Chemistry focus: The rapid development of nanotechnology – Open Access Government

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The author reveals that nanotechnology has developed at a rapid pace during the last few decades and as such, had revolutionised industries like computing, medicine and energy. The excitement does not stop there, however, as discovery in the field and implementation of novel functional nanomaterials in the future could address challenges that face us all, including solar fuel generation and battery technology advancement, sustainable energy use and climate change.

An important focus here concerns laser ablation in liquid (LAL), which the author describes as, as a flexible synthetic route to a variety of nanomaterials that overcomes this major drawback of wet-chemical synthesis. In this vein, one of the many things we discover is that LAL has the potential to become a versatile platform for environmentally sustainable nanotechnology development.

The crucial work taking place at the Department of Chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University is giving fundamental knowledge that will help overcome a key limitation of LAL methods insufficient control over the properties of the nanomaterial products. Looking ahead, efforts in the field will make LAL a key methodology for sustainably producing novel nanomaterials that can answer grand societal challenges in energy and other fields.

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Chemistry focus: The rapid development of nanotechnology - Open Access Government

What is nanotechnology (molecular manufacturing …

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Nanotechnology, or, as it is sometimes called, molecular manufacturing , is a branch of engineering that deals with the design and manufacture of extremely small electronic circuits and mechanical devices built at the molecular level of matter. The Institute of Nanotechnology in the U.K. expresses it as "science and technology where dimensions and tolerances in the range of 0.1 nanometer (nm) to 100 nm play a critical role." Nanotechnology is often discussed together with micro-electromechanical systems ( MEMS ), a subject that usually includes nanotechnology but may also include technologies higher than the molecular level.

There is a limit to the number of components that can be fabricated onto a semiconductor wafer or "chip.". Traditionally, circuits have been etched onto chips by removing material in small regions. However, it is also possible in theory to build chips up, one atom at a time, to obtain devices much smaller than those that can be manufactured by etching. With this approach, there would be no superfluous atoms; every particle would have a purpose. Electrical conductors, called nanowire s, would be only one atom thick. A logic gate would require only a few atoms. A data bit could be represented by the presence or absence of a single electron .

Nanotechnology holds promise in the quest for ever-more-powerful computers and communications devices. But the most fascinating (and potentially dangerous) applications are in medical science. So-called nanorobot s might serve as programmable antibodies. As disease-causing bacteria and viruses mutate in their endless attempts to get around medical treatments, nanorobots could be reprogrammed to selectively seek out and destroy them. Other nanorobots might be programmed to single out and kill cancer cells.

Two concepts associated with nanotechnology are positional assembly and self-replication . Positional assembly deals with the mechanics of moving molecular pieces into their proper relational places and keeping them there. Molecular robots are devices that do the positional assembly. Self-replication deals with the problem of multiplying the positional arrangements in some automatic way, both in building the manufacturing device and in building the manufactured product.

This was last updated in March 2011

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What is nanotechnology (molecular manufacturing ...

National Institute for Nanotechnology – Translating Research Into Breakthroughs – Video

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National Institute for Nanotechnology - Translating Research Into Breakthroughs
The National Institute for Nanotechnology is a partnership between the National Research Council and the University of Alberta supported by the governments o...

By: WebsEdgeEducation

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National Institute for Nanotechnology - Translating Research Into Breakthroughs - Video

Dr. Alain Kaloyeros discusses nanotechnology and New York State’s high-tech economy – Video

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Dr. Alain Kaloyeros discusses nanotechnology and New York State #39;s high-tech economy
The SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) Senior VP CEO Dr. Alain Kaloyeros discussed the emergence of nanotechnology and the growing gl...

By: TheNanoCollege

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Dr. Alain Kaloyeros discusses nanotechnology and New York State's high-tech economy - Video

Physician-Scientist Edward Fisher Discusses Award-Winning Cholesterol and Nanotechnology Research – Video

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Physician-Scientist Edward Fisher Discusses Award-Winning Cholesterol and Nanotechnology Research
In our behind-the-scenes interviews at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2013, we sat down with Dr. Edward Fisher, Leon H. Charney Professor...

By: NYU Langone Medical Center

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Physician-Scientist Edward Fisher Discusses Award-Winning Cholesterol and Nanotechnology Research - Video