Nanotechnology The Atomic and Molecular Revolution

Anthony Rommens
04-Sep-06

article image

This industry has garnered a lot of press as being the next technological wave. The new ‘science of small’ is now just now becoming known by the general public as the earliest products have begun to come to market. In this article, we provide a very basic introduction to help in initial understanding of this broad area of technology.

WHAT IS IT?

Nanotechnology is the science of manipulating materials at the atomic or molecular level, concerned with dimensions of less than 100 nanometers. The tiny nanometer measurement is one billionth of a meter (a millionth of a millimeter). To put this in perspective, about 800 times smaller than a human hair. Nanotech ultimately aims to improve or create products by developing new structures, devices, and systems.

The technology has made significant progress since it was first theorized in the 1960s by physicists and academics. Instead of being a revolution, it is actually an evolution of modern science. Since Nature has already invented some of the most complex and highly functional near nano materials and machines (at the cellular level), the technology often draws from its inspiration. Nanotech overlaps and borrows from many disciplines that include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, and Medicine. Thus developing Nanotech knowledge has created many new specializations in traditional science fields. Nanotechnology could be seen as a kind of ‘rebranding’ of the old sciences.

Today, scientists and companies are just learning to use atoms, molecules and their components. Manipulating at an atomic level is done in a variety of ways. Materials can be constructed from the ‘Top Down’ by producing from larger pieces of material such as machining (like etching circuits on silicon chips but at a smaller scale). Construction may also be built from the ‘Bottom Up’ using the basics of ‘atom by atom’ self assembly in which components arrange themselves into a structure because of natural properties (Eg; crystal formations or chemical synthesis of large molecules). Another ‘Bottom Up’ method which is not currently suitable for industrial applications involves sophisticated tools such as Scanning Tunneling Microscopes or Atomic Force Microscopes that allow atom or molecules to be dragged individually and together to build simple nanostructures.

In working with various methods to control shape and size at nano or ‘near nano’ levels, materials can exhibit very different or enhanced properties from that of normal size. Factors such as surface stickiness, quantum effects and Brownian motion become important. Properties change often at a small scales and differ greatly from that of regular sized objects.

There are a variety of super small materials to work with including; Carbon nanotubes, Carbon C60 Fullerenes (AKA buckyballs), Nanowires, Nanoparticles (made from metallic, mineral, polymer based or combinations), and Polymers based on Nano subunits. These different materials exhibit super properties such as being: harder than diamond, 100 times stronger than steel, more slippery than Teflon, ultra light & flexible, and conduct heat and electricity better than Copper.

These materials can be manipulated to build mechanical nano particles. Combining biological molecules with manufactured nano particles can create entirely new hybrid materials and devices. As our scientific knowledge increases in Nanotech, the potential and possibilities become endless.

Studying such properties and making changes at tremendously small sizes can lead to improvements in a materials weight, flexibility, strength, conductivity, optical or magnetic properties.

Our ability to create is still very limited and we have just touched the surface of what can be achieved. New patents and processes for this technology are being made everyday.

We are still many years away from the Science Fiction ideas of true atomic level ‘Nanobots’ or postulated desktop sized Molecular Manufacturing Factories. We can however produce simple nanoparticles and larger micro scale machines using the ‘Top Down’ manufacturing techniques similarly used to create micro computer chips. These super small machines are called Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS). At this point in time and in the near future, our limitations allow us to improve current consumer products rather than create entirely new ones.

ETHICS

There are a whole range of ethical and public safety problems to address regarding Nanotechnology. New materials are being created yet there is nothing known about how these Nano particles effect living systems. They could potentially be very harmful to humans, plants and animals if breathed, ingested, absorbed or accumulated in the food chain. Carbon Nanotubes are of special concern as they resemble Asbestos fibers that cause cancer in workers who breath it in the air. Manufactured particles could be easily absorbed into an ecosystem but with unknown effects. Due to the small size, existing instruments are prevented from effective measuring and monitoring. Also, since nano particles do not exhibit the same properties as that of larger versions, there are fears that existing safety measures will not be enough. Generalizations will not be easy to make regarding new materials that often exhibit different properties than which nature has evolved. Nanoparticles could potentially have a toxic effect on life and this could be evident latter has we increase production of products.

