Nanotechnology & Nano-chips: Small Chip, Greater Impact!

There has been a lot of discussion concerning new CPU production processes. Not long ago, everyone was talking about 10 nm and 7nm. The most recent "nm" to enter the fray is 5nm, which is now in use in some devices and will soon be available on PCs.

 

The discipline of research that manipulates matter to a near-atomic size to build new structures, materials, and gadgets that survive at nanoscale dimensions is characterised as nanotechnology. Lets dive into the blog to understand more about Nanochips and Nanotechnology 

 

What are Nanochips?

 

Nanochips are small computer-like chips that are increasingly being used to develop storage devices for mobile smartphones.

 

A nanochip is an electronic integrated circuit composed of nanometer-sized components. Current technology can build the components of a chip at the Nanometer size, but not the entire thing. Each component of a full chip must be manufactured on an atomic level. That is, each atom of material must be modified in order to produce microscopic components. This procedure can take several years and is quite costly.

 

This nanochip is an electronic integrated circuit that is so small that it can only be accurately measured on the nanometer scale. Although current technology allows for the creation of chip components on the nanometer size, it is still not possible to build the entire device on the nanoscale scale. To make this a reality, each component of the chip must be manufactured at the atomic level, which means that each atom of the material must be controlled to generate the smaller components of the nanochip.

 

The goal of modern technology has long been to create nanochips. With nanochips, computers the size of tiny SD cards might be thousands of times more powerful because so many more components could fit in such a small space. The production costs would likewise be very low, as would the energy necessary to run them.

 

However, the term nanochip is now used to refer to modern microchips created utilising nanoscale methods, other small devices such as the nano sim card, and the name of a microchip manufacturing business, NanoChip, Incorporated.

 

A nanochip is a miniature electronic integrated circuit. Because of its small size, a nanochip requires a high level of precision to function effectively. This technology is related to IBM's Millipede, which was abandoned in 2006, and is supported by several venture capital firms. It has been developing array probe technology since 1996, but the company's name is more intriguing and receives more media attention than IBM's.

 

Using these microchips, the Nanochip firm is developing a new technology known as carbon nanowires. Because these devices are very conductive, they cannot be produced using ordinary photolithography. As a result, these chips must be manufactured in two processes. They can, however, be produced to the size of a micro SD card. 

 

Also Read | 5 Applications of Nanotechnology in Biology

 

Brief about Nano-Technology 

 

Nanotechnology is a branch of science that manipulates matter on a near-atomic scale in order to create new structures, materials, and gadgets that survive at nanoscale dimensions. This technology is critical to the advancement and evolution of a variety of scientific areas, including medical, industry, energy, and materials science and engineering.

 

A nanometer is a unit of length in the metric system. The term "nano" is derived from the Greek word "Nanos," which means "dwarf" or "very little." A centimetre (cm) is one hundredth of a metre, whereas a nanometer (nm) is one billionth of a metre. As a result, all nanoscale constructions typically have dimensions or lengths ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers.

 

Nanotechnology allows us to build materials, technologies, and systems with unique features and functions. Because of their small size, the materials exhibit different physical and chemical properties than the same materials at a larger scale. Nanomaterials have a large surface area-to-volume ratio due to their small size, which can lead to improved reactivity, strength, and conductivity. 

 

Furthermore, because of their small size, nanomaterials can be easily incorporated into a wide range of products and processes, including electronic gadgets, medical treatments, energy production, and environmental cleanup. Production of energy and environmental cleanup. 

 

Nanomaterials' qualities also make them valuable for producing new goods and improving old ones, such as increasing the efficiency of solar cells and batteries, developing stronger and more lasting building materials, and manufacturing more effective medicinal treatments. For better understanding this is a video explaining what nanotechnology is all about. 

 

One of the issues confronting this technology is the lack of agreement on how to define nanotechnology. Most are concerned with the study and management of phenomena and materials at length scales less than 100 nm, and they frequently make comparisons with human hair, which is around 50 000 to 100 000 nm broad.

 

For example, in zero-dimensional (0D) nanomaterials, all dimensions are measured within the nanoscale (no dimensions are larger than 100 nm); in two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, two dimensions are outside the nanoscale; and in three-dimensional (3D) nanomaterials, none of the dimensions are confined to the nanoscale. This class includes bulk powders, nanoparticle dispersions, nanowire and nanotube bundles, and multi-nanolayers. To learn more, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

 

Applications of Nanotechnology

 

Invisible particles that fight cancer cells, quicker microprocessors that use less energy, batteries that last ten times longer, and solar panels that produce twice as much electricity. These are only a few of the many uses of nanotechnology, a subject that has all it takes to become the next industrial revolution.

 

The future of nanotechnology has both bright and negative aspects. On the one hand, the sector is predicted to grow globally as a result of technical advancements, more government assistance, increased private investment, and growing demand for smaller devices, to name a few factors. However, the environmental, health, and safety issues of nanotechnology, as well as reservations about its commercialization, may stymie industry growth.

 

After more than 20 years of basic nanoscience research and more than fifteen years of dedicated R&D under the NNI, applications of nanotechnology are delivering on nanotechnology's promise to improve society in both expected and unforeseen ways.

 

Many technology and industry sectors, including information technology, homeland security, medicine, transportation, energy, food safety, and environmental research, are being significantly improved, if not revolutionised, by nanotechnology.

 

Described below are some the use cases of Nanotechnology.

