Nanotechnology Applications
The Understanding Nanotechnology Website is dedicated to providing clear and concise
explanations of nanotechnology applications. Scan the listings below to find an application of
interest, or click any topic on the navigation bar to the left to go directly to the page
discussing an application of interest.
Nanotechnology Applications in:
Medicine
Researchers are developing customized nanoparticles the size of molecules that can deliver
drugs directly to diseased cells in your body. When it's perfected, this method should
greatly reduce the damage treatment such as chemotherapy does to a patient's healthy
cells. Check out our Nanotech in Medicine page to see how nanotech is being used in
medicine.
Electronics
Nanotechnology holds some answers for how we might increase the capabilities of
electronics devices while we reduce their weight and power consumption. Check out
ourNanotech in Electronics page to see how nanotech is being used in electronics.
Space
Nanotechnology may hold the key to making space-flight more practical. Advancements in
nanomaterials make lightweight solar sails and a cable for the space elevator possible. By
significantly reducing the amount of rocket fuel required, these advances could lower the
cost of reaching orbit and traveling in space. Check out our Nanotech in Space page to
see how nanotech is being used in space.
Food
Nanotechnology is having an impact on several aspects of food science, from how food is
grown to how it is packaged. Companies are developing nanomaterials that will make a
difference not only in the taste of food, but also in food safety, and the health benefits that
food delivers. Check out our Nanotech & Food page for the details.
Fuel Cells
Nanotechnology is being used to reduce the cost of catalysts used in fuel cells to produce
hydrogen ions from fuel such as methanol and to improve the efficiency of membranes used in
fuel cells to separate hydrogen ions from other gases such as oxygen. Check out
our Nanotech in Fuel Cells page for the details.
Solar Cells
Companies have developed nanotech solar cells that can be manufactured at significantly
lower cost than conventional solar cells. Check out our Nanotechnology in Solar
Cells page for the details.
Batteries
Companies are currently developing batteries using nanomaterials. One such battery will be
a good as new after sitting on the shelf for decades. Another battery can be recharged
significantly faster than conventional batteries. Check our our Nanotech in Batteries page
for details.
Fuels
Nanotechnology can address the shortage of fossil fuels such as diesel and gasoline by
making the production of fuels from low grade raw materials economical, increasing the
mileage of engines, and making the production of fuels from normal raw materials more
efficient. Check our Nanotech in Fuels page for details.
Better Air Quality
Nanotechnology can improve the performance of catalysts used to transform vapors
escaping from cars or industrial plants into harmless gasses. That's because catalysts made
from nanoparticles have a greater surface area to interact with the reacting chemicals than
catalysts made from larger particles. The larger surface area allows more chemicals to
interact with the catalyst simultaneously, which makes the catalyst more effective. Check
our Nanotechnology and Air page for details.
Cleaner Water
Nanotechnology is being used to develop solutions to three very different problems in water
quality. One challenge is the removal of industrial wastes, such as a cleaning solvent called
TCE, from groundwater. Nanoparticles can be used to convert the contaminating chemical
through a chemical reaction to make it harmless. Studies have shown that this method can
be used successfully to reach contaminates dispersed in underground ponds and at much
lower cost than methods which require pumping the water out of the ground for
treatment. Check out our Nanotechnology and Water Quality page for details.
Chemical Sensors
Nanotechnology can enable sensors to detect very small amounts of chemical vapors.
Various types of detecting elements, such as carbon nanotubes, zinc oxide nanowires or
palladium nanoparticles can be used in nanotechnology-based sensors. Because of the small
size of nanotubes, nanowires, or nanoparticles, a few gas molecules are sufficient to change
the electrical properties of the sensing elements. This allows the detection of a very low
concentration of chemical vapors. Check out our Chemical Sensors and
Nanotechnology page for details.
Sporting Goods
If you're a tennis or golf fan, you'll be glad to hear that even sporting goods has wandered
into the nano realm. Current nanotechnology applications in the sports arena include
increasing the strength of tennis racquets, filling any imperfections in club shaft materials
and reducing the rate at which air leaks from tennis balls. Check out our Sporting Goods
and Nanotechnology page for details.
Fabric
Making composite fabric with nano-sized particles or fibers allows improvement of fabric
properties without a significant increase in weight, thickness, or stiffness as might have
been the case with previously-used techniques. For details see ourNanotechnology in
Fabrics page.
