Applications of Nanotechnology

The aforementioned statement very well explains the working principle of one of the most diverse and advanced fields: Nanotechnology. Counted amongst the best Engineering courses for future, Nanotechnology is a field that deals with the study and applications of materials beyond the atomic scale. With usage in almost every industry, scores of students, especially amongst those who want to establish a career in Research are now opting for Nanotechnology courses. To know how and where the principles related to this field are being used, here is a blog that will shed light on various applications of Nanotechnology!

There’s plenty of room at the bottom.

Richard Feynman

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Fields	Applications of Nanotechnology
Medical Science	Cancer Treatment Drug Delivery Imaging Tools and Equipment Tissue Engineering Gene Therapy Treating Wound Injuries
Textiles	Making anti-bacterial, stain-resistant, wrinkle and fuzz resistant textiles
Material Science	Flexible Materials Lightweight Armours Stealth Materials Wear-Resistant Coatings Anti-Corrosive Paints Masks
Devices	Glucose Sensors Lithium-Ion Batteries Thin Film Solar Panels High-Efficiency Sensors
Sports	Lightweight Bats, Racquets, Hockey Sticks, Bicycles, etc
Environment Conservation	Water and Air Purification Membranes Detection of Harmful Chemicals Oil Spills

Brief Overview

Here is a brief overview of a few current applications of nanomaterials. They primarily represent evolutionary developments of existing technologies. 

Nanomaterial	Uses
Nanocomposites	Nanoparticles and nanotubes have an important role to play in composites. Carbon fibres and bundles of multi-walled CNT’s are used in polymers to enhance and control connectivity.
Nanocoatings and Nanostructured Surfaces	Coatings with thickness at nano or atomic scales are in active production. The self-cleaning window is one of the most recently developed products in this line.
Tougher and Harder Cutting Tools	Nanocrystalline materials are used to make cutting tools such as Tantalum Carbide and Tungsten Carbide. They are erosion resistant and last longer.
Nano lubricants	The inorganic materials of nanospheres are used as lubricants. They are more durable as compared to conventional solid lubricants.

Food Industry

Nanoparticles like Silver mixed with polymers are being used to enhance the quality of food packaging material thereby increasing its shelf life. making it last longer and taste better. Furthermore, “smart packaging”, through which biological changes occurring in the food are detected is also one of the significant applications of Nanotechnology.  Keeping in mind the assurance of food safety, various applications of nanotechnology are involved in agriculture and agri-business. The importance of nanotechnology in food processing can be evaluated by considering its role in the improvement of food products in terms of

•  food texture, 
•  food appearance,
•  food taste
• nutritional value of the food, and 
•  food shelf-life. 

Did you know: 322 companies in 20 countries are producing products that contain nanomaterials. 

Electronics and Devices

With the advancement in technology, we have shifted from bulky Television sets and mobile phones to sleek TV sets and smartphones. Moreover, with the use of nanomaterials like Graphene, thin, lightweight, better quality TV screens which also consume less power have been invented!

Medicine 

Various treatments and medicines for chronic diseases like cancer, brain tumor, etc have severe side effects on the patients. For this, Nanoparticles are being utilised wherein, the drug will be targeted to the infected cells instead of the whole body. Apart from this, a wide range of nanomaterials is being used to enhance the efficiency of imaging devices. Medicinal applications of nanotechnology are not only restricted to the aforementioned areas but are also seen in gene therapy, wound treatment, etc. 

Textiles and Fabrics

To make a piece of cloth wearable, wrinkle and odor-free across seasons, specialized fabrics with nano-sized Silver and Titanium particles are being used. This has led to the production of lightweight, thin and breathable fabrics. The other applications of Nanotechnology in this industry include making fabrics stain-resistant and improving durability.

Did you know: Scientists are using nanotechnology to create an invisibility cloak. Nanotube sheets at extreme temperatures cause light to bend away from objects that ‘disappear’.

