Nano poster NEW 2* 26/7/05 10:19 am Page 1

Nanotechnology is a compilation of technologies researching the ability to control The Spectrum of Size
or manipulate matter, structures and systems on the atomic and molecular scale.

Nanotechnology

CHRIS BUTLER / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Nanotechnology, derived from the Greek word for dwarf, deals with research at
the scale of nanometres (nm). A nanometre is a billionth of a metre, or a millionth Milky Way Galaxy’s
disk diameter
of a millimetre – dimensions less than 1/100,000 the diameter of a human hair! Much = 4.7x1026 m
of the research is still ongoing in this new field with opportunities for advancement (1000,000 light years)
in almost every field of science and engineering, including biomedicine, computers
A Lesson from Nature and even the manufacturing of clothing!

Atoms are the building blocks for all matter in our natural world. An atom is made up
of a small, heavy nucleus in the centre surrounded by a relatively large, light cloud Earth’s equatorial diameter
of electrons. The nucleus consists of protons and neutrons that are made up of = 1.2756 107 m (12,756 km)
quarks. Atoms bonding together form molecular structures. The molecule is the Sorry … I have a headache? New Frontiers of Nanotechnology
smallest indivisible portion of a pure compound that retains a set of unique Solar Energy
chemical and physical properties. Molecules make up the air we breathe, Every time we take a single aspirin tablet
the water we drink, even the living cells in our bodies – nature’s own we consume more than 1x1020 molecules
Currently solar power is not economical due to the cost of solar cells,
nanomachines. The goal of nanotechnology is to be able to manipulate of aspirin (or acetylsalicylic acid), that’s
photovoltaic modules that convert the sun’s energy directly into electricity.
each individual atom or molecule and engineer them in a pattern to 100,000,000,000,000,000,000!
Nanotechnology has the potential to manufacture solar cells inexpensively
Average person’s
produce a desired structure – similar to arranging LEGO® bricks. thus moving solar power into the mainstream – perhaps
height = 1.7 m
Wow that grain of running whole cities on solar power!
sand is heavy …
Atom Computers
Seeing Single ALFRED PASIEKA
If you wanted to balance a grain of
sand on a set of weighing scales using Nanotechnology will be needed to create a new
Molecules SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

generation of smaller computer components.

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL),
the UK’s national standards laboratory,
in collaboration with Imperial College is
single molecules of water, you would need
one billion billion water molecules, that’s Molecular computers could contain storage devices
Rain drop = 10-2 m (1 cm)
1,000,000,000,000,000,000. capable of storing thousands of billions of bytes of
information or deliver a billion billion instructions per
second in a structure the size of a sugar cube.

KENNETH EWARD / BIOGRAFX / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

using powerful analytical techniques, Nanoparticles in the
such as Surface Enhanced Raman
Spectroscopy (SERS), to actually
21st Century Medicine
analyse single molecules. While nanotechnology’s
Effective detectors of specific A molecule
commercial application = 10-9 m (1 nanometre)
This ability to make spectroscopic molecules can be developed and
is limited,
measurements on just one molecule of integrated into compact devices for
nanoparticles are
a substance represents an amazing medical diagnostic purposes; for instance applying
being used in a number
increase in the ability to observe the NPL’s research on single molecule detection and microfluidics
of industries from
‘nuts and bolts’ of life. Potential applications of such a (a technology used to control the flow of small amounts of
electronics to Atom with orbiting
technology would include hand-held scanners for instant medical diagnosis, fluid such as blood or saliva samples, around a chip and perform small
cosmetics. Currently electrons
allergen detection devices to screen foods for nuts and dairy and the development of chemical tests) to develop these diagnostic instruments.
nanoparticles are = 10-10 m (1 angstrom)
crime scene instruments to gather evidence faster and accurately. combined with
existing materials to improve Diamond Planes
their strength and efficacy.
Diamond, a form of
Some perspective on molecular nanotechnology… carbon, is the Neutron & proton which

SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Everyday products that form the nucleus of the atom
benefit from the unique properties hardest naturally
Now that is one big occurring material, = 10-15 m (1 femtometre)
millennium wheel… of nanoscale materials include:
but very expensive and not
easily malleable. With nanotechnology,
I Stain-free clothing carbon atoms could be arranged to create an inexpensive workable
diamond material to construct a Boeing 747 whose weight was 50 times
I Sunscreens and cosmetics lighter but just as strong!
I Longer-lasting tennis balls

MEHAU KULYK / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Quark (which make up
I Lightweight, stronger tennis racquets Mood Shirt neutrons and protons) &
I Scratch-proof and glare-reducing coatings Imagine the future where clothing, wall orbiting electron = 10-18 m
for spectacles paint, and lighting all change colour to (1 attometre)
I Paints and coatings to protect against match or influence our mood. Clothing
corrosion and radiation treated with nanotechnology, including
Imagine if one molecule of water was magnified to the size of this full stop. If the intelligent fibres, interactive textiles or smart
London Eye were magnified by the same amount it would be as big as the Earth. fabrics, will be able to change colour in a flash.
So if you can’t find a shirt to match your trousers,
push a button on your shirt to pick a colour and
If you have a measurement-related scientific question contact us on: telephone 020 8943 6880 you are out the door – now to find your door keys.
e-mail: enquiry@npl.co.uk or visit our website which has lots of measurement-related information at: www.npl.co.uk

T h e N a t i o n a l P h y s i c a l La b o r a to r y i s o p e r a te d o n b e h a l f o f t h e DT I b y N P L M a n a g e m e n t L i m i te d , a w h o l l y o w n e d s u b s i d i a r y o f S e r c o G r o u p p l c