One of the uses of nanotechnology is to create components for small computing devices such as smartphones.
Nanoengineering is a field of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is an umbrella term that encompasses all fields of science that operate at the nanoscale. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter, or three to five atoms across. It would take about 40,000 nanometers lined up in a row to equal the width of a human hair. Nanoengineering deals with the manipulation of processes that occur on the scale of 1 to 100 nanometers.
Nanorobotics uses nanotechnology to develop microscopic robots that are much smaller than a human hair.
The umbrella term, nanotechnology, is sometimes used to refer to common products that have enhanced properties by being fortified with nanoscale materials. An example is the nanotechnology-enhanced tooth-colored enamel used by dentists for fillings. The general use of the term “nanotechnology” differs from the more specific sciences that fall under this title.
Nanoengineering is an interdisciplinary science that builds biochemical structures smaller than bacteria that function as microscopic factories. This is possible using basic biochemical processes at the atomic or molecular level. In simple terms, molecules interact through natural processes, and nanoengineering takes advantage of these processes through direct manipulation.
Nanoengineering, in its infancy, has seen some early success with the use of DNA as a catalyst for the self-assembly of simple structures. In 2006, a Brown University research team was able to develop zinc oxide nanowires approximately 100-200 nm in length by fusing synthetic DNA fragments onto carbon nanotubes. DNA, nature’s manual for creating matter from the bottom up, is of particular interest in the field of nanoengineering. By assembling a specific DNA code, a nanoengineer can set the conditions for the genetic code to perform tasks that result in the biochemical assembly of nanomaterials.
The implications of being able to manipulate the “growth” of materials from the atomic level upwards are enormous. Nanoengineering could lead to a multitude of revolutionary materials and products that would benefit not only areas such as aerospace, medicine, and technology, but also everyday life. Nanoengineering could lead to practical applications like self-cleaning paint that never fades or needs waxing; aircraft with skins that thaw and adapt to different aerodynamic environments; and more efficient and cleaner burning fuels.
One of the most interesting aspects of nanoengineering is that it is exceptionally cheap, environmentally friendly (the raw material is abundant), non-polluting and requires little energy. Nanoengineering is believed to be a promising field for young scientific minds seeking the opportunity to ride at the forefront of an innovative wave of new science headed our way. It is widely believed that nanotechnology will have a greater impact on the world than the Industrial Revolution and is projected to be a multi-billion dollar business by 2015.