Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: The promise of nanotechnology

Home > Press > The promise of nanotechnology

Abstract:
If the promise of nanotechnology is to be fulfilled, then research programs must leapfrog to new nanomanufacturing processes. That's the conclusion of a review of the current state of nanoscience and nanotechnology to be published in the International Journal of Nanomanufacturing.

The promise of nanotechnology

Olney, UK | Posted on December 4th, 2013

Khershed Cooper of the Materials Science and Technology Division, at the Naval Research Laboratory, in Washington, DC and Ralph Wachter of the Division of Computer and Network Systems, at the National Science Foundation, in Arlington, Virginia, USA, explain how research in nanoscience and the emerging applications in nanotechnology have led to new understanding of the properties of matter as well producing many novel materials, structures and devices.

Indeed, the list of possible applications of nanotechnology continues to grow: water filtration and purification, engineered composite materials with modified mechanical properties controlled electrical behaviour and corrosion resistance. There are nano-based materials being used as sealants, anti-fogging and abrasion resistant coatings for glass and other materials, conductive resins, paints and electromagnetic shielding as well as sensors, self-healing materials, super-hydrophobic surfaces, solar cells and ultracapacitors for energy storage as well as materials for armour and protection against bullets and bombs.

The team's own research has focused on developing tools and techniques to make scalable processes for nanomanufacturing. They are investigating massively parallel techniques, masks and maskless processes for making 3D structures with nanoscopic features. However, they also suggest that several obstacles must be surmounted for nanotechnology to thrive as a future industrial endeavour. In particular, the team believes that research and development should be directed in the following areas:

Multi-scale design, modelling and simulation of nanosystems.

Component integration within large-scale systems.

Integration across physical scales.

Qualification, certification, verification and validation.

Cyber-enabled manufacturing systems.

"Looking ahead, nanotechnology is slated to move into complex, multi-functional, multi-component nanosystems, e.g., nano-machines and nano-robots," the team concludes. "These nanosystems will be adaptive, responsive to external stimuli, biomimetic, intelligent, smart and autonomous. Nanomanufacturing R&D will be needed to develop the knowledge base for the reliable production of these complex nanosystems."

Full bibliographic information

"Nanomanufacturing: path to implementing nanotechnology" in Int. J. Nanomanufacturing, 2013, 9, 540-554

####

About Inderscience
Inderscience is a publisher of high quality peer-reviewed international journals in the fields of science, engineering and technology, management, law and business administration, computing, Internet and IT, and energy, environment and sustainable development.

It applies the highest professional and ethical standards to the publishing of its journals and its conduct of its business, designed to:

* Map new frontiers in emerging technologies in research, industry and governance
* Link centres of excellence world-wide to stimulate and enhance creative and application-oriented problem solving for society
* Explore the synergy and collaboration within the sciences, management and policy creation and implementation
* Establish authoritative channels of communication between experts, policy-makers and practitioners in academia, industry and government

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
Albert Ang
+ 44 1234 240519

If you have a comment, please Contact us.

Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Bookmark: