I' INTRODUCTION

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Introduction to Nanotechnology
I. INTRODUCTION M. Meyyappan Director, Center
for Nanotechnology NASA Ames Research
Center Moffett Field, CA 94035 email
mmeyyappan_at_mail.arc.nasa.gov web
http//www.ipt.arc.nasa.gov
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Outline
Definition National Nanotechnology
Initiative Impact on various economic
sectors - Electronics and computing - Health
and medicine - Energy - Transportation - -
- Commercial outlook
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Nanotechnology is the creation of
USEFUL/FUNCTIONAL materials, devices and systems
(of any useful size) through control/manipulation
of matter on the nanometer length scale and
exploitation of novel phenomena and properties
which arise because of the nanometer length scale
Physical Chemical Electrical Mechanical
Optical Magnetic
Nanometer One billionth (10-9) of a
meter Hydrogen atom 0.04 nm Proteins 1-20
nm Feature size of computer chips 90 nm (in
2005) Diameter of human hair 10 µm
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What Is Nanotechnology?
(Definition from the NNI)

• Research and technology development aimed to
  understand and control matter at dimensions of
  approximately 1 - 100 nanometer the nanoscale
• Ability to understand, create, and use
  structures, devices and systems that have
  fundamentally new properties and functions
  because of their nanoscale structure
• Ability to image, measure, model, and manipulate
  matter on the nanoscale to exploit those
  properties and functions
• Ability to integrate those properties and
  functions into systems spanning from nano- to
  macro-scopic scales

Nanoarea Electron Diffraction of DW Carbon
Nanotube Zuo, et.al
Corral of Fe Atoms D. Eigler
Source Clayton Teague, NNI
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Examples - Carbon Nanotubes - Proteins,
DNA - Single electron transistors Not just
size reduction but phenomena intrinsic to
nanoscale - Size confinement - Dominance of
interfacial phenomena - Quantum mechanics New
behavior at nanoscale is not necessarily
predictable from what we know at macroscales.
AFM Image of DNA
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Unique Properties of Nanoscale Materials

• Quantum size effects result in unique mechanical,
  electronic, photonic, and magnetic properties of
  nanoscale materials
• Chemical reactivity of nanoscale materials
  greatly different from more macroscopic form,
  e.g., gold
• Vastly increased surface area per unit mass,
  e.g., upwards of 1000 m2 per gram
• New chemical forms of common chemical elements,
  e.g., fullerenes, nanotubes of carbon, titanium
  oxide, zinc oxide, other layered compounds

Source Clayton Teague, NNI
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What is Special about Nanoscale?
Atoms and molecules are generally less than a
nm and we study them in chemistry. Condensed
matter physics deals with solids with infinite
array of bound atoms. Nanoscience deals with
the in-between meso-world Quantum chemistry
does not apply (although fundamental laws hold)
and the systems are not large enough for
classical laws of physics Size-dependent
properties Surface to volume ratio - A 3 nm
iron particle has 50 atoms on the surface - A
10 nm particle 20 on the
surface - A 30 nm particle only 5
on the surface
MORE IN SECTION II
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What is new about Nanoscience?
Many existing technologies already depend on
nanoscale materials and processes - photography
, catalysts are old examples - developed
empirically decades ago In existing
technologies using nanomaterials/processes, role
of nanoscale phenomena not understood until
recently serendipitous discoveries - with
understanding comes opportunities for
improvement Ability to design more complex
systems in the future is ahead - designer
material that is hard and strong but low
weight - self-healing materials
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1959 Feynman Lecture There is Plenty of Room
at the Bottom provided the vision of exciting
new discoveries if one could fabricate
materials/devices at the atomic/molecular
scale. Emergence of instruments in the 1980s
STM, AFM providing the eyes, fingers for
nanoscale manipulation, measurement
Recently, there has been an explosion of
research on the nanoscale behavior - Nanostructu
res through sub-micron self assembly creating
entities from bottom-up instead of
top-down - Characterization and
applications - Highly sophisticated computer
simulations to enhance understanding as well as
create designer materials
STM
Image of Highly Oriented Pyrolitic Graphite
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For information, www.nano.gov Multiagency
Initiative in nanotechnology starting in FY01
National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)
Leading to the Next Industrial Revolution FY05
Nano budget is 1.0 Billion Biggest portion
of the funding goes to NSF - Followed by DoD,
DOE, NIH, NASA - All these agencies spend most
of their nano funding on university
programs Very strong activities in Japan,
Europe, China, Singapore, fueled by Government
Initiatives Nano activities in U.S. companies
IBM, Motorola, HP, Lucent, Hitachi USA, Corning,
DOW, 3M - In-house R D - Funding of new
ventures Nano Centers have been established at
Universities all across the world Emerging
small companies - VC funding on the increase
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NNI Program Component Areas (PCAs)

