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NANOTECHNOLOGY
And
Its applications


















By,
A.L.Hanisha
K.V.Padmaja
G.Rajeswari
College: Raghu Institute of Technology
Branch: Computer Science Engineering




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What is nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is the study of the controlling of
matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally
nanotechnology deals with structures of the size 100
nanometers or smaller in at least one dimension, and
involves developing materials or devices within that
size. Nanotechnology is very diverse, ranging from
extensions of conventional device physics to
completely new approaches based upon molecular
self-assembly, from developing new materials with
dimensions on the nanoscale to investigating whether
we can directly control matter on the atomic scale. It is
named in the year 1974 by Norio Taniguchi.

One nanometer (nm) is one billionth, or 10
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, of a
meter. By comparison, typical carbon-carbon bond
lengths, or the spacing between these atoms in a
molecule, are in the range 0.120.15 nm, and a DNA
double-helix has a diameter around 2 nm. On the other
hand, the smallest cellular life-forms, the bacteria of
the genus Mycoplasma, are around 200 nm in length.

Types of Nanotechnology:-
There are many different types of Nanotechnology
available. In general they can be classified into the
following categories:
1) Carbon nanotube
2) Optical (or particle-wave based)
3) Crystalline
4) DNA
5) Quantum
Each of these categories has a significant impact in
the study of Nanotechnology.
You see, Nanotechnology is not just technology. It is
the study of atoms, and the world as we know it. It is
the ability to look deep into what and how basic
elements are created and how they can be manipulated
to benefit mankind. For now, lets take a look at some
of the basics from each of these categories.

Carbon Nanotubes.
An oversimplified analogy might be that of a vacuum
tube; however the tube is made of carbon molecules
instead of glass. The carbon nanotube can contain
other substances, any substance that is desired which
doesnt interact with carbon molecules. Since carbon
is the most non-interactive molecule, it becomes the
logical choice to be a container. Once the nanotube is
filled with its payload, it can be sealed in a number of
different waysbut in general, a breakable bond is
setup between one part of the tube, and another
(between multiple carbon elements). Of course the
tubes, can be strung together to create wire-like
properties. The surprising thing is they are not limited
to moving just electricity! They can also contain any
number of other substances and move those along the
tube as well. The carbon nanotubes form the
containment structure and dont conduct electricity.
But because the nanotubes are hexagonal shape, and
have holes, the contained chemicals within can be
shifted into different materials through the application
of electricity.



A nanotube consisting of carbon molecules
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Optical or Particle Wave Based Nanotechnology
This is a much different method of computation. It
involves the notions that particles can act as both
waves and atoms at the same time. The best or
simplest explanation here is the notion of light, or light
waves if you will. Think back to high school physics
and chemistry. (Remember the photon? Its both a
particle and a wave at the same time. Nanotechnology
is exploring the use of particle wave exchanges for
multiple computation abilities; in other words,
exchanging electrons (without wires) between
computational devices by creating standing waves
from one device, passing the waves through walls,
through space, and around the world. This amounts to
instant communication, no wires. Theyre also
investigating wireless power for the same reasons.
The use of optical Nanotechnology in
bioinformatics to stain cells and watch DNA
computation is incredible compared to the old dying
the cell methods. There are tremendous advances for
light-emitting nano compounds that help us dive
deeper and allow us to better understand our tiny
world.







