What is Nanotechnology and How is it Used Today?

Nanoscience and nanotechnology (NST) can be defined as a manufacturing processes and a manipulation of structures, systems and hardware systems at the nanometer (nm). In this context, Nanoscience is the study of phenomena and manipulation of matter at scales of atomic and molecular compound, where the properties (physicochemical) differ significantly from those prevailing on a larger scale. Nanotechnology, is concerned with the design, characterization, production and application of structures, devices and systems by controlling shape and size to a nanometer scale. Despite the relative simplicity and precision of these definitions, NST has several meanings related to the nature of this young discipline. Indeed, they use, while providing new opportunities, disciplines such as optics, biology, engineering, chemistry, or micro technology.

The structures of chips or integrated circuits are already at the nanometer scale and intensive use nanotechnology is here. The advances are constant in the fields of communications, information storage and computing.

We believed that integrating components of two microns is the absolute threshold for miniaturization of semiconductor devices (the width of circuits on the first Intel processors was of the order 10 microns. At that time we thought it would be difficult to overcome the barrier of a micron).[1]

In 2004, architectures of 90 nanometers were the state of the art and processors are mass-produced with a fineness of 65 nanometers from the first half of 2006.[1] Bullets engraved in 45 nanometers emerged mid-2007, the 32-nanometer chips would emerge in 2008-2009 and burning in 22 nanometers is already envisaged.[1] But there is an absolute limit, at least for a technology inherited from conventional photolithography processes, including the evolution of current technologies, such as photolithography extreme-UV, the X-ray lithography drives, burning beam d electron. Nanotechnology suggests a radical new approach where classic routes have reached their limits.[2]

Two major problems predominate in the construction of electronic circuits based on nanotechnology, and thus the emergence of nano-computing:

* At the nanometer scale, every object is a collection of the same building blocks: atoms. At this scale of one millionth of a millimeter, the physical, mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic and optical features depend on the size of structures and may differ fundamentally from those of the material at macroscopic levels. This is due to a variety of reasons that include quantum behavior, but also the growing importance of interfacial phenomena.[3]

• We are so far unable to control the coordinated assembly of a large number of these switches on a circuit and even less to do this on an industrial plan.

It is vitally important for science to progress in nanotechnology. Since small devices use vastly less power. Therefore leading to cheaper manufacturing processes.

References:

[1] Das S, Gates AJ, Abdu HA, Rose GS, Picconatto CA, Ellenbogen JC. (2007)

[2] Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering (2004)

[3] Leary SP, Liu CY, Apuzzo MLJ. (2006). "Toward the Emergence of Nanoneurosurgery: Part III-Nanomedicine"