• Fundamental Nanoscale Phenomena and Processes
• Nanomaterials
• Nanoscale Devices and Systems
• Instrumentation Research, Metrology, and
  Standards for Nanotechnology
• Nanomanufacturing
• Major Research Facilities and
  Instrumentation Acquisition
• Societal Dimensions

Source Clayton Teague, NNI
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The U.S. does not dominate nanotechnology
research. Nearly twice as much ongoing research
overseas as in the U.S. Many foreign
leaders, companies, scientists believe that
nanotechnology will be the leading technology of
the 21st century. The fact that there is still
a chance to get on the ground floor explains
pervasive R D worldwide. Strong nanotechnology
programs in European Union countries, Japan,
Korea, Switzerland, Singapore, Australia,
Taiwan, China and Russia.
Leadership Position
Source WTEC Report
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Academia will play key role in development of
nanoscience and technology - Promote
interdisciplinary work involving multiple
departments - Develop new educational
programs - Technology transfer to
industry Government Labs will conduct mission
oriented nanotechnology research - Provide large
scale facilities and infrastructure for
nanotechnology research - Technology transfer
to industry Government Funding Agencies will
provide research funding to academia, small
business, and industry through the NNI and other
programs (SBIR, STIR, ATP) Industry will
invest only when products are within 3-5
years - Maintain in-house research, sponsor
precompetitive research - Sponsor technology
start-ups and spin-offs Venture Capital
Community will identify ideas with market
potential and help to launch start-ups Professi
onal societies should establish interdisciplinary
forum for exchange of information reach out to
international community offer continuing
education courses
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Nanotechnology R D
and Related
Nanomaterials
Applications
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Various Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies
Nanocrystalline materials Nanoparticles Nano
capsules Nanoporous materials Nanofibers Nan
owires Fullerenes Nanotubes Nanosprings Na
nobelts Dendrimers
Molecular electronics Quantum dots NEMS,
Nanofluidics Nanophotonics, Nano-optics Nanoma
gnetics Nanofabrication Nanolithography Nano
manufacturing Nanomedicine Nano-bio
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Extraordinary Space of Nanomaterials

• Atom clusters
• Nanotubes, rods, spheres, belts carbon and
  other materials
• Dendrimers
• Macro-molecular structures
• Biomolecular structures

