Nanocomputer-like Memory Device
February 20th, 2007Breakthrough research that can pave the way for Nanocomputer-like memory microprocessors is taking place at the University of California. Professor Qing Jiang of the school’s Bourns College of Engineering is designing the prototype for a switch-like device that is based on Nanotechnology. Specifically, the device would use carbon-based Nanotubes that can mimic the switching the functionality of silicon-based microprocessors.
To understand how such a device would work, think of a telescope with an outer and inner chamber to enable it to move its lenses back and forth. Professor’s Jiang’s device would consist of two Nanotubes that work in the same manner, one acting as the inner tube and the other as the outer tube, able to move back and forth as needed. This activity and movement of the Nanotubes would make it possible for them to represent one of three possible switching positions at any moment in time, using an electrostatic charge as the conduction path.
These devices offer significantly faster read and write times than the computer industry’s current flash drive offerings. The Nanotube-based design is significantly smaller than its flash based counterpart as well.
As reported earlier in this blog, the move towards Nanotechnology-based computer technology is moving at a breakneck pace, and this design by Professor Jiang is one more step in that direction. An article outlining his research is available online and can be read here.
Carbon Nanotubes
February 19th, 2007Since the carbon nanotubes nearly fifteen years ago, two types of nanotubes has been discovered and are being used for various applications. The two types of carbon nanotubes known as single wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) and multiple wall carbon nanotube (MWNT) not only has been discovered but they have been successfully prepared and used in commercial applications. These carbon nanotubes are similar to cylinders, however a single wall carbon nanotube has only one cylinder while a multi wall tube has many rested cylinders.
Most single wall nanotubes (SWNT) have a diameter of approximately 1 nm and it is very expensive to produce. The single wall nanotube will play an important role in future carbon nanotechnology. The structure of single wall nanotube can be conceptualized by wrapping a single layer of graphene to form a cylinder. The advantages of single wall nanotubes over multi wall nanotubes are that these nanotubes display excellent electrical properties and therefore are ideal for many electronics applications. In multi wall nanotubes (MWNT), multiple layers of graphite are rolled to form a tube and the advantages of MWNT are improves chemical resistance.
Some of the important properties of carbon nanotubes include excellent tensile strength and excellent elastic modulus. Due to a unique electronic structure of single atomic graphite layer, the electrical current density in metallic nanotubes may have several hundred times greater than the metals such as copper or silver. The main uses of these single wall or multiple wall carbon nanotubes will be in various nanotechnology engineering in the days ahead. These nanotubes are already being used in composite fibers, steel and various other electrical and electronic applications.
United States: World leader in Nanotechnology
February 14th, 2007No doubt that the United States is the world leader in nanotechnology and has produced the highest publications and patents. The government agencies are involved in popularizing the nanotechnology and addressing the societal and ethical issues and at the same time also focuses on the development and commercialization of nanotechnology.
The various departments in US government ha made contributions in National Nanotechnology initiatives and according to an estimate in the year 2005 more than $1000 million has been spent on nanotechnology initiatives. The National Science Foundation (NSF) has invested around $ 350 million alone. The investment contribution in nanotechnology initiatives from the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Energy is around $ 250 M and $ 200 M respectively. The other big investors in nanotechnology are National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Aeronautics and Space Applications (NASA).
The US government’s aim is to provide excellent research and development facilities and maintain the high research outputs such as technologies, publications and patents. The goal of these high research output technologies should provide public benefits and should create more jobs and the technology should be translated into useful commercial products. The government also focuses on developing educational infrastructure and resources to support future workforce demand of the industries.
Nanotechnology Research into Biofuels
February 14th, 2007Nanotechnology research into fuel production took a big leap recently, with an announcement by energy company BP that it has launched a $500 million research project to research biofuels, collaborating with University of California Berkeley and Universtiy of Illinois. This research will principally focus on how to convert corn crops, plant material, algae and switchgrass into fuel.
