Nano Revolution Is Coming—Sometimes, Smaller Is Better

The word "nano" comes from the Greek for "dwarf". Nanometer (nm) is a length unit just like meters and micrometers. One nanometer is equal to one billionth of a meter (10?9 m). Nanotechnology is a science and technology that studies the laws of motion and interaction, as well as possible technical problems in practical applications of a system composed of substances with a size between 0.1 and 100 nm. It can be further extended to the research of nanoelectronics, mechanics, biology, materials science and processing.

• What is nanotechnology?

Nanometer is a measurement unit of length. And nanotechnology refers to the processing of materials into nanoscale. For example, nanotechnology in computer technology can greatly reduce the chip scale and power consumption of electronic components. The nanoscale of the chip manufacturing process has become an important indicator for manufacturers to compare technological advancement.

Nanotechnology now includes nanobiology, nanoelectronics, nanomaterials, nanomechanics, nanochemistry, etc. We are getting deeper and deeper into the micro world, and our understanding and ability of transforming the micro-world have reached an unprecedented level.

• What are the characteristics of nanomaterials?

When the particle size is reduced to the nanometer level, it will present new characteristics of acoustic, optical, electrical, magnetic, and thermal properties. The characteristics of nanomaterials can be summarized as "lighter, higher, stronger".

Lighter means that with the help of nanomaterials and nanotechnology, devices with smaller size, unchanged or better performance can be made. The first computer, ENIAC, required three houses to store it. It was with the help of micron-level semiconductor manufacturing technology that its miniaturization was realized and then computers were popularized. Regardless of the energy and resource utilization, the benefits of this kind of miniaturization are amazing.

Higher means that nanomaterials are expected to have higher optical, electrical, magnetic, and thermal properties.

Stronger means that nanomaterials have stronger mechanical properties (such as strength and toughness, etc.). For nanoceramics, nanocrystallization is expected to solve the brittleness problem of ceramics which may exhibit similar plasticity as metals.

• What are the common applications of nanotechnology in daily life?

Now mankind has entered an era where everyone uses and needs nanotechnology. Many of the nanotechnology described in early science fiction have been realized, but in a way that is not easy to attract our attention. Here are some examples of how nanoparticles have already changed our life:

1. Clothes: UV protective clothes can be produced by adding nano-level ultraviolet reflectors, such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, carbon black, etc.
2. Food Packaging: Nano food packaging materials can extend food life, improve food safety, alert consumers that food is contaminated or spoiled, repair tears in packaging, and even release preservatives to extend the life of the food in the package.
3. House: Adding nano-iron trioxide, nano-titanium dioxide, and nano-zinc oxide to the paint can increase its brush resistance by nearly ten times and make the paint have a certain self-cleaning ability.
4. Digital devices: Nano-scale magnetic card readers that can read information from hard disks and nano-scale memories with storage capacity thousands of times that of current chips have been put into production.
5. Medical treatment: Nano detection technology can realize early detection and prevention of diseases, and slow-release nanotechnology can realize the sustained release of drugs so the medicine can take effect for a week or even a month.

"Although there is still a long way to go before the wide range of nanotechnology application, due to the extremely broad application prospects bred by nanotechnology, the structure at nanometer and below nanometer is a focus of the next stage of scientific and technological development, and it will cause another industrial revolution in the 21st century." Said a scientist at Creative Diagnostics, an experienced manufacturer of all kinds of nanoparticles.

Thomas Schmitt: Working at a biotechnology company for over 10 years and writing to share the latest technology for over 5 years.