Atomic and molecular manipulation in nanotechnology applications

¶ … Nano Technology and World of Quantum Physics

Nano technology pertains to the restructuring and reconstruction of atomic and molecular nature. It involves studying the phenomena and materials of atomic manipulation to transform and construct new materials, devices, living organisms and improved technological systems that are

The technology has led to the creation of many new profitable products and appliances such as transparent sunscreens, light diffraction coatings, food products and much more. In the future, nanotechnology will lead to revolutionary advances in the long-term use of nano particles in cleaning of heavily polluted sites, effective diagnosis and treatment of diseases as well as creation of alternative fuels to automobiles. Nanotechnology has many challenges, hence, caution must be observed in the process

The Need for Nanotechnology

This technology, allows faster manufacture of lighter, stronger, safer and cleaner products. Nano technology unveils new products able to solve new problems in unimaginable ways yet with greater impact (Merkle 2000).

Nanotechnology allows physicists and scientists to develop and restructure compounds as well as to create new devices by co-joining different molecules. This technology is increasingly popular and makes work done by human beings easier and less tasking.

Machines made using the nanotechnology are small and fast. These products are stronger than steel and light weight. Their properties include atoms from garbage, dirt and energy from sun light making them affordable. There is a need for improvement in the development of useful tools and equipment that improve human life. The technology is able to offer the much-needed cost-effective production processes that would be beneficial to the manufacturing sector.

Nano technology is able to improve the current transportation system. With the advantage of lighter materials air and space travel would be more economical. Nano technology is able to allow the manufacture of airplanes with affordable materials stronger than diamond and 50 times lighter than they are. The technology also promises to develop affordable alternative fuel. This is much needed to solve the current fossil fuel shortages as well as reduction of conflict raising from competition for the commodity.

The technology is easily incorporated into the manufacture of computers. It promises use of atoms instead of the currently used computer chips. Computer chips are made of lithography, this is still far behind the idea of atomic chips which ultimately suggests the manufacture of each logic from a few atoms. This will revolutionize information and communication technology sector.

The world is currently experiencing serious health issues including pandemics such as HIV-AIDS and Cancer that are responsible for the death of millions of people annually. Nano technology is able to reverse the prevalence rates of these killer diseases. The need for this technology in the health sector is enormous.

The Principle of Operation in Nanotechnology

According to Bonsor and Strickland (2007), nanotechnology allows scientists to develop new products by combining similar molecules of any existing components. There are various principles and applied concepts in the implementation of nanotechnology. The two common ones are, bottom up and top down approaches. The bottom up approach outlines the creation of materials and machines from molecular components that are similar in chemical composition by identifying similar molecules in a process known as molecular recognition.

The top down approach incorporates the combining of materials without limiting them to atomic scale controls. This approach seeks to develop smaller devises using bigger ones that control their assembly. The current technology stemming from conventional solid-state methods of creating microprocessors also allows for the inclusion of small features under 100mm.

Electronically, functional approach of nano technology seeks to create components of desired work regardless of their assembly. Here Molecular electronics develops electronic molecules usable as components in nano electronic devices (Das, et al. 2007).

The other principle of operation applied in nano technnology is in diagnosis of diseases. Microscopic machines travel collecting information about various illnesses curing them automatically. Viruses, bacteria infections, cancer cells as well as other injuries could be cured by repairing and replacing the damaged cells with stronger materials. Moreover, human beings would communicate with machines to adjust natural bodily functions at will.

The Advantages of Nanotechnology

The benefits of nanotechnology to the manufacturing industry is and will forever be realized. As noted earlier, the technology enables nano particles to rebuild atom by atom. This avails superior products with qualities such as superior strength, decreased weight and size and impervious coatings.Therefore the technology will make possible production of new age products that are convenient to the users.

