Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology would not have come of age without the achievements of several great minds and companies.
Companies
People
Zyves technologies is the first molecular engineering company to use nanotechnology which was first established in 1997. Since then the company has made several advances in automobile repair and maintenance, advanced nacelle lining for next-generation airplane engines, and advanced prosthitics.
Zyvex has made several advancements in major industries, some examples are shown below.
The National Nanotechnology Initiative(NNI) is a United States federal R&D program established in 2000 to promote the study and awareness of nanotechnology in the United States. The NNI serves as a focusing point of communication and cooperation for all federal agencies engaged in nanotechnology, establishing the knowledge needed to advance this new complex field of study (Citation 1). While the NNI seeks to enhance the field of nanotechnology as a whole, the organization pursues four goals:
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advance world-wide nanotechnology research and development (R&D) programs
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oversee the change of new technologies into products for commercial and public benefit
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develop and sustain educational resources, skilled and experienced workers, and the tools to advance nanotechnology
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support development of nanotechnology
IThe International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a multinational technology corporation researchs a broad range of topics that includes nanotechnology (Citation 2). IBM was highly involved in the evolution of nanotechnology, such as:
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the development of the STM microscope
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manipulation 35 xenon atoms to spell IBM
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using a silicon tip to carve a 3D map of the world one-one-thousandth the size of a grain of salt
Richard Feynman is considered the father of modern nanotechnology. His lecture "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom" was the first on technology and engineering at the atomic scale.
Click here to see Feynman's lecture on nanotechnology
While Feynman didn't create anything to advance nanotechnology, he did convince others that the science was possible, and that pursuing it is worth it.
Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer were the two to invent the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). This allowed scientists to view individual atoms for the first time.
Sumio Iijima is credited with discovering the carbon nanotube (CNT). CNTs, like buckyballs, are entirely composed of carbon, but the CNT is in a tubular shape, rather than a ball. They exhibit immense properties in terms of strength, electrical and thermal conductivity (Citation 3).
Nanotubes are used to:
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synthetic muscles
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increased performance of electronic displays
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bone scaffolding
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increased efficiency in power sources
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structural support (vehicles, body armor, building materials)
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advanced water purifiers
Researchers Harold Kroto, Sean O’Brien, Robert Curl, and Richard Smalley discovered the Buckminsterfullerene, more commonly known as the buckyball. The buckyball is a molecule resembling a soccerball in shape and composed entirely of carbon (Citation 4).
Buckyballs can be used to:
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block the inflammation of allergies
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fight the deterioration of motor function
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make inexpensive solar cells
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to be used as a fuel tank to store hydrogen
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reduce the growth of bacteria in water systems
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block HIV's binding to proteins
Jack Kilby created the concept of, designed, and built the first integrated circuit. An integrated circuit is a set of electronic circuitry on one small plate or chip of semiconductor material, such as silicon. The IC, chip or microchip had revolutionized the age of electronics, and has helped advanced nanotechnology.
