1.

Medicines and Health Care

Nanotechnology has the potential to completely revolutionize all the three key aspects
of healthcare sector diagnosis, prevention and Treatment. It can completely change
the healthcare sector for the next generation. Nanotechnology will help medical professionals in
today's most excruciating medical issues, such as repairing of damaged organs, diagnosis and
treatment of cancer cells, removal of obstruction in brain and it can help in better drug delivery
system.We’ve been hearing about nanotechnology for a while now, but it still seems a long way
off. However, recent advancements in nanotechnology could revolutionize the healthcare and
medical device industry, and change the landscape of healthcare delivery forever.
Nanotechnology, the science of extremely small materials, holds the key to improving
healthcare, from delivering drugs more effectively to providing better patient care and much
more. You’re truly missing out if you’re not taking advantage of this groundbreaking innovation.
Here’s how nanotechnology could change healthcare for the better.

Nanotechnology and cancer

The traditional method for curing cancer is chemotherapy, whereby patients take certain drugs
to kill cancer cells before they spread. The powerful medication circulates in the bloodstream
and directly damages the cancer cells that are growing and multiplying. But chemotherapy has
the unfortunate side effect of also killing regular cells, which makes patients extremely sick and
susceptible to other ailments.

Through the use of magnetic nanoparticles in a miniature resonance sensor, doctors are able to
detect cancer early, increasing the patient’s chance of survival. Scientists have started using
nanotechnology to devise a highly specific method of killing cancer cells. The process involves
inserting nanotubes into cancer cells and exposing the tissue to laser light, heating up the
nanotubes and killing the cancer cells while leaving the healthy cells unharmed.

Nanotechnology and brain disorders

Nanotechnology has made it possible for researchers to collect in-depth data on the human
brain. By using nano-scale diamond particles, the brain’s activities are converted into
frequencies of light that can be registered by external sensors, allowing researchers to study the
brain in much greater detail.

With a microscopic size of just a billionth of a millimeter, nanoparticles are able to cross the
blood brain barrier and access the brain’s remote areas. They have also shown tremendous
potential in being a useful alternative to diagnosing and treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Nanotechnology and diagnostics

Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize the way we collect medical data. Doctors are
able to distribute nano-scale diagnostic devices throughout the body in order to detect chemical
changes on the spot. This allows for real-time tracking of a patient’s health status.

Diagnosis techniques based on nanotechnology also provide several advantages, including

complete diagnosis and treatment with just one visit to the doctor, rather than needing multiple
follow-up visits. Another benefit is the accurate and early detection of diseases, which allows
doctors to potentially stop diseases before they can cause more damage to the patient.
Want to learn how you can implement nanotechnology into your medical practices? Drop us a
line today and get advice from our experts.
2.Biology
Nanobiotechnology, bionanotechnology, and nanobiology are terms that refer to the
intersection of nanotechnology and biology.. Given that the subject is one that has only emerged
very recently, bionanotechnology and nanobiotechnology serve as blanket terms for various
related technologies.

This discipline helps to indicate the merger of biological research with various fields of
nanotechnology. Concepts that are enhanced through nanobiology include: nanodevices (such
as biological machines), nanoparticles, and nanoscale phenomena that occurs within the
discipline of nanotechnology. This technical approach to biology allows scientists to imagine and
create systems that can be used for biological research. Biologically inspired nanotechnology
uses biological systems as the inspirations for technologies not yet created.[2]However, as with
nanotechnology and biotechnology, bionanotechnology does have many potential ethical
issues associated with it.

The most important objectives that are frequently found in nanobiology involve applying
nanotools to relevant medical/biological problems and refining these applications. Developing
new tools, such as peptoid nanosheets, for medical and biological purposes is another primary
objective in nanotechnology. New nanotools are often made by refining the applications of the
nanotools that are already being used. The imaging of native biomolecules, biological
membranes, and tissues is also a major topic for the nanobiology researchers. Other topics
concerning nanobiology include the use of cantilever array sensors and the application
of nanophotonics for manipulating molecular processes in living cells.

