06-01-2012, 02:47 PM
USES OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
Despite views that nanotechnology is a far-fetched idea with no near-term applications, nanotechnology has already established a beachhead in several industries. The majority of nanotechnologies commercially used today are based on nano-sized particles. For example, nanoscale ZnO has been used for its UV absorbing properties to create sunscreen.
Nanoparticles have also made a breakthrough in the clothing industry
Small whisker-like particles are used to coat the surface fibers of the fabric, creating a stain-repelling surface. Healthcare companies are now marketing antimicrobial bandages coated with silver nanocrystals. Meanwhile, silver Nanoparticles on the surfaces of many new refrigerators, air conditioners, and laundry machines act as antibacterial and antifungal agents.
Semiconductor particles, or quantum dots, are currently being manufactured. These fluorescent Nanoparticles are being used by biologists to stain and label cellular components. By changing the size of the quantum dot the color emitted can be controlled. With a single light source, one can see the entire range of visible colors, an advantage over traditional organic dyes.
Nanocomposites are also seeing commercial use. Plastic Nanocomposites are used for strong, lighter, and rust-proof car components. For instance, Toyota recently began using Nanocomposites in bumpers that makes them 60% lighter and twice as resistant to denting and scratching.
The biomedical field is manufacturing artificial bone composites from nanocrystalline calcium phosphates. These composites are made of the same mineral as natural bone, yet have strength in compression equal to stainless steel.
TYPES OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
Carbon nanotubes:
These are fullerene-related structures which consist of graphene cylinders closed at either end with caps containing pentagonal rings. They were discovered in 1991 by the Japanese electron microscopist Sumio Iijima who was studying the material deposited on the cathode during the arc-evaporation synthesis of fullerenes.
These highly uniform tubes had a greater tendency to form aligned bundles than those prepared using arc-evaporation, and led Smalley to christen the bundles nanotubes "ropes". Initial experiments indicated that the rope samples contained a very high proportion of nanotubes with a specific armchair structure.
[b]Nanohorns:[/b]
Single-walled carbon cones with morphologies similar to those of nanotubes caps were first prepared by Peter Harris, Edman Tsang and colleagues in 1994. They were produced by high temperature heat treatments of fullerene soot they could also be produced by laser ablation of graphite, and gave them the name "Nanohorns".
Despite views that nanotechnology is a far-fetched idea with no near-term applications, nanotechnology has already established a beachhead in several industries. The majority of nanotechnologies commercially used today are based on nano-sized particles. For example, nanoscale ZnO has been used for its UV absorbing properties to create sunscreen.
Nanoparticles have also made a breakthrough in the clothing industry
Small whisker-like particles are used to coat the surface fibers of the fabric, creating a stain-repelling surface. Healthcare companies are now marketing antimicrobial bandages coated with silver nanocrystals. Meanwhile, silver Nanoparticles on the surfaces of many new refrigerators, air conditioners, and laundry machines act as antibacterial and antifungal agents.
Semiconductor particles, or quantum dots, are currently being manufactured. These fluorescent Nanoparticles are being used by biologists to stain and label cellular components. By changing the size of the quantum dot the color emitted can be controlled. With a single light source, one can see the entire range of visible colors, an advantage over traditional organic dyes.
Nanocomposites are also seeing commercial use. Plastic Nanocomposites are used for strong, lighter, and rust-proof car components. For instance, Toyota recently began using Nanocomposites in bumpers that makes them 60% lighter and twice as resistant to denting and scratching.
The biomedical field is manufacturing artificial bone composites from nanocrystalline calcium phosphates. These composites are made of the same mineral as natural bone, yet have strength in compression equal to stainless steel.
TYPES OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
Carbon nanotubes:
These are fullerene-related structures which consist of graphene cylinders closed at either end with caps containing pentagonal rings. They were discovered in 1991 by the Japanese electron microscopist Sumio Iijima who was studying the material deposited on the cathode during the arc-evaporation synthesis of fullerenes.
These highly uniform tubes had a greater tendency to form aligned bundles than those prepared using arc-evaporation, and led Smalley to christen the bundles nanotubes "ropes". Initial experiments indicated that the rope samples contained a very high proportion of nanotubes with a specific armchair structure.
[b]Nanohorns:[/b]
Single-walled carbon cones with morphologies similar to those of nanotubes caps were first prepared by Peter Harris, Edman Tsang and colleagues in 1994. They were produced by high temperature heat treatments of fullerene soot they could also be produced by laser ablation of graphite, and gave them the name "Nanohorns".
