What Is Nanotechnology? Definition, Applications, and Use Cases
Nanotechnology is the process of engineering materials at the atomic or molecular scale.
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- Nanotechnology is defined as the field of science that manipulates matter on a near-atomic scale to design new structures, materials, and devices that thrive at nanoscale dimensions.
- This article explains nanotechnology in detail, its real-world applications, and shares some use cases.
Table of Contents
What Is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology refers to the field of science that manipulates matter on a near-atomic scale to design new structures, materials, and devices that thrive at nanoscale dimensions. This technology is crucial for the progress and evolution of several scientific disciplines, including medicine, manufacturing, energy, and materials science and engineering.
In the metric system, a nanometer refers to a unit of length. The word ‘nano’ is derived from the Greek word ‘Nanos,’ which equates to ‘dwarf’ or something extremely small. Technically, one centimeter = 1/100 of a meter while a nanometer (nm) = one billionth of a meter. Thus, all nanoscale structures typically have a dimensional range or length between 1 and 100 nanometers.
To better visualize the nanoscale size, let’s look at some of the examples. If you observe the human skin under a magnifying glass, you reach the millimeter dimension = 1/1000 of a meter. Instead, if you use a microscope to study the skin, you work at a micrometer scale (1/1000 of a millimeter), which allows you to examine the skin cells. Typically, cells, bacteria, and silicon chips are measured in micrometers.
A nanometer (10-9) scale is smaller and primarily used to measure atoms and molecules. An atom that makes up all matter around us has a width in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 nm; a human hair is 50k nm to 100k nm thick, a single DNA strand is 2.5 nm wide, and a sheet of paper is 75k nm thick. This tiny dimensional space represents the nanoscale world.
Why is nanoscale relevant?
In the 20th century, researchers across the globe made a revelation that fundamentally changed our understanding of nanoscale materials. According to scientists, materials with at least one facet — length, breadth, or height in the 1 to 100 nm range — tend to reveal distinct physical and chemical properties compared to the same materials at the macroscale capacity.
Let’s consider an example of silver material. If we break it down into smaller proportions, each piece still showcases basic properties such as density, texture, boiling point, thermal conductivity, and others, just like the original silver. However, all these properties change at the nanoscale level based on size, shape, and composition. This implies that the properties exhibited by materials at the nanoscale are not manifested by the same material at any other length.
Although it is hard to define the size or composition parameters at which the properties of a material change, material dimensions have their own relevance. For example, gold material expresses different colors at different nanoscale dimensions. It is orange in color at 100 nm and green at 50 nm. However, it is worth noting that gold particles show distinct catalytic properties that vary according to material size only at lengths below 5 nm.
Development of nanotechnology
Nanometer materials have existed for years. However, scientific tools and techniques to observe and manipulate them have come to the fore only in recent decades. Its development dates back to the 17th century when the optical microscope was developed. The microscope made the invisible world of biological organisms visible to humans. However, it had a serious bottleneck of magnification as the wavelength of visible light ranges between 400 to 750 nm, which is far more than any nanoscale material.
With the introduction of the electron microscope in 1931, this limitation of the visible light spectrum was resolved. Fast forward to 1981, the first scanning tunneling microscope (STM) was introduced, which not just allowed professionals to view tiny objects but also fiddle with unique object qualities that varied according to their size, shape, and composition.
Today, STM and electron microscopes are vital units in nanotech labs as they bring the world of nanoscale particles of 0.05 nm or lesser size to life. These advanced instruments are crucial to capture the dynamic properties shown by nanomaterials and harness them to solve modern-day problems such as improving fuel efficiency, building advanced computers, designing complex medical diagnostic equipment, or promoting the use of renewable energy sources.
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Top 6 Nanotechnology Applications
Nanotechnology has penetrated all walks of life, from food processing and efficient drug delivery to the design of small transistors used by electronic chips. With the proliferation of IoT devices recently, nanotechnology applications have grown significantly. According to an October 2022 report by MarketWatch, the global nanotechnology market reached a valuation of $1.97 billion in 2021 and is estimated to climb to $34.3 billion by the end of 2030.
