The Big Deal about Small Science: Intro to Nano

Dr. Julie DillemuthCNS-UCSB Education Director

NSF SES 05-31184

What do you know about nanotechnology?

2009: 68% of Americans have heard “just a little” or “nothing at all” about nanotechnology

(75% in 2008)

(source: Woodrow Wilson Center Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, www.nanotechproject.org)

Nanotechnology is still an emerging technology

1000+ consumer productsSource: nanotechproject.org

A day in the life…with nano

Nano is SMALL…• 1 billionth of a meter

Nano Scale

Nano is BIG…• $18.2 billion global industry (2008) (Lux Research)• $1.5 billion for R&D in 2009 US National Nanotechnology

Initiative (NNI)

DNA Water

=2.5 nanometers =0.5 nanometer =1 nanometer

1) Scale: definition “1-100 nanometers”

2) Things get wacky at the nanoscale! - different properties than regular-size- surface area to volume ratio is huge - some forces stronger than others

3) Controlling matter: making materials, devices, machines

Three key things about nanotechnology

EXAMPLE:Nano gold:

- not ‘gold’ color- melts at room

temp

An abacus made ofmolecules

Manipulating MatterScanning Electron Microscopes• Rapid, real-time imaging• Capable of measuring features as

small as 20 nm• Easy to use!

Atomic Force Microscopes• Able to view single molecules • Capable of measuring features as

small as 1 nm and assembling molecules

• Very high resolution images

Chemistry

Physics

Biology

MaterialsScienceNanotechnology: Where sciences converge!

• Information Technology

• Medicine and Pharmaceuticals

• Environment

• Consumer goods

• Energy

Application Areas of Nanotechnology

Today The FUTURE

Smaller Silicon Chips

Sunscreens, cosmetics

Fabrics

Sporting goods

1000+ consumer goods

Application Areas: how is nanotech USED?

Medicine: diagnosis, treatment

Energy: solar, batteries

Clean water

Environmental clean-up

What’s different between these 2 columns?