TechDogs-"What You Don’t Know About Nanotechnology"

Emerging Technology

What You Don’t Know About Nanotechnology

By TechDogs Editorial Team

TechDogs
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Overview

We’re sure most of you have watched Avengers: Endgame. After all, it remains the second-highest grossing movie of all time! In the film, the surviving Avengers attempt to undo the destruction caused by Thanos when he wiped out half the life in the universe. Some of our favorite Avengers, such as Star-Lord, Groot and Black Panther were turned to dust – however, some survived.

One of them was Ant-Man AKA Scott Lang, who was trapped in the Quantum Realm, which exists only on the subatomic scale. Since physics works much differently on smaller scales than what we’re used to in everyday life, Ant-Man was unaffected by Thanos’ evil plan. However, his suit is broken and he can no longer get back to the real world. The only thing that can save Ant-Man is understanding how technology works on the subatomic scale. You should’ve paid attention when Doctor Pym was explaining stuff, Scott!

Don’t worry; we’re here to help! Join us (and Mr. Ant-Man) as we dive into the Quantum Realm for a tour of Nanotechnology; its history, evolution, applications, working and more!
TechDogs-"What You Don’t Know About Nanotechnology"-Don't Travel To The Quantum Realm For Nanotech!
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Dr. Hank Pym invented the Pym particle – a subatomic particle that could alter the size of normal matter. It could shrink an elephant to the size of a hair and vice-versa! However, since we do not have these particles (or Dr. Pym; he’s busy building a new Ant-Man suit for Scott!), we made our own – meet Nanotechnology.

It is defined as the research and development of technological applications on a scale from 1 to 100 nanometers (FYI - a nanometer refers to one billionth of a meter or 0.000000001 meters!). You can bet that the rules are completely different and unique phenomena occur on such a small scale, allowing us to test and develop novel applications (read Ant-Man suit!). Yet, Nanotechnology research is not new, as Richard Zsigmondy, the Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, first proposed the concept of a nanometer in 1925. Here, the prefix ‘nano’ referred to a Greek prefix meaning ‘dwarf’ or something incredibly small. It may mean “small” but this technology has had a huge impact on our modern world.

Nanotechnology applications are now used in a variety of fields, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, energy, materials science and many others. Let’s dive in and understand how stuff works on the nanoscale!
 

Understanding Nanotechnology: A Brief 101


Before we get into the nitty-gritty details, we want to distinguish that nanoscience is the study of structures on the scale of nanometers (that is, ranging between 1 and 100 nanometers), while the technology that utilizes it in practical applications is called Nanotechnology. Pretty simple, right?

So, when we talk about nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes being applied for building tougher yet lighter materials, or nanomedical devices that can be ingested or injected into the body, we are talking about Nanotechnology. Essentially, when the knowledge of nanoscience is utilized to develop applications, it falls under Nanotechnology. Think of every miniature technology you’ve seen in spy movies – only much, much smaller - that’s what we’re talking about!

Nanotechnology may sound cutting-edge but it is not a new concept – take a look.
 

Evolution And Origins Of Nanotechnology


In the 4th Century, Romans invented the Lycurgus Cup - a glass chalice made of dichroic glass that changed color depending on how light passed through it: red when lit from behind and green when lit from the front. This was because the nanoparticles in the glass (finely ground gold and silver dust) interacted with light passing through the cup.

TechDogs-"Evolution And Origins Of Nanotechnology"-An Image Showing The 4th Century Lycurgus Cup That Used Nanoparticles
Since the time of the Romans, Nanotechnology has evolved massively. Richard Feynman, the Nobel Laureate in Physics, is called the father of modern nanotechnology. He gave a lecture titled "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom" at the 1959 American Physical Society meeting, in which he introduced the concept of manipulating matter at the atomic level.

In 1986, Binnig and Rohrer were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for designing the STM (scanning tunnelling microscope) that had a resolution of 0.1 nanometer allowing us to view individual atoms! Later, in 1990, IBM's Don Eigler used a STM to control 35 individual xenon atoms on a nickel surface to create the IBM logo. A year later, Drexler, Peterson, and Pergamit released "Unbounding the Future: The Nanotechnology Revolution" in which the phrase "nanomedicine" was used for the first time.

Naturally, the beginning of the twenty-first century saw a surge in the fields of nanoscience and the development of practical applications that we now call Nanotechnology. Today, it impacts human life on a daily basis through a variety of applications. Newer and more powerful technologies, such as the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and Scanning Probe Microscope (SPM), are now the tools of choice for nanotechnology researchers worldwide, enabling us to observe the world with a resolution of 0.01 nanometers!

So, why exactly are we researching Nanotechnology?


Why Nanotechnology Is Important


Today, the core of Nanotechnology is to modify the properties of materials on the nanoscale to develop completely new applications. For example, nanomaterials have a relatively larger surface area compared to the same material in a larger form. This increases the chemical reactivity of nanoparticles while also improving their electrical characteristics. This enables us to develop entirely new materials with distinct characteristics – think of the Vibranium used in Captain America’s shield or the outer alloy of Iron Man’s suit!

Furthermore, at the nanoscale, the so-called “quantum effect” begins to dominate the behavior of matter – remember the Quantum Realm? We have already warned you that the rules aren't the same here! Quantum effects have an impact on the optical, electrical and magnetic properties of materials, allowing us to test new applications, theories and materials. However, it's not all research - Nanotechnology is heavily being used in consumer products and scientific applications. Let's check out some of the common ones.

No, Scott, we're not going to talk about the Ant-Man suit!


What Are The Applications Of Nanotechnology?


