The Future with Nanotechnology

Future Nanotechnology: This article is an overview of Nanotechnology, its potential problems and possible regulation. This is a must read for anyone thinking about or doing Nanotechnology (RDC). The Challenge of Regulating Nanomaterials

Molding Microstructures: 25 nm structures were replicated by injection molding. A silicon calibration grating was used as a mold in a custom made injection molding. High quality moldings were made when the mold was evacuated. This is interesting because of the possibility of using a conventional molding process to produce nanostructures. A critical factor in expanding Nanotechnology is the ability to mass produce these nanostructures on a large scale. (RDC) (497-500) Journal of Applied Polymer Science 107 #1 (2008) Abstract

Catalysts: Solid catalyst particles are the workhorses of modern chemistry. However, their productivity is limited by surface contact and rates of exhange. A new approach using carbon nanotubes is promising. Reactive metals and compounds are attached to the surfaces of these nanotubes. The groups become the reactive sites and the incredible porosity of the packed carbon nanotubes provide the surfaces areas and exchange paths on a molecular level, greatly increasing catalyst efficiency.(RDC) Go to US Patent 7,288,576

Carbon Nanomaterial Production: Popular nano-additives in plastics are carbon particles from fullerenes to carbon nanotubes. Chemical vapor deposition and electrical discharge methods are well known but are cumbersome and expensive. Carbon nanomaterials are found in soot formed during burning but the yield is low. The difficulty and cost restricts the large scale use of these carbon particles. Sooting flames are the most cost-effective way to produce carbon nanomaterials at large production rates, greater than 100 g/day. Alford et al developed improved burners and methods for this purpose. The burners of the invention produce sooting flames from fuel and oxidizing gases. The key is a porous refractory outlet to stabilize the flame. The burner plenum may be heated or cooled to control the temperature of the fuel as needed. The burner provides a reaction zone between 1000 and 1600 C. The fuel may be any hydrocarbon, but polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are preferred. Oxygen is the oxidizing agent of choice which may be diluted with nitrogen as needed. Iron, cobalt and nickel may be introduced to catalyze the formation of carbon nanotubes. 80 ml/min of toluene produced 200 g soot per hour. The nanotubes and fullerenes are recovered by toluene or zylene extraction.

U.S. Patent 7,279,137 (October 9, 2007) “Burners and Combustion Apparatus for Carbon Nanomaterial Production”, Michael J. Alford, Michael D. Diener, James Nabity and Michael Karpuk (TDA Research, Inc., Wheat Ridge, Colorado) Go to US Patent 7,279,137

Self Healing Materials: Wire insulation may crack because of stresses and aging processes. In aircraft and spacecraft these cracks can lead to catastrophic behavior. There is no known self-repairing electrical insulation material, but there have been studies of self-repairing methods in composites. Parrish has developed a self-healing system for a wire insulation using microcapsules containing reactants. Cracking causes the internal microcapsules to fracture releasing reactants. These reactants include a monomer and a catalyst; two reactants of a condensation polymer; or a fusible polymer and a chemical heater. The encapsulating materials may be polyamides, polyurethanes, polysulfonamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, and polysulfonates. One example consists of a core/shell microcapsule. The core contains contains sebacoyl chloride and the shell contains hexamethylenediamine. Immediately after fracture, the two monomers react form nylon 6,10. (The old Nylon Rope Trick!)

U.S. Patent 7,285,306 (October 23, 2007) “Process for Self-Repair of Insulation Material”, Clyde F. Parrish, (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, D.C.) Go to US Patent 7,285,306

Bioelectronics: Nanotechnology is the key to bioelectronics with everything from quantum dots to other injectable devices. These devices may be even coupled directly to cells such as cancer cells and nerves. This article reviews organic bioelectronics to give a clearer view of future possibilities. It describes mechanisms and specific biological experiments.(RDC) Organic Bioelectronics

Spintronics: The future is here! The 2007 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awared to Albert Fert of France's National Center for Scientific Research and Peter Grunberg of the Research Center Julich in Germany. These two groups independently discovered the effect of nanometer layers of magnetic iron and nonmagnetic chromium. In a magnetic field the material showed a very large change it its electrical resistance --- giant magnetoresistance (GMR). It has led to a new technology for computer hard disks and a new field of magnetoelectronics or spintronics. (Chemical & Engineering News, October 15, 2007 (vol 85, #42)

By the way Spinotronics is the technology which uses the quantum spin state of electrons as well as their charge. Such devices are used to store enormous amounts of date in a small space --- 1.5 GB per square mm or 1 TB on a single sided 3.5" disk. Richard Feynman where are you?

Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize our world and we haven't seen anything yet! For further information go to Spintronics.

Compounding: Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene is notoriously hard to process. Unexpectedly, adding intercalated clay significantly reduced melt viscosity and enhanced tensile strength as well as elongation at break without affecting toughness. Another opportunity for Nanotechnology. (p 3023-3032) Journal of Applied Polymer Science 106 #5 (2007) Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene /polypropylene /organo-montmorillonite nanocomposites: Phase morphology, rheological, and mechanical properties

Useable Nanotubes: Pastes of single walled carbon nanotubers have been formed in a solvent with sonication. These pastes mean clusters of these nanotubes with small metal clusters can became catalysts and electrodes for fuel cells, batteries and capacitors. 7,279,247 Carbon Nanotube Pases and Methods of Use

Phonons:The great invisible universe, that is radiation and waves, so important and yet so poorly understood especially since it is invisible. Therefore, it is of special interest when work show how this univerise is controlled and manipulated be these new nanostructures. Phonons, that is sound vibrations, captured withing nanoparticles may teach us something about this invisible universe. Applications could have something to do with sound absorption. (RDC) Phonon confinement effect in calcium fluoride nanoparticles (73-85) Chemical Physics 339 #1-3 (2007) Phonon confinement effect in calcium fluoride nanoparticles (73-85) Chemical Physics 339 #1-3 (2007)

Cosmetics: One of the early uses of nanotechnology is cosmetics. It is these kinds of applications that will bring Nanotechnology from an academic curiosity into the marketplace. In this application, tiny carbon nanotubes are functionalized with ammonium persulfate in sulfuric acid. The resulting functional groups are reacted with reactive group on the surface of hair forming a thin coating of nanotubes giving a smooth feel and an apparent increase in volume. (RDC) Hair coloring and cosmetic compositions comprising carbon nanotubes US Patent 7276224 (Published 10/20/2007)

Molecular Motors: One of the strangest areas of Nanotechnology is molecular motors. They are very hard to picture and even harder to make. However this is possible and has been done with the help of the scanning microsopes. Of course, one question is what are they good for. One powerful tool to answer this question is to look at nature. Natural evolution may be a slow and clumsy way to do things, but one has to agree the results are impressive --- that is if we think life and human beings are impressive. This patent, though extremely hard to read, demonstrates a moleular pump. It is based on a protein that moves genetic material around in a cell during mitosis. The protien attaches to the genetic materail, alligns them, a process called congression and moves them to the mitotic spindle for the all important process of genetic mixing. Take a look at the patent --- if you dare! (RDC) Plus end-directed microtubule motor required for chromosome congression US Patent #1,276,331 (Published 10/2/2007)

#1. The blood brain barrier is a serious barrier to diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Nanospheres such as liposomes can penetrate this barrier and offers new hope, thus the promise of nanomedicine (9/22/2007 RDC) Nanomedicine in the diagnosis and therapy of neurodegenerative disorders (1054-1082) Progress in Polymer Science 32 #8-9 (2007)

# 2 The tip of a scanning tunneling microscope can be used to place individual iron and manganese atoms on a copper film and form large atomic-scale magnetic anisotropies. This is further evidence of the unimaginable ability to study, measure and manipulate individual atoms, at the point of orbital electronic structures. Explain that to Grandpa!! (9/22/2007 RDC) Large Magnetic Anisotropy of a Single Atomic Spin Embedded in a Surface Molecular Network (1199-1203) Science Magazine 317 #5842 (2007)

I select these articles on the basis of my best judgment as a retired Professor of Materials Engineering into Morphology and Fracture. I am subject to all the frailties and biases of my generation. I cannot and do not warrant the validity of these articles and patents. That is beyond the ability of any one person. These are based on published articles from reputable sources. Many of them use Peer Review as part of the selection and review process. Any serious reader must use their judgment as a basis for accepting or rejecting. However, sometimes the ideas, though unproven from disreputable sources may be interesting and eventually proven right. If you a practicing engineer or other technical person, your experience is always the final judge. "If it works" is the premier standard in science and engineering and not what others think. These entries are only to stimulate interest and ideas. (R.D. Corneliussen, editor, 10/6/2007)