Nanotechnology Commercialization

Manufacturing Processes and Products

Thomas O. Mensah, Ben Wang, Geoffrey Bothun, Jessica Winter, Virginia Davis

• Publisher: Wiley-AIChE
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781119371724
• eBook ISBN: 9781119371748
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technik & Maschinenbau
• Subtopic: Chemie- & Biochemietechnik

A fascinating and informative look at state-of-the-art nanotechnology research, worldwide, and its vast commercial potential

Nanotechnology Commercialization: Manufacturing Processes and Products presents a detailed look at the state of the art in nanotechnology and explores key issues that must still be addressed in order to successfully commercialize that vital technology. Written by a team of distinguished experts in the field, it covers a range of applications notably: military, space, and commercial transport applications, as well as applications for missiles, aircraft, aerospace, and commercial transport systems.

The drive to advance the frontiers of nanotechnology has become a major global initiative with profound economic, military, and environmental implications. Nanotechnology has tremendous commercial and economic implications with a projected $ 1.2 trillion-dollar global market. This book describes current research in the field and details its commercial potential—from work bench to market.

• Examines the state of the art in nanotechnology and explores key issues surrounding its commercialization
• Takes a real-world approach, with chapters written from a practical viewpoint, detailing the latest research and considering its potential commercial and defense applications
• Presents the current research and proposed applications of nanotechnology in such a way as to stimulate further research and development of new applications
• Written by an all-star team of experts, including pioneer patent-holders and award-winning researchers in nanotechnology

The major challenge currently faced by researchers in nanotechnology is successfully transitioning laboratory research into viable commercial products for the 21 st century. Written for professionals across an array of research and engineering disciplines, Nanotechnology Commercialization: Manufacturing Processes and Products does much to help them bridge the gap between lab and marketplace.

Chapter 1
Overview: Affirmation of Nanotechnology between 2000 and 2030

Mihail C. Roco^1,2

¹National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA, USA

²National Nanotechnology Initiative, U.S. National Science and Technology Council, Washington,, DC, USA

1.1 Introduction

In the nanoscale domain, nature transitions from the fixed physical behavior of a finite number of atoms to an almost infinite range of physical–chemical–biological behaviors of collections of atoms and molecules. The fundamental properties and functions of all natural and man-made materials are defined and can be modified efficiently at that scale. The unifying definition of nanotechnology, based on specific behavior at the nanoscale and the long-term nanotechnology research and education vision, was formulated in 1997–1999, and its implementation begun with National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) in 2000. We have estimated that it would take about three decades to advance from a scientific curiosity in 2000 to a science-based general purpose technology with broad societal benefits toward 2030 [1–3] (see www.wtec.org/nano2/).

A long-term strategic view is needed because nanotechnology is a foundational general purpose field. Three development stages of nanotechnology, corresponding to the level of complexity of typical outcomes, have been envisioned: passive and active nanostructures in the first stage of development (Nano 1), nanosystems and molecular nanosystems in the second stage (Nano 2), and converging technology platforms and distributed interconnected nanosystems in the last stage (Nano 3).

We use the definition of nanotechnology as set out in Nanotechnology Research Directions [2]. Nanotechnology is the ability to control and restructure matter at the atomic and molecular levels in the range of approximately 1–100 nm, and exploiting the distinct properties and phenomena at that scale as compared to those associated with single atoms or bulk behavior. The aim is to create materials, devices, and systems with fundamentally new properties and functions for novel applications by engineering their small structure. This is the ultimate frontier to economically change materials and systems properties, and the most efficient length scale for manufacturing and molecular medicine. The same principles and tools are applicable to different areas of relevance and may help establish a unifying platform for science, engineering, and technology at the nanoscale. The transition from the behavior of single atoms or molecules to collective behavior of atomic and molecular assemblies is encountered in nature, and nanotechnology exploits this natural threshold.

