SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND

SOCIETY

THE NANO WORLD

(Written report)

Reporters:
Nheziel De Asis
Jonalyn Orbita
Erica Mercado

Nieto Yruma

INTRODUCTION
 Scientific researchers have developed new technological tools that greatly improve different
aspects of our lives. The use of nanoscale is one important interdisciplinary area generated by
advancement in science and technology. Scientists and engineers were able to build materials with
innovative properties as they manipulate nanomaterials. Indeed, research and application of
knowledge on nanomaterials will continue to bring widespread implications in various areas of the
society, especially health care, environment, energy, food, water, and agriculture.

Nanotechnology refers to the science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale,
which is about I to 100 manometers (NNI, 2017). Nanoscience and nanotechnology employs the
study and application of exceptionally small things in other areas of science including materials
science, engineering. physics, biology, and chemistry (NNI, 2017).

The concepts of nanotechnology and nanoscience started in December 29, 1959 when Physicist
Richard Feynman discussed a method in which scientists can direct and control individual atoms and
molecules in his talk "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom" during the American Physical Society
meeting at the California Institute of Technology. The term "nanotechnology" was coined by
Professor Norio Taniguchi a decade after the dawn of the use of ultraprecision machining (NNI,
2017).

How Small is a Nanoscale?

A manometer is a billionth of a meter, or 109 of a meter. Manipulation of nanomaterials needs

an adept understanding of their types and dimensions. The various types of nanomaterials are
classified according to their individual shapes and sizes. They may be particles, tubes, wires, films,
flakes, shells that have dimensions, One should be able to view and manipulate them so that we
more nanometer-sized can take advantage of their exceptional characteristics.

How to View Nanomaterials

Scientists use special types of microscopes to view minute nanomaterials. During the early
1930s, scientists used electron microscopes and field microscopes to look at the nanoscale. The
scanning tunneling microscope and atomic force microscope are just among the modern and
remarkable advancements in microscopy.

Special types of Microscopes

I. Electron microscope

German engineers Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll built the first electron microscope during the
1930s. This. Type of microscope utilizes a particle beam of electrons to light up a specimen and
develop a well-magnified image. Electron microscopes produce higher and better resolution than
older light microscopes because they can magnify objects up to a million times while conventional
light microscopes can magnify objects up to 1,500 times only. Scanning electron microscope (SEM)
and transmission electron microscope (TEM) are the two general types of electron microscope.

2. Atomic force microscope (AFM)

It was first developed by Gerd Binig, Calvin Quate, and Christoph Gerber in 1986. It makes use of
a mechanical probe that gathers information from the surface of a material.
3. Scanning tunneling microscope

This special type of microscope enables scientists to view and manipulate nanoscale particles,
atoms, and small molecules. In 1986, Gerd Binig and Heinrich Rohrer won the Nobel Prize in Physics
because of this invention.

Nanomanufacturing

It refers to scaled-up, reliable, and cost-effective manufacturing of nanoscale materials,

structures, devices, and systems. It also involves research, improvement, and incorporation of
processes for the construction of materials. Therefore, nanomanufacturing leads to the
development of new products and improved materials. There are two fundamental approaches to
nanomanufacturing, either bottom-up or top-down (NNI, 2017):

1. Bottom-up fabrication

It manufactures products by building them up from atomic- and molecular-scale components.

However, this method can be time-consuming. Scientists and engineers are still in search for
effective ways of putting up together molecular components that self-assemble and from the
bottom-up to organized structures.

2. Top-down fabrication

It trims down large pieces of materials into nanoscale. This process needs larger amounts of
materials and discards excess raw materials.

New Approaches to the assembly of Nanomaterials

•Dip pen lithography

It is a method in which the tip of an atomic force microscope is "dipped" into a chemical fluid
and then utilized to "write" on a surface, like an old-fashioned ink pen onto a paper.

• Self-assembly

It depicts an approach wherein a set of components join together to mold an organized

structure in the absence of an outside direction.

•Chemical vapour deposition

It is a procedure wherein chemicals act in response to form very pure, high-performance films.

•Nanoimprint lithography

It is a method of generating nanoscale attributes by "stamping" or "printing" them onto a

surface.

•Molecular beam epitaxy

It is one manner for depositing extremely controlled thin films.