Although nanotechnology has multidisciplinary applications, let’s look at the top six areas where nanotechnologies significantly impact today.
Nanotechnology Applications
1. Nanomaterials
Advancements in nanotechnology have led to the development of nanomaterials that are used across day-to-day applications, from fabrics, cosmetics, and sportswear, to camera displays and eyewear. With the help of nanotech, material properties can be tweaked to make them durable and stronger, have better electrical & thermal conductivity, and so on. Typically, in the clothing sector, fabrics can be made wrinkle-free and resistant to micro-bacterial growth.
Nanomaterials are also an important component of lithium-ion batteries. For instance, a nanotech firm, Nano One Materials Corp., has joined hands with Johnson Matthey, a sustainable technology company, to develop low-cost nanomaterials that would be specifically used in lithium-ion batteries. Such batteries could find applications in electric vehicles, consumer electronics, or even the energy storage domain.
2. Medicine
In the healthcare sector, nanotech is extensively used while exercising therapy techniques, designing diagnostics, and developing efficient drug delivery systems. For example, Medlab Clinical Limited, a biotech company, has developed NanoCelle, a drug delivery platform that creates nano-sized particles and ingests them directly into a patient’s bloodstream via oral, buccal mucosa (cheek). Recently, Medlab received a New South Wales (NSW) Government grant to develop a nasal vaccine for COVID-19, which will be delivered via this non-invasive NanoCelle platform.
Nanotech is also employed to develop antiviral drugs. For example, NanoViricides is a company that designs nanomaterials specifically used for antiviral therapy. The firm also develops nanomedicines that can fight viral infections, such as the ones observed in influenza, HIV/AIDS, or dengue fever.
3. Food industry
In the food industry, nanotech is applied to intensify food flavor and color while performing food processing steps. It is also vital for food preservation as microbes can significantly reduce the food’s shelf life. Considering the consequences, nanotech-based food packaging solutions are used to maintain the safety and quality of food products.
Also, during the agricultural cultivation process, farmers can now use nanomaterials as this tends to keep a check on pesticide use on crops and yet deliver essential nutrients to them. Thus, from food production, processing, and preservation to packaging, nanotech has become an indispensable part of food science.
4. Electronics sector
The rate of technological advancement has overthrown the well-known Moore’s Law, which predicts that the number of transistors on silicon chips grows 2x each year. Circuits have gotten smaller and smaller at a rapid pace. For instance, in 2015, tech giant IBM revealed that it would use transistors of 7 nm size. A couple of years later, the organization announced the launch of a 5 nm chip. In 2021, the company disclosed that it had created a 2 nm chip that showed 45% higher performance than the previously designed 7 nm chips.
Similarly, Samsung, a telecom leader, designed a nanotech process that gives tiny chips more power than state-of-the-art chips. In mid-2021, Samsung partnered with Synopsys to advance the 3 nm gate-all-around tech that can benefit AI applications, 5G devices, and high-performance computing applications. In 2022, the semiconductor company ordered mass production of 3 nm chips that consumed 45% less power and 23% enhanced performance over 5 nm chips, such as Apple’s M1 and M2 chips.
5. Energy space
In the energy sector, nanotech is primarily used to develop energy storage solutions and advance oil & gas recovery processes. For instance, PyroGenesis Canada, a tech company, uses plasma-based techniques to help oil & gas companies design sustainable solutions for oil & gas exploration and production. This plasma-based approach is also adopted by several manufacturing industries and 3D printing companies.
Moreover, in the renewable energy area, nanotech is employed to elevate the performance of solar cells. For example, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a national laboratory in the US, developed ‘nanocones’ out of zinc oxide, boosting solar cells’ overall efficiency.
6. Environment
Nanotechnology is pivotal when it comes to developing environmental applications. For instance, the International Institute of Nanotechnology, which promotes nanoscience research in the US, has created a nanocomposite membrane that absorbs and releases water pollutants such as phosphates. The membrane helps control phosphate pollution in rivers, lakes, and other water bodies.
