Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is a catch-all phrase for materials and devices that operate at the nanoscale. In the metric system of measurement, “Nano” equals a billionth and therefore a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter. References to nano materials, nanoelectronics, nano devices and nanopowders simply mean the material or activity can be measured in nanometers. To appreciate the size, a human red blood cell is over 2,000 nanometers long, virtually outside the nanoscale range!
Despite views that nanotechnology is a far-fetched idea with no near-term applications, nanotechnology has already established a beachhead in several industries. The majority of nanotechnologies commercially used today are based on nano-sized particles. For example, nanoscale ZnO has been used for its UV absorbing properties to create sunscreen. The particles' small size makes them invisible to the naked eye, so the lotion is clear. At American Elements, we produce nanoscale oxides for a wide variety of applications. For example, the small particle size and inherent antimicrobial properties of our Z-MITE™ Zinc Oxide nanoparticles are utilized in bacteria-resistant fabrics and surfaces.
Recently, government and private institutions have devoted substantial research into finding potential valuable uses at this scale, as discussed below.

Nanoparticles have also made a breakthrough in the clothing industry in khakis. Small whisker-like particles are used to coat the surface fibers of the fabric, creating a stain-repelling surface. Healthcare companies are now marketing antimicrobial bandages coated with silver nanocrystals. Meanwhile, silver nanoparticles on the surfaces of many new refrigerators, air conditioners, and laundry machines act as antibacterial and antifungal agents.
Semiconductor particles, or quantum dots, are currently being manufactured. These fluorescent nanoparticles are being used by biologists to stain and label cellular components. By changing the size of the quantum dot the color emitted can be controlled. With a single light source, one can see the entire range of visible colors, an advantage over traditional organic dyes.
Nanocomposites are also seeing commercial use. Plastic nanocomposites are used for strong, lighter, and rust-proof car components. Toyota recently began using nanocomposites in bumpers that makes them 60% lighter and twice as resistant to denting and scratching. The biomedical field is manufacturing artificial bone composites from nanocrystalline calcium phosphates. These composites are made of the same mineral as natural bone, yet have strength in compression equal to stainless steel.
We have long produced nanoscale materials for certain unique applications, such as those discussed above. For a given amount of material, as particle size decreases, surface area increases. Our nanoscale powders have extremely high surface area, and have found additional uses in applications such as catalysts for automotive catalytic converters, where surface areas on our materials can reach over 100 m 2 /gram.
The scientific community generally attributes the first acknowledgement of the importance of the nanoscale range to the brilliant Nobel Laureate physicist Richard Feynman in his famous 1959 lecture “There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom” in which he first proposed that the properties of materials and devices at the nanometer range would present future opportunities. The term reached greater public awareness in 1986 with the publication of “Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology” by Eric Drexler.
What is the future of Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is expected to have an impact on nearly every industry. The U.S. National Science Foundation has predicted that the global market for nanotechnologies will reach $1 trillion or more within 20 years. The research community is actively pursuing hundreds of applications in nanomaterials, nanoelectronics, and bionanotechnology. Most near term (1-5 years) applications of nanotechnology are in the form of nanomaterials. These include materials such as lighter and stronger nanocomposites, antibacterial nanoparticles, and nanostructured catalysts. Nanodevices and nanoelectronics are farther off, perhaps 5-15 years, and will have applications in medical treatments and diagnostics, faster computers, and in sensors.
We are actively involved in pursuing promising research to develop equipment and procedures to manipulate single atoms or molecules with the goal of establishing a new class of man-made atomic structures constructed one molecule at a time. In addition, we support the industrial and academic research efforts by supplying the ultra-pure, advanced materials required to perform nanotechnology research.