Nanotechnology for Checking Freshness of Produce
Monday, October 4th, 2010
The standard approach to warn consumers about “Use By” dates is to print the expiry date on the label. However, consumers often fail to read the printed dates and consume expired products.
Nanotechnology comes to the rescue of such consumers now with a display that can clearly indicate that the produce is NOT FRESH. A metallized plastic film with a ten nanometer aluminum layer and 2 nanometer oxide layer does the job. The original display is FRESH, which turns into NOT FRESH when both the layers are destroyed.
By selecting suitable materials, the display can be tailor made to do different tasks, all dependent on expiry of time. When the nanostructures on the plastic film are destroyed, the part of the message that is hidden earlier becomes visible. Typical applications include:
* When a product needs to be sterilized, an originally blank screen displays STERILIZED after required sterilization period
* Self expiring visitor badges on which the VALID message gets transformed into NOT VALID after allowed visiting period
* Packages or sealing tapes that display DO NOT SHIP after expiry period so that the packages need not be opened before shipping
By combining with RFID, remote monitoring also becomes possible.
Read more about Nano-Cnversion technology at http://www.nanoconvertology.com/.
Tags: expiry indication, nanotech applications, nanotechnology
Posted in nanomaterials, nanotechnology | No Comments »
Nanotechnology Opens new Career and Investment Opportunities
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
Nanotechnology works with molecular structures of less than 100 nanometers (one nanometer is one-billionth of a meter). It can modify the molecular structures of materials, resulting in changed properties, and even create new materials. We can thus produce self-cleaning surfaces, faster electronic microprocessors, superior water-filtration systems and more.
But nanotechnology is not a science by itself unlike, say physics, biology or chemistry. Instead, it can work in all these fields with the essential requirement being the ability to work at nanoscale. Working at nanoscale involves advanced and high-precision equipment, such as scanning probe microscopes with probes that can work with materials invisible to the naked eye.
Nanotechnology research needs researchers with a sound basic training in sciences, engineering and medicine, and with the additional skill to work at nanoscale. Nanotechnology is also an interdisciplinary field combining the disciplines of physics, chemistry and biology. Nanotechnology courses will thus have to ensure that trainees have the needed fundamental training in one of the sciences.
Considering the potential of nanotechnology to create products tailored to our expectations, it is a huge investment area. Investors are interested in tangible products and are more likely to be interested in nano-manufacturing than just nano-science as such.
Read about the job potential of nanotechnology at Atlanta Post.
Tags: education, nanotech applications, nanotechnology, scanning probe microscope
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A Comprehensive Look at Nanotechnology
Thursday, August 5th, 2010
EmeraldInsight produces the Foresight journal. In issue 6 of volume 6 of the journal, there is a conceptual paper that takes a comprehensive look at nanotechnology, tagged as the technology of the twenty first century.
Did you know that nanotechnology is a convergence of physics, chemistry and biology? It has already developed applications in all these fields, e.g. microelectronics (physics) that can lead to extremely small computing devices; new catalysts, membranes, sensors and coatings (chemistry) that involve tailoring atoms and molecules to customized needs; and working with micro and nano sized sub-units of living systems (biology) to create new devices.
The interdisciplinary nature of nanotechnology poses problems to researchers and changing traditional researcher mindsets is considered a significant issue in nanotech research. Nanotech researchers typically need interdisciplinary skills.
The innovative applications potential of this new technology can be illustrated with a few examples. In biotechnology, nano-sized enzymes, which are living organisms, can be combined with inorganic devices such as silicon chips to produce an implantable device that can monitor the health of the organism, human or animal. Quantum computers using quantum dots (a nanostructure) can provide a solution to the physical limitation of miniaturization of chips.
Read about these and other potential applications of nanotechnology at Emerald Insight Nanotechnology Concept Paper.
Tags: interdisciplinary technology, nanotech applications, nanotechnology
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Nanotechnology from a Social Angle: the ISSA Symposium
Friday, July 9th, 2010
Nanotechnology that works with materials at molecular and atomic levels offers numerous opportunities. The technology also poses risks of which we might not yet be aware. Nanotech is receiving increasing attention from different perspectives.
Some of the nanotech applications being explored (and even actually used) include:
Carrying miniaturization further in electronics and developing innovative new products
Developing new materials that make for new or more effective industrial processes
Developing new treatments and diagnostics for diseases, such as cancer where existing treatments lead to undesirable side effects
Improving the processes in self-cleaning, which can solve several everyday problems
Improving protection against corrosion, as in the case of car bodywork
Enhancing protection against UV rays through their use in cosmetics
As against opportunities like those mentioned above, nanotechnology also poses risks such as the particles entering human bloodstream because of their minuscule size. Such dangers make it necessary to enact regulations that ensure safety aspects are considered by developers and producers. For example, people working with nanomaterials in research laboratories are exposed to unknown risks.
It is in such a context that the International Social Security Association is organizing a symposium on Nanotechnology. The symposium will seek to highlight the opportunities as well as the risks. It will also provide information on incidental legal regulations, national and international. The symposium is scheduled at KKL, Lucerne, Switzerland during October 4th and 5th, 2010.
Read about the event at ISSA website.
Tags: nanotech applications, nanotechnology
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