The money will be used to create the Energy Biosciences Institute. It will focus on all aspects of fuel production, from ensuring that fossil fuels convert to energy with less environmental damage as well as improving oil extraction from wells in a way that does not damage the environment. As everyone knows, there is a worldwide need for energy with low carbon emissions. To achieve this BP has announced a three pronged approach that begins with techniques for better crop production, improved processing technology and new biofuels.
The University of California Berkeley was chosen as one of the participating universities because it is a leader in genetic engineering and in creating microbrial factories from bacteria. This is the domain of Nanotechnology, working at the molecular level in order to create ‘engines of creation.’ The University of California Berkeley also has cutting edge research tools such as the Molecular Foundry and the Advanced Light Source, which are powerful aids in tackling the problem of converting biomass into fuel. Berkeley has also used Nanotechnology in the past in its research into cost-effective solar panel production.
In using Nanotechnology to convert biomass to fuel, the project will focus on several approaches. First it will deal with how to develop better feedstocks, then on how to break down plant material to its constituent building blocks (sugars), and then finally converting the resultant sugars into ethanol. Success in this area will lead the EBI to expand its horizons by looking into using Nanotechnology to create other fuels such as butanol and hydrocarbon fuels.
Bionanodevices in Bionanotechnology
February 11th, 2007Bionanotechnology is basically aimed at fabricating a molecule element at the nanolevel and the development of such biomolecule structure having the desired activities. The basic goal of the bionanodevices includes the biosystem that will recognize the biomolecular assemblies and molecular motors, production of nanomaterials and auto nano materials, modeling and simulation and application developments.
The application developments of the nanotechnology, although at a very beginning stage includes a thorough study to verify the predicted parameters based on the data obtained through simulation and modeling has to be carried out under actual environment. The predicted properties especially for macroscale and nanoscale behavior in modeling and simulation if verified during the actual application will only boost the bionanotechnology applications in the coming years.
Nanoclusters are especially recommended as these have higher extinction coefficient than the organic or inorganic chromophores and are widely used in employing cluster resonance or cluster field enhancement devices. Some of the nanocluster devices having nanospecific properties such as high and selective optical absorption can be used for biochips, filters, solar absorbers or colors. Similarly if the nanospecific property of the nanoclusters device is large specific area, it can be used as a catalytic device or it can also be used in sensors. Further a nanomaterial having large surface area can be used in heat exchangers.
Some of the critical biotechnology areas will include the use of nanodevices or quantum devices for detection of very small sensitive structure, nanomaterial that can self assemble and process, nanomaterial that can be programmed with optical or thermal properties etc. Nanocluster devices are designed keeping in mind with the specific property is taken care of as it is only the nanospecific property of nanomaterials that gives it the usage.
Nanotechnology in the Automotive Industry
February 11th, 2007Nanoparticle technology is being used in the automotive industry to protect engines and enable them to perform better. Ford Motor company announced recently that it is using a device called the Local Electrode Atom Probe to conduct research into making metals and plastics lighter and stronger. The device works at the atomic scale and is useful for removing atoms from metallic surfaces as well as locating the position of the atoms on those surfaces. This use of Nanotechnology enables Ford to effectively analyze the surfaces of plastics and metals at the molecular level.
One way that Nanoparticles are being used are as “fillers” for metals and plastics, with the effect of increasing the strength of the produced materials while reducing their weight in the process. The end products can then be used to create aluminum castings for engine blocks. The engines perform better as a result. As well, researchers are looking into ways that Nanoparticles can be added to glass and paints to enable them to better withstand radiation and provide self-cleaning mechanisms.
Ford is using Nanoparticles to improve the operating efficiency of car liquids. These Nanoparticles have been reconstituted into liquids called Nanofluids. When poured into engine oil, lubricants, transmission fluids and coolants, the Nanofluids improve the overall properties of the liquids, leading to reduced friction and enabling them to function more effectively at various temperatures.
