Learners read nanotech now

Basics of Nanotechnology

A primer

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History of ’Nano’

• The term "nanotechnology" was defined

by Tokyo Science University professor

Norio Taniguchi in a 1974 paper.

• In the 1980s the basic idea of this

definition was explored in much more

depth by Dr. Eric Drexler, who promoted

the technological significance of nano-

scale phenomena and devices through

speeches and the books

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Nanotechnology is any technology which

exploits phenomena and structures that

can only occur at the nanometer scale,

which is the scale of single atoms and

small molecules.

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Define ’Nanotechnology’

• The United States National

Nanotechnology Initiative website

defines it as follows: "Nanotechnology is

the understanding and control of matter

at dimensions of roughly 1 to 100

nanometers, where unique phenomena

enable novel applications."

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What phenomena are involved?

• Such phenomena include ‘quantum

confinement’ -- which can result in

different electromagnetic and optical

properties of a material between nano-

particles and the bulk material.

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…phenomena involved?

• Such phenomena include the Gibbs-

Thomson effect --which is the lowering

of the melting point of a material when it

is nanometers in size, and such

structures including Carbon nanotubes.

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Which Sci & Eng Departments

worry about NT?

• Nanoscience and nanotechnology are an

extension of the field of materials science,

and materials science departments in

conjunction with physics, mechanical

engineering, bioengineering, and chemical

engineering departments are leading the

breakthroughs in nanotechnology.

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Say more about Nano Sci & Eng

• These interdisciplinary fields of science

are devoted to the study of nano-scale

phenomena employed in nanotechnology.

This is the world of atoms, molecules,

macromolecules, quantum dots, and

macromolecular assemblies, and…

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…Say more Nano Sci & Eng ?

• It is dominated by surface effects

such as Van der Waals force

attraction, hydrogen bonding,

electronic charge, ionic bonding,

covalent bonding, hydrophobicity,

hydrophilicity, and quantum

mechanical tunneling,

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…Say more Nano Sci & Eng?

• to the virtual exclusion of macro-

scale effects such as turbulence and

inertia. For example, the vastly

increased ratio of surface area to

volume opens new possibilities in

surface-based science, such as

catalysis.

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Applications in Energy

What are nanodevices & their

characteristics?

• One fundamental characteristic:

Nanodevices self-assemble.

• Scanning probe microscopy is an

important technique both for

characterization and synthesis of

nanomaterials.

• Atomic force microscopes and scanning

tunneling microscopes can be used to look

at surfaces and to move atoms around. 14

…nanodevices & their

characteristics? • By designing different tips for these

microscopes, they can be used for

carving out structures on surfaces and to

help guide self-assembling structures.

Atoms can be moved around on a

surface with scanning probe microscopy

techniques, that can be used for things

like helping to guide self-assembling

systems.

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How are atoms, molecules

assembled into devices that

work?

• Supramolecular chemistry is here a very

important tool. Supramolecular

chemistry is the chemistry beyond the

molecule, and molecules are being

designed to self-assemble into larger

structures.

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Biology is a place to find inspiration: cells

and their pieces are made from self-

assembling biopolymers- proteins and protein

complexes.

A synthesis of organic molecules by adding

them to the ends of complementary DNA

strands such as ---A and ----B, with

molecules A and B attached to the end; when

these are put together, the complementary

DNA strands hydrogen bonds into a double

helix ====AB, and the DNA molecule can be

removed to isolate the product AB. 17

What significance assembled

‘nano’ has?

• Natural or man-made particles or

artifacts often have qualities and

capabilities quite different from their

macroscopic counterparts. Gold, for

example, which is chemically inert at

normal scales, can serve as a potent

chemical catalyst at nanoscales.

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Top ten applications of NT

1.Energy storage, production and conversion;

2. Agricultural productivity enhancement;

3. Water treatment and remediation;

4. Disease diagnosis and screening;

5. Drug delivery systems ….

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…Top ten applications of NT

6. Food processing and storage;

7. Air pollution and remediation;

8. Construction;

9. Health monitoring;

10. Vector and pest detection and

control.

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Some Indian initiative in NT • In 2000, government launched a USD

15 million fund for a five-year national

programme on Smart Materials.

• It is coordinated by 5 government

agencies involving10 research centres

across India.

• Focus is on Micro-Electro-Mechanical

Systems (MEMS) technology.

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…. Indian initiative in NT

• MEMS is the integration of mechanical elements, sensors, actuators, and electronics on a common silicon substrate through microfabrication technology.

• The Nanomaterials topics include nanostructure synthesis and characterizations, DNA chips, nanoelectronics, and nanomaterials.

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In 2002, the Department of Science and

Technology launched the National

Nanotech Programme with total funding of

USD 10 million committed over the

next 3 years. The Indian Institute of Science

(IISc), known as Knowledge Hub of

India, was awarded USD 1.0 million for its

Nanoscience Research Centre.

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What is ’IndiaNano’ ?

• IndiaNano, a platform recently

established by the US and Indian US

Community in the Silicon Valley

together with Indian R&D community,

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IndiaNano, a platform ….

• trying to coordinate the Indian

academic, corporate, government,

and private labs, entrepreneurs, early-

stage companies, investors, IP, joint

ventures, service providers, start-up

ventures, and strategic alliances.

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IIT Bombay's Centre for Research in Nanotechnology &

Science (CRNTS) is expected to play a key role in the

country in the development of Nanotechnology

R&D. Indian nanoscience and technology covers a wide

spectrum of topics which include MEMS & NEMS,

Nanostructure synthesis and characterizations, Bio-chips or

lab-on-a chip concepts, Nanoelectronics (transistors,

quantum computing, optoelectronics.etc.) and

nanomaterials (CNT, nanoparticles, nanopowder,

nanocomposites).

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Much work is funded and coordinated by DST, MCIT, DBT

and a few other government agencies. A recent effort has

been that of the National Programme on Smart Materials

(NPSM) in the area of MEMS and smart materials. This

programme has funded several industries, research labs

and academic institutions in various aspects of MEMS,

including materials, aerospace applications, design, and

biological applications. Two centres of excellence in

Nanoelectronics have also been sanctioned by the Govt.

of India at IIT Bombay and I I Sc Bangalore

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Solar PV System for Electricity.

A solar photovoltaic cell (PV) is a device that converts solar

radiation energy into electricity. Solar cells were commonly

used to power small-sized items such as calculators and

watches. But solar PV system have a great future in

providing the electricity needs for rural communities, homes,

and businesses, when their cost is brought down and

energy efficiency in converting light to electricity can be

made high. Scientists found that quantum dots to can give

more efficient photovoltaic cells and research in nano-solar

cells along with battery may lead to an economic Solar PV

System in future.

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Catalysts used in the petroleum industry like zeolites

(silicates and aluminosilicates), which are structured with

pores and channels having the ‘right’ dimensions to encase

selected molecules for catalytic activity (hence they may be

specific to certain chemicals). These materials may also be

used as molecular sieves and exchange ion catalysts. The

sol gel method has been shown to yield, under appropriate

conditions, a wide variety of nanoporous structures where

the dimensions of the pores may be varied depending on

the starting material and treatment conditions.