Nanotech is also used in air quality treatment. For instance, Nanomatrix Materials, an Indian firm, has designed AC filters that rely on graphene-silver nanotechnology to keep the indoor air clean while protecting users from airborne viruses. In other words, typical air conditioners are transformed into air purifiers.
Such purifiers also aid in addressing the COVID-19 issue. In 2020, Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Israel collaborated with Rice University and developed graphene-based air filters capable of self-sterilizing and purifying the surrounding air. These filters also help in decontaminating water bodies.
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Use Cases of Nanotechnology
Today, nanotech innovations have become an inevitable part of our everyday lives. Our households invariably reveal a nanotech touch as routinely used products such as cosmetics, fabrics, furniture, adhesives, and even vehicular paints are a consequence of nanomaterial engineering.
Let’s look at some use cases of nanotechnology.
1. Cosmetic products
Nanoparticles such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are added to cosmetic products such as sunscreens because they block UV light. These fine particles are capable of absorbing and scattering visible light. As a result, modern sunscreens feel light and appear transparent when applied to the skin.
2. Fabrics
Nanoparticles such as silica exhibit water-repellent properties. They are either sprayed on the fabric surface or woven into it to ensure water does not enter the fabric. It is widely used in umbrellas and raincoats.
Clothing apparels such as T-shirts, trousers, and even socks have silver nanoparticles sprayed over them due to their antibacterial properties. These nanoparticles tend to kill microbes that evoke strong odor, allowing the apparel to be used for a longer duration without having to be washed. Moreover, ultra-fine particles of titanium dioxide are used to make cotton fabrics wrinkle-free.
3. Furniture
Nanoparticles such as silver, copper, and zinc are applied on household furniture because they can fight against pests or fungi that develop over time. Moreover, titanium dioxide particles are also applied in some cases as it acts as a dust and contaminant repellent.
Applying nanomaterial-based coatings and varnishes can extend the life of any furniture while lowering its maintenance costs. According to a research study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the flammability of upholstered furniture reduces by 35% when coated with carbon nanofibers.
4. Adhesives
Nanotechnology is often used to develop durable adhesives. Generally, adhesives become less sticky at higher temperatures. However, nano-glue developed by US researchers harnesses molecular chains to stick to surfaces and make them capable of withstanding high temperatures, unlike traditional adhesives. These developed adhesives are only 1 nm thick and are suitable for electronic chips and machines usually exposed to high temperatures.
5. Vehicular coatings
Vehicles have nano-ceramic coatings that mix with sealants to protect them from UV light and contaminants. These nanocoatings also safeguard vehicles from bird droppings composed of uric acid.
Nanorepel, a nanotech company that produces surface protection coatings for cars, has developed a high-performance coating that not only protects cars from bird waste but when applied on upholstery car components, stays free from stains and dirty spots.
6. Sports
In the sporting industry, nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes or silica nanoparticles are applied to sports equipment to enhance performance. These materials are key to equipment durability as they reduce equipment wear and tear and weight, amplifying its overall strength. As such, golf clubs, skateboards, tennis racquets, and sports bikes feel lighter when used by sportspeople.
Also, nanoclays applied on the interiors of tennis balls optimize ball bounce and prevent leakage, if any. As a result, these tennis balls can withstand longer rallies during a match.
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Takeaway
Nanotechnology provides a pathway to study and design new materials that improve our lives. However, it is worth noting that nanotech does not refer to typical products such as electronic chips or smartphones. Instead, it defines a process that exploits the properties of nanomaterials to design and develop such products and devices.
In 1908, Henry Ford came up with the idea of introducing assembly lines in automobile manufacturing plants. As a result, the cost of production lowered significantly, and the end product became substantially affordable. Thus, common US citizens could buy less expensive yet new automobiles. The improved automobile manufacturing framework eventually led to the industrial revolution like none other.
Similarly, nanotech has great potential to start another industrial revolution as it has a quantifiable impact on different sectors such as healthcare, the environment, clothing, etc. Only time will reveal how we adapt to nanotech advancements in the future.
Do you think nanotechnology can fuel another industrial revolution? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. We’d love to hear from you!
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