Science, Technology and Society
COURSE MODULE COURSE UNIT Session
12 2 6
The Nano World
Read course and unit objectives
Read study guide prior to class attendance
Read required learning resources; refer to unit
terminologies for jargons
Proactively participate in classroom discussions
Participate in weekly discussion board (Canvas)
Answer and submit course unit tasks
At the end of this unit, the students are expected to:
1. Define nanotechnology and identify the different types of nanoparticles.
2. Discuss the importance of nanotechnology.
3. Explain the benefits and ethical considerations using nanotechnology.
History of Nanotechnology
1959- Richard Feynman, an American Physicist discussed, “There’s Plenty of Room at
the Bottom”.
1960- Mohamed Atalla and Dawon Kahng fabricated the first MOSFET ( metal –oxide-
semiconductor field-effect transistor) with a gate oxide thickness of 100nm, along with a gate
length of 20μm.
1974- Norio Taniguchi, a Japanese scientist of Tokyo University of Science coined the
term "nanotechnology” to describe semiconductor processes such as film deposition and ion
beam milling exhibiting characteristic control on the order of a nanometer.
1981s- The invention of Scanning Tunneling Microscope, an instrument used for
imaging surfaces at the atomic level. It was invented by Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer at
IBM Zurich (Nobel Prize in Physics).
1985- The discovery of fullerenes, an allotrope of carbon whose molecule consists of
carbon atoms connected by single and double bonds so as to form a closed or partially closed
mesh, with fused rings of five to seven atoms.
1986 – Publication of the book Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology
by Eric Dexler.
1991- The discovery of carbon nanotubes by Sumio Lijima
2006- The discovery of 3nm MOSFET, the worlds’smallest nanoelectronic device was
created by Korean Researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
and the National Nano Fab Center.
Early uses of Nanomaterials
In Mesopotamia, nanoparticles were used for creating a glittering effect on the
surface of pots.
In modern times, pottery from the middle Ages and Renaissance often retains a
distinct gold- or copper-colored metallic glitter.
In Rome, Lycurgus cup is made of a glass that changes colour when light
gleamed through it.
In pre-columbian Mayan City of Chichen Itza, a corrosion resistant azure pigment
known as “ Maya Blue” contains nanopores to create an environmentally stable
pigment.
In Middle East, Damascus steel swords contain oriented nanoscale wire-and-
tube-like structures
Source:
What is Nanotechnology?
The engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale.
It is a Hybrid Science combining Engineering, Chemistry and to a certain extent Biology.
It deals with the creation of functional materials, devices, systems through control of
matter or nanoscale.
It placed the footprints in the field of energy, medicine, electronics, computing, security
and materials.
– Nanoscience is the study of phenomena and manipulation of materials at atomic,
molecular and macromolecular scales, where properties differ significantly from
those at a larger scale.
– Nanotechnologies are the design, characterization, production and application of
structures, devices and systems by controlling shape and size at nanometre
scale.
Fundamental Concepts in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
It’s hard to imagine just how small nanotechnology is. One nanometer is a
billionth of a meter, or 10-9 of a meter. Here are a few illustrative examples:
o There are 25,400,000 nanometers in an inch
o A sheet of newspaper is about 100,000 nanometers thick
o On a comparative scale, if a marble were a nanometer, then one meter would be
the size of the Earth.
Different Approaches to Nanotechnology.
Nanotechnologies can be:
• Top-down
– Etching a block of material down to the desired shape
– Chips and processors
• Bottom-up
– Building materials atom by atom - like lego
– Nanoparticles such as C60, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots
Applications of Nanotechnology
• Catalysts
– Envirox™ cerium oxide
• Nanoremediation
– SAMMS technology to remove mercury
• Paper
– photographic paper
• Filters
– nanofibres
• Toothpaste to remineralise teeth
• Food
• packaging
• Paint
• improved adhesion and anti-fungal qualities/anti-graffiti
• Clothes
• non-staining and anti-radiation
• Batteries
• (Black & Decker) phosphate nanocrystal technology
• Cleaning products
Advanatges of Nanotechnology
Protect drugs from being degraded in the body before they reach their target
Enhances the absorption of drugs into tumors and into the cancerous cells themselves.
Allows for better control over the timing and distribution of drugs to the tissue, making it
easier for oncologists to assess how well they work.
Prevent drugs from interacting with normal cells , thus avoiding side effects.
Disadvantages
• Adverse health effects in humans from deliberate or accidental exposure
• Adverse effects on the environment from deliberate or accidental exposure
• Potentially explosive properties of nanostructures
• Very difficult to detect without sophisticated equipment
• Difficult to predict how particles will behave in the environment (dispersed/clumped)
• Small size may result in particles passing into the body more easily (inhalation,
ingestion, absorption)
• May be more reactive due to surface area to volume ratio
• Potential to adsorb toxic chemicals
• Persistence - Longevity of particles in the environment and body are unknown
Nano refers to a unit meaning one billionth or ten raised to negative nine.
Nanotechnology refers to the manipulation of matter on an atomic or subatomic scale.
Dayrit F. (2013) Can we build a culture of science through nanotechnology? Ppt.
Study Questions
Print or cut out pictures about the recent innovations or advancements in nanotechnology.
Provide a brief description. Discuss your output in class.
Rosamund Daw. Nanotechnology World Nanotechnology is
ancient history. April 24, 2012. https://www.theguardian.com
en.wikipedia.org
http://www.nanopicoftheday.org/2003Pics/QDRainbow.htm
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/05nano_image_gallery.htm
http://nano.med.umich.edu/projects/dendrimers.html
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/update/quantumdots.htm
Steffen Foss Hansen, Danish Technical University, except C60
image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fullerene and quantum
dot from
http://en.rusnano.com/upload/OldNews/Files/33619/current.gif
www.answers.com/topic/virus
http://www.gala-instrumente.de/images/deben_CCD_DNA.jpg
http://www.cancer.gov/researchandfunding/snapshots/nanotechnology
http://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101
Yanamala N, Kagan VG and Shvedova AA (2013), Adv. Drug Del. Rev. 65, 2070-2077.
"Molecular modeling in structural nano-toxicology: Interactions of nano-particles with nano-
machinery of cells".
