Nanotechnology

Definition:

The application of nanoscience in order to control processes on the nanometer scale, i.e. between 0.1 nm and 100 nm. A nanometer is one millionth of a millimeter.

Summary/Description

Nanotechnology can be regarded as the Research and Technology Development at the atomic, molecular or macromolecular levels i.e. in the length scale of approximately 1 - 100 nanometer range, in order to provide a fundamental understanding of phenomena and materials at the nanoscale and to create and use structures, devices and systems that have novel properties and functions because of their small and/or intermediate size. Devices with minimum feature sizes less than 100 nanometers (nm) are considered to be products of nanotechnology. The nanoscale marks the boundary between the classical and quantum mechanical worlds. Realization of nanotechnology promises to bring revolutionary capabilities. Fabrication of nanomachines, nanoelectronics and other nanodevices will undoubtedly solve an enormous amount of the problems faced by mankind today.

Chemical and biological technologies have already been manufacturing and assembling atomically precise devices on the nanometer scale (e.g. materials & food) for millenia. The latest addition to the nanotechnology area is physics and engineering. The precise, mathematical nature of physics and engineering enables novel tools for research. These tools are rapidly increasing our ability to organize atoms and molecules on a large enough scale to improve and develop:

• Molecular medicine & biotechnology

• Smaller, faster & cheaper electronic devices

• Advanced materials, precise standards, improved understanding of matter

• Indirect applications relating to the environment, energy, communications, travel, space exploration, etc.