Automobiles 

The automobile industry has seen a paradigm shift in the past decade. Every now and then, new four- and two-wheeler models are launched which work on extra-edge technology. This is yet another industry where the applications of Nanotechnology are visible. Various polymer nanocomposites like Natural Rubber-Organoclay have been used in tyres to make them abrasion-resistant. Furthermore, adding nanoparticles like tungsten nanospheres to car fluids has enhanced their mechanical properties. 

Sporting Equipment and Goods

In today’s society, different types of co-curricular activities like sports have become a popular choice for building a career. And due to this, many revolutionary changes are being made, especially in Tennis and Golf. With the use of nanomaterials like Silica nanoparticles, nanoclays fullerenes, etc, high-end racquets, new tennis balls through which air releases at a slow pace, lightweight hockey sticks, and club shaft material with improved durability have been made. 

Enhancing Water Quality

This is one of the best applications of Nanotechnology where unique nanoparticles are used on filtration membranes to improve the quality of water by removing chemical and industrial waste such as TCE from the river and groundwater. Using Nanotechnology for purification of water is highly effective and comparatively cheaper. 

Space Science

Another domain where the applications of Nanotechnology is visible is Space Science and Research. Apart from making the outer structure of satellites durable and lightweight using materials like CNT, research is also being done on how to send spacecraft with lesser fuel.

Improving Air Quality 

Deteriorating air quality has become a global issue and for this, nanomaterials are being used extensively. On one hand, membranes coated with nanomaterials like Graphene Oxide are being used to separate pollutants from the air. While on the other, research is being conducted to improve the efficiency of catalysts which can help in minimizing the effect of air pollutants from industrial plants, cars, air conditioners, etc. Such catalysts, which are made up of nanoparticles provides a large surface area for the chemicals to react. 

Chemical Sensors

Using nanomaterials like Zinc Oxide nanowires, Carbon nanotubes as well as palladium nanoparticles, various sensors have been designed which can easily detect even the smallest amounts of hazardous chemicals. This has been made possible as the electrical properties of these materials enhance at the nano-level.

Benefits and Applications of Nanotechnology

Applications of Nanotechnology are contributing in multiple ways to nano technology’s promise of benefitting society.

Electronics and IT Applications

Nanotechnology has played a major role in advancing electronics and computers that has led to faster portable systems with the ability to store large amounts of information.

1. Transistors have gotten smaller in size
2. MRAM or Magnetic Random Access Memory is able to get started or ‘boot’ easily.
3. Hazardous materials used in fuse electronics are now replaced with Nanoparticle copper suspensions.

Energy Applications

The power of nanotechnology has greatly enhanced alternative energy approaches to meet the growing demands of the world for energy. Scientists are looking into ideas and means to reduce energy consumption and reduce the toxicity burden on the environment.

1. Nanotechnology has improved the efficiency of fuel production from raw petroleum materials through better catalysis.
2. Carbon nanotube scrubbers are being researched by researchers to separate the power plant exhaust from Carbon dioxide.
3. New kinds of batteries are being developed by the use of nano technology for better charging and more efficiency.
4. Wind mill blades are now being made by using epoxy containing carbon nanotubes to increase the amount of electricity wind mills can generate.

Environmental Remediation

Nanotechnology is being used to help clean up the environment and detect contaminants.

1. Nanotechnology is being used to detect and treat impurities in water.
2. A thin film membrane with nanopores has been developed by engineers for energy efficient desalination
3. Nanoparticles are also being used to clean industrial water pollutants which get accumulated in ground water.
4. A nano fabric towel has been developed by researchers that has the ability to absorb 20 times its weight in oil for clean up applications. 

Advantages

The top advantages of Nanotechnology are as follows:

• Durable
• Lightweight
• Stronger
• Cheaper
• Precise
• More efficient
• Devices are very small in size
• Faster
• Uses smaller batteries

Hence, the applications of Nanotechnology are in a wide range of industries! Intrigued by this field but are not sure where to pursue this course? Then don’t worry! Reach out to our experts at Leverage Edu who will not only help you find a university but will also provide guidance in finding a suitable scholarship and filing applications!