Nanotechnology Involves Working at Atomic and Molecular Levels

There Is An Issue of Safety when Materials Are at Nano Sizes

Nanotechnology involves working at atomic and molecular levels and the achievements in this field has so far been only very small. However, if the technology proves safe and practical, it can deliver fantastic results.

The issue of safety is important because of the invisibly small size of nanoparticles. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter and nanotechnology works with particles of up to 100 nanometers. At nanometer sizes, it is possible that the particles can penetrate the cell and other membranes that protect key organs of our body, such as the brain and liver.

There is also the issue of quantum effects that come into the scene when materials are reduced to nano sizes. The properties of materials can be very different compared to what they are at normal sizes. For example, the inert and solid material, gold, becomes a potent chemical catalyst and turns into a liquid at nanoparticle size.

Nanotechnology in Business

For now, nanotechnology is practically limited to using nanoparticles in certain products such as cosmetic products, self-cleaning glass, scratch-resistant polymer coatings, bacteria-destroying bandages and even on tennis rackets and balls. When nanoparticles of, say zinc oxide, is used in sunscreens, they would not create the whitish tinge produced by typical sunscreens. Instead, they would keep the skin clear while still protecting it from the sun.

Nanowires and nanocarbon tubes have also been produced. Nanowires promise the potential to produce tiny transistors that can be used to create computer chips and electronic devices. Nanocarbon tubes are hundreds of times stronger than steel, while being six times lighter. They might be used to make planes and automobiles sometime in the future.

Promise of Nanotechnology

In theory, nanotechnology has the potential to create any material through molecular level assembly at extremely low costs. The technology will work with atoms, arranging them in any desired way to create molecules. Food and other products could then become cheap and plentiful.

Another potential relates to using nanorobots to work in extremely dangerous or inaccessible places. For example, nanorobots can be used to destroy cancer cells, rebuild the ozone layer, clean up oil spills, and perform extremely precise surgeries.

However, this potential is in the future. The technology to work at atomic levels is yet to be developed. Then there is also the issue of safety no one is yet certain about.

If you wish to explore the field of nanotechnology further, you can visit Nanotechnology Industries Association that promotes the responsible use of nanotechnology and raises awareness of its many applications among key audiences.

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