A Greener World Via Nanotechnology

A Greener Wor ld V ia Nanotechnology

Increasing World Population: Currently 6.8 billion as of April 2010

Projected to be 9 billion by 2050

Malthus TheoryStated that population would eventually outgrow its ability to

sustain life and could not produce at appropriate levels (agriculturally and economically)

Has been proven inaccurate through innovations and technology

But as population increases… Increasing Pollution Increasing Health HazardsDecreasing Natural Resources

Call 911!

Which brings us to our problem…

How will humans be able to support the world’s

population growth rate, provide all the necessities required

for life, and not destroy the earth (or each other) in the in

the process?

…and our potential solution…

Nanotechnology

“Microscopic scale” manipulation of materials

Why It Is Important?

Increased strength

Better performance

Intelligent materials

Shrinking stuff

SEE THE PICTURE BELOW?

One Strand of Hair = One Billion Nano-Particles!

Energy Consumer goods Agriculture Healthcare

Our Procedure: The Nano Pie

Energy

Currently30 billion tons of carbon dioxide emitted yearly

Average American emits ~50,000 pounds of CO2 each dayIn 2004, world required 220 million barrels of oil per day to

run the world (equal to 14.5 terawatts)

Terawatt = 1,000,000 megawatts

The Future of Energy ConsumptionEstimated that we will need 60

terawatts by 2050!Nanotechnology is giving alternatives

to burning fossil fuels (solar and wind)And nanotechnology is enhancing

current energy generation methods

Conventional Methods of Energy Generation 70% of all energy generated in the world was done so by the

use of nonrenewable energy

45% was generated by coal, 24% by natural gas, and 1% from petroleum

All three of above forms of electricity generation are done so using mechanical energy that forces an electrical generator to rotate (called turbines) through the use of heat, albeit burning the fossil fuel

Nanotechnology is helping increase the operation temperatures of materials, and reduces cracking

Solar Energy Generation of electricity from sunlight

(either direct or indirect)

Direct method is referred to as photovoltaic (PV)

PV panels collect the suns energy and transform it into usable electric current

Has evolved from powering watches and calculators into big business

Has doubled in energy production every two to three years

Nanotechnology helps efficiency through nanostructured anti-reflection layers which yield more light

Wind Energy Converting the earth’s atmospheric

movements into useful energy using wind turbines, wind mills, and wind pumps

Very clean, renewable, distributed across globe, but it is also aesthetically unappealing ,loud, require frequent maintenance, and energy generated must be taken immediately

Nanotechnology is helping reduce weight, improve strength, and shed lightning strikes, and coating which reduce mechanical noise and increase longevity of parts

Nano’s Energy

Consumer & Intermediate Goods

Batteries – Disposal Problems

Currently

Nano

Higher energy content

Higher rate of recharging

Currently

Most Laundry Detergents Contain Phosphates

Groundwater pollution - Hazardous

Dirt & Stain Resistant Cotton!

Nano

Self-Cleaning

Stretchable into Numerous Shapes

Solar Charging

Nokia Research Centers - Because the World is Flat!

Agriculture & Water

Biocides: Harmful to Humans and Animals

Skin disorders

Respiratory problems

Various types of cancer

Currently

Better Biocides:

Lower Chlorine Level

Less Volatile

More Effective

Nano

• Filtration Methods

• Ineffective

• Microscopic virus undetectable

• Polluted water not re-usable

Currently

Nano

More Precise Filtration

Less Costly

Faster

Before After

HEALTHCARE

Expensive procedures

Very invasive procedures

Medical waste Let’s explore!

Human Cell

Currently

HEALTHCARE SPIN-OFFS

Benefits to Cancer Treatment

Greater ability to target cancer cells

Reduction of harmful side effects

Earlier detection

Future possibility of prevention

Nano

Nanoshells

Attach to antibodies

Kill tumors with near-infrared light

Body Surveillance Systems

Detect cancer mutations in earliest stages

Nano

Improved Heart Disease Control

World-wide benefits

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

Cardiovascular disease

New Diagnosis Tests Nano

Sleep disorders

In Vivo Diagnosis

Within the body

Real-time monitoring

Alert medics sooner

Drugs released by nanoparticles

Reduce energy from in-lab tests

Smaller, more effective cardiac instruments

Less medical waste

Robotic arms

Less invasive

Greater accuracy

Treatment

Nanoburrs target basement membrane

Treat damaged site Release drugs to prevent

additional plaque build-up Replace artificial stent Artificial arteries mimic real

arteries Minimizes more expensive

procedures

Prevention

In Vivo Sensors Constantly Monitor O2 Levels

Visualize Heart Movements

Respirocytes – Elimination of CPAP?

Sleep Apnea

FUTURE OF NANO

Stop illness before it occurs Eliminate need to travel for treatments Personalized medication Site-specific drug delivery Devices that supplement organs

Future of Nano

Major Players

United States highest growth Europe & Japan second highest U.S. government funding University research Pharmaceutical companies

Major Players

Conclusion

Exploiting Nano

Increased efficiency

Cost reduction

Affordable & accessible

Mass production

Marketed to the world

Limitations

Still in developmental stage

Extremely technical field

Uncertain risks

QUESTIONS?