Nanotechnology : Dr. A.P.J. Abdul kalam has rightly said “ Nanotechnology will be the
future with nanoscience developing nanomaterials and devices. This will lead to further convergence of technology with wide application".
The author, Mohan SundarRrajan, has written this book for the layman readers to acquire knowledge about the
nanotechnology and related developed materials outlining various applications, including the harmful applications. By reading this book both public and media will get a balanced knowledge of this nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology is a technique of rearranging the atoms / molecules to fabricate a material to
nanospecification i.e nanometer which has different properties from its bulk form. This technology is bringing about a fundamental change in the areas of
material science, electronics, biology, medicine and works in a truly interdisciplinary manner. This is a great innovation of the 21st. century and is expected to impact all aspect of our daily life, such as, food, clothing, shelter, transport, communication, drugs, disease detection and prevention and innovative treatment.
The developments of materials in nanoscale was made possible due to the developments of various types of sophisticated microscopes like Transmission Electron Microscope, Scanning Tunneling Microscope and Atomic force Microscope. Extensive applications have been made in Chemistry , Physics and Biology. The author has nicely and precisely devoted one chapter for describing these important discoveries of microscopes.
Bose – Einstein condensate was postulated in 1924. With the development of laser and atomic force microscope, this condensate was possible to make practical by manipulating atomic structure of matter. Casimir force which was predicted as early as in 1948 is now possible to measure and is very relevant to nanoscience.
A Noble laureate, Richard Feynman predicted that new kinds of force and effects at the atomic level will create completely new material at nanoscale. With advances in biology, synthetic chemistry and computer science and the use of scanning tunneling Microscope, Feynman’s dream now came true. It is now possible to produce Nanodevices which can be inserted in our body for imaging, diagnosis and drug delivery.
An young scientist Mr. Eric Drexler, called Mr. Nano, through his various research activities, such as, molecular nanotechnology, molecular computer, held that molecular machines could be made imitating biological models and that complex structure could be built based on chemical reactions. Based on Drexler’s ideas, three scientists at Rice University (USA) developed a new type of carbon material (3-d nanoscale carbon cage) which can withstand very high heat and pressure. They won the Nobel Prize for this discovery.
Though mankind will be benefited by the inventions of nanotechnology, there is concern that it will be a bonanza for the terrorist for mass destruction through biological weapons. The author an eminent science communicator , has nicely given both the benefit out of this nanotechnology and the concern of its applications for bad intentions He has also narrated the work done in India and elsewhere in the world about this emerging science and technology for the benefit of the people.