Chapter 13: Nano World PDF

# Chapter 13: Nano World ## Nanotechnology for Humans and Energy: Small Ideas for a Bigger Impact **Photo taken by: Espy Balbuena** ## Chapter Outline - What is Nanotechnology - Nanotechnology of the Past - Nanotechnology in the Philippines - Major Environmental Application of Nanotechnology - N...

# Chapter 13: Nano World ## Nanotechnology for Humans and Energy: Small Ideas for a Bigger Impact **Photo taken by: Espy Balbuena** ## Chapter Outline - What is Nanotechnology - Nanotechnology of the Past - Nanotechnology in the Philippines - Major Environmental Application of Nanotechnology - Nanotechnology Issues ## Learning Outcomes At the end of this chapter, the students should be able to: 1. Familiarize with the historical background of nanotechnology. 2. Recognize with the emerging practice of nanotechnology in the Philippines. 3. Develop a critical approach in examining the relationship between scientific development, technological development, and society. ## What is Nanotechnology? Nano, as a unit of measurement of length, is an analogous entity like a meter. How small is Nano? Just divide a meter into one billion to visualize how small Nano is. The prefix Nano means a factor of billionth (10^9) in the metric system and can be applied in time (nanosecond), volume (Nano liter), etc. The nanoscale usually refers to the length of around 0.1 nm to 100 nm. The nanomaterials or nanostructures are in the form of nanoscale. The first definition of "nanotechnology" came from Norio Taniguchi, a professor of Tokyo Science University. He coined the term at the international conference on industrial production in 1974 to describe work on semiconductor processes such as thin film deposition and ion beam milling on the order of a nanometer without naming it as such. There have been many efforts to describe the definition of nanotechnology. And, if somebody will ask a hundred scientists, a hundred different definitions of nanotechnology will be collected. The absence of generally accepted, strictly recognized meaning of the term "nanotechnology" is explained by various technologies that nanotechnology covers. Moreover, nanotechnologies are now being constantly updated and improved, which explains why many concepts about principles of their implementation are not completely clear. Nanotechnology is the study and manipulation of matter at a scale of about 1 to 100 nanometers. It involves characterization, design, and production of structures, devices, and systems with unique properties by fine-tuning the physical, chemical, mechanical, and optical properties of materials at the nanoscale. ## Nanotechnology of the Past It has been discovered by advanced technology today that even long before the beginning of "nanoera," people were engaged in different processes and used these into practice in small scale subconsciously. The following lists show the nanotechnology of the past. ### Thousands of years B.C. #### Ancient Egyptians - Fermentation process on nanolevel (making bread, wine, beer, cheese, and other food stuffs). - Nanoparticles of galenite (lead sulfide) were formed in hair dyeing process. #### Ancient Rome - Licurgus cup: 4th Century AD (British heritage) possess unusual optical properties (bowl is green in natural light and red if illuminated from within). - Recent techniques discovered particles of gold and silver from 50-100 nm in size (responsible for unusual coloring of the bowl). ### Middle Ages - Stained-glass windows have been admired in Europe because of close to perfection. As the latest study shows, the windows contained additives of gold and nanoparticles of other metals. ## Nanotechnology in the Philippines What is the Philippines doing to welcome this new technology? The Philippines, through the effort of the Department of Science and Technology – Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) provides opportunities and technical services to local industries by Nano Lab. **Figure 13.1 Nanotech Facilities and Equipment in the Philippines (Source: DOST-ITD)** This figure shows a map with some locations of nanotechnology facilities and equipment in the Philippines. The following are the lists of nanotechnology projects that are being worked out in the Philippines under the supervision of DOST-ITDI, encouraging local community to rely on what are abundant, unexploited, and natural organic or inorganic nanomaterials: 1. **Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Semiconductors:** - e.g., use of nanowires to ultrafast ICT with small power consumption 2. **Solar Cells:** - e.g., dye sensitized-based solar cells (DSSC) is low-cost solar cell belonging to the group of