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NANOTECHNOLOGY
…Shaping the world atom by atom

PAPER PRESENTED BY

1. K.Girish Kumar Reddy

Ph:08623249196,9290006736
E mail Id: girishkaturu@gmail.com
2.D.Siva Reddy Ph:9908022523
E mail Id: siva_4a3@yahoo.com

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OF
III / IV -B.TECH ECE
GOKULA KRISHNA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
SULLURPETA –524121, NELLORE (Dist) A.P

ABSTRACT
“Nano” – derived from an ancient Greek word “Nanos” meaning DWARF
Nanotechnology is the process by which objects smaller than 100 nanometers are built using
one atom or molecule at a time. Its ultimate goal is to create a Universal Assembler that takes in raw
atoms in one side and delivers finished products out the other. This technology was first recognized
on broad scale in 1959. Nanotechnology is expected to touch almost every aspect of our lives, right
down to the water we drink and the air we breathe.
This report focuses on the
Introduction
History
Visual Images in Nanotechnology
Fields involving Nanotechnology
Applications of Nanotechnoloy
Computer Science
Medicine
Smart Medicine
Telecommunications
Recent developments in Nanotechnology
Replacing copper wires by nanotubes
Transistor technology
CDs written in one inch square chip
Latest Developments

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Smart Clothing
Problems and Risks of developing Nanotechnology

INTRODUCTION:
Nanotechnology is defined as fabrication of devices with atomic or molecular scale
precision. Devices with minimum feature size less than 100 nanometers (nm) (A nanometer is one
billionth of a meter) are considered to be products of nanotechnology. Because of this,
nanotechnology is also referred to as molecular manufacturing. The basis of nanotechnology is the
fact that atoms make up all things in our physical world. These atoms can be manipulated to
produce almost everything. Nanotechnology marks a drastically different approach to manufacture
that previous technologies have taken. Instead of scaling materials down to create something,
nanotechnology produces things by building them up piece by piece on a molecular level. This
process will allow us to feasibly create a variety of complex molecular machines capable of
performing a broad scope of functions. Many recent advances in nanofabrication have fuelled the
hope that electronic devices can be shrunk from the current micrometer-length scale all the way
down to the single-atom or molecule scale.

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The length scale reached by technology has dropped steadily from the millimeter scale of the early
1950s to the present-day atomic scale. The representative devices, from left to right, are: the first
transistor, a quantum-dot turnstile, a copper 'quantum corral', a carbon-nanotube transistor, and the
latest — a one-atom point contact.

HISTORY OF NANOTECHNOLOGY:
The origins of nanotechnology are rooted in a lecture given in 1959 by Richard P. Feyman..
John Foster of IBM Almaden labs was able to spell “IBM” with 35 xenon atoms on a nickel
surface using an STM to manipulate the individual atoms. This ability to manipulate individual
atoms into a desired structure was a first step in opening the vast field of nanotechnology
The history of nano technology is as follows…………………….
1959 Nanotechnology was first inspired by Richard P. Feynman's Famous Speech at Caltech who
first proposed that it was possible to move things atom by atom.
1981 Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) is invented allowing scientists to manipulate atoms
with electrically conductive inorganic materials.
1981 First scientific paper on Nanotechnology written by Eric Drexler. He publishes a book five
years later with theories that also revolutionize nanotechnology.
1986 The Foresight institute is established to aid in the development and promotion of
nanotechnologies, holding many conferences on nanotechnology.
1991 Sumio Iijima discovers Tubular Buckminster Fullerenes or Carbon Nanotubes.
1991 Institute for Molecular Manufacturing founded to develop nanotechnology and to promote
guidelines for research and development practices that would minimize risk from accidental
misuse or abuse of nanotechnology.
1993 Mixture of natural Nanotubes achieved.
1996 Richard Smalley developed a method of producing Nanotubes of uniform diameters.
1997 First molecular nanotechnology company, Zyvex, founded.
1997 DNA based nanomechanical device invented by NYU's Ned Seeman.
1999 Scientists Mark Reed and James M. Tour create Molecular-Scale Computer Switch in a
Single Molecule.
2000 Researchers at Rice University develop methods to form nanotubes into rigid multipart
structures.
2000 President Clinton gives $ 497 million for National Nanotechnology Initiative.

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2001 Researchers at IBM develop a method to grow Nanotubes.