In regards to nanotech business there may be unforeseen problems regarding future safety issues, and lengthy product testing. Concern regarding Nanotechnology is not currently a public issue as most people seem optimistic because not much is known about the technology. Edinburgh University Professor and health expert, Anthony Seaton notes that almost nothing is known about the effects of inhaling nano particles and no significant testing has been done on the current nanoconsumer products that are already on the market. New Nanotech firms must take into account such matters to properly test products on their own and also to time IPOs favorably with positive popular opinions in order to raise substantial capital to continue business operations.

CURRENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS

Despite our rudimentary knowledge of atomic manipulation and its effects, there are an increasing number of consumer products already on the market. It is worth noting that many new products claim to be ‘Nanotech’ (i.e.: cosmetics) but are actually not true Nanotechnology. Some molecular enhanced everyday products include:

 

UPCOMING

These new developments are becoming possible over the next few years.

 

THE INDUSTRY

Nanotechnology is expensive and it requires a long time for research because of the complexities involved.

It requires much greater investment in laboratories, research and equipment than other business technology ventures. It also has expensive and often complicated production processes at this point in time. As a result of the huge monetary barrier to entry, Nanotech has not created a large number of start up companies like other previous technology waves (Eg; Personal Computers, Peripherals, Mobile Devices, Internet, etc.).

Nanotech requires sustained funding. The discoveries, patents and research are valuable because the resultant licensable intellectual property is going to be the future for many industries. Funding has been largely provided by governments, large corporate sponsors and Venture Capital companies. Most research is done through university level institutions around the world largely because it is less expensive to develop in a research setting rather than a company. Financial investors who have been traditional leaders play more of a follower part because of the complex science and lack of industry experience. Obviously, the big challenge is in moving the technologies from university labs into company products.

OPPORTUNITIES

Nanotech remains a relatively small industry with well-known players. Many early business incubations actually stay in research settings because most of the funding money remains with educational institutions. Investors and entrepreneurs will have to be more sophisticated than ever regarding business angel investments. A key could be to search for ‘deal flow’ in the very places where the research is taking place at local levels. This would be done to secure rights of research in exchange to commercialize the intellectual property. Ideal opportunity would be with research that is already developed near completion, is adaptable and marketable to various industrial applications. Business Angels need to consider investing in groups with this strategy because of the large annual outlay of capital required. Investments will have to be held until a buyout from a VC or other company seeking to purchase the actual intellectual technology.

For help in locating over 150 UK nanotechnology companies and to explore the latest developments visit the UK Nanoforum 2006. It is the first ever international business partnering event for the European nanotech industry. It will be held on October 24, 2006. www.uknano.biz.

Sources Include:
UK Micro and Nanotechnology Network
The Royal Society
Royal Academy of Engineering
UK Institute of Technology
K. Bullis, Higher Capacity Lithium-Ion Batteries, MIT Technology Review
P Rober, Wolfe Nanotech Report
U Wang, Nanotech: Metal Foam, Red Herring Inc.
R Smith, Nanotechnology: A Brief Technology Analysis, CTOnet.org
R Feynman, There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom. Engineering and Science, Cal Tech
E Drexler, Engines of Creation:The Coming era of nanotechnology. Anchor Books
E Drexler, Nanosystems: Molecular machinery, manufacturing and computation. John Wiley & Sons

Insight

Rene Carayol

René Carayol

Take one outgoing Prime Minister with an unquestioned flair, a natural charisma and the confidence to make radical decisions. Add his successor, a former Chancellor of the Exchequer; a man with a dour public persona and a history of taking the cautious path.
The equation doesn?t immediately point to a new era of British politics in which risk is once again embraced instead of being talked about dismissively as yet another four-letter word.

more...