•Roll-to-roll processing

It is a high-volume practice for constructing nanoscale devices on a roll of ultrathin plastic

metal.
•Atomic layer epitaxy

It is a means for laying down one-atom-thick layers on a surface. With the use of these
techniques, nanomaterials are made more durable, stronger, lighter, water-repellent, ultraviolet or
infrared-resistant, scratch-resistant, electrically conductive,. Antireflective, antifog, antimicrobial,
self-cleaning, among others.

Distinct Features of Nanoscale

1. Scale at which much biology occurs

Various activities of the cells take place at the nanoscale. The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
serves as the genetic material of the cell and is only about 2 nanometers in diameter. Furthermore,
the haemoglobin that transports oxygen to the tissues throughout the body is 5.5 nanometers in
diameter.

A good number of modern researches focus on advancing procedures, therapies, tools and
treatment that are more accurate and custom-made than tradition methods and cause no adverse
effects on the body.

An example of this is bio-barcode assay, which is a fairly inexpensive approach for identification
of specific disease makers in the blood despite their small number in a particular specimen.

2. Scale at which quantum effects properties of materials

Particles with dimensions of 1-100 nanometers have properties that are significantly discrete
from particles of bigger dimensions. Quantum effects direct the behaviour and properties of
particles in this size scale. The properties of materials are highly dependent on their size.

3. Nanoscale materials have far large surface areas than similar masses of larger-scale

materials

As we increase the surface area per mass of a particular material, a greater amount of the
material comes in contact with another material and can affect its reactivity.

Government Funding for Nanotechnology in Different Countries (Dayrit, 2005)

1. U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative

The best-known and most-funded program is the National Nanotechnology Initiative of the
United States. The NNI was established in 2001 to coordinate U.S. federal nanotechnology R&D. The
NNI budget in 2008 and 2009 wereSI.4 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively.

2. European Commission

In February 2008, the EC officially launched the European Nanoelectronics Initiative Advisory
Council (ENIAC)

3. Japan (Nanotechnology Research Institute, under the National Institute for Advanced Industrial

(AIST).

4. Taiwan (Taiwan National Science and Technology Program for Nanoscience and
Nanotechnology)

5. India (National Research and Education Foundation)

6. China (National Center for Nanoscience and Technology)

7. Israel (Israel National Nanotechnology Initiative)

8. Australia (Australian Office of Nanotechnology

9. Canada (National Institute for Nanotechnology or NINT)

10. South Korea (Korea Nanotechnology Initiative)

11. Thailand (National Nanotechnology Center or NANOTEC)

12. Malaysia (National Nanotechnology Initiatives or NNI)

Possible Applications of Nanotechnology in the Philippines

1. ICT and semiconductors

2. Health and medicine

3. Energy

4. Food and agriculture

5. Environment

Nanotech Roadmap for he Philippines (Funded by DOST)

1. ICT and semiconductors

2. Health and biomedical

3. Energy

4. Environment

5. Agriculture and food

6. Health and environmental risk

7. Nano-metrology

8. Education and public awareness

Benefits and Concerns of using Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology has various applications in different sectors of the society and environment.
Salamanca-Buentello et. al (2005) proposed an initiative called "Addressing Global Challenges Using
Nanotechnology" to accelerate the use of nanotechnology to address critic sustainable development
challenges. They suggested a model that could help figure out the possible contributions of the
community in overcoming global challenges that pose risk on heal and other aspects of peoples'
lives. However, there are concerns that need to be addressed before using and promoting materials
derived from nanotechnology:

1. Nanotechnology is not a single technology; it may become pervasive.

2. Nanotechnology seeks to develop new materials with specific properties.

3. Nanotechnology may introduce new efficiencies and paradigms which may make some natural
resources and current practices uncompetitive or obsolete.

4. It may be complicated to detect its presence unless one has the specialist tools nanotechnology.

Benefits and Concerns of the Application of Nanotechnology in Different Areas.

Example of Areas Affected by Possible Benefits Concerns

Nanotechnology
• Improve detection and • High reactivity and toxicity
removal of contaminants. • Pervasive distribution in
Environment • Development of benign environment.
industrial processes and • No nano-specific EPA
materials. regulation
• Ability to cross cell
• Improve medicine membrane and translocation
Health in the body.
• No EDA approval needed for
cosmetics or supplements.
• Redistribution of wealth
• Better production • potential cost of clean ups
Economy • New Jobs and healthcare
• Accessibility to all income
levels.