2. History and background on nanotechnology
Importance of nano-sized devices
Applications
Relation to ME 325
Case study
Future expectations
3. Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional
systems at the molecular scale (Usually between
1nm – 100nm)
Comparison: A human hair is about 100,000nm in
diameter
Not new products, a new way of production
4. Topic introduced first by Richard Feynman at Caltech in 1959.
Gordon Moore observed that silicon transistors were undergoing a continual
process of scaling downward 1965
Nanotechnology was first defined by Tokyo Science University in a paper in
1974.
Process of atomic layer deposition for depositing uniform thin films one at a
time was developed by Dr. Tuomo Suntola and Co-workers in 1974.
Nanotechnology was conceptually explored in depth by Dr. K. Eric Drexler in
1980s
Cluster science was born in the 1980s and the scanning tunneling
microscope was invented.
Fullerenes was discovered in 1985
Nano-tube based nanotechnology was developed further in 90s.
Present practices in nanotechnology are both stochastic and deterministic
5.
6. Saving of resources
◦ Products can be made with much less raw material
◦ Cost reduction through batch production
◦ Reduced energy to produce and operate products
Size reduction
◦ Saves space
◦ Tighter tolerances
◦ Negligible weight of product
Development of life quality
◦ Higher strength
Improvement of existing technologies
7. Exponential Proliferation: manufacturing systems
which will make more manufacturing systems
Vastly accelerated product improvement
Applicable to all industries and economic sectors
Inexpensive raw materials, potentially negligible
capital costs
Portable, desktop size factories
Global transformation
9. Medical applications:
◦ Wound dressings employing antimicrobial properties of nanocrystalline silver
◦ Potential for use as vehicles for gene and drug delivery
Military applications:
◦ Nanopolymers developed to spray on soldier and act as fabric to break down
chemical and biological warfare agents. Biosensors to monitor a soldiers health.
◦ Nano sized silicon carbide particles for physical protection.
Environmental Applications:
◦ Nanoparticles used as filters to attract contaminants which can be removed
magnetically at a later time.
Cosmetics:
◦ Nano-titanium dioxide and zinc oxide used in sunscreens to absorb and reflect
UV light. Applications in solar power
Fine powders used to create stronger materials.
◦ Used to make drill bits as hard as diamiond.
10. Can be metallic or semiconducting
Promising potential to create
nanoelectronic devices, computers,
and circuits
Thermal and electrical conducting
Impressive mechanical properties:
Young’s Modulus over 1 Tera Pascal
– stiff as diamond
Estimated tensile strength of
200GPa – ideal for reinforced
composites and
nanoelectromechanical systems
11. When CNT conduct electricity they can create
binary code.
Think 1s and 0s at a nano level which allow
for faster smaller processors
12. Nano- Sensors have many applications
Nano-sensors for security and military
applications
◦ monitor heart rate
Nano-wire sensors that detect chemicals and
biologics
Nano-sensors placed in blood cells to detect
early radiation damage in astronauts
Nano-shells that detect and destroy tumors
Laser Nano sensors for measuring surface
roughness, thickness of materials
Motorola working with Arizona State towards
integrating nano-sensors in cell phones
13. Different forces are important
on the nano-scale
◦ Electrical forces are a priority
Negligible weight
Size reduction affects volume to
surface area ratio
◦ Friction becomes more important
◦ Density and volume are negligible
Different analysis and
importance of forces must be
performed
14. Crack propagation
◦ Cracks function differently on nanoscale
◦ Study of nucleation of atoms becomes important
Nanotechnology and lubricants
◦ Reduce friction between parts
◦ Increase life
Materials with improved properties
◦ When a material is made at a nano scale it has
much better properties, because there are fewer
impurities and defects
15. Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED)
•The future of television
•As electricity passes over the thin nonopolymer film layer
it produces color and light.
•More dots of lights means a better picture.
16. These nanopolymer films require less power and in the future
will be much cheaper to make
The screens are have much more detail on a fraction of the
size
These screens are 2 mm thick and 2.5 inches wide.
Its so flexible someday it might be woven into clothes for
invisibility.
17. Virtually endless possibilities
What is likely:
◦ Smaller sizes and tolerances in design
◦ Smaller, faster computer chips
◦ Water treatment
◦ Medicinal purposes
◦ Increased bandwith through more efficient optical
spectrum
Other possibilities:
◦ Nano-sized weaponry
◦ Agricultural applications
18. Cost and material reduction
◦ Changing the way we manufacture
Methods of applying
◦ CNT
◦ MEMS
◦ Sensors
Demand increasing
Future potential
◦ Funding for research
◦ Multiple fields utilizing nanotechnology
