Describe the brief history of nanomaterials and challenges in nanotechnology. Give its significance.
Answers
HISTORY OF NANOMATERIALS
Nanomaterials are cornerstones of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Nanostructure science and technology is a broad and interdisciplinary area of research and development activity that has been growing explosively worldwide in the past few years. It has the potential for revolutionizing the ways in which materials and products are created and the range and nature of functionalities that can be accessed. It is already having a significant commercial impact, which will assuredly increase in the future.
CHALLENGES IN NANOTECHNOLOGY
1. instruments to assess environmental exposure to nanomaterials,
2. methods to evaluate the toxicity of nanomaterials,
3. models for predicting the potential impact of new, engineered nanomaterials,
4. ways of evaluating the impact of nanomaterials across their life cycle, and
5. strategic programs to enable risk-focused research.
SIGNIFICANCE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
Properties like color, melting point, electrical, magnetic properties etc. for bulk materials doesn’t depend on size, but after a certain size limit which is less than 100 nm the properties changes. For example, bulk gold is yellowish in color but at nanoscale it is ruby red. Therefore, the properties of materials change when we approach nanoscale. Thus, it is possible to arrange molecules in a manner/way that is different from their natural or normal occurrence and hence bring about a change in the properties of materials. Nanotechnology, thus possesses the ability to create better materials, and devices.