Nanotechnology
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Nanotechnology Ajay Malshe Manufacturing Processes, and Integrated Systems, University of Arkansas, College of Engineering, Arkansas, USA
From its origin, nanotechnology means the study and application of (or systematic treatment of) the materials and/or techniques of (or the craft/ skill of) the very small. Existing Definitions and Their Sources See Table 1.
Synonyms Theory and Application Nanoscale engineering; Nanoscale science; Nanoscale technology; Nanotechnology
Definition Nanotechnology is the branch of technology that structures materials at the nanolength scale and/or studies and/or applies unique phenomena enabled due to the nanolength scale, in order to produce features for new or enhanced functionalities. Nanolength scale refers to a range of lengths typically between 1 nm and 100 nm. Etymology (Origin) Nanotechnology is derived from the following Greek words: • • • •
“Nanos,” meaning “dwarf or very small” “Tekhne,” meaning “art, craft, or skill” “Logia,” meaning “science of” “Tekhnologia,” meaning “systematic treatment of an art, craft, or technique”
Introduction and Fundamentals Over millions of years, nature developed unique properties offered due to the nanoscale to realize various features, from DNA to brilliant colors of peacock feather. These nanoscale structures, building blocks, in effect, allow living beings to use nanotechnology as an effective “tool” in the combat for survival as well as use limited resources sustainably (Malshe et al. 2013). Some of the prominent examples are macromolecular DNA, RNA and other molecules, colors of birds and butterflies, superhydrophobic surfaces of leaves, photosynthesis in leaves, and many more (Malshe et al. 2013). The overall subject of nanotechnology is not new. Discoveries of novel nanoscience and engineering of unique structures from nature and otherwise and their implications in real applications to enhance quality of life through nanomanufacturing are new to the world. In the modern times, Nobel Prize winning physicists like Richard Feynman and chemists like Richard Smalley, Eric Drexler, Michael
# CIRP 2016 The International Academy for Production Engineering et al. (eds.), CIRP Encyclopedia of Production Engineering, DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-35950-7_16731-1
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Roco, and a few others are credited to generate wider scientific awareness for nanotechnology. Since the early twenty-first century, scientific, engineering, and business worlds are intrigued due to the above and many more discoveries and inventions. Their driver also stemmed due to the fact that novel material chemistries and phases could be designed and synthesized artificially. These novel phases demonstrate unique functional properties, synthesis, and manufacturing processes that could be scaled up for industrial use; advanced instruments are becoming available to observe, control, integrate, and manufacture such nanoscale materials. For historical reference, in early days of advancements, nanotechnology is following scientific and industrial paths of progress alike microtechnology, where,
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