Nanotechnology and its Potential in the Future

Nirad Singh

Abstract

Nanotechnology is the study of extremely small structures. The prefix “Nano” is derived from the Greek word “nanos” meaning ‘DWARF’ (Small). The beauty of nanotechnology is its ability to make things smaller, so they have more impact on our lives. Nanotechnology deals with materials in the size of 0.1 to 100 nm. One nanometer is one billionth of a meter (10–9 m or 10–7 cm), about 100 thousand times smaller than the diameter of a human hair, a thousand times smaller than a red blood cell, or about half the size of DNA (Scott and Chan, 2002). Nanotechnology is defined asresearch and development at the atomic, molecular, or macromolecularlevel utilizing a length scale of at least one nanometer in one dimension. The arrangement of atoms in 1–100 nm structures, devices, and systems generate novel properties and abilities. Their small size allows them to display properties such as electrical conductance, chemical reactivity, magnetism, optical properties and physical strength different from bulk materials. A broad scope of new applications in science is opened by nanotechnology, including those in materials science, chemistry, biology, computer science, energy, environmental science, medicine. This technology has been extended to affect most aspects of human life in the future; thus, a suitable approach and adequate knowledge of its applications are essential for a successful outcome. With molecular control, this science promises to unlock nature's secrets in all fields from engineering to medicine. Nanotechnology enables better and faster electronics, more efficient fuel consumption, greater drug discovery capabilities, and stronger, more resistant materials. It has the potential to have a profound effect on all of us, and there are already several applications in the market. The application of nanotechnologies to human health has been promising in recent years, especially in the treatment of cancer. Nanotechnology is revolutionizing a variety of technologies and industries and is rapidly growing into a large future market. This article seeks to outline the future applications of nanotechnology.

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