Recently, the use of microorganisms to synthesize functional nanoparticles has been of great
interest. Microorganisms can change the oxidation state of metals. These microbial processes
have opened up new opportunities for us to explore novel applications, for example, the
biosynthesis of metal nanomaterials. In contrast to chemical and physical methods, microbial
processes for synthesizing nanomaterials can be achieved in aqueous phase under gentle and
environmentally benign conditions. This approach has become an attractive focus in current
green bionanotechnology research towards sustainable development

Nanobiotechnology

Nanobiotechnology (sometimes referred to as nanobiology) is best described as helping

modern medicine progress from treating symptoms to generating cures and
regenerating biological tissues. Three American patients have received whole
cultured bladders with the help of doctors who use nanobiology techniques in their practice.
Also, it has been demonstrated in animal studies that a uterus can be grown outside the body
and then placed in the body in order to produce a baby. Stem cell treatments have been used to
fix diseases that are found in the human heart and are in clinical trials in the United States.
There is also funding for research into allowing people to have new limbs without having to
resort to prosthesis. Artificial proteins might also become available to manufacture without the
need for harsh chemicals and expensive machines. It has even been surmised that by the year
2055, computers may be made out of biochemicals and organic salts.

Another example of current nanobiotechnological research involves nanospheres coated with

fluorescent polymers. Researchers are seeking to design polymers whose fluorescence is
quenched when they encounter specific molecules. Different polymers would detect different
metabolites. The polymer-coated spheres could become part of new biological assays, and the
technology might someday lead to particles which could be introduced into the human body to
track down metabolites associated with tumors and other health problems. Another example,
from a different perspective, would be evaluation and therapy at the nanoscopic level, i.e. the
treatment of Nanobacteria (25-200 nm sized) as is done by NanoBiotech Pharma.

While nanobiology is in its infancy, there are a lot of promising methods that will rely on
nanobiology in the future. Biological systems are inherently nano in scale; nanoscience must
merge with biology in order to deliver biomacromolecules and molecular machines that are
similar to nature. Controlling and mimicking the devices and processes that are constructed
from molecules is a tremendous challenge to face the converging disciplines of
nanotechnology. All living things, including humans, can be considered to be nanofoundries.
Natural evolution has optimized the "natural" form of nanobiology over millions of years. In the
21st century, humans have developed the technology to artificially tap into nanobiology. This
process is best described as "organic merging with synthetic." Colonies of live neurons can live
together on a biochip device; according to research from Dr. Gunther Gross at the University of
North Texas. Self-assembling nanotubes have the ability to be used as a structural system.
They would be composed together with rhodopsins; which would facilitate the optical computing
process and help with the storage of biological materials. DNA (as the software for all living
things) can be used as a structural proteomic system - a logical component for molecular
computing. Ned Seeman - a researcher at New York University - along with other researchers
are currently researching concepts that are similar to each other.
3. Electronics Industries
Nanoelectronics refer to the use of nanotechnology in electronic components. The term covers
a diverse set of devices and materials, with the common characteristic that they are so small
that inter-atomic interactions and quantum mechanical properties need to be studied
extensively. Some of these candidates include: hybrid molecular/semiconductor electronics,
one-dimensional nanotubes/nanowires (e.g. Silicon nanowires or Carbon nanotubes) or
advanced molecular electronics. Recent silicon CMOS technology generations, such as the 22
nanometer node, are already within this regime. Nanoelectronics are sometimes considered
as disruptive technology because present candidates are significantly different from traditional
transistors.

Mechanical issues

The volume of an object decreases as the third power of its linear dimensions, but the surface
area only decreases as its second power. This somewhat subtle and unavoidable principle has
huge ramifications. For example, the power of a drill (or any other machine) is proportional to
the volume, while the friction of the drill's bearings and gears is proportional to their surface
area. For a normal-sized drill, the power of the device is enough to handily overcome any
friction. However, scaling its length down by a factor of 1000, for example, decreases its power
by 1000 (a factor of a billion) while reducing the friction by only 10002 (a factor of only a million).
Proportionally it has 1000 times less power per unit friction than the original drill. If the original
friction-to-power ratio was, say, 1%, that implies the smaller drill will have 10 times as much
friction as power; the drill is useless.