Given that Ford has had significant financial woes recently, this investment in Nanotechnology is certainly a good sign. Ford is predicting that by 2015, Nanomaterials will be used in 70% of its production materials. Ford may very well become a leader in the automotive industry again.
Science and Technology Committee on Investment in Nanotechnology in UK
February 8th, 2007As per the fifth report of session 2003-04 of House of Commons, science and technology committee has focused on the government investment in stimulating industrial activity and academic research in nanotechnology area. The committee finds that the government plan and investment in the sector are insufficient and higher funding is required to match with the other major International competitions.
The committee also refers the Taylor Report for investing 90 million pounds in the coming six years and suggests establishing a few nanofabrication facilities. The committee feels in the funding a few world class nanotechnology facilities to raise the UK’s nanotechnology profile. The universities and educational institutes needs to develop the educational and research facilities. Committee also feels that research councils should take initiative to funding research into nanoparticle applications especially environmental or health related problems.
The science and technology committee strongly recommends the tax credits to R&D so that the R&D can focus of some of the successful innovations. As there is already a few problems in venture capital as most of the major companies are reluctant to invest huge money in R&D and it is therefore the role of educational institutes and universities becomes large to drive innovations in nanotechnology. The committee therefore feels that the investment as allotted by Taylor Report is insufficient to drive innovations in nanotechnology.
United Nations Weighs in on Nanotechnology
February 8th, 2007Eventually, all governments want to monitor the impact and use of new technology. It is no different with Nanotechnology. The specter and promise of this breakthrough approach to manufacturing has caught the attention of the United Nations, which has chosen to weigh in on the potential environmental health and safety concerns posed by manufacturing with Nanoparticles.
The report is entitled, The 2007 Global Environment Outlook Year Book and it is produced by UNEP (United Nations Environment Program). Over 80 experts from around the world compiled the volume and in it, they discuss the environmental and social concerns and hazards involved with Nanotechnology. Some of the concerns raised address issues such as the possibility that Nanoparticles could be inhaled, penetrate the skin or otherwise create general levels of toxicity in the environment. The report also asks to consider the potential environmental impact of Nanoparticles released into the atmosphere and the soil.
Nanoparticles already being used in manufacturing should be the first focus of dealing with potential problems, according to the report. Since these are already being used in production, it should be easier to conduct tests to assess what kind of impact they are having on the environment.
As one would expect, the recommendations suggested by the United Nations in dealing with the problem head on is to establish a series of treaties or protocols among member nations and industries. By working together, they can establish a set of mutually agreed upon standards to keep Nanotechnology safe while continuing to benefit from its usefulness.
Technology almost always accelerates at a pace faster than government bodies are able to regulate it, and so perhaps it is best that world governments address the impact of Nanotechnology while it is still in its infancy.
Use of bioconjugated silica nanoparticles in bioanalysis
February 5th, 2007In the recent past various scientists have initiated work on the use of bionanomaterials. There is a great potential for luminescent nanoparticles in bioanalysis as these particles have unique optical properties. In comparison to the traditional fluorescence labeling techniques these luminescent nanoparticles labeling methods are much more accurate and provides enhanced detectable signals. To make the effective use of these nanoparticles, conjugation of biomolecules to the luminescent probe is accurately done.
The silica based nanoparticles find its use in bioanalysis if these are conjugated to recognize biocomponents. In the conjugation process, special elements those interact with the analytes are carefully selected. Using various methods these elements can suitably attached to the silica nanoparticle surface. There are several biochemical binding approaches for modifying the silica nanoparticle surfaces to contain functional groups.
These functional groups are useful for further modification in surface and biomolecule immobilization. So far the research has been successfully completed on biochemical groups including amines, carboxyls, thiols, however various other molecules including oligonucleotides, enzymes and other proteins are being used for immobilizing onto the nanoparticles.
