Nanotechnology : Physics at the Smallest Scale
By Darsh Malhotra/Class-9K
Introduction:
Nanotechnology is something that cannot be seen by the human eye. It is so small that it is measured in nanometres. Nanoparticles are now shaping the world for a better and advanced future in technology.
In more complex words — nanotechnology is the science or physics of manipulating matter at the level of individual atoms and molecules, and it may sound like something which is only used in science fiction novels or movies, but it is moving and advancing at a scale so fast that people almost don’t realise it.
To give you an idea of how exquisite this field is, let me tell you an example — at this tiny scale (80 nanometres), gold turns brownish-red in colour and carbon becomes way stronger than steel. So, in short, normal rules don’t apply in nanotechnology, and that’s what exactly makes it very exciting and powerful.
Where and How it Began:
The fictional concept was first given by famous physicist Richard Feynman in 1959. This idea was first brought up in the talk, “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom.” Richard asked a very deceptive question to the audience, “What if we could manipulate atoms and molecules the way we wanted?” People didn’t think much of that question back then, but Richard Feynman was derived completely in the question. He spent years trying to do something like that, but he failed. Then, in 1981, Heinrich Rohrer discovered the scanning tunnelling microscope, which helped the forgotten question turn into reality.
Nanotechnology since then has exploded. It has been made into a multi-billion dollar field.
PROS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY :
How Nanotechnology Affects the Medical Field:
Nanotechnology has no other more profound or personal promise other than the medical field. Imagine a future where cancer is not treated with chemotherapy, which kills the body on the inside, but with small particles that kill the tumour with pinpoint precision, and the truth is we are not that far away from that kind of future.
Researchers have already developed nanoparticles that are capable of carrying micro drug payloads directly to the tumour, which reduces side effects. One more example of nanotechnology’s use in medicine is the mRNA vaccine — the COVID-19 vaccine that saved millions of lives was delivered using lipid nanoparticles, which protected the weak and fragile mRNA molecules long enough to do the job.
Beyond drug deliveries, nanotechnology is being used to enable earlier diagnosis. Nanosensors can detect disease biomarkers in blood at concentrations far below standard MRI scans. This results in the prevention of diseases when they are known earlier.
Nanotechnology in Electronics:
If you’ve used any electronic device like smartphones, laptops, smart televisions, etc., you’ve used nanotechnology already and probably you don’t even know it yet. The transistors in computer chips are a few nanometres wide — just to tell you, we are talking about atoms and molecules in size.
This revolution was already predicted by Gordon Moore in 1965, which famously became Moore’s Law, which proves that computers of previous times that filled the entire room are weaker than modern-day smartphones which can fit in your pocket.
Currently, researchers are now working on carbon nanotubes and quantum dots as a suitable replacement for silicon, pushing computing power while slashing energy consumption by a whole 90%. The next generation of electronics will be more advanced than that of today, and nanotechnology will be the heart of it all.
How Nanotechnology can be used to save the Environment :
The sector about which we don’t talk much is how nanotechnology can help preserve the environment. Nanomaterials can be used to make solar panel systems which can distribute energy more efficiently, better batteries are being constructed to save energy, and filters which can clean contaminated water at the molecular level.
While in agriculture, nano-enabled pesticides and fertilisers are being used in many parts of Europe and Northern America. Nanocatalysts are helping to break down the pollutant remains of industrial waste — while it cannot completely extinguish the pollutants, it still reduces their impact on the environment.
Cons of Nanotechnology : While we talk about the pros of nanotechnology we must not forget the cons of nanotechnology too.
Health and Toxicity Risks :
Nanoparticles since they are so small can penetrate cells or tissues and the blood brain barrier which causes them to be unpredictable and unsafe.
Unknown long term effects on the body.
Inhalation may cause serious organ issues.
Environmental Hazards :
Nanoparticles released in soil , water and forests could disrupt entire ecosystems.
Difficult to detect and remove once scattered in the environment.
Potential Bioaccumulatation in food chains.
Weapons and Security :
Could be weaponised to create more dangerous and destructive weapons that are hard to detect.
Risk of a nano-arms race between nations.
Potential for bioterrorism using nanoparticles.
Economic and Social Inequality :
High development costs mean benefits may only reach to wealthy nations or individuals.
Could displace workers in traditional manufacturing industries.
Widens the gap between developed and developing countries.
Scientific Uncertainty :
Behaviour of matter at the nanoscale is still not fully understood.
Difficult and expensive to manufacture at a consistent scale.
Unintended interactions between nanoparticles and bio particles is not understood.