For this reason, while super-miniature electronic integrated circuits are fully functional, the same
technology cannot be used to make working mechanical devices beyond the scales where
frictional forces start to exceed the available power. So even though you may see
microphotographs of delicately etched silicon gears, such devices are currently little more than
curiosities with limited real world applications, for example, in moving mirrors and shutters.
Surface tension increases in much the same way, thus magnifying the tendency for very small
objects to stick together. This could possibly make any kind of "micro factory" impractical: even
if robotic arms and hands could be scaled down, anything they pick up will tend to be impossible
to put down. The above being said, molecular evolution has resulted in working cilia, flagella,
muscle fibers and rotary motors in aqueous environments, all on the nanoscale. These
machines exploit the increased frictional forces found at the micro or nanoscale. Unlike a paddle
or a propeller which depends on normal frictional forces (the frictional forces perpendicular to
the surface) to achieve propulsion, cilia develop motion from the exaggerated drag or laminar
forces (frictional forces parallel to the surface) present at micro and nano dimensions. To build
meaningful "machines" at the nanoscale, the relevant forces need to be considered. We are
faced with the development and design of intrinsically pertinent machines rather than the simple
reproductions of macroscopic ones.

All scaling issues therefore need to be assessed thoroughly when evaluating nanotechnology
for practical applications.

Molecular Electronics

Single molecule devices are another possibility. These schemes would make heavy use
of molecular self-assembly, designing the device components to construct a larger structure or
even a complete system on their own. This can be very useful for reconfigurable computing, and
may even completely replace present FPGA technology.

Molecular electronics is a new technology which is still in its infancy, but also brings hope for
truly atomic scale electronic systems in the future. One of the more promising applications of
molecular electronics was proposed by the IBM researcher Ari Aviram and the theoretical
chemist Mark Ratner in their 1974 and 1988 papers Molecules for Memory, Logic and
Amplification, (see Unimolecular rectifier).

This is one of many possible ways in which a molecular level diode / transistor might be
synthesized by organic chemistry. A model system was proposed with a spiro carbon structure
giving a molecular diode about half a nanometre across which could be connected
by polythiophene molecular wires. Theoretical calculations showed the design to be sound in
principle and there is still hope that such a system can be made to work.

Nanoelectronic Devices

Current high-technology production processes are based on traditional top down strategies,
where nanotechnology has already been introduced silently. The critical length scale
of integrated circuits is already at the nanoscale (50 nm and below) regarding the gate length of
transistors in CPUs or DRAM devices.

Energy Production

Research is ongoing to use nanowires and other nanostructured materials with the hope to
create cheaper and more efficient solar cells than are possible with conventional planar silicon
solar cells. It is believed that the invention of more efficient solar energy would have a great
effect on satisfying global energy needs.

There is also research into energy production for devices that would operate in vivo, called bio-
nano generators. A bio-nano generator is a nanoscale electrochemical device, like a fuel
cell or galvanic cell, but drawing power from blood glucose in a living body, much the same as
how the body generates energy from food. To achieve the effect, an enzyme is used that is
capable of stripping glucose of its electrons, freeing them for use in electrical devices. The
average person's body could, theoretically, generate 100 watts of electricity (about 2000 food
calories per day) using a bio-nano generator. However, this estimate is only true if all food was
converted to electricity, and the human body needs some energy consistently, so possible
power generated is likely much lower. The electricity generated by such a device could power
devices embedded in the body (such as pacemakers), or sugar-fed nanorobots. Much of the
research done on bio-nano generators is still experimental, with Panasonic's Nanotechnology
Research Laboratory among those at the forefront.

Medical Diagnostics

There is great interest in constructing nanoelectronic devices that could detect the
concentrations of biomolecules in real time for use as medical diagnostics, thus falling into the
category of nanomedicine. A parallel line of research seeks to create nanoelectronic devices
which could interact with single cells for use in basic biological research. These devices are
called nanosensors. Such miniaturization on nanoelectronics towards in vivo proteomic sensing
should enable new approaches for health monitoring, surveillance, and defense technology.
4. Food Industries
Nanotechnology in the Food Industry

Nanotechnology is having an impact on several aspects of the food industry, from how food is
grown to how it is packaged. Companies are developing nanomaterials that will make a
difference not only in the taste of food, but also in food safety, and the health benefits food
delivers.

