What is nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is the study and manipulation of matter in incredibly small sizes, usually between one and 100 nanometers. To put it in perspective, a sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick. Nanotechnology encompasses a very wide range of materials, manufacturing processes, and technologies that are used to create and improve many products that people use on a daily basis.

On this scale, totally new properties and phenomena are observed, which are governed under the laws of Quantum Mechanics, these new properties are those that scientists take advantage of to create new materials or nanotechnological devices.

Nanotechnology promises solutions to multiple problems currently facing humanity, such as environmental, energy, health (nanomedicine), and many others, however these new technologies can carry risks and dangers if they are misused.

Nanotechnology History

One of the pioneers in the field of Nanotechnology is the American Physicist Richard Feynman , who in 1959 at a conference of the American Society of Physics at Calltech, delivered the speech ” There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom ” down there) in which he describes a process that would allow manipulating atoms and molecules individually, through highly precise instruments, in this way systems could be designed and built at the nanoscale, atom by atom, in this speech Feynman also warns that the properties of these nanometric systems would be different from those present at the macroscale.

In 1981, the American engineer Eric Drexler , inspired by Feynman’s speech, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the article ” Molecular engineering: An approach to the development of general capabilities for molecular manipulation ” where he describes with more detail what was advanced in previous years by Feynman. The term “Nanotechnology” was first applied by Drexler in 1986, in his book “ Engines of creation: the next era of Nanotechnology ” in which he describes a nanotechnological machine with the ability to replicate itself, in this context he proposed the term “gray plague”, to refer to what would happen if a self-replicating nanobot were released into the environment.

In addition to Drexler, the Japanese scientist Norio Taniguchi , first used the term nano-technology in 1974, in which he defines nano-technology as the processing, separation and manipulation of materials atom by atom.

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Here is a complete video on nanotechnology, in which they define their concepts and their various areas of application

Uses and benefits

Nanotechnology is part of the next generation of innovation in science and engineering that will transform many sectors, such as aerospace, energy, information technology, medicine, national defense, and transportation. Nanotechnology will enable the development of the next generation of materials that are stronger, lighter, and more durable than the materials currently used in buildings, bridges, airplanes, automobiles, and other applications.
Nanotechnology also holds great promise for creating products for a more energy-efficient world, such as more efficient fuel cells, batteries, and solar panels. Nanotechnology can provide solutions to clean up contaminated soil and water, and will play a critical role in transforming medicine and healthcare.
Healthcare is approaching a revolution thanks to nanotechnology. Thanks to nanotechnology, very sophisticated tools are being developed, among others, to detect and treat cancer , bandages that prevent infections, improvements in imaging technology and much more.
Almost all electronic devices manufactured in the last decade, including the most sophisticated computer chips and electronic devices, were manufactured using nanotechnology.
Sports equipment such as baseball bats, tennis rackets, motorcycle helmets, and other plastic materials can be lighter, stiffer, more durable, and stronger with nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology-treated fabrics can resist wrinkles, stains, and the growth of bacteria, allowing clothes to stay cleaner and last longer.
Thin films on lenses, computer screens, windows, and other surfaces use nanotechnology to improve its water resistance, create an anti-reflective coating, be more resistant to ultraviolet or infrared light, offer protection against fog and scratches or electrical conductors .
The performance of various household products such as stain removers, antibacterial cleaners, paints, sealers, and air purifiers and filters can be improved with nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology enables a cleaner environment to be created through new methods of water purification and the removal of water pollutants from soil and soil.
Innovations in energy such as more efficient solar panels, stronger and lighter wind turbines, lighter parts and improved fuel efficiency are powered by nanotechnology.
Personal care products , such as cosmetics and sunscreens, can be improved with nanotechnology.
Food packaging using nanotechnology helps detect and prevent spoilage or contamination, and helps keep food fresh longer.
Some pharmaceutical products were reformulated with nanoparticles to improve their performance.