The common methods used for synthesis of nanoparticles are Stober and reverse microemulsion methods. The main disadvantage of Stober method of synthesis is that produces relatively large nonuniform nanoparticles, however it takes short time for synthesis. Reverse microemulsion method produces smaller size nanoparticles and therefore this method is widely used for producing nanoparticles. Reverse microemulsion or water in oil emulsion uses large volume of oil and small volume preferably below less than 20% water and surfactants or emulsifiers.
There are a lot of applications where these biconjugated silica nanoparticles can be used. Although the work is still at preliminary stage of research, however in future these can successfully be used in detecting leukemia cells, detection of pathogenic bacteria , DNA analysis and many other biological applications. In the coming decades, the bionanotechnology may take us to the new heights in identifying and monitoring various diseases.
Maxwell’s Demon: May the Force be With You
February 5th, 2007Imagine being able to aim a pen at a small object, albeit a very, very small object, and moving the object along a sloped hill with an invisible ‘force.’ Such a possibility, once the domain of science fiction, is now within the realm of possibility thanks to a discovery by scientists in Scotland who have built a ‘nanomachine’ envisioned 150 years ago.
The nanomachine is modeled after a theoretical piece of engineering known as Maxwell’s Demon, named after the famous scientist by the same name, James Clerk Maxwell. Over a century ago he envisioned the possibility of a small, molecular demon-like creature that had the capability of trapping molecules as they moved along a certain direction. Specifically, he imagined two chambers filled with molecules, some moving at a rapid speed (thus creating heat), and others moving at a slow speed (thus creating cooler temperatures). The chambers would be separated by a gate, and a small ‘demon’ would act as a gatekeeper, with his sole purpose to trap the faster moving molecules into one chamber, and leaving the slower moving molecules in the other chamber. Thus, heat would exist in one chamber, and cold in the other, creating the perfect setup for a steam engine.
Well, through Nanotechnology, scientists have created an invention that approximates Maxwell’s vision. Physicists at the University of Edinburgh created a device that traps molecules as they move along a certain path, much as Maxwell predicted. The device is based on light to generate the initial energy. Future applications of the device would be for laser technology, where you could trap molecules in such a way as to create a ‘force’ in front of an object to move it along. Thanks to Nanotechnology, Maxwell’s demon has come of age.
FDA Task Force on Nanotechnology
January 30th, 2007Nanomaterials are widely being used in various products as these nanomaterials have distinct properties than the parent materials. The properties differ not only in physical and chemical activities but in biological activity also. There are various drug and food categories where nanomaterials can find a useful contribution. Sometimes due to their different characteristics, these nanometerials may have an adverse affect on human health.
To study the biological affect of nanomaterials on humans, FDA (Food and Drug Administration of US) has recently announced formation of an internal task force group on nanotechnology. The task force will not only address the policy gaps but will also evaluate the possible side effects of various products that uses nanomaterials. The task force will also ensure to encourage the use of safe and effective nanomaterials used in various FDA regulated products. FDA will also continue to address various issues involved in the nanomaterial containing FDA regulated products on regular basis.
FDA will also assess the current scientific knowledge on nanomaterials and will also collaborate with other national agencies including Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Institute of Health (NIH) and Unites States Department of Agriculture (USDA). FDA will also get feedback from consumers, international agencies and other professionals from health and food industries. FDA will also develop the culture of developing superior nanomaterials that can be used for developing safe drugs.
Nanotechnology’s Ethical Dilemmas
January 29th, 2007It seems inevitable that any radical new technology that comes along can potentially pose ethical dilemmas, especially technology that crosses medical boundaries and holds the hope for life and death. Nanotechnology is certainly no exception, and indeed, K. Eric Drexler in his book Engines of Creation deals with the potential for evil as well as the potential for good. He speaks of the potential for Nanotechnology to destroy the Biosphere, and warns that Engines of Creation can become Engines of Destruction. The mini-robots, Replicators and Assemblers in his world can become so powerful so as to think faster than humans, act without the need for human labor and imagination, and ultimately take over the environment, the world and expand out into the universe with no one to stop them.