VISUAL IMAGES IN NANOTECHNOLOGY:

There are frequent requests for visual images that illustrate the concepts of molecular
nanotechnology. This is a brief guide to some of the available images.

Fine-Motion Controller for Molecular Assembly

http://www.imm.org/Parts/Parts2.html

Simple Pump Selective for Neon

http://www.imm.org/Parts/Parts1.html

Molecular Differential Gear

http://www.imm.org/Parts/Parts3.html

Planetary Gear, newer version

http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/visuals.html

Planetary Gear, original version

http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/visuals.html

Diamondoid Bearing
http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/visuals.html

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FIELDS INVOLVED IN NANOTECHNOLOGY:
Nanoscience is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to bring about mature nanotechnology.
Focusing on the nanoscale of fields such as physics, biology, engineering, chemistry, computers
science and more, nano science is rapidly expanding.. This diagram of three intersecting circles
portrays the overlap of three fields of research: biosciences, electronics and materials. This diagram
could have included other circles of technology or science - like chemistry, engineering, information
technology or physics - but for simplification, it has been limited to three.

In the diagram above, the intersection of biosciences and electronics represents new classes of
computer and electronic circuits that are smarter devices for surgery and other medical solutions.
The intersection of electronics and materials represents new classes of computer and electronic
circuits. The intersection of materials and biosciences represents a new class of chemicals and man-
made pharmaceuticals that improve our lives. And, finally, the intersection of all three is
nanotechnology: research into self-assembling, smart materials with myriad applications and far
greater performance potential than existing materials and devices.

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APPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY:

Nanotechnology has the potential for a nearly limitless number of applications in a wide range of
fields.

Computer Science: One such field is computer science, in which nanotechnology presents a new
challenge. Computer chips are shrinking by a factor of four every there years, and because of this it
is possible that the SIA’s (Semiconductor Industry Association) predicted shrinking of computer
chips is not the most economical method for the future. Computing using DNA has a distinct
advantage over traditional computing in that the molecular computing is extremely parallel. Each
DNA molecule can act as an individual processor, greatly improving the speed of computation for
complicated problems.

Medicine: Another field in which nanotechnology has a wide reach of potential effects is
medicine. This stands to reason as every living thing are composed of molecules. A device could
be created consisting of a small computer, a supply of a substance used to kill the cells identified
as dangerous. Another application in the field of medicine involves tissue damage due to less
blood flow.. Molecular machines could be produced to go so far as to stop a cell from
functioning to prevent further damage, repair the damage, and then restore cellular function.

Smart Medicines: With nanotechnology, it is possible to guard human body against harmful
diseases. Consider tiny nanomachines embedded in our body performing their duties as
disciplined soldiers with clock work precision.

NANOROBOTS OPERATING ON ERYTHROCYTES AND BLOODVEINS

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The machines or ‘nanorobots’ would have onboard sensors and computers. Before being
sent into the body on their search and destroy mission, they would programmed with a set
of characteristics that sets them clearly distinguish their targets from everything else.

Telecommunications: Telecommunications is another field in which nanotechnology

will yield advances. For example, it will be incredibly easy to connect to networks.
Nanotechnology will allow a telephone or computer to connect to the global data network
using inexpensive string or tape. Through molecular manufacturing, these materials can
be created to connect when rubbed together. The core of the material can configure itself
as a good-quality optical fiber. Also, the material would be able to create the parts needed
to go around corners and provide the hardware necessary for the network to operate, such
as amplifiers, nanocomputers, and switching nodes.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY:

Scientists are working not just on the materials of the future, but also the tools that will allow us to
use these ingredients to create products.
Replacing COPPER conductors with NANOTUBES:
Extremely tiny carbon ‘nanotubes’ can be used instead of copper conductors to interconnect parts
within integrated circuits (ICs). While the work is going on carbon nanotubes based chips for long
term needs, we are indirectly helping industry to keep silicon-based computer chips in use as long as
possible.
One advantage of using carbon nanotube interconnects within ICs is that is these interconnects
have the ability to conduct more than a million amperes of current in a one sq.cm area without any
deterioration which seems to a problem with today’s copper interconnects. The accomplishment
involved sprouting infinitesimally thin structures called, also called ‘single walled nanotubes’ or
‘buckytubes’.
But why are these Nanotubes also called buckytubes? It’s because their ends when closed,
take the form of soccer ball-shaped carbon molecules known as ‘buckminsterfullerene’ or ‘bucky-
balls’.

