Nanoscale Science and Engineering What is Nanoscale Science and Engineering? Engineering at the nanoscale is called Nanotechnology! How small is a nanometer? MACRO meter centimeter millimeter All these are still visible with your eyes. MICRO Nanoscale objects are 1,000 times smaller!!! 6-8 µm micrometer (One-millionth of a meter) These are smaller than you can see. NANO A nanometer is one billionth of a meter!! DNA 2.5 nm Viruses 3-50 nm Atoms <1 nm Nanotechnology 1. The nanometer is extremely small. 2. At the nanometer scale, many materials behave differently. 3. We can use this new behavior to make new technologies. Nano in Nature “Nano” all around us Tata Nano Apparel with silver nanoparticles Baby gear Things are different . . . Size really does matter! Bulk Nano Things are different . . . Size really does matter! Bulk Nano Nanoparticles interact differently with light. Nanotechnology in the Middle Ages Depiction of a forest glass shop from Sir John Mandeville's Travels, Dated 1420 – 1450. British Library, London Why Do We Care? Nanotechnology can improve how we live! Silver nanoparticles are used to kill bacteria in: •Athletic apparel •Socks •Refrigerators •Storage containers •Washing machines Gold nanoshells can target and destroy cancer cells 60-100 nm “Printing” Nano-solar Panels Cities could be Power Plants! Carbon Nanotube Energy Transportation Carbon Atoms Rearranged Coal Diamond Graphite Carbon Nanotube But what about the risks? Think Like a Nano Scientist! Thank you! This project was supported by the National Science Foundation, NISE Net and OMSI. True or False? 1. A red blood cell is found on the nanoscale. FALSE! 2. DNA is found on the nanoscale. TRUE! True or False? 1. Things on the nanoscale can be found all around us in nature. TRUE! 2. Nanotechnology can effect the way we move and produce energy. TRUE!