This chapter describes the timeline and affirmation of nanotechnology, its three stages, key challenges, and discusses nanotechnology return on investment.

1.2 Nanotechnology – A Foundational Megatrend in Science and Engineering

Nanotechnology is a foundational, general purpose technology for all sectors of the economy dealing with matter and biosystems, as information technology is a general purpose technology for communication and computation. Biotechnology and cognitive technologies are two other foundational technologies growing at the beginning of the twenty-first century (Figure 1.1). Table 1.1 shows several category levels of science and technology (S&T) platforms according to their level of generality and societal impact: foundational S&T, topical S&T, application domain, and product/service platform. While there are only five foundational S&T platforms most dynamic at this moment (Figure 1.1), the number of topical S&T platforms increases with the number of spin-offs, interplatform and further recombination growth. Each topical S&T platform has several application domains, which at their turn each have a series of products and related services. The importance of foundational platforms – and in particular its most exploratory component part at this moment, nanotechnology – is underlined by the cumulative investment amplification factor by developing the respective S&T platform that is a product of the foundational platform investment amplification factor, with the topical, application area and product amplification factors.

Figure 1.1 Converging foundational technologies, and their interdisciplinary and spin-offs subfields.

Modified from Roco and Bainbridge [4].

Table 1.1 Proposed classification of science and technology platforms

Category	I. Foundational S&T platform (system architecture)	II. Topical S&T platform (hierarchical system from I)	III. Application field platform (branched, inter- and recombination)	IV. Product and service platform (spin-off, inter- and recombination)
S&T Platforms	Nanotechnology: (atom architecture) Information S&T (bit architecture) Modern bio S&T (gene architecture) Cognitive S&T (synapsis architecture) Artificial Intelligence S&T (system design)	Essential: Photonics Semiconductors Genomics Biomedicine Contributing: Synthetic biology Neuromorphic eng Proteomics Nanofluidics Metamaterials ….	Cell phone system Transportation Medicine Energy conversion and storage Agriculture Space exploration ….	Car components Medical devices Nano coatings LEDs Nano lasers ….
Typical timescales	25–50 years	10–25 years	5–10 years	3–5 years
One-step investment amplification factor	kf(undamental)	kt(opical)	ka(pplication)	kp(product and service)
Cumulative investment amplification factor	kf kt ka kp	kt ka kp	ka kp	kp
Game changer for:	Knowledge	Technology approach	Application field	User consumption

Nanotechnology continues exponential growth by vertical science-to-technology transition, horizontal expansion to areas as agriculture/textiles/cement, and spin-off areas (∼20) as spintronics/metamaterials/…, progressively penetrating in key economic sectors. The number of World of Science publications on nano-exte...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Table of Contents
• List of Contributors
• Preface
• Editor in Chief
• Chapter 1: Overview: Affirmation of Nanotechnology between 2000 and 2030
• Chapter 2: Nanocarbon Materials in Catalysis
• Chapter 3: Controlling and Characterizing Anisotropic Nanomaterial Dispersion
• Chapter 4: High-Throughput Nanomanufacturing via Spray Processes
• Chapter 5: Overview of Nanotechnology in Military and Aerospace Applications
• Chapter 6: Novel Polymer Nanocomposite Ablative Technologies for Thermal Protection of Propulsion and Reentry Systems for Space Applications
• Chapter 7: Manufacture of Multiscale Composites
• Chapter 8: Bioinspired Systems
• Chapter 9: Prediction of Carbon Nanotube Buckypaper Mechanical Properties with Integrated Physics-Based and Statistical Models
• Chapter 10: Fabrication and Fatigue of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Nanocomposites – A Tool for Quality Control
• Chapter 11: Nanoclays: A Review of Their Toxicological Profiles and Risk Assessment Implementation Strategies
• Chapter 12: Nanotechnology EHS: Manufacturing and Colloidal Aspects
• Index
• End User License Agreement