APPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

APPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

Ability of materials to dramatically change their properties at nanoscale has opened up the possibility of making new devices, instruments, consumer goods to function in better way than was possible earlier. Some of the applications of nanotechnology are:

1. Electronics:
Image result for nanotechnologyAfter the discovery of solid state transistor by Bardeen and his coworkers in 1947, revolutionary changes occurred in the field of electronics. Tiny less power consuming light weight devices were made. Thus a portable, space saving compact equipments were made. Today one can have wrist watches, laptops, mobiles stereos, calculators due to the advancement in electronic and related areas.
The flat panel television or computer monitors are products of nanotechnology. Even the coatings used on screens of TV or monitors can be of nanoparticles, which have better properties in terms of color quality and resolution than micro particle coatings.

2. Energy:
Nanotechnology will play an important role in the field of energy. The future generations will have to look for alternative energy sources like solar energy or hydrogen based fuel to satisfy our needs. Scientists hope to make efficient solar cells using nanomaterials.
Attempts are made to increase energy density of present batteries by Placing by electrode materials some metal hydride nanoparticles like nickel hydrides or high surface area, or ultra light weight materials like aero-gels are found to be better options than the conventional materials in improved batteries.

3. Automobiles: 
It is known that nanotube composites have mechanical strength better than even
steel. Attempts are being made to make composites that can replace steel. Cars are spray painted with fine particles, Nanoparticle paints provide smooth thin attractive coating. There are attempts to change the color of the car by applying a small voltage.
It is possible to use special window glass materials. Self cleaning glass can be made by dissolving small amount of titania (titanium dioxide) nanoparticles in it while manufacturing the glass by melting together its other ingredients like silica, calcium oxide, barium oxide etc.
Very powerful motors using shape memory alloys with nanoparticles. They are made up of Ni-Ti alloys. They perform better and are less power consuming than other motors. Such motors are used in automobiles. By using nanoparticles clay-better, light weight, less rubber consuming thinner tyres are possible. Use of efficient nanomaterial catalysts is one of the solutions to convert harmful emission into harmless gases. Large surface area of nanoparticles is useful to produce better catalysts.
Hydrogen will be used in future for cars and in other vehicles. The fuel will be stored in nanocylinders of carbon nanotubes so as to avoid any accidents due to catching of fire.

4. Sports and Toys:
Nanotechnology has already been introduced into sports equipment and toys.
Tennis balls using nanoclay are able to fill pores in better way and trap the air pressure inside. This increases the life of balls.
Good quality tennis racquets are made of carbon. Lightweight and toughness or strength is necessary for such racquets It is possible that carbon nanotube composites would serve as a high strength, lightweight material for racquets. In other games too balls and other equipments using nanomaterials can be employed.
Toys have been made using nanotechnology. Eye movements of dolls, robot movements are made using nanotechnology based motors.

5. Textile:
Textile industry is using nanotechnology. There are some clothes produced which would give pleasant look of synthetic fibre but comfort of cotton. Special threads and dyes used in textile industry are products of nanotechnology. These clothes do not require ironing and frequent cleaning. Some companies are trying to use silver nanoparticles to make clothes germ-free.


6. Cosmetics:
Nanoparticles are important in cosmetics. Zinc oxide and titanium oxide
nanoparticles of fairly uniform size are able to absorb ultraviolet light and protect skin. Nanoparticles based creams are preferred as they can be used in small amount and do not leave any gaps between them, which give smooth appearance. The small particles in some of the creams scatter light in such a way that appearance of the wrinkles is diminished. Nano-based dyes and colors are used in creams and gels.

7. Domestic Appliances:
Use of silver nanoparticles is made in refrigerators, airpurifiers or air conditioners
and water purifiers. Silver has antimicrobial property. Silver nanoparticles are much more effective and only small quantity of them is required.
Food in refrigerators can remain fresh and prevent bacterial and fungal growth for longer time than ordinary refrigerators. The clothes washed in silver nanoparticles lined washing machines are claimed to have advantages.

8. Medical Field:
Initial tests of various drug delivery systems, cancer or tumor therapies or
detection have been successful using nanotechnology. Nanoparticles being very small are easy to inject and target towards specific portion of a body. In recent years gold nanorods which have strong scattering and absorption Property in the infrared are used successfully to detect and destroy cancer cells in rats.
Drugs can encapsulated in nanocapsules and targeted towards desired Parts of a body. There is considerable nanotechnology based research going on to help HIV and Diabetic patients. Some nanotechnology based tests are being developed to detect pathogens. Porous silicon and carbon nanotubes based sensors are under testing for their applications in medical field.

9. Space and Defence:
Space and Defence scientists are trying to adopt nanomaterials as alternative
materials and replace the Conventional materials. Nanoparticle based aerogels are used in Spacecrafts and defense to reduce weight Even some special lightweight suits, jackets are made of aero-gels as they are poor conductors of heat. Even some special high temperature materials which are otherwise difficult to make, are made at low temperature as nanomaterials.

10. Environment:
It is believed that nanomaterials themselves would reduce pollution and
environmental problems. Efficient production of nanomaterials following low temperature synthesis routes would help reduce industrial pollution. Use of nanomaterials as hydrogen storage or efficient oil filters may reduce pollution due to vehicles. Efficient nanomaterials are lightweight and needed only in small quantities. This may help reduce the prices of many products making them commonly affordable.
Some of the nanoparticles-based sensors are much more novel and sensitive compared to those available now. Such sensors will be useful in water purification systems, detection of toxic ions, metal ions, pesticides etc.




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