Nanotechnology is one of those fields of engineering that have become very popular with the development of the latest scientific technology. It covers the study of the functional systems in a much deeper and extensive research at the molecular scale. This not only covers the current work but also the more advanced concepts.
More commonly nanotechnology means the projected ability to construct different items, starting from the very bottom, using the latest techniques and tools so as to invent high performance and completely distinguished products.
It was in the decade of the 80's when Nanotechnology was introduced by Mr.K. Eric Drexler, it was since then popular known as the engineering of dealing with very minute particles so as to invent machines, like motors, robot arms, and even the whole computers which are far smaller than a cell. It then became well popular by simpler kinds of nanometer-scale technology.
Nanotechnology is actually the science of building things from the bottom up with atomic precision. This capability was first initiated in the late 50's decade by a very famous physicist Richard Feynman.
About the dynamic field of Nanotechnology for which Richard Feyman received a Nobel Prize he commented
"The principles of physics, as far as I can see, do not speak against the possibility of maneuvering things atom by atom. It is not an attempt to violate any laws; it is something, in principle, that can be done; but in practice, it has not been done because we are too big"
According to extensive research there are four phases of nanotechnology, the first is the current situation in which only passive nanostructures and materials are designed to perform a single task. Next is the phase we are about to enter which will introduce active nanostructures for the basic multitasking function. The third phase is expecting by the year 2010 which will feature nanosystems with interacting components. The last stage is expected to have formed a hierarchical system within systems, which will be the peak of the nanotechnology. |