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BUCKY BALLS NANO TUBES FLOW OF BUCKY BALLS IN NANOTUBES

Transistor technology:
IBM scientists have developed a breakthrough transistor technology that could enable
production of a new class of smaller, faster and lower power computer chips.
Using carbon Nanotubes as transistors in chips: -
Depending on their size and shape, the electronic properties of carbon nanotubes can be metallic
or semi conducting. The problem scientists have faces in using carbon nanotubes as transistors is
that all synthetic methods of production yield a mixture of metallic and semi conducting
Nanotubes which ‘stick together’ to form ropes of bundles. This compromises the usefulness,
because only semi conducting nanotubes can be used as transistors; and when they are stuck
together, the metallic nanotubes overpower the semi conducting nanotubes. Beyond
manipulating them individually, a slow and tedious process, there has been no practical way to
separate the metallic and semi conducting nanotubes a road block in using carbon nanotubes to
build transistors.

CDs written on a one inch square chip:

New probe microscopy techniques and new organic materials could be combined in the next
generation data storage technology - which will be nanometre scale technology with major –
impact on related storage technologies. We can believe that nanotech organic films will be the
storage date medium of the near future, using micro-electro-mechanical systems, or MEMS
probe devices, to read and write on the medium. Information will be written, read and stored in
clusters of molecules , a CD (optical disk drive) holds 500 megabits of data per square inch.

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Latest Developments:
Lucent technologies researchers will present a data storage technology concept in
which information is stored in an aerosol of floating crystals as small as three
nanometers, or three billions of a meter, in diameter.
Zettacore intends to use one of nature’s building blocks of molecule to store data.
The idea is to incorporate ‘molecular storage’ into standard microelectronics
circuitry, using molecules synthesized in a laboratory at NCSU.
Smart Clothing:
With Nano technology, even the finest textile fibers could have sensors, computers and
motors embedded in the fabric. The micro granules that form the basic molecular
structure are smaller than a grain of sand the fabric sensors ensure that garments resist
fading or crumpling, and also monitor the body odour. The ‘Smart Shirt’ developed by
Sensatex monitors the vital signs of those involved in high stress occupations. The
parameters monitored are heart rate, respiration rate, body temperature, and calorie burn
rate. The company has created ‘Smart Shirts’ tailor made to the requirement of
individuals.

PROBLEMS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY:
Almost any technology can be abused, and nanotechnology will be no exception. What dangers
might arise if the resulting research were applied to destructive and dangerous goals?
One of the most fearful events would be a uncontrollable replicates that could "take over the
world" because we would not be able to stop them. Another question is if we can replicate
everything we need, what will become of the global market? How will society progress if people live
forever? What happens when machines make everything we use? Accidents will most likely happen,
they’ve happened with nuclear devices, which aren’t ever as deadly, what will we do when we have
rampant replicators? There is also the fear of your typical Mad Scientist; they could create super
races, biological agents and other dangerous products using Nanotechnology.
There have been no laws or guarantees put into effect to protect and regulate the use of Nanotechnology and if we
do not use these technologies responsibly they may end the human race instead of curing all its ailments.

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CONCLUSION:
These are just the surface of the effects that nanotechnology will affect. In Engines of Creation, as
mentioned before, Drexler asserts that molecular manufacturing can produce materials stronger and
lighter than anything currently available. This allows for the production of a variety of things. Better
spacecraft, devices to repair living cells, the ability to heal disease and make the body stronger: all
these and more are possible given the potential of nanotechnology. Machines could be produced,
down to the size of viruses, which would work at incredible speeds. This would give us the option of
assembling these tiny parts into intelligent machines, based on the use of myriads of nanoscopic
parallel-processing devices which make descriptions, compare them to recorded patterns, and then
exploit the memories of all their previous experiences. Thus those new technologies could alter not
only the materials and means we use to shape our physical environment, but also the activities we
would then be able to pursue inside whichever kind of world we eventually create. Through the use
of nanotechnology, the number of possible worlds we can create is limited only by what we can
imagine.

REFERENCES:
http://www.nanoword.net/pages/intro.html
http://www.engin.swarthmore.edu/~manzivino/Nanotechnology1.html
http://www.belle-morte.net/nano/history.html
http://www.nanotechfoundation.org/what.html#Characteristics

http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/visuals.html
http://www.belle-morte.net/nano/history.html
http://www.nanotechfoundation.org/what.html#Characteristics
http://www.foresight.org/NanoRev/Images.html

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