Nanomaterials in Food Packaging

Use of nanomaterials in food packaging is already a reality. One example is bottles made with
nanocomposites that minimize the leakage of carbon dioxide out of the bottle; this increases the
shelf life of carbonated beverages without having to use heavier glass bottles or more
expensive cans. Another example is food storage bins with silver nanoparticles embedded in
the plastic. The silver nanoparticles kill bacteria from any food previously stored in the bins,
minimizing harmful bacteria.

There are other food packaging products currently under development. For example
nanosensors in plastic packaging can detect gases given off by food when it spoils and the
packaging itself changes color to alert you to food gone bad. Plastic films are being developed
that will allow the food to stay fresher longer. These films are packed with silicate nanoparticles
to reduce the flow of oxygen into the package and the leaking of moisture out of the package,

Nanosensors are being developed that can detect bacteria and other contaminates such as
salmonella on the surface of food at a packaging plant. This will allow for frequent testing at a
much lower cost than is incurred by sending samples to a lab for analysis. This point-of-
packaging testing, if conducted properly, has the potential to dramatically reduce the chance of
contaminated food reaching grocery store shelves.

There are also nanosensors being developed to detect pesticides on fruit and vegetables. While
this would be useful at a packing plant I’m anxiously waiting for the handheld version so I can
check out the apples and grapes in my local grocery store!

Nanomaterials Changing Food Characteristics

Nanoparticles are being used to deliver vitamins or other nutrients in food and beverages
without affecting the taste or appearance. These nanoparticles actually encapsulate the
nutrients and carry them through the stomach into the bloodstream. For many vitamins this
delivery method also allows a higher percentage of the nutrients to be used by the body
because, when not encapsulated by the nanoparticles, some nutrients would be lost in the
stomach.

Research is also being conducted to develop nanocapsules containing nutrients that would be
released when nanosensors detect a deficiency in your body. Basically this research could
result in a super vitamin storage system in your body that gives you just what you need, when
you need it.

Nanomaterials are being developed to improve the taste, color, and texture of foods. For
example “interactive” foods are being developed that would allow you to choose which flavor
and color a piece of food has. The idea is that nanocapsules that contain flavor or color
enhancers sit in the food waiting until a hungry consumer triggers them. The method hasn’t
been published, so it will be interesting to see how this particular trick is accomplished.

Finally, nanoparticle emulsions are being used in ice cream and various spreads to improve the
texture and uniformity.

Nanotechnology in Agriculture

Researchers are working on pesticides encapsulated in nanoparticles; these only release

pesticide in an insect’s stomach, which minimizes the contamination of plants themselves.

Another development being looked at is a network of nanosensors and dispensers throughout a

food crop. The sensors recognize when a plant needs nutrients or water, before you could see
any sign that the plant is deficient. The dispensers then release fertilizer, nutrients, or water as
needed, optimizing the growth of each plant in the field one by one.
5. Transportation
Nanotechnology is applied to car body parts like emissions, chassis, tires, automobile interiors,
electrics, etc. Body part applications include paint coatings, lightweight parts, self-cleaning and
scratch resistant nanopolymers.

Paint Coatings

Every body part is painted with a color, using different methods. Paintings are mostly done for
attractive and protective purposes. Usually painting in automobiles has three coats - a primer, a
basecoat, and a clear coat. However, in most cases, it varies from four to six layers to impart
various properties into it.

Rust shielding, cost, appearance, and strength are the vital performance factors driving the
automotive coating technologies. Modern automotive varnish processes mainly consist of five
steps - pretreatment electrode positions, a sealer, a primer and finally the topcoats.
Pretreatment cleans and removes excess metals and forms a surface for bonding of corrosion
protective layers.

The corrosion protection layer is then deposited by the electrode position method. Sealer
prevents water leaks and minimizes vibrational noise and chipping. The most common sealer is
Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC).

