NanoTech

Running Intro

Anything within the range of 1 to 100 Nano Metere is called NanoTech

If Kancha or Marble is of 1 nm size. Then 1 Metere is Earth.

Scanning, Tunneling Microscope

Richard Feynman’s There is Plenty of Space at Bottom, 1959 is considered to be the Genesis of Nano Tech in the World

Introduction

A Nano Metere is . Any Nano Metere is the one which falls in the range of 1 to 100 NM

Nano Tech is the application of Science to produce products and particles at this nano scale

Historical Background of NanoTech

Ideas and Concepts of Nano Science and Technology began with a Talk by Richard Feynman called “There is Plenty of Space in Bottom in 1959”

In this talk, Feynman highlighted that scientists can manipulate individual atoms.

The Term Nano Technology was given a decade later by Professor Norio Taniguchi. The Term Nano has been derived from the Greek Word Vavog which means Dwarf. It was only with the Invention of the Scanning Tunnelling Microscope that scientists were able to see individuals atoms or molecules, so the Journey of Modern Nano Tech Began

In Medieval Times, Artists were using Gold and Silver Particles to Paint Glasses of Churches. The Process that they followed was accidentally leading to formation of Gold and Silver Nano Particles

Even Nature in some of the most Violent Processes such as Thunderstorm, and Volcano Eruption, Produce Nano Particle

Why Do Properties change at Nano Scale

At Nano Scale, it has been observed that physical properties change for example Bulk Gold Melts whereas Gold NanoParticle Melts at 850 Degree Celsius

There is a change in colour because it starts to absorb some spectrum of Visible Light

There is also a change in Magnetic Property. Like Copper which is Not Magnetic in Bulk becomes Magnetic at Nano Scale

There are changes in Chemical Properties. For Example, Bulk Gold is Inert but Gold Nano Particles are chemically active

These changes in properties are attributed to a drastic increase in Surface Area and dominance of Quantum Laws

Quantum Laws are Laws operating at Atomic and Sub Atomic Levels

Generation of Nano Technology - Artificial Production

The Four Generations of Nano Technology

First Generation - Present Stage

This is the stage of passive nano material. Here we will be able to produce something at Nano Scale, but we do not know the further use of Nano Materials.

Second Generation - Present Stage

In this stage, we will be producing Nano Materials with the Objective of Further use

Example: Carbon Nano Tubes for Water Purifications

Third Generation - Future Stage

System of Nano Materials Stage. Many Nano Bots would be acting collectively to perform a task

Molecular Nano Systems - Future Stage

We will develop a capacity to manipulate individual atoms i.e we will have complete controls over atoms that make up nano bots or any material

Few Famous Nano Materials

CNT - Carbon Nano Tubes

Carbon Nano Tubes are cylindrical tubes of Molecules that consist of a Single Layer of Carbon Atom

Types of Carbon Nano Tubes (CNT)

Single-Walled CNT - Range of 1 NM Diameter

Multi-Walled CNT - Range of 100 NM Diameter

Here, there are concentric single-walled CNT that are interlinked with each other. All Layers are connected to the each other

Properties of CNT

It has ultra-high strength

It is 400 times stronger than steel

It has low density i.e it is a lightweight material

It is 1/6th dense as steel

It is very high electrical conductivity

It is chemically stable so the hollow interior could be used for nanomedicines

The Hollow Part can be used as Nano Medicine while the outer Layer can be acted as Capsule

Applications of CNT

Water Purification

Bacteria and Viruses are Generally of Size Greater than 10 Nano Metere, So they are not able to pass through a Membrane built using CNT as the average pore size will be around 5 Nano Metere

Material Development

With higher Strength to Lower Weight Ratio, they are used to manufacture parts of Space Craft, Air Craft and Auto Mobile

It is used in making high-quality sports goods such as bicycle frames, tennis rackets, hockey sticks, golf clubs, Sports Arrows etc

Smart Textiles can be used to make smart textiles such as Bulletproof Vests., Fire Retardant Textiles, Water Resistant Clothing etc

Industrial Coating

Coating Blades of Wind Turbines to avoid corrosion

Shielding Materials

Using Carbon Nano Tube based Nano Foams and Aerosols

Transistors

Inside Chips, there are thousands and thousands of Transistors. Transistors are made up of Semi-Conductor Material like Silicon. Semi-Conductor Temperature is maintained by Doping

Transistors are very small switches that allow the electron to pass in one direction in one instance, and in another, it might not be allowed.

