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A large amount of investment is going into nanotechnology research and development to produce innovative new products for the future. The possibilities are endless.

Below are described some of the most promising areas where nanotechnology will be applied in the future.

Surfaces

The ability to lay down incredibly thin layers of a substance onto the surface of other material can improve the properties of a substance and offers many advantages in chemistry and engineering. For example, laying down an incredibly thin protective coat on solar cells could improve transmission of light into the cells, and thereby improve their efficiency. Also, surfaces could be made self-cleaning by applying a coating that repels dirt. Manipulating the surface of materials can also make it possible to store vast amounts of information in very small spaces.

A scanning beam interference lithography machine can be used to create gratings or grids with structures on the scale of a few nanometres. The structures created are used in astronomical devices such as space telescopes and satellites. A laser is used to create the pattern on the target surface. In the future this machine could be used to produce nanotechnology components for computers and machines.

Medical

An application of nanotechnology being explored is the creation of nanobots (nanoscale robots) to be placed in humans. Nanobots could monitor the internal conditions of the body, such as blood sugar levels, temperature, nervous activity or production of hormones by endocrine glands. Nanobots could be designed to seek out and destroy viruses and bacteria in the bloodstream. They could also be engineered

Fig SF 2.5

A scanning beam interference lithography machine creates nanoscale grids and grates for space technology.

Fig SF 2.6 This nanobot is injecting a drug to kill cancerous cells in a human body. Could this be how we treat disease in the future?

to target certain cells in the body, identifying the cell and delivering a product to it. For example, a nanobot could be designed to detect cancerous cells. Drugs could be packaged inside the nanobots to be injected directly into the cancer cells with no damage to the normal cells of the patient.

Computing

Nanotechnology offers the potential to manufacture new, smaller, faster and more efficient integrated circuits for computing. It has made quantum computing possible, with incredible processing speeds far beyond the ability of present silicon-based microprocessors.

Quantum computers would store and process information at an atomic level. A solid-state quantum computer element can be made by positioning phosphorus atoms 20 nanometres apart in very pure silicon. The phosphorus atoms behave as an incredibly tiny and extremely fast microprocessor. Promising research into quantum computing is being conducted at the University of New South Wales.

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Student activities]

1 Development of a quantum computer is being pursued

energetically in a number of countries. The University of New South Wales (UNSW) has purchased a very expensive STEM to assist in its research.

a Research the work being done on quantum

computers at UNSW.

b Summarise the work being done and any progress

made to this point.

c Compare this research with that being done in

another location.

2 As a molecular biologist and nanoengineer, you have

been given the task of designing a nanobot to help solve an important medical problem.

a Identify a medical problem you would like to

solve using nanobots, e.g. diabetes, cancer, HIV, haemophilia or another of your choice.

b Construct a poster or model of a nanobot that could

help solve this medical problem. Include labels or a key to show the features of your nanobot, and an explanation of how the nanobot will tackle the medical problem.

3 Tests on carbon nanotubes show that they have

extraordinary, unexpected properties.

This image of carbon nanotubes was created using a STEM. Carbon nanotubes have the potential to be used in electrical devices and have unusual properties. Much research is being done with carbon nanotubes, and their

applications are likely to be diverse. Fig SF 2.7

a Research carbon nanotubes to find out: i what they are

ii what special properties they have iii their possible applications and uses iv why it would be important to conduct

further research into carbon nanotubes

b You are a research scientist and you want to work

with carbon nanotubes but you need funding for your project. There is $1 000 000 in funding for nanotechnology available, but you have to appear to be at the forefront of research to get this. Using the information you have about carbon nanotubes,

construct an application that will get the funding

you need for your research. Include the possible outcomes and products you will create, and how they will benefit society.

4 Produce a poster, display or other presentation to

teach the general public about nanotechnology, and what it may offer society in the future. You will need to conduct research to include information about:

a examples of current and future research and

products

b public safety and any social issues

c the importance of continuing to invest in this area

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UNITUNIT

2.52.5

We always seem to be getting dirty or getting covered in oils and grease. Dirt, oils and grease are made from organic compounds that normally dissolve only in other organic substances. Although there are obvious problems in washing ourselves in turpentine,

context

Water

At home, water is our main washing liquid. It is a polar molecule, having small electrical charges on each of its atoms. Water will dissolve other polar molecules, like sugar, and ionic substances such as salt or sodium

chloride (Na+Cl–), which have positive and negative ions.

Water by itself will not dissolve grease.

Water is a polar molecule and can use its slight charges to dissolve ionic substances. a water molecule + + + – – – – – – means slight negative charge means slight positive charge Water weakens the forces holding salt chemicals together. Once separated, they are unlikely to rejoin. O δ – H δ + δ + H O δ – H δ + δ + H O δ – H δ + δ + H O δ – H δ + δ + H + O δ– H δ + δ + H O δ – H δ + δ + H Fig 2.5.1