SiC Flowers
C SWNT
ZnO Belt
ZnO Tube
GaN Rods
TiO2 Spheres
Spherical
Tubular
Rotaxane
Catenane
STM Image of DNA Segment
STM Image and Model of Porphyrin
Source Clayton Teague, NNI
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As Recommended by the IWGN (Interagency Working
Group on Nanotechnology) Panel Nanostructure
Properties - Biological, chemical, electronic,
magnetic, optical, structural Synthesis and
Processing - Enable atomic and molecular control
of material building blocks - Bioinspired,
multifunctional, adaptive structures - Affordabil
ity at commercial levels Characterization and
manipulation - New experimental tools to
measure, control - New standards of
measurement Modeling and simulation Device
and System Concepts - Stimulate innovative
applications to new technologies Application
Development
See www.nano.gov
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(As raised in the IWGN Report)
1. What novel quantum properties will be enabled
by nanostructures (at room temp.)? 2. How
different from bulk behavior? 3. What are the
surface reconstructions and rearrangements of
atoms in nanocrystals? 4. Can carbon nanotubes
of specified length and helicity be synthesized
as pure species? Heterojunctions in
1-D? 5. What new insights can we gain about
polymer, biologicalsystems from the capability
to examine single-molecule properties? 6. How
can one use parallel self-assembly techniques to
control relative arrangements of nanoscale
components according to predesigned
sequence? 7. Are there processes leading to
economic preparation of nanostructures with
control of size, shape for applications?
This is NOT an exhaustive list
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Impact of Nanotechnology
Information Technology - Computing, Memory
and Data Storage - Communication Materials
and Manufacturing Health and
Medicine Energy Environment Transportatio
n National Security Space exploration
Nanotechnology is an enabling technology
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Ability to synthesize nanoscale building blocks
with control on size, composition etc.
further assembling into larger structures
with designed properties will revolutionize
materials manufacturing - Manufacturing metals,
ceramics, polymers, etc. at exact shapes without
machining - Lighter, stronger and
programmable materials - Lower failure rates and
reduced life-cycle costs - Bio-inspired
materials - Multifunctional, adaptive
materials - Self-healing materials
Challenges ahead - Synthesis, large scale
processing - Making useful, viable
composites - Multiscale models with predictive
capability - Analytical instrumentation
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Carbon Nanotubes Nanostructured
Polymers Optical fiber performs through
sol-gel processing of nanoparticles Nanoparticl
es in imaging systems Nanostructured
coatings Ceramic Nanoparticles for netshapes
Source IWGN Report
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More Examples of Nanotech in Materials and
Manufacturing
Nanostructured metals, ceramics at exact shapes
without machining Improved color printing
through better inks and dyes with
nanoparticles Membranes and
filters Coatings and paints (nanoparticles)
Abrasives (using nanoparticles) Lubricants C
omposites (high strength, light
weight) Catalysts Insulators
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Nanoelectronics and Computing
Past Shared computing thousands of people
sharing a mainframe computer
Present Personal computing
Future Ubiquitous computing
thousands of computers sharing each and everyone
of us computers embedded in walls, chairs,
clothing, light switches, cars. characterized
by the connection of things in the world with
computation.
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There is at least as far to go (on a
logarithmic scale) from the present as we have
come from ENIAC. The end of CMOS scaling
represents both opportunity and
danger. -Stan Williams, HP 4-8 CMOS
generations left but cost of building fabs going
up faster than sales. Physics has room for 109x
current technology based on 1 Watt dissipation,
1018 ops/sec no clear ways to do it! -
Molecular nanoelectronics ? - Quantum cellular
automata ? - Chemically synthesized circuits
? Self assembly to reduce manufacturing costs,
defect tolerant architectures are critical to
future nanoelectronics
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Quantum Computing - Takes advantage of
quantum mechanics instead of being limited by
it - Digital bit stores info. in the form of
0 and 1 qubit may be in a superposition
state of 0 and 1 representing both
values simultaneously until a measurement is
made - A sequence of N digital bits can
represent one number between 0 and 2N-1 N
qubits can represent all 2N numbers
simultaneously
Carbon nanotube transistors by several
groups Molecular electronics Fabrication of
logic gates from molecular switches using
rotaxane molecules Defect tolerant
architecture, TERAMAC computer by HP
architectural solution to the problem of
defects in future molecular electronics
