1. Nanotechnology

2. 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!

3. 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

4. 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