Such Apocalyptic visions based on ‘man versus machine’ are certainly not new, and to date, no technology has proven to be as bad as once feared. Despite our advances, for example, we do not, as of yet, have ‘thinking’ machines and it is not certain such advances are going to take place anytime in the near future. Nonetheless, we ignore the ethical issues at our own peril. Science seems to be progressing far more rapidly than many have anticipated, and if we don’t quickly begin a public discussion about Nanotechnology and its moral implications, we will be mired in such a debate when it is too late.
Fortunately, some observers realize this and have begun to engage in a public discussion about ‘NanoEthics’. This is the new term that has been coined for BioEthics as it is applied to the field of Nanotechnology. The forum for the discussion is a new Journal entitled NanoEthics: Ethics for Technologies that Converge at the Nanoscale. The Journal states that it will focus on the scientific, legal and philosophical issues at the center of the Nanotechnology ethics debate. More specifically it will deal with threats to individual well-being, as well as social norms, and political and economic stability.
It’s about time that such a publication has come along, where the issues that concern us all can be discussed in a reasoned and balanced manner, free from the hysteria and hype that accommodates these issues in the public media. Hopefully, the ethics of Nanotechnology will keep pace with the science, and we can make progress in a safe manner.
Nanoparticles: The Golden Bullet for Cancer Treatment
January 27th, 2007Cancer patients who have only had options such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy to treat their disease now have a new choice from the world of Nanotechnology: Nanoparticles that act as as “gold nanobullets” and “nanobombs.” If it sounds like something out of the world of science fiction, it isn’t. In principle Nanoparticles perform the same function as conventional radiation, to attack and destroy the cancerous cells. Nanoparticles promise to accomplish the same task more effectively however.The process used is called “nanophotothermolysis”.
That’s a big word, but it breaks down easily. “Thermo” means heat, and “molysis” means to break down. Photo means light of course, and with the “nano” prefix, it basically means using Nanotechnology to generate enough heat to break down a substance to its constituent components. Directed laser energy is used to heat up the Nanoparticles until they explode, in the aftermath of which localized cancer cells get destroyed without damaging healthy cells nearby.
In order for the therapy to work, the Nanoparticles must target only cancerous cells and avoid healthy cells. The property that identifies a cell as being cancerous is a protein known as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This protein surrounds the cancerous cell, but is not found in abundant quantities in the healthy cancerous cells. The Nanoparticles attach themselves to the antibody for the EGFR and then destroy the cancer cell without damaging healthy tissue. In these experiments “gold” Nanoparticles were used, and had the effect of making the cancerous cells shine.
Several after effects contribute to the destruction of cancer cells using Nanoparticles. These include acoustic shock waves from the explosion, optical plasma and particle fragmentation. Research continues in this area with promising results for killing cancer cells without destroying healthy cell tissue.
Racing towards the First NanoComputer: the Quantum Clock is Ticking Away
January 26th, 2007Computer manufacturers seems to be hurtling towards realizing one of the great dreams of Nanotechnology, the creation of the first Nanocomputer. Such a computer, by definition, would use atoms and molecules instead of silicon chips to transmit information. In order to understand how this would work, you have to understand that a computer, at its essence, is little more than a series of switches in an ‘on’ and ‘off’ state. Each switch occupies a position that represents an exponential number. Through a combination of ‘on’ or ‘off’ states, large numbers can be represented. Atoms, of course, cannot be ‘on’ or ‘off’—but they can occupy different positions in space, and this property can be leveraged to duplicate the same switching mechanism in a silicon-based computer. When that day arrives, the Nanocomputer, one that functions solely in the Quantum world, will be here.Before then, however, the computer industry will take incremental steps towards migrating over to this new technology. This will mean using hybrid technology, combining the Nanotechnology with existing silicon-based circuits, to increase the operating capacity and efficiency of computers. Moore’s Law, which states that technology would double every 18 months, would be turned on its head as the advances of Nanotechnology accelerate the pace of technological progress beyond the rate that Gordon Moore predicted.
