Basic Principles of Nanotechnology

Wesley C. Sanders

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781351054409
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Chemistry
• Index: Chemistry

The book allows the reader to have a basic understanding of the structure and properties of nanoscale materials routinely used in nanotechnology-based research and industries. To add, the book describes the operation of nanoscale transistors and the processes used to fabricate the devices. Additionally, it presents research involving the use of carbon nanotubes, graphene, and molecules to create non-silicon based electronic devices. It aims to provide an understanding of the operation of the most frequently used fabrication and characterization procedures, such as scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, etch, e-beam lithography, and photolithography.

• Provides explanations of the common techniques used in nanofabrication.

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• Focuses on nanomaterials that are almost exclusively used in academic research and incorporated in consumer materials, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, metal nanoparticles, quantum dots, and conductive polymers.

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• Each chapter begins with a list of key objectives describing major content covered.

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• Includes end-of-chapter questions to reinforce chapter content.

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1

Introduction to Nanotechnology

Key Objectives

•Know the role of nanotechnology in consumer products

•Become familiar with ancient uses of nanotechnology

•Become familiar with past researchers involved with nanotechnology

•Learn how the natural world uses nanotechnology

1.1Introduction

The word nanotechnology was first introduced in 1974 by Norio Taniguchi. He defined nanotechnology as “processing of separation, consolidation, and deformation of materials by one atom or one molecule” (Mulvaney 2015). Furthermore, in a paper entitled “On the basic concept of Nano-Technology” he stated, “In the processing of materials, the smallest bit size of stock removal, accretion, or flow of materials is probably of one atom or one molecule, namely 0.1–0.2 nm in length” (Rogers, Adams and Pennathur 2013). Since then, scientists and engineers have defined nanotechnology as the science of matter 1 billionth of a meter (10−9 m) in size. This technology involves the manipulation of matter at the atomic and molecular scales (Horikoshi and Serpone 2013). Nanotechnology utilizes concepts from physics, chemistry, and materials science in efforts to explain the unique behaviors of nanoscale materials (Rogers, Adams and Pennathur 2013).

1.2Consumer Nanotechnology

Nanoscale materials referred to as engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) are currently utilized in a wide range of commercial products (Zhang et al. 2015). ENPs are included in products such as cosmetics, personal care products, foods (processing and packaging), clothing, and detergents just to name a few (Zhang et al. 2015). Additional examples include the use of carbon nanotubes—hollow and cylindrical tubes of carbon—for use in polymer composites, electromagnetic shielding, electron field emitters (flat panel displays), super capacitors, batteries, hydrogen storage, and structural composites (Aitken et al. 2006). Conducting or semiconductor nanowires, with diameters a few tens of nanometers in size, are used as interconnectors in nanoelectronic devices (Aitken et al. 2006). Significant advances have been achieved in the semiconductor industry due to the incorporation of nanotechnology. For instance, cell phones have transformed into devices with multiple applications (Kaiser and Kuerz 2008). With current cell phones, users can send text messages, take and send pictures, run internet applications, listen to music, play games, and watch movies (Kaiser and Kuerz 2008). This is possible because cell phones contain increasingly powerful computer chips with a substantial amount of nanoscale transistors influencing the functionality of cell phones (Kaiser and Kuerz 2008). Computers have become compact and increasingly powerful due to nanotechnology. The genesis of computer chips starts with Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce of Fairchild Semiconductor. They developed the first integrated circuit (IC) in the late 1950s. In 1961, Fairchild Semiconductor used a photoetching process to produce vast numbers of transistors on a thin slice of silicon. Component sizes on the first ICs were 5 µm in size (Madou 2011). In the early 1970s, Intel microprocessors contained 2300 transistors (El-Aawar 2015). Decades later, in 2003, Intel introduced the Pentium IV chip, with 90 nm component sizes. ICs with 65 nm component sizes became available in 2006, and ICs with 32 nm component sizes were developed in 2009 (Madou 2011). In 2014, Intel microprocessors contained 5.56 billion transistors, with 22 nm component sizes (Madou 2011).

1.3Ancient Nanotechnology

1.3.1Lycurgus Cup

Nanotechnology has been used in sculptures, paintings, and other artifacts since the fourth century AD. For example, the Lycurgus cup is an artifact containing dichroic glass, which is a material that changes color depending on the nature of light exposure (Horikoshi and Serpone 2013). When light is reflected off the surface of the cup, the cup appears green, however, when light passes through the cup it appears red (Freestone et al. 2007). This unusual optical effect is a direct result of the presence of a small quantity of 70 nm diameter particles of silver and gold in the glass (Horikoshi and Serpone 2013). The gold component is responsible for the red color and the silver component is responsible for the green color (Freestone et al. 2007).

1.3.2Damascus Swords

Damascus swords are ancient artifacts that, according to reports, can cut a piece of silk in half...