The main purpose of a primer is the adhesion between the basecoat and the surface, and
imparts anti-chipping properties. The primer acts as a protector from ultra-violet (UV) rays,
corrosion, bumps, and stone chips.

The basecoat gives visual properties and color effects. The clear coat is the translucent and
lustrous coating that has an interface with the environment. It can be either waterborne or a
solvent and is chemically stable.

Gangotri D. L. et al., 2004 showed some developments in flame-retardant coating like titanium
esters with aluminum flakes dispersed into binders. These can resist temperatures of up to
4000C. “Burn off” occurs above this temperature, which leads to the formation of a complex
coating of titanium aluminum that deposits on the surface and it enhances the thermal
resistance up to 8000C.

However, it is not enough to hold the devastating temperature of fire, and it results in great
damage to vehicles and lives. Therefore, the need for better fire-resistant coatings is constantly
growing. Chemical properties of flame retardant coatings can be enhanced by incorporating
concentrates of nanosized magnesium aluminum layered double hydroxides (LDH). When a
specific amount of LDH nanoparticles is dispersed with the paint solution, it improves the char
formation and fire-resistant properties of the coating. The nano LDH will absorb the heat and
sent out carbon dioxide and water when burns and thereby reduces the temperature of the
surface in addition to enhancement in char formation.
Nano-Varnish

It is a challenge for scientists and researchers to develop scratch and abrasion resistant
coatings without affecting their other properties. Glasel et al. reported use of siloxane
encapsulated SiO2 nanoparticles to produce a scratch and abrasion resistant films. Due to the
homogeneous distribution of nanoparticles in the polymer, scratch resistance property can be
improved without sacrificing any other properties.

Khanna A.S., 2008 showed the performance of the alumina NPS dispersed coating was
compared with the neat coating and is expressed as X times improvement with the neat coating.
The alumina NPS significantly improve the performance of the coating (up to nine times) even at
a very low concentration of alumina dispersed in the composite coating. These types of
nanopaints are already being used in different models of Mercedes Benz.

Lightweight Body Parts

Weight reduction of vehicles is one of the most discussed topics in the automobile research
field. On the one hand, by reducing the weight, we can increase the fuel efficiency, reduce CO2
emissions and production cost. It is estimated that by reducing the weight of an automobile by
10%, there will be fuel economy of 7%. On the other hand, while reducing the weight there will
be a problem related to stability, crash resistance and smooth working, which is a great concern
for the safety of the vehicle.

Many developments had done in this field like reducing the number of engine components and
using lower weighted parts, but they failed to coordinate both the efficiency and safety. The
materials near to the engine parts should possess high thermal resistance, whereas the exterior
and structural parts should be made of materials that have high mechanical strengths.However,
commonly used materials like thermoplastics have limited mechanical properties and thermal
resistance; therefore, it can be used only after modified by reinforcements. Carbon nanotubes
(CNT) have very less weight and around 150 times stronger than that of steel. Therefore, CNTs
are a good substitute for steel in automobile parts which give us more strength and weight
reduction.

Engines: By coating the cylinder wall with nanocrystalline materials we can reduce abrasion
and friction and in turn the fuel consumption. There are research projects going on, which aim to
directly coat tracks of the aluminum crankcase with nanomaterials. Iron carbide and boride
nanocrystals with size 50 nm to 120 nm are used to coat the engine parts which result in an
extremely hard surface with very low friction.

Tires: Sanjiv T., 2012 reported the first nanomaterial that added to the tire was carbon black as
a reinforcing element and pigment. Silica and soot are the most important ingredients used in
the tires as reinforcing element. By adding soot in nanoscale higher fuel efficiency and
prolonged durability is achieved as they have coarser surface than those we use in ordinary
tires. As nanoparticles have high surface energy, the interaction of the soot nanoparticles with
natural rubber in the tires is high which leads to better rolling resistance and reduced inner
friction.
Reflecting mirrors

Ultra reflecting a thin layer of aluminum oxide having a thickness less than 100 nm is applied to
the surface of mirrors and headlights. This makes the mirrors to equip surfaces with fat, dirty
water and repellant features. Hydrophobic and oleophobic nanometer layers are applied over
the surface of the mirrors by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Mainly fluoro-organic
material layers of thickness 5–10 nm are used as they have high resistance to friction and are
applicable for longer times. To prevent the problems created by the light of other vehicles falling
on our eyes at night, nanotechnology and electrochromic properties are applied together.