The industry has shown that it is taking those incremental steps already. Some of the notable achievements include a technique by an IBM research team that claims they were able to transform iron and platinum into a Nanoparticle that can hold a magnetic charge for up to 10 years, making today’s flash drives obsolete. Other research teams, such as Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, developed their own circuits utilizing Nanotubes as Field Effect Transistors.
Recently, however, the boldest of announcements was made by Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini. He claimed the company was developing a chipset based on 45 nanometer silicon technology, and processors based on this technology would ship in the second half of 2007. At this breakneck pace, the full-fledged Quantum computer will be only a few years away. Read the article here.
Nanotechnology as the Next Big Thing
January 24th, 2007Could Nanotechnology displace the Internet as the Next Big Thing? The prospects are certainly real, if the technology lives up to the Utopian vision presented by its biggest proponent.
I have recently read (again) Eric Drexler’s seminal treatise, Engines of Creation. As I pore over his book, I can sense how with baited breath he speaks of the coming dawn of Nanotechnology and the promise it holds for curing man’s ills. It is a world filled with Nanomachines, Assemblers, Replicators and Nanocomputers that can create new materials out of existing molecules, repair cells, regenerate new Nanomachines, and fabricate whole new worlds out of the infinitesimally small.
Such a revolution in technology would certainly dwarf the impact that the Internet has had on business, but Nanotechnology need only fulfill a fraction of its true potential to create a revolution in the Business world. By all accounts, it seems to have done that already. However, unlike the Internet Bubble that littered the landscape with speculative “dot com” crashes, companies that have benefited from Nanotechnology have been established industries.
Some examples include the oil and gas industry, where Nanotechnology helped refine fuels to greater levels of efficiency. In the household goods and sport arena Nanotechnology’s impact can be felt in greater measures. The guiding premise of Nanotechnology—the ability to manipulate matter at the molecular level to build something new—has had obvious direct impact in industries that deal in fabrics. Footwarmers with greater heat resistance, washable bed mattresses, new, improved golf balls, camera films with finer degrees of emulsion, are all products that benefit from Nanotechnology’s ability to manufacture on the scale of one one-billionth of a meter.
The estimated market for goods engineered on this tiny scale is $1 trillion by 2015. That’s just if present trends continue. Wait until the day of the Nanocomputer arrives—the money spent to built that device will make current investments by Intel and the major computer manufacturers a drop in the bucket. So yes, I guess I do believe Nanotechnology is the next big thing.
Nanotechnology Web Links
January 21st, 2007Following is the list of nanotechnology resources available on the web.
Nanotechnology Projects
Nanotechnology Weblogs
- Defense and National Security Nano, Nanomaterials, and Nanotechnologies
- Get Small
- Howard Lovy’s NanoBot
- NANOART
- Nano Tech Stocks
- NanoHype: Nanotechnology Implications and Interactions
- NanoTech Lex - nanotechnology law & business blog of Pittsburgh attorney Anthony Cerminaro
- Nanotechbuzz
- Nanotechnology Law
- Nanotechnology News and Nanotech Stock info - For Investors and Industry
- Responsible Nanotechnology
- TinyTechIP
- Advanced Nanotechnology
- blog | nano
- nanopublic
- small plans: nanotechnology for the building industry
Nanotechnology Research
- IBM Nanotechnology & Nanoscience
- National Nanotechnology Initiative
- NASA Center for Nanotechnology
- Nanotechnology Research Institute, AIST
- Zhong Lin (ZL) Wang’s Nanoscience and Nanotechnology group
- Bilkent University - Nanotechnology Research Center
- Georgia Institute of Technology - NanoTech Research Center
- Nanotechnology at Northeastern University