thin film solar cells 3. **Agriculture:** - e.g., facilitate gene transformation and expression of animal and plant cells 4. **Food:** - e.g., biodegradable food packaging 5. **Environment:** - e.g., water purification by nanofilters for treating heavy metal contaminated water. ## Major Environmental Application of Nanotechnology | Nanotechnology Application | Examples | | ---------------------------- | -------- | | Water treatment and purification | Nanomembranes for water purification, desalination and detoxification. Nanosensors for the detection of contaminants and pathogens. Nanoporous zeolites, nanoporous polymers and attapulgite clays for water purification | | Environmental remediation | Magnetic nanoparticles for water treatment and remediation. TiO2 nanoparticles for the catalytic degradation of pollutants. Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles for Abatement of Environmental Pollutants (Li, Elliott, and Zhang, 2006). Nanoscale iron particles (Zhang, 2003). | | Green Nano Composites | Starch based-nano composites. Cellulose based-nano composites. Protein based-nano composites. | ## Nanotechnology Issues Government and industry investments in research and development (R&D) shows manifestation that many developed countries have embraced the "new technology," the nanotechnology. In fact, it has been predicted by Lux Research back in 2005 that the peak of nanotech will reach to $3.6 trillion (Harper, 2015) and today the total worldwide investment in nanotechnology by developed countries is more than 10 billion dollars. While nanotechnology is here in the Philippines today, there are lots of promises that need to be fulfilled or be discovered: - Health Issues - Environmental Issues - Agriculture It is done fairly in Information Communication Technology (ICT) by developing a workforce knowledgeable (skilled laborers and health-knowledge workers) to send in major cities and abroad with process outsourcing centers. Here is the summary of a real life experience today on Nanotechnology by middle-class Filipino family, taken from the essay entitled "Everyday Life Scenario" by Juan P. Enriquez. pp. 72-73. Juan wants a new computer because his computer can no longer handle the new computer games. His family go to mall. Upon window shopping for what would be an upgrade or replacement, he read a brochure with newest processors manufactured using 32 nanometer (nm) technology (Example Core TM i, i5, and i7 CPUs). On the other side of the mall, his mother is looking for an air conditioner to replace the old one, so she can save on the electric bill. A salesman shows her the added features of the new line of products which uses something called "nano" to purify and disinfect the cold air that unit blows into the room. His father, as he exits from the restroom, just realizes that the urinal that he just used did not have to be flushed with water anymore, indeed saving a lot of water, and yet the restroom did not smell. This scenario sounds fictional, but it is based on real-life experiences of some Filipinos today affected by nanotechnology. Nanotechnology has indeed, arrived. At the present, large fraction of the Philippine population in rural areas experiences poverty which do not have the means of clean water, electricity, medical treatment, and even education. Nanotechnology can provide solutions to these basic needs in rural areas. - Cheaper and more readily accessible solar cells based on quantum dots - Clean water using nanocatalysts or nanoporous membranes that will filter off impurities - Enhanced agricultural productivity assisted by nanotechnology - Medical care using portable medical diagnostic kits using Nanotech - Advances in ICT in computations and telecommunications may bring education effectively. ## Suggested Readings/Website/Videos/Film Clips - Allhoff, F. et al. (2007). *Nanoethics: The ethical and social implications of nanotechnology*. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons. - Grumezescu, A., and Oprea., A.E. (2017). *Nanotechnology applications in food: Flavor, stability, nutrition and safety*. United Kingdom, UK: Academic Press. - Street, A., Sustich, R., Duncan, J., Savage, N. (2014). *Nanotechnology applications for clean water: Solutions for improving water quality*. (2nd Ed.) USA: William Andrew Publication. - [Documentary Tube]. (2015, March 13). What is nanotechnology? Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKh4cwAygPM - Yvonne, Stapp (2016) Breakthroughs in nanotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2pAr5LFFVs - Silvaadab (2011). Free energy and the future of nanotechnology. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhiFamF-M0c