Interiors

We interact mostly with the interior parts of the automobile such as seats, door paddings,
dashboard, airbags, seat belts, boot carpets, etc. These are the place where microbial and
bacterial infections are most common. Since the interior is the place of an automobile where we
interact mostly, it should be free from all bacterial and microbial infections. The most important
nanostructured antibacterial and antimicrobial agents are silver, gold, titanium oxide, zinc oxide,
titania nanotubes, gallium, liposomes loaded nanoparticles and copper nanoparticles. They are
commonly used as incorporated nanoparticles in a matrix such as silica network. The action of
these nanoparticles is initiated either by a photocatalytic reaction or by the biocidal process.

Application of Nanotechnology in Marine Transportation

The function of marine transportation ranges from passenger traveling, weapon carrying
platform, cargo carrier, and numerous others. The main problem in marine transportation is
corrosion of the ship by sea water and atmosphere. Stainless steel which is a good corrosion
resistant in normal atmosphere even will undergo partial corrosion in sea atmosphere.

Another problem in water transportation is the marine microbial fouling and erosion in the
bottom of the ship and waterline area due to a long soak in water. All these will adversely affect
the reliability of the ship survivability at sea. US-based researchers have found that usage of
advanced nanoscience technology of ‘cyromilling’ in the processing of aluminum gives superior
material for light and tough applications.

The cyromilling process introduces nanosized aluminum in the conventional one and forms
nanoscale aluminum oxide and nitride particles which makes them stronger and stabilizes its
microscopic structure and orientation which makes them an efficient alternative for making
aluminum hull where high strength and light weight are highly desirable. Metal oxide
nanoparticles of TiO2, ZnO, MgO, and Al2O3 added to paint coatings and fibers increase the
ultraviolet blocking and antimicrobial properties which can be used for better coatings and
fibers.

By the application of nanotechnology, it is made possible to make transportations more efficient,

smart looking, stronger and durable.
6. Environmental Protection

Nanotechnology and the Environment

Nanotechnological products, processes and applications are expected to contribute significantly

to environmental and climate protection by saving raw materials, energy and water as well as by
reducing greenhouse gases and hazardous wastes. Using nanomaterials therefore promises
certain environmental benefits and sustainability effects. Note, however, that nanotechnology
currently plays a rather subordinate role in environmental protection, whether it be in research
or in practical applications. Environmental engineering companies themselves attach only
limited importance to nanotechnology in their respective fields.

Potential environmental benefits

Rising prices for raw materials and energy, coupled with the increasing environmental
awareness of consumers, are responsible for a flood of products on the market that promise
certain advantages for environmental and climate protection. Nanomaterials exhibit special
physical and chemical properties that make them interesting for novel, environmentally friendly
products.

Examples include the increased durability of materials against mechanical stress or weathering,
helping to increase the useful life of a product; nanotechnology-based dirt- and water-resistant
coatings to reduce cleaning efforts; novel insulation materials to improve the energy efficiency of
buildings; adding nanoparticles to a material to reduce weight and save energy during transport.
In the chemical industry sector, nanomaterials are applied based on their special catalytic
properties in order to boost energy and resource efficiency, and nanomaterials can replace
environmentally problematic chemicals in certain fields of application. High hopes are being
placed in nano-technologically optimized products and processes for energy production and
storage; these are currently in the development phase and are slated to contribute significantly
to climate protection and solving our energy problems in the future.In most commercially
available “nano-consumer products“, environmental protection is not the primary goal. Neither
textiles with nanosilver to combat perspiration odor, nor especially stable golf clubs with carbon
nanotubes, help protect the environment. Manufacturers often promise such advantages,
typically without providing the relevant evidence. Examples include self-cleaning surface
coatings or textiles with spot protection, with are advertized as reducing the cleaning effort and
therefore saving energy, water and cleaning agents.Emphasis is often placed on the sustainable
potential of where nanotechnology will take us. Nonetheless, this usually reflects
unsubstantiated expectations. Determining the actual effects of a product on the environment –
both positive and negative – requires examining the entire life cycle from production of the raw
material to disposal at the end of the life cycle. As a rule, the descriptions of environmental
benefits fail to consider the amount of resources and energy consumed in producing the
products.

