2. Introduction
This is all very interesting and quite impressive,
but what use is it? Our lives have some meaning
on a scale of meters, but it's impossible to think
about ordinary, everyday existence on a scale
1000 times smaller than a fly's eye. We can't
really think about problems like AIDS, world
poverty, or global warming, because they lose all
meaning on the nanoscale. Yet the nanoscale—
the world where atoms, molecules (atoms joined
together), proteins, and cells rule the roost—is a
place where science and technology gain an
entirely new meaning.
3. Overview:
How nanotechnology is
impacting our everyday lives
Defining nanoscale science and
engineering (“nanotechnology”)
Why the excitement about
nanotechnology? Examples of
“nanotech” in current research
… and everyday life
6. What is nanoscale science &
engineering?
The study of materials and associated
physical, biophysical and biochemical
phenomena on the scale of ~1-100 nm.
The primary appeal of nanotechnology is the
potential to manipulate matter at
the nanoscale. This leads to the
possibility of preparing novel materials
(nanomaterials) that have specific,
manipulable physical properties and
functions.
7. What makes the nanoscale special?
1. High density of structures is possible with small size.
2. Physical and chemical properties can be different at the nano-scale
(e.g. electronic, optical, mechanical, thermal, chemical).
3. The physical behavior of material can be different in the nano-regime
because of the different ways physical properties scale with dimension
(e.g. area vs. volume).
Prof. Richard Feynman
“There’s plenty of room at the bottom”
8. Physical/chemical properties can change as we
approach the nano-scale
Melting point of gold particles Fluorescence of semiconductor
nanocrystals
Decreasing crystal size
K. J. Klabunde, 2001 M. Bawendi, MIT: web.mit.edu/chemistry/nanocluster
Evident, Inc.: www.evidenttech.com
By controlling nano-scale (1) composition, (2) size, and (3) shape, we can
create new materials with new properties New technologies
9. Nanotechnology is estimated to become a
trillion dollar market by ~2010
Areas in which nanotechnologies are expected to
impact our everyday lives:
• Electronics • Mechanical engineering
• Photonics (communications • Aerospace
& computing using photons) • Environmental remediation
• Information storage • Pharmaceuticals & drug
• Energy storage/transport delivery
• Materials engineering • Biotechnology -- CdSe
• Textiles nanocrystals
10. Applications of
Nanoscience
Materials Environment Health care Technology
• Stain-resistant • Paint that • Nerve tissue • Building
clothes cleans talking to C smaller
• Paints that • Nano solar • Detecting devices
dose not chip cells disease
earlier
11. Materials: Stain
Resistant Clothes
Nanofibers create cushion of air
around fabric
– 10 nm carbon whiskers bond with
cotton
– Acts like peach fuzz; many liquids
roll off
12. Nano pants that refuse to stain;
Liquids bead up and roll off
Nano-Care fabrics with water, cranberry juice,
vegetable oil, and mustard after 30 minutes
(left) and wiped off with wet paper towel (right)
13. Environment: Paint
That Cleans Air
• Nanopaint on buildings
could reduce pollution
– When exposed to
ultraviolet light, titanium
dioxide (TiO2)
nanoparticles in paint
break down organic and
inorganic pollutants that
wash off in the rain
– Decompose air pollution
particles like formaldehyde
14. Environment: Nano
Solar Cells
• Nano solar
cells mixed in
plastic could be
painted on
buses, roofs,
clothing
– Solar becomes
a cheap energy
alternative!
17. Health Care: Nerve
Tissue Talking to
Computers
• Neuro-electronicnetworks
interface nerve cells
with semiconductors
– Possible applications in brain
research,neurocomputation,
biosensors
Snail neuron grown on a chip
that records the neuron’s
activity
19. Cancer Therapy
Advances in nanotechnology are enabling many
new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in
cancer. Nano particles are employed to induce
localized heating within tumors . Approaches to
nano particle-mediated thermal therapy include
absorption of infrared light, radio frequency
ablation, and magnetically-induced heating.
These approaches have demonstrated high
efficacy in animal models, and two are already in
human clinical trials.
21. Research area 1: Lightweight, multi-
functional nano-fibers and materials
Research area 2: Battle suit medicine
Research area 3: Blast and ballistic
protection
Research area 4: Chem/bio materials
science (detection & protection)
Research area 5: Nanosystems integration
