Nanotechnology opens new frontiers in science, engineering

Mihail C. Roco

Nanotechnology has ushered in a revolutionary age of promise and possibilities that within a few decades will touch nearly every aspect of our lives.

In the next 30 years, we may experience more technological advances — from nanoscale manufacturing, medicine, education and leisure — than the amazing advances realized throughout the entire 20th century.

Research at the nano level will teach us how to build new materials and tiny structures by assembling atoms or molecules with high precision instead of the more conventional approach of sculpting parts from pre-existing materials.

Nanotechnology promises to increase efficiency in traditional industries and bring radically new applications through emerging technologies. For example, we will improve our ability to detect and treat cancer in its earlier stages, reducing suffering and saving lives.

This technology is producing a new class of ultra-small, ultra-powerful computers and electronic devices. It also helps in building lighter and stronger materials for cars, buses and other transportation vehicles.

In light of these advances, support for nanotechnology research and development has burgeoned. In the last seven years, worldwide government investments for nanotechnology have increased ninefold, reaching about $4 billion in 2005. Industry research and development investments have matched this amount. In fact, all of the Fortune 500 companies involved in materials, electronics and pharmaceuticals have made investments in nanotechnology since 2002.

This technology also holds the promise of broad societal implications. By 2015, products in which nanotechnology plays a key role will require more than 2 million workers and produce about $1 trillion in products annually. These estimates have been based on direct contacts with leading experts in large companies with related nanotechnology programs in the United States, Japan and Europe.

The capabilities of nanotechnology for manufacturing at the nanoscale level are envisioned to evolve in four overlapping generations of new nanotechnology products.

Since 2000, the first generation of nanotechnology products made from "passive nanostructures" has been used in household paint and polymers, ceramics, tennis balls and stain-resistant fabrics.

In contrast to these passive nanostructure materials, a second generation of products made from active nanostructures began around 2005. This technology is used in mechanical, electronic, magnetic, photonic, biological and other applications. These, in turn, are incorporated in devices such as tiny transistors to replace conventional computer technology, a new class of drugs and chemicals, electric motors and artificial muscles.

By 2010, a third generation of nanosystems will bring further advances. Computer chips containing many layers could be created through molecular self-assembly, a process in which circuits literally grow themselves. This method promises to introduce a new three-dimensional computer chip that looks more like a cube, possessing advanced capabilities such as ultradense memory, many times greater than the memory in current chips. In another area, such as "bio-nano" research, scientists and engineers are merging biological molecules, such as proteins and DNA, with electronic devices. This could make possible a new class of portable detectors for a wide range of applications, such as sensors for quickly testing food for bacterial contamination and sampling the air for biological and chemical warfare agents, as well as advanced medical diagnostic devices.

By 2020, a fourth generation will use molecular nanosystems in which each molecule has a specific structure and plays a different role. This generation will make possible the creation of machines and devices that combine biology and nanotechnology in new medical applications such as artificial organs.

Investment in nanotechnology is important, particularly at our universities, if we want to prepare the work force needed to capitalize on these new technologies. Like many research universities, Purdue University has invested in nanotechnology research and development through its $58 million Birck Nanotechnology Center at Discovery Park. This center is one of the largest in the nation at a university that was built specifically for nanotechnology research. It contains specialized cleanrooms and labs for this particular research.

This is just the beginning of a new frontier in science and engineering. The long-term expectations from nanotechnology in the areas of health care, productivity and the environment cannot be overestimated.

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