Nanotechnology is the study and development of ‘things’ on the atomic and molecular scale, such as substances and electronics. One billionth of a meter is a nanometre, which is ten times the diameter of a hydrogen atom. The average diameter of human hair is 80,000 nanometres. The standard laws of science and chemistry are no longer applicable at such scales. The color, strength, conductivity, and reactivity of materials, for example, can alter dramatically between both the nanoscale and the macroscale. Carbon “nanoparticles” are 100 times stronger than steel yet weigh just six times as much.
Applications of Nanotechnology in:
Medicine: Customized nanoparticles the size of molecules is being developed by researchers to deliver medications directly to damaged cells in the body. This technology, once completed, should dramatically lessen the harm which provides treatments as chemotherapy does to a patient’s healthy cells.
Food: From how food is grown to how it is packed, food nanotechnology is having an influence on various facets of food science. Companies are creating nanomaterial’s that will improve not just the flavor of food, but also the safety of food and the health advantages it provides.
Solar Cells: Companies have created nanotech solar cells that are substantially less expensive to manufacture than traditional solar cells. as a result of employing a low-temperature printing procedure rather than the high-temperature vacuum deposition process generally utilized to make standard crystalline semiconductor cells. Flexible rolls, rather than solid crystalline panels, were used to reduce installation costs.
Space: Nanotechnology might be the best way of making space travel more feasible. Compact spacecraft and a cable for the space shuttle are now achievable because of advances in nanomaterial’s. These advancements potentially cut the cost of reaching orbit and traveling in space by dramatically lowering the quantity of rocket fuel required.
Improved Air and Water Quality:
Catalysts used to convert vapours escaping from autos or industrial plants into safe gases can benefit from nanotechnology. This is because nanoparticle catalysts have a bigger surface area for interacting with reactive chemicals than catalysts built from larger particles. More molecules can interact with the catalyst at the same time because of the increased surface area, making the catalyst more effective. Nanotechnology is being employed to explore solutions for three distinct water quality issues. The removal of industrial pollutants from groundwater, such as TCE, a cleaning solvent, is one difficulty. Nanoparticles can be utilized to transform the contaminated chemical into a safe form through a chemical process. This strategy has been proved to be effective in studies.