1. What Are Nanotechnologies and What Do They Mean For Us?
Tim Harper
Cientifica Ltd
Bucharest 12th April 2005

2. Cientifica Ltd London based Cientifica Ltd
Provides global nanotechnology business intelligence and consulting services to industry and investors worldwide;
Publishes the ‘Nanotechnology Opportunity Report” the only global overview of technologies and markets;
Organises the World Nanoeconomic Congress and Trends in Nanotechnology conferences;
Coordinates EU research programs from electronics to toxicology, regulation and legislation;
Provides expert advice to governments worldwide.

4. Think Globally… Offices Offices Associates
Global Headquarters (London)

5. …Act Locally
Current Cientifica Consulting Clients

6. 1. What Is Nanotechnology

7. Quantum corral of 48 iron atoms on copper surface
DNA
~2-1/2 nm diameter
Things Natural
Things Manmade
Human hair
~ mm wide
Red blood cells
with white cell
~ 2-5 mm
Dust mite
200 mm
ATP synthase
~10 nm diameter
MicroElectroMechanical Devices
mm wide
Pollen grain
Fly ash
~ mm
Atoms of silicon
spacing ~tenths of nm
Head of a pin
1-2 mm
Quantum corral of 48 iron atoms on copper surface
positioned one at a time with an STM tip
Corral diameter 14 nm
Ant
~ 5 mm
The Microworld
0.1 nm
1 nanometer (nm)
0.01 mm
10 nm
0.1 mm
100 nm
1 micrometer (mm)
10 mm
100 mm
1 millimeter (mm)
1 cm
10-2 m
10-3 m
10-4 m
10-5 m
10-6 m
10-7 m
10-8 m
10-9 m
10-10 m
Visible
spectrum
The Nanoworld
1,000 nanometers =
1,000,000 nanometers =
Nanotube electrode
Carbon nanotube
~2 nm diameter
Nanotube transistor
21st Century Challenge
Combine nanoscale building blocks to make functional devices,

8. The Evolution of Materials
10,000 BC
Cement
Steel
1800
Iron
1000 BC
1900’s
Polymers
&
Composites
2000
2010
Stone & Wood
Nano
materials &
composites
Bottom Up Design?
From as found to as we want…
Adapted from Herrmann, W. Chem. Eng. Technol. 21(7), 549 (1998)

9. Precise Control Over Properties
An order of magnitude better than chemistry
Defect free and higher tolerance
Bottom Up design
What properties do we need
Can we design the material we require?

10. Molecular Precision
“Controlling physical properties by defining matter with molecular precision”
-Prof Mark Welland, University of Cambridge

11. Defining Nanotech with More Precision
Nanoscience is the study of phenomena and manipulation of materials at atomic, molecular and macromolecular scales, where properties differ significantly from those at a larger scale.
But
Nanotechnologies are the design, characterisation, production and application of structures, devices and systems by controlling shape and size at nanometre scale.
-Source: Royal Society Report on Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies: Opportunities and Uncertainties, Policy Document 19/04, July 2004

12. The Importance of Materials
We may be in line for a “permanent oil shock” - IMF, April 2005
Oil may increase to over $100/barrel in a “superspike” - Goldman Sachs , April 2005
We are entering a “supercycle” characterised by and extended period of demand for raw materials - Citigroup, April 2005

13. The Roadmap
Source: Irish Council For Science, Technology and Innovation, June 2004

14. Tools for Nanotechnology
“Nanotechnology” first introduced in 1974 by Norio Taniguchi as a term for ultra precision machining
Scanning Tunnelling Microscopes (STM) were commercially available from the mid 80’s
The first commercial Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) the DI Nanoscope went on sale in 1989
Scientific American, August 1985

15. Working on the Nanoscale is Routine
Height image of banded spherulite of high density polyethylene. 15 µm scan
Phase image of block copolymer (PCHE/PE) film. 400nm scan.
Phase image of liquid crystalline carbosilane dendrimer
Images Courtesy Veeco

16. Atomic Resolution is Routine
2nm gate-oxide sample Clear view on the structure of a silicon-silicon oxide interface. Image courtesy of FEI Company
17/09/2018

17. 2. Will Nanotechnologies…
Build tiny robots?
Make anyone rich?
Change Our Lives?
Provide opportunities for Eastern Europe?

