Nanotechnology | Type, facts, Future, simple explanation |

WHAT IS NANOTECHNOLOGY?

"Nano" is a Greek word, which literally means micro or small."what is nanotechnology" 

Every particle whose size is 100 nanometers or smaller is considered a" nanoparticle ".

The term Nanotechnology was first used in 1974 by Norio Taniguchi.

It is the engineering of molecules and atoms, combining disciplines such as physics, chemistry, information and biotechnology.

In 1959, Richard Feynman, an American physicist at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), stated in his lecture 'The Plenty of Room of the Bottom'.

This sentence later became the foundation of nanotechnology.

In his speech, Feynman also described a process in which scientists would be able to manipulate and control individual atoms and molecules.

Nanotechnology, as we know it, is an umbrella term used to define technologies that work on nanoscales for use in this transformed world.  

Nanoparticles (NPs), fundamental parts of nanotechnology, are atomic or molecular aggregates that vary in size from 1nm to 100nm.

In nanoscience, we manipulate matters at their atomic or molecular level and discover a whole new material, which is completely different from, or more powerful than, the mother substance.

The world is facing significant changes in day-to-day life, be it with the environment, medical sector, automobile sector or any other sector, and nanoscience or nanotechnology is needed to deal with them.

Nanotechnology in nature 

In today's world, nanotechnology is impossible to think of any innovation.  Nanoparticles can be synthesized naturally or chemically, chemically or biologically.  

In this particular technique, we repair, construct and monitor the molecular level of any system.  Nanoparticles are of various types according to size, morphology, physical and chemical properties.Some of them are:

• Carbon based nanoparticles, 

• Ceramic nanoparticles, 

• Metal nanoparticles,

 

• Semiconductor nanoparticles,

 

• Polymeric nanoparticles.  

Nanotechnology in medical 

Nanotechnology has its impact in every field with medicine-based and new technology-based devices, it can cure diseases, enhance the military with updated weapons, purify water, soil, gases and energy.  Can preserve our environment with new technologies.

Thus Nanotechnology with nanoparticle is the only science that can control and conquer the world with its positive effects in fields ranging from medical, ethical, environmental fields to biology, engineering, physics and so on.

Agriculture and Nanotechnology

• Nano fertilizer, nano weed etc. can be used to save and grow crops in agricultural areas.

• Nanotechnology can also be used for storage, preservation, quality improvement and flavor etc.

• The use of nanotechnology can reduce friction in the engine.

• Light and strong vehicles can be built using Graphene.

• It can also be used to reduce fuel consumption.

• Mileage and pollution problems can be diagnosed.

• As a result of nanotechnology, the size of computers and mobiles has reduced significantly.

• Such a chip is being developed by nanotechnology in which much memory can be used in a very small area.

• Composite plastics can be made using nanotechnology which is less harmful to the environment.

• Strong fibers can be made from nanotechnology that can be used in the manufacture of fabrics and other materials.

• Weapons can be made stronger and lighter through nanotechnology.

• Nanotechnology is very reliable in making lightweight and strong protective shells for soldiers.

Disadvantages of nanotechnology

• The use of nanoparticles also poses some challenges.

• Concerns about the environment and human health are increasing due to the continuous increase in the production and use of metal nanoparticles.

 

• Experts believe that the soil is directly or indirectly becoming a repository of nanoparticles.

  

• Production of metal nanoparticles is estimated to reach 2 million tonnes by the year 2025.

  

• Today, thousands of nano-products are available in the market, with nanoparticles used in most concentrations and types, etc. not explicitly mentioned.

  

• Products with more than 3000 nanoparticles are commercially available in the market, of which more than 60 percent are not reported to contain nanoparticles.

  

• These products and the waste generated during their production process will go into the atmosphere.

  

• In such a situation, it is important to know how nanoparticles affect plants, animals and humans.

  

• The deposition of nanoparticles in food crops or affecting the growth of crops can have dangerous consequences.

  

• Nanoparticles enter the human body easily through water, air and foods and can also cause diseases.

  

• As the use of nanoparticles increases, concerns about ecological, ethical, health, safety, policy, and regulations are increasing.

  

• Nanoparticles can combine with pollutants to give rise to more toxic pollutants.

The conclusion

• Nanotechnology is still in its early stage of development.

• Although this technique has many benefits, some challenges are also associated with it.

• Therefore, scientists should try to reduce the damage caused by it by expanding it.  Profit potential, so that nanotechnology can be optimally utilized in human welfare and development.

What is the future of nanotechnology?

Here are some things to look forward to in "the future of Nanotechnology" 

Nanobots: 

Science fiction and comic books say that you can manufacture nanobots to cure deadly diseases.  Sure, these robots are still a long way off, but they are being built, one component at a time.

Nano-sensor: 

The reason nanoscience is so attractive is that the material behaves differently when you scale at the bottom of the nanoscale.  For example, a material you have in its bulk form may be diamagnetic (non-magnetic), but the moment you make nanoparticles of the same material, they become paramagnetic. 

These properties help in designing effective and efficient sensors for 

• gas leakage, 
• nuclear radiation, 
• fault / fissure detection, 
• mechanical stress detection, 
• earthquake, etc.

Hydrophobic material: 

Hydrophobic material repels water, similar to lotus leaves or duck feathers.  These hydrophobic materials bounce water droplets off its surface when wrapped on window panes, solar panels, etc., which helps in the effective trap of sunlight.  

This improves the overall performance of solar panels or photochromatic windows.  Chemical and physics methods such as etching, laser patterning, etc. are used these days to come up with better hydrophobic surfaces.

Cancer Research: 

Gold nanoparticles can be used as "sniffers" to detect cancer and other diseases.  As cancer cells proliferate, the genes and proteins within the cells change, and result in the release of volatile organic compounds that can be detected.  

Nanoparticles can sniff (detect) these markers even in small spots.  Researchers reported a new gold nanoparticle sensor a few years ago, which could reveal not only what a person has cancer, but also what kind - lung, breast, prostate, or colon cancer.

Genetic Therapy and Medicine: 

Every other day, scientists announce a new breakthrough in the ability of nanoparticles to deliver genes, drugs, or chemical messengers inside cells.  

Nanoparticles of different shapes and chemical makeup can track and target specific cells of a chemist's choosing, and perform a variety of tasks.  

This image depicts DNA molecules (light green) packed in nanoparticles using a polymer with two different segments.  A fragment is positively charged, which binds the polymer to DNA.

Nanomaterials in Food and Agriculture: 

There is much to understand and desired the effects of Nanotechnology in agriculture.  

Occasionally, discoveries have also found controversial and religious communities, who play such research with God's hands.  Gods hands or not, nanoparticles can be used as a pesticide or as a fertilizer, but there are demonstrations that nanomatries can be dangerous in agriculture, and even limit when fatal.  

In an article published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists report zinc oxide, a common wide bandgap semiconducting commonly used in cosmetics and electronics, can accumulate in plant tissue  And can prevent proper nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, etc.  In heavy loss to crops.

If you think about it, there's a lot you can do and there's a lot you can explore!

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