Nanotechnology Applications and Markets
Sunday, November 28th, 2010
Nanostructured Coatings: Coatings need varied types of properties depending on the places they are used. Exceptional hardness, excellent adhesion to the substrate, very high fracture toughness and oxidation/corrosion resistance, and thermal stability are examples of properties desired in coatings. In normal circumstances, one material might not have all the desired properties needed in a particular context. It is here that nanostructuring can help modify existing properties and create coatings with all the desired properties.
Nanocomposites: It has been found that when dissimilar materials are mixed at nanometer scale, new and improved properties often result compared to mixing them at macro levels. As a result, they promise new applications such a lightweight reinforced mechanical components, non-linear optics, sensors and more. Application areas include aerospace, automotive and plastics, for example.
Nanofibers have applications in air/water filtration and textiles. Nanoclays have applications in packaging, cosmetics and toiletries, and flame retardant materials.
As would be clear from the above, even at these preliminary levels, nanotechnology has numerous applications. A Nanotechnology Market Research Report looks at the varied types of products, production methods, market structures, market drivers, market players and revenues under each major application, and also includes estimated demand to 2015.
Tags: nanocoatings, nanocomposites, nanomaterials, nanotechnology
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Nanotechnology: Hype and Reality
Wednesday, October 27th, 2010
The discovery of buckminsterfullerene molecule in 1985 by three professors (of Rice and Sussex universities) led to the development of nanotechnology. The molecule, known as buckyball, is a carbon molecule with 60 carbon atoms, visualized as a closed cage with hexagonal and pentagonal structures resembling the Buckminster Fuller Dome displayed at the Montreal Expo 67.
The C60 molecule has one free electron and is a nanoscale structure. This makes the molecule electrically active and useful in nanotechnology. In fact, nanotechnology can be said to have emerged as a result of the numerous developments related to the buckyball.
Nanotechnology is still a technology that is far from realizing its potential. For example, molecular-level manufacture, where you create custom molecules by assembling atoms in desired ways, is reportedly a minimum of ten years away from actualization. What we are seeing at present is only incremental improvements to existing products.
There is also the issue of risks posed by nanomaterials. The invisibly small nanoscale materials can not only permeate skin to reach and possibly harm internal organs but also cause harm through the completely different properties they exhibit compared to their normal scale versions. For example, materials that are non-toxic in normal state can become toxic when reduced to nano-scale in size.
Regulatory agencies of governments have not yet been able to come up with effective policies that ensure safety while also permitting fast technology development.
Read about the issues at IndustryWeek
Tags: buckyball, molecular manufacture, nanomaterials, nanotech safety issues, nanotechnology
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Nanotechnology: The importance of Considering Risks as well as Benefits
Friday, October 22nd, 2010
Nanotechnology is more about the size of the materials involved rather than a particular scientific domain. It deals with materials at nanoscale, i.e. materials measured in nanometers (nm) or one billionth of a meter. Nanotechnology generally deals with materials of less than 100nm, typically molecules and atoms.
Needless to say, materials at this size are invisible to the eye and even to traditional microscopes. It needs powerful new types of devices such as Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) to observe materials at nanoscale. The ability to modify nano-materials was gained only during the last quarter of a century.
Nanotechnology has applications in various sciences, such as healthcare, medical, agricultural and other. It has been touted as a technology that can provide solutions to many problems facing poor countries. It is argued that energy generation, disease prevention and water purification could all be more effective and less expensive through nanotech.
For example, unclean water leads to some 6000 deaths in poor countries. Using electro statically charged nanoparticles, the contaminants in the water could be removed, for example. With such promises, few countries dare question the need for nanotech use.
However, the risks of this technology are also great. At nanoscale, properties of materials change and normally non-toxic materials can become toxic. Another problem that can affect poor countries is the disappearance of demand for their commodities, such as cotton and various minerals.
If nanotech can enable creating these synthetically at comparable costs, demand for the natural commodities can come down, affecting the livelihood of large sections of poor country population.
Risks such as the above are serious enough for countries to prohibit the import and use of manufactured nanomaterials.
Read a detailed discussion on Nanotechnology and Africa at Pambazuka News.
Tags: nanomaterials, nanotechnology, risks from nanotechnology
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NanoImprint Technology for new Applications: A Singapore Project
Monday, August 9th, 2010
Nanolithography involves making nanoscale structures, i.e. patterns with lateral surfaces of size ranging from atomic to 100 nanometers (a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter). The process is used for fabricating semiconductor integrated circuits and nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS). Nanoimprint Technology (NIT) introduced during 1990s is low cost compared to optical lithography, and provides high resolution structures.
NIT is now attracting industries other than chip making. Optical components, biomedical devices and consumer products, for example, can benefit significantly from this technology. Non-slip materials, anti-bacterial and waterproof coatings, intricately patterned and colorful surfaces and adhesives that do not leave a sticky residue are some of the consumer applications that industries foresee.
Nanotechnology can produce the kinds of results mentioned above without using eco-unfriendly chemicals and coatings. The process will, instead, involve engineering the properties of the materials at molecular levels. Surfaces that resemble lotus flowers can thus be engineered, for example, recreating both its beauty and waterproof property.
Responding to such increasing demand, the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) and Institute of High Performance Computing is joining Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB), International Enterprise (IE) Singapore and SPRING Singapore is launching an Industrial Consortium On Nanoimprint (ICON). ICON will be starting with two projects, one for an anti-reflection and the other for an anti-bacterial surface.