Crystals and Nanotechnology

Nanocrystals are structures which basically are
attached in a lattice or crystalline shape (like ice for
instance, thats a crystalline form of water when it
freezes). These structures (because of their lattice
shape) are extremely strong. For example, a 3-inch-
thick slab of ice can be much stronger than a 3-inch-
thick piece of red-wood. Nanocrystals are not yet used
as computational devices, but in the future, this may
change. We may actually come to have something like
a crystalline computing device that reacts to sound
waves and changes colors without any visible power-
source.
"Metal nanocrystals might be incorporated into car
bumpers, making the parts stronger, or into aluminum,
making it more wear resistant. Metal nanocrystals
might be used to produce bearings that last longer than
their conventional counterparts, new types of sensors
and components for computers and electronic
hardware.
Nanocrystals of various metals have been shown to be
100 percent, 200 percent and even as much as 300
percent harder than the same materials in bulk form.
Because wear resistance often is dictated by the
hardness of a metal, parts made from nanocrystals
might last significantly longer than conventional
parts."
Another use for nanocrystals is to house anti-bacterial
material without drug interaction and without chemical
bonding at the site. For instance, a company produces
Nanotechnology crystalline structures with silver that
helps to eliminate bacterial infection. The
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nanocrystalline coating of silver rapidly kills a broad
spectrum of bacteria in as little as 30 minutes.
DNA Computing
This is of particular interest to me. It holds incredible
promise, yet at the same timeincredible risks. DNA
Nanotechnology or computing is the ability of man to
understand, map, manipulate, replicate and alter
strands of DNA within molecules. Of course, each cell
is comprised of many DNA strands. The cell with
RNA and enzymes can perform on its own like a mini-
computer. As I wrote in one of my recent
Nanotechnology articles (DNA Computing), it has
been done already, by DARPA in 1999. They
managed to search terabytes of information in fewer
than 10 seconds in a DNA solution within a beaker. I
would suggest reading DNA computing devices.





Quantum Nanotechnology
Quantum Nanotechnology is the sum of all things
based on quantum mechanics, in other wordsall of
the above types of Nanotechnology rolled together. It
is mankinds ability to control the atom and the atomic
elements, even creating our own atomic elements that
are not found in nature.






Applications
Nanotechnology is used in many areas of engineering
as well as other side of engineering. Now a day, as it is
a hot technology in this world, some of the major areas
in which it is used are:
1) Environment
2) Energy
3) Medicine
4) Security
5) Space

Environment
There is strong evidence that most of the warming
over the last 50 years is caused by the buildup of
greenhouse gases mostly carbon dioxide, methane,
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and nitrous oxide. Why is this happening? Most
scientists believe that the increased use of fossil fuels
to run cars and trucks, heat/cool homes, operate
industry businesses, and power factories is the primary
reason. Nanotechnology is offering a range of new
opportunities. For example, nanotech researchers are
working on the development of a solar panel/fuel cell
combination. The idea behind the technology is that
when the solar panel is producing energy, the fuel cell
is running in reverse to collect excess energy, convert
it to hydrogen, and store it. When the sun goes down
and the solar panel is no longer producing energy, the
fuel cell will run forward and produce energy from the
hydrogen it has stored.
Solar Cells
Solar Panels
These are all used using nano cells.
Energy
The majority of the worlds energy comes from fossil
fuels primarily coal, oil, and natural gas. Here is a
limited supply of fossil fuels and they are
nonrenewable. Today, we are using fossil fuels faster
than we are finding them. In fact, the Oil Depletion
Analysis Center (ODAC) predicts that in the near
future the demand for fossil fuels will far exceed the
Earths supply.
Researchers are exploring ways in which
nanotechnology could help us accomplish the
following two goals:

(1) Access and use fossil fuels much more efficiently
so that we can get more energy out of current reserves.

(2) Develop new ways to generate energy.

One example of processes being developed to use
fossil fuels more efficiently is the current research to
design zeolite catalysts at the nanoscale. Researchers
at the University of Toronto are using nanotechnology
to develop solar panels capable of harnessing not only
the visible light from the sun, but the infrared
spectrum as well, thus doubling the energy output.
Whats more, these new solar cells could be sprayed
on surfaces like paint, making them highly portable.
Researchers at Rice University want to take solar
energy research even further. They hope to someday
build a solar power station in space capable of
catching the solar energy that bypasses the Earth every
day and providing about nine times the efficiency of
solar cells on Earth.



