Nanotechnology is More than Just a Buzzword, Big Things from a Tiny World

Nanotechnology is more than just making tech smaller and it’s very crucial in the present era

Nanotechnology is the branch of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometres, especially the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules, and supramolecular scale for industrial purposes. Nanotechnology/micro technology is the term given to those areas of science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale. Nanotechnology is helping to considerably improve, even revolutionize, many technologies and industry sectors: information technology, homeland security, medicine, transportation, energy, food safety, and environmental science, among many others. It influences almost all sectors. Nanotechnology research and development involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulating matter between approximately 1–100 nanometers.  

Application areas of Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter at a molecular or atomic level to produce novel materials and devices with new extraordinary properties. However, nanotechnology is not a new discipline. it is a combination of knowledge to tailor materials at the nanoscale.  

Everyday Materials

Using nanotechnology, materials can effectively be made stronger, lighter, more durable, more reactive. commercial products are currently on the market and in daily use that relies on nanoscale materials and processes. Other goods of everyday use that could be developed include anti-reflective sunglasses, new generation cosmetics, easy-to-use ceramics, glasses, etc. Nanoscale materials are beginning to enable washable. smart fabrics with nano-sized Silver and Titanium particles are being used. This has led to the production of lightweight, thin and breathable fabrics and their stain-resistant and improving durability. Nano-engineered materials make superior household products such as degreasers and stain removers; environmental sensors, air purifiers, and filters; antibacterial cleansers; and specialized paints and sealing products, such as self-cleaning house paints that resist dirt and marks.  

Automobiles

Nanoscale additives in polymer composite materials are being used in, bicycles, motorcycle helmets, automobile parts, luggage, and power tool housings, making them lightweight, stiff, durable, and resilient. Various polymer nanocomposites like Natural Rubber-Organoclay have been used in tires to make them abrasion-resistant. and using nanoparticles like tungsten nanospheres to car fluids has enhanced their mechanical properties. it’s leading to lightweighting of cars, trucks, airplanes, boats, and spacecraft could lead to significant fuel savings. Carbon nanotube sheets are now being produced for use in next-generation air vehicles.  

Electronics

Nanotechnology has played a major role in advancing electronics and computers that has led to faster portable systems with the ability to store large amounts of information. The advances in nanotechnology will reduce the weight and power consumption of electronic devices, from bulky Television sets and mobile phones to sleek TV sets and smartphones. Moreover, with the use of nanomaterials like Graphene, thin, lightweight, better quality TV screens which also consume less power have been invented!  

Medical and Healthcare

Nanomedicine, the application of nanotechnology in medicine. Better imaging and diagnostic tools enabled by nanotechnology are paving the way for earlier diagnosis, more individualized treatment options, and better therapeutic success rates. Medicinal applications of nanotechnology are not only restricted to the aforementioned areas but are also seen in gene therapy, wound treatment, etc. where a nanoparticle can help to deliver medication directly to cancer cells instead of the whole body and minimize the risk of damage to healthy tissue. This has the potential to change the way doctors treat cancer and dramatically reduce the toxic effects of chemotherapy. Nanomedicine researchers are looking to improve vaccines and deliver vaccines without needles. and also searching to regenerative medicine spans, in the areas of bone and neural tissue engineering. Researchers are looking for ways to grow complex tissues with the goal of one-day growing human organs for transplant. and also looking to use graphene nanoribbons to help repair spinal cord injuries.  

Energy

The power of nanotechnology has greatly enhanced alternative energy approaches to meet the growing demands of the world for energy. Scientists are looking into ideas and means to develop clean, affordable, and renewable energy sources, along with means to reduce energy consumption and lessen toxicity burdens on the environment. Nanotechnology is improving the efficiency of fuel production from raw petroleum materials through better catalysis. It is also enabling reduced fuel consumption in vehicles and power plants through higher-efficiency combustion and decreased friction. Nanotechnology can be incorporated into solar panels to convert sunlight to electricity more efficiently, promising inexpensive solar power in the future. Nanostructured solar cells could be cheaper to manufacture and easier to install. Nanotechnology is already being used to develop many new kinds of batteries for better charging, more efficiency, lighter weight, and higher power density.  

Environmental

Nanotechnology is being used to help clean up the environment and detect contaminants. and it helps to meet the need for affordable, clean drinking water through rapid, low-cost detection and treatment of impurities in water. Nanoparticles are being developed to clean industrial water pollutants which get accumulated in groundwater through chemical reactions. This is one of the best applications of Nanotechnology where unique nanoparticles are used to improve the quality of groundwater and rivers. Researchers have also placed magnetic water-repellent nanoparticles in oil spills and used magnets to mechanically remove the oil from the water. A nano fabric towel has been developed by researchers that can absorb 20 times its weight in oil for clean-up applications. Deteriorating air quality has become a global issue, Nanotechnology-enabled sensors and solutions are now able to detect and identify chemical or biological agents in the air and soil with much higher sensitivity. Graphene Oxide is being used to separate pollutants from the air, industrial plants, cars, air conditioners, etc.  

Transportation

nanotechnology offers various means to improve the transportation infrastructure and develop multifunctional materials that will contribute to building and maintaining lighter, safer, smarter, and more efficient vehicles, aircraft, spacecraft, and ships. Nanoscale sensors are continuous monitoring of the structural integrity and performance of bridges, tunnels, rails, parking structures over time. nanoelectronics can also support an enhanced transportation infrastructure that can communicate with vehicle-based systems to help drivers onboard electronics.  

Space Science

Now Nanotechnology is visible in Space Science and Research. with the help of nanomaterials NASA trying to reduce the gross weight of a launch vehicle by 63% and further reduce launch costs, increase mission reliability, open the door to alternative propulsion concepts, and how to send spacecraft with lesser fuel, etc research is also being done.  

Food Industry

Nanoparticles like Silver mixed with polymers are being used to enhance the quality of food packaging material thereby increasing its shelf life and making it taste better. through smart packaging, and using nanomaterials like Zinc Oxide nanowires, Carbon nanotubes as well as palladium, can detect biological changes occurring in the food. nanotechnology in food processing is important to evaluate food texture, food appearance, food taste nutritional value of the food, food shelf-life, hazardous chemicals in food.  

Sporting Equipment and Goods

today sports activities became a popular choice for building a career. Nanoscale additives in polymer composite materials are being used in baseball bats, tennis rackets, golf. With the use of nanomaterials like Silica nanoparticles, nanoclays fullerenes, etc, high-end racquets, new tennis balls through which air releases at a slow pace, lightweight hockey sticks, and club shaft material with improved durability have been made.