Difference between revisions of "Nanotechnology"
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'''Nanotechnology''' is any [[technology]] that works at the atomic or molecular level. The idea was first proposed by the nobel prize winning physicist Richard Feynman in a lecture entitled "Plenty of Room at the Bottom".<ref>http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/feynman.html Plenty of room at the bottom</ref>. | '''Nanotechnology''' is any [[technology]] that works at the atomic or molecular level. The idea was first proposed by the nobel prize winning physicist Richard Feynman in a lecture entitled "Plenty of Room at the Bottom".<ref>http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/feynman.html Plenty of room at the bottom</ref>. | ||
== Examples of Nanotechnolgy == | == Examples of Nanotechnolgy == | ||
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| + | ===IBM=== | ||
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| + | *Leading the development of nanotechnology, IBM's scientists have made numerous breakthroughs in the study of these nano-scale technologies. | ||
| + | *In particular, carbon nanotubes and scanning probes derived from the atomic force microscope -- cousin of the scanning tunneling microscope -- show particular promise in enabling dramatically improved circuits and data storage devices. Research on nanoparticles leads to applications in biomedicine as well as hard disk drive storage. Photonic bandgap materials -- on-chip nanoscale structures the size of a wavelength of light -- will manipulate light as optical waveguides, splitters and routers. Research into nanomechanical information storage, such as IBM's Millipede project, continues to increase the possibilities for increased areal storage density. [http://domino.research.ibm.com/comm/research.nsf/pages/r.nanotech.html] | ||
===Solid State Physics=== | ===Solid State Physics=== | ||
Revision as of 18:31, November 26, 2008
Nanotechnology is any technology that works at the atomic or molecular level. The idea was first proposed by the nobel prize winning physicist Richard Feynman in a lecture entitled "Plenty of Room at the Bottom".[1].
Contents
Examples of Nanotechnolgy
IBM
- Leading the development of nanotechnology, IBM's scientists have made numerous breakthroughs in the study of these nano-scale technologies.
- In particular, carbon nanotubes and scanning probes derived from the atomic force microscope -- cousin of the scanning tunneling microscope -- show particular promise in enabling dramatically improved circuits and data storage devices. Research on nanoparticles leads to applications in biomedicine as well as hard disk drive storage. Photonic bandgap materials -- on-chip nanoscale structures the size of a wavelength of light -- will manipulate light as optical waveguides, splitters and routers. Research into nanomechanical information storage, such as IBM's Millipede project, continues to increase the possibilities for increased areal storage density. [1]
Solid State Physics
In solid state physics it is being used to engineer the next generation of computer components, which will exploit quantum mechanics in order to perform certain operations much faster than current technology[2].
Medicine
In medicine it is being used to develop new and more sophisticated methods of drug delivery[3]. Nano-scale devices are also being developed to allow affordable, portable testing for diseases or toxins that can be used in minutes "in the field" instead of waiting for samples to be sent to labs. [4]
Construction and Engineering
In engineering carbon nanotubes are being proposed as a strong light material that will be useful in constructing space craft and nano particles are currently in use at St. Pancras Station London as part of the stations self cleaning roof[5].
Consumer Electronics
A common use of nanotechnology in the context of MEMS is found in digital light projectors, or DLP devices, which use a microscopic array of mirrors to represent the pixels of a digital image. By rapidly switching these mirrors off and on in conjunction with an intense light source, high-quality still and moving images can be projected with little loss of color saturation or sharpness.[6]
Nanotechnology Terms
Nanometer - One billionth of a meter. A sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick.[7]
Micrometer - One millionth of a meter.
Angstrom - One tenth of a nanometer.
MEMS - Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems, or MEMS, are nano-scale items that combine both electronic (integrated circuits) and mechanical (pumps, mirrors, servos) components to create machines which function on a microscopic scale. [8]
Self-assembly - Reversible processes in which pre-existing parts or disordered components of a preexisting system form structures of patterns.[9] Use of self-assembly techniques allows for bottom-up construction of components, and is used in applications where top-down methods like lithography are impractical.
Nanofabrication
There are ways of creating a piece of nanotechnology. The 'Top Down' method involves taking a larger object and removing parts to create a smaller structure similar to creating a statue from a block of stone. 'Bottom Up' nano technology means assembling a object from smaller parts, similar to building a statue out of Lego[10] [11].
Nanotechnology in Fiction
Nanotechnolgy has been the basis for many works of science fiction, such as Michael Crichton's 'Prey' and Greg Bears 'Slant'.
References
- ↑ http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/feynman.html Plenty of room at the bottom
- ↑ http://www.quantiki.org/wiki/index.php/What_is_Quantum_Computation%3F
- ↑ http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=size-shape-matter-nanotech-drug
- ↑ http://www.azom.com/news.asp?newsID=14569
- ↑ http://www.skynews.com.au/health/article.aspx?id=278102
- ↑ http://www.dlp.com/tech/what.aspx
- ↑ http://www.nano.gov/html/facts/faqs.html
- ↑ http://www.mems-exchange.org/MEMS/what-is.html
- ↑ http://www.edinformatics.com/nanotechnology/self_assembly.htm
- ↑ http://it.toolbox.com/wiki/index.php/Top-down_Approach_to_Nanotechnology
- ↑ Fundamentals of Microfabrication: The Science of Miniturization,Marc J. Madou ,ISBN 0849308267
