This document provides an overview of nanotechnology, including definitions, history, applications, and health impacts. Nanotechnology involves engineering at the molecular level between 1 to 100 nanometers. It has a variety of applications, including carbon nanotubes, molecular electronics, quantum dots, and more efficient energy generation. While many nanotechnology applications pose no new health risks, some free nanoparticles may have negative health impacts due to their small size and chemical properties. The document outlines the history and development of nanotechnology from 1959 to present.

1. Nanotechnology and
its Application

2. Outline of Presentation
• Nanotechnology
• Size of a Nanoparticle
• Behaviour of Nanomaterials
• History of nanotech
• Applications of Nanotech
• Nanotech and Space
• Health and environmental impacts
• References

3. What is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology or the “nanotech”, is engineering at the
molecular
(groups of atoms) level. It is the collective term for
a range of technologies, techniques and processes
that involve the manipulation of matter at the smallest
scale (from 1 to 100 nm^2).

4. Size of a Nanoparticle
• One nanometre (1 nm) is defined as one billionth of a metre
(10^-9 m).
• This is the diameter of several atoms.
On the scale of individual molecules:
• A human hair is approximately 80, 000 nm wide.
• A red blood cell is 7000 nm wide.
• A DNA molecule is approximately 2 nm wide.

5. An interesting behaviour
• The classical laws of physics and chemistry do not readily
apply at this very small scale for two reasons.
• Firstly, the electronic properties of very small particles can be
very different from their larger cousins.
• Secondly, the ratio of surface area to volume becomes much
higher, and since the surface atoms are generally most
reactive, the properties of a material change in unexpected
ways.
• For example:
a) When silver is turned into very small particles, it takes on
anti-microbial properties.
b) Gold particles become any colour we choose.

6. History of nanomaterials
• For the very first time, in his talk, Feynman presented ideas
for creating nanoscale machines to manipulate, control and
image matter at the atomic scale,in 1959.
• In 1974, Norio Taniguchi introduced the term
‘nanotechnology’ to represent extra-high precision and ultra-fine
dimensions, and also predicted improvements in
integrated circuits, optoelectronic devices, mechanical devices
and computer memory devices.

7. Examples of exciting applications
of nanotechnology
• Nanopowders
• Carbon nanotubes
• Nanomembrane filtration systems
• Molecular electronic‘cross bar latches’
• Quantum dots devices
• Efficient energy generation.

14. Advantages of Nanotechnology
products
• Improved communication performance
• Instruments and sensors breakthroughs
• Innovative components and materials
• Intelligent space systems operation
• Lowering of Mission risks

16. Health and environmental
impacts
A UK report released in 2004 by the Royal Society and the Royal
Academy of Engineering concluded that many applications of
nanotechnologies pose no new health or safety risks.
However, some nanoparticles — those which are freely mobile
and not incorporated into a material — may have the potential
for negative health and environmental impacts by virtue of their
size or particular chemical properties. The UK report therefore
recommended that in the specific case of free nanoparticles and
free nanotubes, existing regulatory frameworks need to be
modified.

17. References
• Nanotechnology by Dr Deborah Rathjen
• Nano Science and Technology in Pakistan by N. M. Butt, F. A. Khalid , S.
K. Hasanain , M. Mehmood, A. Rauf and Shakeel Akbar.
• Carbon based Nanotechnology by Sabih-ud-Din Khan, PINSTECH
• A news clipping by by Ineke Malsch
• Applications of Nanotechnology in Space Developments and Systems
By Dr. Axel Zweck and Dr. Wolfgang Luther

18. Questions?

19. Thank you…