18. Building Tiny Robots?

19. A Pointless Debate?

20. More Biology and Chemistry than Physics?
Many nanoscale manufacturing processes are attempting to mimic nature
Almost all biological processes take place in the liquid phase
Trend towards directed self assembly (sometimes referred to as directed evolution)
Frustules of Diatoms
Seawater +
Sunlight =
Silica
(Note Seawater contains traces of dissolved silicic acid)

21. Nanobio Examples Protein Nanowires
Based on yeast Xaccharomyces cerevisiae
yeast modified to enable protein to bond with metal particles (Au/Ag)
metal wires between 80 and 200 nanometers in diameter
-Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Protein Based Assembly
Based on protein ferritin
Stores iron in the body
Replace iron with ferromagnetic materials to ‘grow’ high density disk drives
-Nanomagnetics Ltd. UK

22. Getting Rich Quick?

23. From Nanoscience to Nanotechnology

24. From Nanoscience to Nanotechnology

25. From Nanoscience to Nanotechnology

26. Who Makes The Money? Plenty of money for research
Equipment Suppliers are making the money now
Highest growth rates in corporate R&D
Most Global 2000 companies know what ‘nano’ means

27. Strong Demand Drives Profits
Record results for FEI and Veeco
Global public funding over $6Bn
Strong growth in industrial research

28. Changing Our Lives?
In Unexpected Ways?

29. Automotive Applications
Carbon Black or CNT tyre compounds
Stain resistant textiles
Self cleaning alloy wheels
Heat reflecting / antireflective coating
Paint and anti scratch coatings
CNT in plastic components
Hydrophobic coating on windows
Lubricants and fuel additives
Conductive polymer fuel systems
Ceramic brake and engine components
Sensors
Catalytic converter
© Cientifica Ltd

30. Source: Cientifica Ltd

31. Commercialisation : Results of the European Nanobusiness Association survey 2005
Web-based survey of European attitudes to nanotechnology
130 respondents, 46% from industry

32. Industry View
Source: European NanoBusiness Association Survey Sample size 128

33. Commercialisation : Results of the ENA survey 2005

34. Commercialisation : Results of the ENA survey 2005

35. (nano)Opportunities For Eastern Europe
Three key areas
Primary Industries
Local Solutions
World Class Niches

36. Primary Industries
Nanotech is about materials so effects production more than services (so far).
Leverage low costs while adding value through nanotech
E.g application of improved catalysts to chemical and coal processing
Clean coal
Oil from coal
Add value to natural resources
Add value through local processing
Leverage improvements in packaging

37. Local Solutions 1 Modernization of traditional industries
Ask how ‘nano’ can
make things faster/better/cheaper/greener
Open new markets
Improve margins
Textiles - added value through enhanced functionality
Stain/crease resistance, functional textiles, industrial textiles
Construction - multifunctional materials
Coatings (self cleaning, sensing, energy generating)
Bulk properties (tensile, thermal, optical)

38. Local Solutions 2 Develop Solutions to Local Problems
Water
Energy
Pollution …
Sometimes application “know how” is more valuable than the core technology
Look for exportable expertise

39. World Class Niches
The playing field is not level so don’t play “catch up.”
Build on and encourage local “world class” expertise.
Solve your own problems before solving mine (proven solutions are more valuable than ideas).
Look for regional niche industries that add value, e.g processing, packaging.

40. Conclusions 1 There is no shortage of money for nanotech;
Growth will shift from research to applications;
Major markets such as Energy, Water and Health will be key drivers;
Environmental issues are being addressed, societal issues are less clear;
Tomorrows nanotech will look more like chemistry than physics.

41. Conclusions 2 Nanotechnologies pose new questions for regulators;
Many covered by existing legislation;
Nanotechnologies will generate civil liberty issues, but only in conjunction with IT, Biotech;
Need to look not at nanotechnologies, but their effect!

42. A closing thought… Global nanotechnology funding 2004: $8 bln
Amount Americans will spend on pet food in 2005:
$14.5 bln*
*American pet products manufacturers association, 2005

43. Tim Harper - Cientifica