Specific examples of nanotechnology applications that benefit the environment

Nanotechnology could make battery recycling economically attractive

Many batteries still contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel, which
can contaminate the environment and pose a potential threat to human health when batteries
are improperly disposed of. Not only do the billions upon billions of batteries in landfills pose an
environmental problem, they also are a complete waste of a potential and cheap raw material.
Researchers have managed to recover pure zinc oxide nanoparticles from spent Zn-
MnO2 batteries alkaline batteries.

Nanomaterials for radioactive waste clean-up in water

Scientists are working on nanotechnology solution for radioactive waste cleanup, specifically the
use of titanate nanofibers as absorbents for the removal of radioactive ions from water.
Researchers have also reported that the unique structural properties of titanate nanotubes and
nanofibers make them superior materials for removal of radioactive cesium and iodine ions in
water.

Nanotechnology-based solutions for oil spills

Conventional clean-up techniques are not adequate to solve the problem of massive oil spills. In
recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a potential source of novel solutions to many of
the world's outstanding problems. Although the application of nanotechnology for oil spill
cleanup is still in its nascent stage, it offers great promise for the future. In the last couple of
years, there has been particularly growing interest worldwide in exploring ways of finding
suitable solutions to clean up oil spills through use of nanomaterials.

Water applications

The potential impact areas for nanotechnology in water applications are divided into three
categories – treatment and remediation, sensing and detection, and pollution prevention – (read
more: "Nanotechnology and water treatment") and the improvement of desalination
technologies is one key area thereof. Nanotechnology-based water purification devices have the
potential to transform the field of desalination, for instance by using the ion concentration
polarization

Another, relatively new method of purifying

brackish water is capacitive deionization (CDI) technology. The advantages of CDI are that it
has no secondary pollution, is cost-effective and energy efficient. Nanotechnology researchers
have developed a CDI application that uses graphene-like nanoflakes as electrodes for
capacitive deionization. They found that the graphene electrodes resulted in a better CDI
performance than the conventionally used activated carbon materials.

Carbon dioxide capture

Before CO2 can be stored in Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) schemes, it must be
separated from the other waste gases resulting from combustion or industrial processes. Most
current methods used for this type of filtration are expensive and require the use of chemicals.
Nanotechnology techniques to fabricate nanoscale thin membranes could lead to new
membrane technology that could change that.

Hydrogen production from sunlight - artificial photosynthesis

Companies developing hydrogen-powered technologies like to wrap themselves in the green

glow of environmentally friendly technology that will save the planet. While hydrogen fuel indeed
is a clean energy carrier, the source of that hydrogen often is as dirty as it gets. The problem is
that you can't dig a well to tap hydrogen, but hydrogen has to be produced, and that can be
done using a variety of resources.

The dirtiest method – at least until highly efficient carbon capture and sequestration
technologies are developed – is the gasification of coal (read more: "Nanotechnology could
clean up the hydrogen car's dirty little secret"). The cleanest by far would be renewable energy
electrolysis: using renewable energy technologies such as wind, solar, geo- and hydrothermal
power to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Artificial photosynthesis, using solar energy to split water generating hydrogen and oxygen, can
offer a clean and portable source of energy supply as durable as the sunlight. It takes about 2.5
volts to break a single water molecule down into oxygen along with negatively charged electrons
and positively charged protons. It is the extraction and separation of these oppositely charged
electrons and protons from water molecules that provides the electric power.

Working on the nanoscale, researchers have shown that an inexpensive and environmentally
benign inorganic light harvesting nanocrystal array can be combined with a low-cost
electrocatalyst that contains abundant elements to fabricate an inexpensive and stable system
for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production.
 Science
Technology
and Society

Submitted by:

Michie Joy Cagurangan

Submitted to:

Mr. Armand Torente