Nanotechnology is able to lessen pollution by eliminating toxic wastes at their sources. Releasing waste to the environment would be the last resort. The achievement of source reduction involves cleaning up the current waste disposing system. This is beneficial to the environment that is already saturated with toxic waste from the manufacturing industry. With the drastic reduction of toxic waste to the environment, this would address the contentious issues associated with global warming.

One other most promising area of improvements would be in health and medicine, with expectation of transformation in disease detection, prevention and treatment. Since nano particles are smaller than human cells, they can function within cells to detect diseases in their very early stages and administer treatment right to the source. It would be an alternative to the expensive and time-consuming traditional ways.

In addition, nanotechnology provides benefits to the computer industry. Most companies are working with nano particles to create essentially smaller storage devices than those now available, as well as those that will run many times faster than those now used in the market.

The Disadvantages of Nanotechnology

Possible danger of nanotechnology in the health care lies in how the tiny particles might interact within the human body upon injection into the cells. Moreover, elements at the nano scale behaves differently than they do in their bulk form, some doctors fear that the toxic nano particles are so small they could easily penetrate the blood brain barrier, a membrane that protect the brain from harmful chemicals in the bloodstream. In addition, there are enormous cost implications in adding nano particles in products that are already being marketed to the public; this investment, compared to the comparatively scant research into nanotech issues, raises concerns.

Evidence suggest that smaller particles are more bioactive and toxic (Shetty 2005). The nano particles are highly interactive in cell systems. It can easily penetrate through the skin, lungs, and in some cases the blood and brain barriers. These particles have the potential of causing biochemical reactions such as the creation of free radicals that could destroy cells. Those exposed to high risks are employees from different manufacturing plants producing nano particles products. Consequently, there have been calls for the regulation of the nano industry including the publishing of safety precautions to help those involved in the industry (Bowman and Hodge 2006). Further suggestions were also made to include nano particles in the European Union chemical policy framework.

The emergency of new technology may passively contribute to unemployment in the industries that produce goods rendered obsolete by the nano technology. The technology is highly efficient and able to address multiple issues now handled by human effort through activities.

The Future Trend and Expectations of Nanotechnology

The nano technology promises a number of radical changes in various sectors. It is predicted that computers will become faster. This will enhance greater development in the information sector. It is possible that the future promises faster than normal communication connectivity. In addition, production within the information technology sector is most likely to increase due to reduction in cost. This might the remedial to the digital divide witnessed in the world today.

Nonetheless, with the advancement in medicine, people will live longer.Nano technology promises unprecedented strides in tackling health issues that have adversely affected human beings such as Cancer and the Human immunodeficiency virus. Consequently, human population will increase beyond the current rate.

Nano technology, with the application of molecular precision, will avail products that are now not possible to make . It will be faster, cheaper and cleaner to produce superior products. This technology is bound to transform costs, resource and economic requirements. There is a high possibility that the technology will result to advancement of lethal and non-lethal weapons, deployed quickly and cheaply, making the world a more dangerous place.

Conclusion

The emergence of nano technology challenges the world with many unknowns. It allows scientists to develop new products by combining same molecules of existing components. The fact that some of these predictions have been scientifically confirmed further complicates the situation. Already many industries are extremely optimistic about the opportunities associated with the technology.Nano technology, promises to revolutionize the manufacture of goods resulting to lighter, stronger, safer and cleaner products, as well as introducing new products able to solve new problems. This technology is beneficial in many ways to human life and survival, it enables nano particles to rebuild atom by atom, leading to production of superior products, strong, light and impervious coatings. The technology also promises to introduce comprehensive diagnostic and curative measures able to tackle health issues considered as terminal. It is environmentally friendly as it inhibits disposal of harmful waste materials into the enviroment. There are several disadvantages associated with this technology including possible dangers to human health as a result of the prospected operation with the nano particles. The technology also provides favourable grounds for development of highly destructive weapons of mass destruction. It is critical that the government works together with scientists and regulatory agencies to find and quantify the risks associated with nanotechnology.