 

1. Everyday Materials and Processes

 

Many of the advantages of nanotechnology are based on the ability to change the structures of materials at extremely small scales to obtain specific features, considerably expanding the materials science toolkit. Materials can be made stronger, lighter, more durable, reactive, sieve-like, or better electrical conductors using nanotechnology, among other properties. Many everyday commercial items that rely on nanoscale materials and technologies are currently on the market and in use:

 

2. Nanomaterials

 

Nanotechnology advancements have resulted in the production of nanoparticles utilised in everyday applications ranging from fabrics, cosmetics, and sportswear to camera displays and eyewear. Material qualities can be modified using nanotechnology to make them more durable and stronger, to improve electrical and thermal conductivity, and so on. Fabrics in the textile industry can typically be made wrinkle-free and resistant to micro-bacterial development.

 

Lithium-ion batteries also rely heavily on nanomaterials. Nano One Materials Corp., for example, has collaborated with Johnson Matthey, a sustainable technology company, to develop low-cost nanoparticles for use in lithium-ion batteries. Such batteries could find use in electric vehicles, consumer gadgets, and possibly energy storage.

 

3. Medicine

 

Nanotechnology is widely used in the healthcare sector for practising therapeutic procedures, designing diagnostics, and building effective medication delivery systems. Medlab Clinical Limited, for example, is a biotech business that has created NanoCelle, a medication delivery platform that generates nano-sized particles and ingests them directly into a patient's circulation via the oral, buccal mucosa (cheek).

 

Medlab recently obtained a New South Wales (NSW) Government grant to develop a COVID-19 nasal vaccination that will be given via this non-invasive NanoCelle platform.

 

Nanotechnology is also used to create antiviral medications. NanoViricides, for example, is a company that creates nanoparticles for antiviral medication. The company also creates nanomedicines to combat viral illnesses such as influenza, HIV/AIDS, and dengue fever.

 

4. Electronics and Information Technology Applications

 

Nanotechnology has made significant contributions to important developments in computers and electronics, resulting in quicker, smaller, and more portable systems capable of managing and storing increasing amounts of data. 

 

Transistors, the basic switches that power all modern computing, have shrunk even smaller thanks to nanotechnology. A typical transistor was 130 to 250 nanometers in size at the turn of the century. Intel developed a 14 nanometer transistor in 2014, IBM developed the first seven nanometer transistor in 2015, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory presented a one nanometer transistor in 2016! 

 

Smaller, quicker, and better transistors could mean that your computer's whole memory could be stored on a single little chip in the near future.

 

5. Energy Applications

 

Nanotechnology is finding applications in traditional energy sources and significantly improving alternative energy ways to assist in meeting the world's expanding energy demands. Many scientists are researching ways to generate clean, economical, and renewable energy sources, as well as techniques to cut energy consumption and reduce environmental toxicity.

 

Through improved catalysis, nanotechnology is increasing the efficiency of fuel synthesis from raw petroleum materials. It also allows for lower fuel use in vehicles and power plants due to higher-efficiency combustion and less friction.

 

6. The food industry

 

Nanotechnology is used in the food business to enhance food flavour and colour while executing food processing stages. It is also essential for food preservation because microorganisms can dramatically diminish the shelf life of food. Given the repercussions, nanotech-based food packaging solutions are employed to ensure food product safety and quality.

 

7. Environment

 

When it comes to developing environmental applications, nanotechnology is critical. The International Institute of Nanotechnology, for example, which promotes nanoscience research in the United States, has developed a nanocomposite membrane that absorbs and releases water contaminants such as phosphates. The membrane aids in the control of phosphate contamination in rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water.

 

8. Agriculture

 

The applications of nanotechnology in agriculture aim to boost productivity and safeguard crops while minimising potential environmental problems. Nanosensors, for example, are being used to monitor soil quality and identify illnesses or pests, allowing for early and targeted treatment.

 

Furthermore, nano-encapsulation of fertilisers and pesticides increases nutrient and pest management effectiveness by reducing the total amount of these compounds required and minimising their runoff into neighbouring ecosystems. Nano-engineered "smart" delivery systems can precisely release nutrients or medications in response to environmental cues, resulting in increased plant health and yield.

 

Also Read | Applications of AI in Biotechnology

 

Function of Nanochips

 

Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine revealed that nanochips can alter the function of tissue inside the body through a method known as "nano transfection," which involves the transfer of certain genes via a harmless electric spark. In lab experiments, these nanochips were able to convert skin tissue into blood arteries, assisting in the regeneration of a severely wounded leg. The researchers intend to employ the technique to rebuild human organs and apply it in various therapeutic procedures.

 

A nanochip is an electronic device that is composed of thousands of microchips. These microchips are hundreds of thousands of times smaller than a grain of rice. Nanochips' size and structure make them excellent for usage in a wide range of applications. 

 

These chips could be used to evaluate the safety of pharmaceuticals. In the near future, researchers want to employ organ-on-chip devices in clinical trials. These chips are intended to mimic the physiological responses of human cells to medicines. The data collected from these chips could assist them in determining whether or not certain medications are safe for human usage. Furthermore, they can aid in determining the safety and efficacy of food additives. They can also assist in determining whether particular cosmetic items are safe for the human body.

 

Overall, the future of nanotechnology and nanomachines is expected to involve a diverse range of fascinating and potentially transformative uses, and it will rely on continuous R&D efforts.