The Nanoworld
The Nanoworld
Learning Objectives
After successful completion of this module, you should be able to:
• Define nanotechnology;
• Characterize nanoscale;
• Describe the various use of nanotechnology;
• Discuss concerns on the uses of nanotechnology; and
• Explain the status on the use of nanotechnology in the Philippines
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is defined as the study and use of structures between 1 nanometer and 100
nanometers in size. These include the design, characterization, production and application
of structures, devices and controlling shape and size on a nanometer scale. (Royal Society,
2004). It is just like studying eight hundred 100 nanometer particles side by side to match the
width of a human hair. Nanoscience is the study of phenomena and manipulation of
materials at atomic, molecular and macromolecular scales. This includes the study of
materials 100nm own to the size of atoms which is approximately 0.2nm. For comparison, a
red blood cell is approximately 7, 000nm wide and a water molecule is almost 0.3 nm across.
(K. Ban et.al, 2011.) Studying nanoparticles has been an interest of scientist for centuries
and the field flourished with the development of microscopes capable of displaying particles
called nanomaterial. A nanomaterial is an object that has at least one dimension on the
nanometer scale (app. 1-100nm); material can be in one dimension (very thin surface
coatings, films, layers), in two dimensions (nanowires, nanotubes and fibers) or in all three
dimensions (nanoparticles, quantum dots, nanoshells, nanorings, micro). (Nanoyou, 2011)
Nanomaterials are of two types. Inorganic nanomaterial which includes gold nano clusters,
fullerenes and carbon nanotubes. Organic nanomaterials on the other hand are made up of
carbon compounds. To build such, nanotechnologists employ self-organization using the
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molecules that can be assembled house in an environment suitable for physical and
chemical assembly. This type of nanomaterial results in the growth of artificial layers of skin,
liver tissues and other organs. (Lohith, 2014)
Figure 1: The Scale of Things- Nanometers and More
As shown on Figure 1, the term “nano” is equivalent to one billionth of a meter (10-9 ) hence
it expresses a very tiny amount or size. In nanotechnology, you will be able to manipulate
matter in atomic or subatomic scale. Some of the uses of nanotechnology include the
production of microprocessors and strain-resistant fabrics. The study of nanomaterial
becomes interesting with the use of different equipment like electron microscope, atomic
force microscope, and scanning tunneling microscope. Electron microscope was built by
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Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll during 1930s. There are two general types of electron
microscopes namely scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope.
The former directs a high voltage electron beam towards the specimen to illuminate it and
create a magnified image of the sample while the latter directs a focused electron beam
across the rectangular area of the specimen, which loses energy as it passes through. The
resolution of scanning electron microscopes tends to be poorer than that achieved from the
transmission electron microscope. Atomic force microscope was developed BY Gerd Binig,
Calvin Quate and Chrisoph Gerber in 1986. It makes use of mechanical probe that gathers
information from the surface of a material. Scanning Tunneling microscope enables
scientists to view and manipulate nanoscale particles, atoms, and small molecules. This
invention gave a Nobel Prize Awards in Physics to their inventors, Gerd Binigand Rohrer.
(Javier.et.al, 2018)
Numerous innovations in development as well as those under investigations are now the
focus of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology impacts many industries like transportation,
environment, energy, electronics, manufacturing, agriculture and pharmaceuticals. In the
field of health care, nanotechnologists work on chemical and biological sensors, drugs and
delivery devices, prosthetics and biosensors. (See Figure 2) They have created the quantum
dots that glow in UV light to locate as few as 10 to 100 cancer cells. They are also trying to
grow laboratory tissues to repair heart tissue or even replace them. In technology, they are
looking for solutions for a better data storage and computation (e.g. a DVD that could hold a
million movies) while in environment, nanotechnology plays a big role in the quest for clean
energy and clean air (Nano Solar Cells). (Bennewitz, 2000)
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Government funding includes nanotechnology projects like the U.S. National
Nanotechnology Initiative with $1.5 billion. Other countries like Japan (Nanotechnology
Research Institute) , Taiwan (Taiwan National Science and Technology Program for
nanoscience and Nanotechnology), India (Nanotechnology Research and Education
Foudation), China (National Center for Nanoscience and Technology) Israel (Israel National
Nanotechnology Initiative), Australia (Australian Office of Nanotechnology), Canada
(National Institute of Nanotechnology, South Korea (Korea National Nanotechnology
Initiative), Thailand (National Nanotechnology Center) and Malaysia (National
Nanotechnology Initiatives). (Serafica, 2005) In the Philippines, nanotechnology can be used
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in ICT and semiconductors, health and medicine, energy, food and agriculture and in in some
environmental issues. PCAS TRD-DOST has funded most of the nanotech projects which
includes ICT and semiconductors, Health and biomedical, energy, environment, agriculture
and food, health and environmental risk nano-metrology and education and public
awareness. (Serafica, 2018)
Nanotechnologist faced a lot of issues since nanoscale-sized objects are very delicate.
Radiation particles can cause fatal defects during manufacturing thus development requires
very clean environments making only a few, out of many produced, are perfect. Aside from
manufacturing issues, there are also potential risks of nanotechnology in health and
environment. Nanoparticles can be swallowed, inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or
deliberately injected. If this happens, inflammation can be triggered and weaken the
immune system. Nanoparticles can also accumulate in soil, water and plants.
(www.trnmage, 2004)
