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Science & Technology

Nanotechnology

Technology with features near one nanometer

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Overview

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension size measuring between 1 to 100 nanometers (nm). At this scale, commonly known as the nanoscale, surface area and quantum mechanical effects become important in describing the properties of matter. This definition of nanotechnology includes all types of research and technologies that deal with these distinctive properties. The plural form “nanotechnologies” is also commonly used, as is the term “nanoscale technologies,” to refer to research and applications whose defining characteristic is their scale. An earlier understanding of nanotechnology referred to the particular technological goal of precisely manipulating atoms and molecules for the fabrication of macroscale products, now referred to as molecular nanotechnology.

Source: Wikipedia — Nanotechnology (CC BY-SA)

Key concepts

How Nanotechnology connects to the ideas, people and events around it.

  1. Richard Feynman

    inspired by

    Richard Feynman was an American physicist who delivered the 1959 lecture "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom". The talk is widely regarded as the conceptual origin of nanotechnology.

  2. Scanning tunneling microscope

    enabled by

    The scanning tunneling microscope (STM) was invented in 1981 by Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer. It allows imaging and manipulation of individual atoms, a foundational tool for nanotechnology.

  3. Carbon nanotube

    includes

    Carbon nanotubes are cylindrical nanostructures composed of rolled graphene sheets. They exhibit exceptional tensile strength, being over 100 times stronger than steel by weight.

  4. Molecular nanotechnology

    covers

    Molecular nanotechnology proposes the precise arrangement of atoms and molecules to build complex structures. It was popularized in the 1980s by K. Eric Drexler's theoretical work.

  5. Nanoelectronics

    applies to

    Nanoelectronics involves electronic components that are only a few nanometers in size. It underpins modern processors, with transistors now reaching 5 nm technology nodes.

  6. Drug delivery

    enables

    Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems can target specific tissues, reducing side effects. The FDA approved the first nanomedicine, Doxil, in 1995.

  7. National Nanotechnology Initiative

    supported by

    The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) is a U.S. federal research and development program launched in 2000. It coordinates billions of dollars in nanotech funding across agencies.

  8. Quantum dot

    produces

    Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals that emit light of specific wavelengths when excited. They are used in display technologies, providing colors with 95% of the sRGB gamut.

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Questions about Nanotechnology

What is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension size measuring between 1 to 100 nanometers (nm). At this scale, commonly known as the nanoscale, surface area and quantum mechanical effects become important in describing the properties of matter. This definition of nanotechnology includes all types of research and technologies that deal with these distinctive properties.

What are the key concepts related to Nanotechnology?

The main concepts connected to Nanotechnology include Richard Feynman, Scanning tunneling microscope, Carbon nanotube, Molecular nanotechnology, Nanoelectronics, Drug delivery, National Nanotechnology Initiative, Quantum dot. Each is linked on the map above with its own summary.

Which exams cover Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is part of Science & Technology, which appears in the syllabus of UPSC CSE, UPSC CAPF, NDA, CDS, AFCAT, RRB NTPC and 32 more exams.