Medicine
Investigators are looking to nanotechnology to develop
highly sensitive disease detectors, drug delivery
systems that only target the disease and not the
surrounding healthy tissue, and nanoscale building
blocks that help repair skin, cartilage, and/or bone.
Researchers are investigating nanoparticles as drug
carriers. These nanoscale drug carriers could be coated
with nano-sensors, which could recognize diseased
tissues and attach to them, releasing a drug exactly
where needed. Nanoparticles could also be used to
enter damaged cells and release enzymes that tell the
cells to auto-destruct, or they could release enzymes to
try to repair the cell and return it to normal
functioning.
Researchers around the world are working to unlock
the potential of nanotechnology as it relates to the field
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of medicine.


Security
Emerging nanotechnologies are expected to play a
critical role in helping to maintain national security.
They include new and powerful bio-detection schemes
that can analyze a potential bioterrorism threat at the
point-of-care, materials that can detoxify an area or
human exposed to a set of toxins, and novel ways of
encoding structures that can be used to secure
computer systems.
As the battlefield moves from military targets to
civilian, biological and chemical weaponry may play
an increasingly dominant role. Protection from these
threats depends on the ability to detect, respond, and
control biological and chemical threats before they can
harm the body.

Nanosensors' ability to detect at the molecular or even
atomic level is critical. While in the realm of
medicine, biosensors can detect the onset of disease; in
the area of national security, they could be used to
detect radioactive materials or toxins like anthrax.
Researchers working in the areas of nanoelectronics
and nanocomputing hope to integrate transistor-like
nanoscale devices into system architecture, to provide
substantial advantages over current technologies. They
are also working on the creation of powerful grid
protocols that could make the world wide web
obsolete, and something called quantum cryptography
that could provide the type of electronic security
systems that are impossible to crack.
The goal of the ISN is to use nanotechnology to create
uniforms and gear that will protect and heal the foot
soldiers of the future. Although not the only research
effort in this area, the ISN is the largest.



Space
Nanotechnology may hold the key to making
spaceflight more practical. Advancements in
nanomaterials make lightweight solar sails and a cable
for the space elevator possible. By significantly
reducing the amount of rocket fuel required, these
advances could lower the cost of reaching orbit and
traveling in space. In addition, new materials
combined with nanosensors and nanorobots could
improve the performance of spaceships, spacesuits,
and the equipment used to explore planets and moons,
making nanotechnology an important part of the final
frontier.
Researchers are looking into the following
applications of nanotechnology in spaceflight:
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1) Using carbon nanotubes to make the cable needed
for the Space-elevator a system which could
significantly reduce the cost of sending material into
orbit.
2) Including layers of bio-nano robots in spacesuits.
The outer layer of bio-nano robots would respond to
damages to the spacesuit, for example to seal up
punctures. An inner layer of bio-nano robots could
respond if the astronaut was in trouble, for example by
providing drugs in a medical emergency.
3) Deploying a network of nanosensors to search large
areas of planets such as Mars for traces of water or
other chemicals.
4) Employing materials made from carbon nanotubes
to reduce the weight of spaceships while retaining or
even increasing the structural strength.
5) Producing thrusters for Space-craft that use MEMS
devices to accelerate nanoparticles. This should reduce
the weight and complexity of thruster systems used for
interplanetary missions. One cost-saving feature of
these type of thrusters is their ability to draw on more
or less of the MEMS devices depending upon the size
and thrust requirement of the spacecraft, rather than
designing and building different engines for different
size spacecraft.
6) Using carbon nanotubes to build lightweight solar
sails that use the pressure of light from the sun
reflecting from the sun reflecting on the mirror like
solar cell to propel a space-craft. This solves the
problem of having to lift enough fuel into orbit to
power spacecraft during interplanetary missions.
7) Working with nanosensors to monitor the levels of
trace chemicals in spacecraft to monitor the
performance of life support systems.




Why is nanotechnology important?
Nanotechnology is creating a wealth of new materials
and manufacturing possibilities, which in turn will
profoundly impact our economy, our environment, and
our society. Using nanotechnology, researchers and
manufacturers can fabricate materials literally
molecule-by-molecule. They can harness previously
inaccessible properties of matter and custom design
ultra-precise new structures, devices, and systems with
new, unique, and often remarkable propertiessuch as
materials with vastly increased strength, vastly
decreased weight, vastly greater electrical
connectivity, or the ability to change shape or color on
demand.