- Stan Williams, HP
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Expected Nanotechnology Benefits in Electronics
and Computing
Processors with declining energy use and cost
per gate, thus increasing efficiency of computer
by 106 Higher transmission frequencies and
more efficient utilization of optical spectrum
to provide at least 10 times the bandwidth
now Small mass storage devices multi-tera bit
levels Integrated nanosensors collecting,
processing and communicating massive amounts
of data with minimal size, weight, and power
consumption Quantum computing Display
technologies
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Expanding ability to characterize genetic
makeup will revolutionize the specificity of
diagnostics and therapeutics - Nanodevices
can make gene sequencing more efficient Effe
ctive and less expensive health care using remote
and in-vivo devices
New formulations and routes for drug
delivery, optimal drug usage More durable,
rejection-resistant artificial tissues and
organs Sensors for early detection and
prevention
Nanotube-based biosensor for cancer diagnostics
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DNA microchip arrays using advances for IC
industry Gene gun that uses nanoparticles
to deliver genetic material to target
cells Semiconductor nanocrystals as
fluorescent biological labels
Source IWGN Report
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Energy Production and Utilization
Energy Production - Clean, less expensive
sources enabled by novel nanomaterials and
processes - Improved solar cells Energy
Utilization - High efficiency and durable home
and industrial lighting - Solid state
lighting can reduce total electricity
consumption by 10 and cut carbon emission
by the equivalent of 28 million tons/year
(Source Al Romig, Sandia Lab) Materials
of construction sensing changing conditions and
in response, altering their inner structure
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Benefits of Nano in the Environment Sector
Nanomaterials have a large surface area. For
example, single-walled carbon nanotubes show
1600 m2/g. This is equivalent to the size of a
football field for only 4 gms of nanotubes. The
large surface area enables - Large adsorption
rates of various gases/vapors - Separation of
pollutants - Catalyst support for conversion
reactions - Waste remediation Filters
and Membranes - Removal of contaminants
from water - Desalination Reducing auto
emissions, NOx conversion - Rational design of
catalysts
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Benefits of Nanotechnology in Transportation
More efficient catalytic converters Thermal
barrier and wear resistant coatings Battery,
fuel cell technology Improved
displays Wear-resistant tires High
temperature sensors for under the hood novel
sensors for all-electric vehicles High
strength, light weight composites for increasing
fuel efficiency
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Improved collection, transmission, protection
of information Very high sensitivity, low
power sensors for detecting
chem/bio/nuclear threats Light weight
military platforms, without sacrificing
functionality, safety and soldier
security - Reduce fuel needs and
logistical requirements Reduce carry-on weight
of soldier gear - Increased functionality
per unit weight
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Why Nanotechnology at NASA?
Advanced miniaturization, a key thrust area to
enable new science and exploration
missions - Ultrasmall sensors, power sources,
communication, navigation, and propulsion
systems with very low mass, volume and
power consumption are needed Revolutions
in electronics and computing will allow
reconfigurable, autonomous, thinking
spacecraft Nanotechnology presents a whole new
spectrum of opportunities to build device
components and systems for entirely new space
architectures - Networks of ultrasmall
probes on planetary surfaces - Micro-rover
s that drive, hop, fly, and
burrow - Collection of microspacecraft
making a variety of measurements
Europa Submarine
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Assessment of Opportunities
Short term (lt 5 years) - Nanoparticles
Automotive industry (body moldings, timing
belts, engine covers) Packaging
industry Cosmetics Inkjet
technology Sporting goods - Flat
panel displays - Coatings - CNT-based
probes in semiconductor metrology -
Tools - Catalysts (extension of existing
market)
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Assessment of Opportunities (Cont.)
Medium term (5-10 years) - Memory
devices - Fuel cells, batteries - Biosensors
(CNT, molecular, qD based) - Biomedical
devices - Advances in gene sequencing - Advanc
es in lighting Long term (gt 15
years) - Nanoelectronics (CNT) - Molecular
electronics - Routine use of new composites in
Aerospace, automotive (risk-averse
industries) - Many other things we havent even
thought of yet
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Revolutionary Technology Waves
Red Herring, May 2002
Commonality Railroad, auto, computer,
nanotech all are enabling technologies