From nanoparticles in our sunscreen to miniature electronic chips used in computers, Nanotechnology has blessed us with incredibly sci-fi-sounding inventions. Here are some areas where it is commonly used -
 

  • Energy

    Nanotechnology is helping us develop new types of batteries that charge quicker, are more energy-efficient and have a higher power density. Overall, it helps batteries hold electrical charge longer, promising to cause a revolution for electric vehicles and clean power generation.

  • Nanomedicine

    Remember the episode of Rick and Morty where they shrunk down to the nanoscale, entered a patient’s bloodstream and destroyed a tumor? Although that was fiction, soon, Nanotechnology will enable doctors to inject nanoparticles directly at the source of the disease. This will increase its efficiency and minimize any side effects. Nanoparticles are also being used to stimulate and better understand the body’s biological mechanisms.


TechDogs-"How Nanobots Will Be Used"-A Vector Image Showing How Nanobots Will Be Used To Improve Healthcare  

  • Nanobiotechnology

    That’s what happens when Nanotechnology meets biotechnology! Nanobiotechnology is helping us develop molecular prosthetics – that is, medical components on the nanoscale that can repair or replace damaged cells Moreover, it will help reduce invasive surgeries and screenings as nanodevices will be injected into the body to understand metrics such as blood toxicity and oxygen saturation. How cool is that!

  • Nanoelectronics

    As the name suggests, nanoelectronics refers to devices that are so tiny they operate on nanoscales. In the micro-world, quantum effects dominate the characteristics of materials, allowing us to create bizarre electronic devices. From quantum computers to supercapacitors to more powerful solar cells, Nanotechnology is the future of miniature electronics.


TechDogs-"Nanotechnology In Electronics"-The World's Smallest Light Sensor Is An Example Of Nanotechnology In Electronics  

  • Nanocoating

    Nanocoating refers to the application of nanoscale coatings or thin films that are applied to surfaces in order to create or improve a material's functionalities. Such coatings are a few tens to a few hundreds of nanometers thick and provide corrosion protection, friction reduction, antibacterial properties, heat and radiation resistance, etc. Primary applications of this technique are seen in aerospace, medical, marine and oil industries – and naturally, Iron Man’s suit!

  • Nanosensors

    Straight out of a James Bond flick, nanosensors are sensing devices with at least one of its dimensions smaller than 100 nanometers. These tiny devices collect information on the nanoscale and transmit it for data analysis. Common uses include detection of gas leaks, identifying chemical compositions and the detection of exposure to electromagnetic radiation.


Essentially, we have all reaped the benefits of Nanotechnology without being aware of it – however, that’s going to change soon. Yeah, Nanotechnology is about to go mainstream. Read on to know how!


What’s The Future Of Nanotechnology?


TechDogs-"What’s The Future Of Nanotechnology?"-An Infographic Showing The Various Applications Of Nanotechnology That Are Under Development
Nanotechnology is helping us improve products and services across a wide range of areas - food safety, healthcare, energy, environmental protection and manufacturing. Most of the advances in industries such as automotive, electronics and computing will be based on the developments in Nanotechnology. However, there are many more promising applications in the works.

Food pollutants will be detected using nanosensors during packaging. Nanotechnology will help physicians improve drug delivery systems. Nano cages, for example, can theoretically transport cancer-killing medications directly to cancer cells rather than accidentally destroying healthy cells.

Nanotechnology will also assist in enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of batteries and solar cells as our energy needs keep growing. We're confident that Nanotechnology will revolutionize the world around us by enhancing healthcare, biotechnology, energy and other critical fields in the future. 
 

Conclusion


Well, Mr. Ant-Man, that was all about Nanotechnology. We hope with a better understanding of how stuff works on the nano scale, you will be able to repair your suit and escape the Quantum Realm – after all, the Avengers need you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nanotechnology and how does it differ from Nanoscience?


Nanotechnology encompasses the practical applications of studying structures on the scale of nanometers, typically ranging between 1 and 100 nanometers. This field utilizes knowledge from nanoscience, which focuses on understanding phenomena occurring at the nanoscale. Essentially, when nanoscience knowledge is applied to develop practical applications such as nanomaterials and nanomedical devices, it falls under the realm of Nanotechnology. In simpler terms, Nanotechnology deals with the practical utilization of nanoscale structures and phenomena to develop innovative applications across various industries, from healthcare to materials science.

What are some common applications of Nanotechnology?


Nanotechnology has revolutionized various industries with its diverse applications. In the field of energy, it has led to the development of advanced batteries that charge faster, are more energy-efficient, and have higher power density. Nanomedicine utilizes nanotechnology to create targeted drug delivery systems, enabling more effective treatments with reduced side effects. Nanobiotechnology combines nanotechnology and biotechnology to develop molecular prosthetics and nanodevices for medical diagnostics. In electronics, nanotechnology has paved the way for the creation of quantum computers, supercapacitors, and more efficient solar cells. Other applications include nanocoating for corrosion protection, nanosensors for detecting gas leaks, and nanoelectronics for miniaturized electronic devices.

What does the future hold for Nanotechnology?


The future of Nanotechnology is promising, with advancements expected in various sectors such as healthcare, energy, environmental protection, and manufacturing. Nanotechnology will play a crucial role in improving food safety, enhancing drug delivery systems, and developing more efficient energy storage and generation technologies. Nanosensors will be utilized for detecting pollutants, while nanostructures like nanocages will enable targeted drug delivery for diseases like cancer. Additionally, Nanotechnology will continue to drive innovations in automotive, electronics, and computing industries, leading to more efficient and sustainable products and services. Overall, Nanotechnology is poised to revolutionize multiple fields, shaping the future of technology and innovation.

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