostructured metals, polymers, ceramics 2nd generation: Active nanostructures Bio-active, health effects: Targeted drugs, biodevices Physico-chemical active: 3D transistors, amplifiers, actuators, adaptive structures 3rd generation: Systems of nanosystems Guided assembly, 3D networking and new hierarchical architectures, robotics, evolutionary 4th generation: Molecular nanosystems Molecular devices by design, atomic design, emerging functions 2000 2005 Nanotechnology is often described as consisting of 4 generations, each generation improving on the previous 2010 2015-2020

How does nanotechnology work? Quantum mechanics play a very important role in nanotechnology Quantum physics is different from classical physics as substances at the nanoscale can behave erratically from what was expected For example: An electron can teleport—this is called electron tunneling Substances that are insulators can become semi-conductors at the nanoscale We can manipulate substances at the nanoscale to use them in various applications