Read the news at Nanotech-Now.
Tags: nanoimprinting, nanomaterials, nanotechnology, tailor made surfaces
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Nanotechnology Resource for Developing Nations
Saturday, May 22nd, 2010
Nanotechnology.Zunia.org is one component of the knowledge exchange databases created by Zunia.org, which itself is part of Development Gateway, a project that works for more effective use of international aid and in other areas that benefit developing countries.
The nanotechnology database discusses emerging applications in the area of nanotechnology so that developing nations can also participate in developing and benefiting from these. The following post at the website illustrates the type of applications you will find discussed there.
Nanotechnology works at nanoscale, which means atomic and molecular levels. Working at these levels, it becomes possible to create new materials and change the properties of existing materials. One material that has important applications is electrically conductive composite materials that will also stretch and bend.
Smart clothing, flexible displays, stretchable circuits, implantable devices and actuators are some of the products that will find a stretchable and conductive material of high value. Carbon nanotubes, a nanomaterial, have superb conductivity. By creating a composite of elastic polymers and carbon nanotubes, it is considered possible to deliver a solution that these products can use.
Read the post at nanotechnology.zunia.org.
Tags: nanomaterials, nanotechnology
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Nanotechnology and Climate Change
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
Climate change is a major concern for the world. The change is attributed to global warming caused by carbon emissions, caused mainly by human activities. A survey by Environmental Protection Agency of USA estimates carbon emissions from the electric power generation sector at 34%, transport sector at 28%, industries at 20%, residential & commercial properties at 11% and agriculture at 7% in the country.
The study also indicated that carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere have increased 40% since the start of the industrial revolution. While CO2 is the major “greenhouse” gas that leads to global warming, other emissions such as methane also contribute their bit.
Greenhouse gases degrade quality of life by affecting many things from weather to our health. These gases damage the ozone layer that protects our earth from the many dangers to life and health originating from space (through which earth is moving).
With the increasing awareness of the dangers posed by global warming, governments all over the world are looking at ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The suggestions for doing it include :
- Reducing energy consumption by developing technologies that do not involve burning fossil fuels.
- Adopting technologies that use renewable energy and better technologies for energy storage.
- Separation, sequestration and conversion of emitted carbon into useful products.
Nanotechnology can help with these solutions. For example, it can develop high strength materials that help more efficient use of energy and nanocatalysts can improve fuel efficiency.
Read the detailed article on how nanotechnology can help with environmental issues at nanowerk.
Tags: energy efficiency solutions, energy storage solutions, nanomaterials, nanotech solutions for global warming
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Catching Them Young with Nanotechnology
Sunday, April 25th, 2010
The Oklahoma Nanotechnology Initiative (ONI) seeks to create statewide awareness about emerging nanotechnology in the state of Oklahoma. It also seeks to explore the potential of nanotechnology industry and what it can do for Oklahoma. In particular, ONI seeks to encourage nanotechnology businesses to select the state as their location.
The ONI website provides information about everything nano. There are sections for nano news, nano products, nano companies in the state, nano t-shirts and a nanotechnology video, among others. There is even a small window for streaming nanotechnology tidbits. One great initiative is a PowerPoint presentation on Nanotechnology for Students.
The presentation starts with the attention catching statement that the ‘Next “Big Thing” is very, very, very small,’ and goes on to quote The National Science and Technology Council, “Nanotechnology is an enabling technology that will change the nature of almost every human-made object in the next century.”
“Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter at nanometer scale to create novel structures, devices and systems,” the next slide begins to elaborate on the applications of the technology. New materials (structures), sensors (devices) and NEMS (nanoelectromechanical systems) are provided as examples, to arouse the curiosity of the curious.
The presentation includes links to several educational resources on nanotechnology such as NanoKids for students and NanoZone for teachers. There are also links to more advanced resources such as the nanotech page of NASA.
ONI seems determined to catch them young with nanotechnology.
Tags: education, nanodevices, nanomaterials, nanosystems, nanotechnology
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Nanotechnology Regulations Expected Soon
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
At nano levels, materials can behave unexpectedly. Neutral materials can become toxic; the minute particles can penetrate the barrier of human (or animal) skin and reach internal systems, such as the bloodstream, where they can cause harm. In fact, the cosmetic industry had imposed a ban on itself preventing the use of nanomaterials in “invisible” sunscreens.
As a new technology, regulators in most countries do not know what they are dealing with. It is difficult to identify likely hazards and draft regulations to safeguard against these. Regulations have hence been slow in appearing.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of USA has been reportedly evaluating its options for regulating use of nanomaterials. The tone was set by EPA’s administrator by laying out principles for the safety assessments of chemical substances.
It was the general view that manufacturers should be responsible for providing safety data on new and existing chemical substances. Significant New Use Rules (SNUR), mandatory data submission and test rules are being visualized for regulating nanomaterials as the voluntary Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program (NMSP) has reportedly produced disappointing results.
The disappointment about NMSP resulted from inadequate data for science-based decision-making on the safety of new materials. EPA has in the meanwhile been taking quiet enforcement actions against nanomaterial producers.
Read the news report at Nanotechnology Now.
Tags: nanomaterials, nanotechnology, new technology regulations, safety of new materials
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