Nanotechnology

The essence of nanotechnology is the ability to work at the molecular level, atom by atom, to create large structures with fundamentally new molecular organization. Compared to the behavior of isolated molecules of about 1 nm or of bulk materials, the behavior of structural features in the range of about 1 to 100 nm exhibit important changes. Nanotechnology is concerned with materials and systems whose structures and components exhibit novel and significantly improved physical, chemical, and biological properties, phenomena, and processes due to their nanoscale size.

The goal is to exploit these properties by gaining control of structures and devices at atomic, molecular, and supramolecular levels and to learn to efficiently manufacture and use these devices. Maintaining the stability of interfaces and the integration of these "nanostructures" at micron-length and macroscopic scales are all keys to success.

New behavior at the nanoscale is not necessarily predictable from wthat is observed at large size scales.

The most important changes in behavior are caused not by the order of magnitude size reduction, but by newly observed phenomena intrinsic to or becoming predominant at the nanoscale. These phenomena include size confinement, predominance of interfacial phenomena and quantum mechanics. Once it becomes possible to control feature size, it will also become possible to enhance material properties and device functions beyond what we currently know how to do or even consider as feasible. Being able to reduce the dimensions of structures down to the nanoscale leads to the unique properties of carbon nanotubes, quantum wires and dots, thin films, DNA-based structures, and laser emitters. Such new forms of materials and devices herald a revolutionary age for science and technology, provided we can discover and fully utilize the underlying principles.

Nanotechnology will allow us to build things such as: a lamp that uses one-tenth as much energy as modern light bulbs and yet never burns out; lighter and stronger building materials that may make cars, buses, and other forms of transportation more energy efficient; medicines targeting the molecular errors that cause disease rather than treating the symptoms of illness.

So far however, much of the commercial research and development focuses on polymer composites, electronics, coatings, and even on cosmetics, drug discovery, diagnostics, and health care.

Scienomics has the relevant experience in all of those domains and in particular in

• Bottom-up techniques
• Dendrimers
• Fullerenes
• Lithography and nanoprinting
• Molecular electronics
• Drug delivery (nanocapsules)
• Nanocrystalline materials
• Nanoparticles
• Nanoporous materials
• Nanotubes
• Quantum dots

• Citations
  • "Within 10 years, the entire semiconductor industry and 1/2 of the pharmaceutical industry will rely on nanotechnology." Mike Roco, National Science Foundation (NSF)
  • "We believe nanotechnology could be the next growth innovation." Steve Milunovich, Merrill Lynch Global Technology Strategist
• Statistics
  • Nanotechnology products will soar to $1 trillion by 2015, (source: NSF)
  • $386m of venture capital went into nanotechnology startups in 2002, (source: Lux Capital).
  • Forbes/Wolfe Nanotech Report's stock portfolio has outperformed the S&P 500 by 84.19% since inception (March/02 through 19 June 03).