They have variable electrical conductivity. The most famous is Silicon. In a chip there are lacs of transistors that help in producing, Long Arrays or Long chains of 0 & 1. 0 & 1 are Binary Digits, The language which the computer understands is arrays of 0 and 1.

Carbon Nano Tube is a Strong Candidate to replace Silicon Based Electronics.

CNT has the capacity to allow the movement of electrons in one direction and not in another direction. So chips can be built using CNT. It can address the Scenario of a Chip Shortage.

As a Catalyst

It can also be used as a Catalyst in Chemical Industries. They can increase the rate of reaction because of High Surface Area

Nano Medicines

It can also be used as Nano Medicines

Example: Nitrogen Doped CNT are being used for drug delivery

Doping is the addition of impurities to change electrical conductivity or to change some other property

Allotropes

Allotropes are substances with the same chemical composition but different structures so they are different forms of the same element. They have the same chemical property but different chemical properties.

Example: Graphite and Diamond, C 60 - Fullerene (Bucky Ball cuz of Football like Structure)

Graphene

It is the mother of all graphitic forms of Carbon. It is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal pattern.

Properties of Graphene

Stronger than Diamond.

It is an Excellent Conductor of Heat and Electricity.

It is transparent yet it is impermeable (does not allow anything to pass through it) even the lightest gases cannot pass through it)

It is light and flexible

Application of Graphene

Graphene as a Membrane

It is used for Industrial Gas Separation.
It is proposed that it can capture CO2 from the atmosphere. So it can help in fighting climate change.
Can be used in De-Salination (Removal of Salt from the Ocean)

Material development

It has high strength and low weight so it can be used in spacecraft, aircraft and the automobile sector

Energy Storage

Graphene Improves the Energy Capacity and Charging Rate in Rechargeable Batteries. It increases the capacity of Super Capacitors. Graphene can help in making Super Capacitors
Graphene can help in making Solar Panels that are Light Weight, Flexible and have high efficiency

Challenges of Nano Technology

Technical

Nano Toxicity: Nano Particles are so small that our cells cannot filter them, so they can damage human health. Hence, it is a risk or threat to human health
Risk to Environment & Animal Species
Nano Weapons: Nano Materials can be used as Weapons which is hard to detect
Not able to produce much smaller products

wrt to India

Not many centres of Excellence in the NT
Less Research and Development in NT
Less Awareness among, research institutions, industry and academia
Very Few Degree courses in NT cuz, it's a very New Technology

Read by Thyself

Nano Urea was the First Nano Fertiliser

Nano Mission

Nano Mission is an Umbrella Program of Govt of India for over all development of Nano Technology, It was launched in 2007 by DST (Dept of Science & Technology)

Objectives:

Basic Research Promotion

Funding of Research Projects of Individuals or of Institutions
Building COE i.e centre of excellence

Infra Development, Developing a Chain of Facilities across the country.

Human Resource Development

International Collaboration

Development of products and Processes for National Development especially in Areas of Safe Drinking Water Materials Development, Sensor Development & Drug Delivery

PYQP Prelims

PYQP Mains

Question 1: What do you mean by Nano Tech and how is it helping in Health Sector? 10M

Question 2: Why is Nano Tech, one of the Key Technologies of the 21st Century? Describe the Salient Features of the Indian Govts Mission on Nano Science and Tech and the Scope of Its application in the development process of the country.