Intro to Nanotechnology

Question 1

Define Nanotechnology

Answer 1

Nanotechnology: Understanding and control of matter at dimensions of roughly 1 to 100 nanometers (nm)

Question 2

If given that the surface area is 54cm^2 and volume is 27 cm^3, what is the surface area:volume ratio?

Answer 2

2:1

Question 3

What is the relationship between surface area and volume?

Answer 3

• There is an INVERSE relationship
• As the object gets larger, the ratio of surface area to volume decreases

Question 4

How does Gecko Climb on the ceiling/wall without falling?

Answer 4

Many hypotheses disproved such as:
- Suction?
- Electrostatic?
- Friction?
- Micri-interlocking?
- Capillary wet adhesion?

ANSWER: Van der Waals forces

Question 5

What is Van der Waals forces

Answer 5

• An attractive force between atoms or molecules.
• Not the result of chemical bond formation, much weaker
• Responsible for some material properties: crystal structure, melting points, boiling points, surface tension, and densities

Question 6

An early example of a manmade nanoprocess is what

Answer 6

STAINED GLASS

Question 7

Who coined the word “Grey Goo” which was the potential problem of self-replicating and autonomous artificial intelligence machines

Answer 7

Eric Drexler

Question 8

What is Buckminsterfullerene?

Answer 8

one of the largest objects to have been shown to exhibit wave–particle duality (similar to photons), leading to the graphene & carbon nanotube technologies

Question 9

How to create nanomaterials: Explain the Top-Down Approach. Provide examples

Answer 9

• Two approaches used in producing nanotechnology systems. Top-down method is used by computer chip manufacturers.
• Moore’s Law and Photolithography

Question 10

How to create nanomaterials: Explain the Bottom-Up Approach. Provide examples

Answer 10

• Bottom-up approach to manufacturing is analogous to the
  way biological systems are made
• Self assembly through hydrogen bonds

Question 11

Provide examples of Combinations between Top-down and bottom-up methods

Answer 11

• Supramolecular assembly
• nanoparticle formation
• monolayer self-assembly

Question 12

What occurs during a Catalyst-assisted fabrication

Answer 12

Deposition of a catalyst layer, e.g. thermal evaporation of a 10 nm thick metal film
or injection of a precursor which decomposes into particles

Question 13

Explain Nanomedicine

Answer 13

• It is nanotechnology used for the treatment, diagnosis, monitoring and control of biological systems
  – It includes the delivery and targeting of pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and diagnostic agents using nanoparticles to cancer and other cells
  – It includes nanomaterial for bone, cartilage, vascular, bladder and neural applications

Question 14

What are some challenges to Nanotech?

Answer 14

• Materials are hard to handle and
  difficult to keep stable
• Understanding nano material
  characteristics
  - A single particle silicon will no longer act like bulk silicon
  - Depends on size, shape, and environment of the particle

Question 15

What is the goal of BioMEMS for Diagnostics?

Answer 15

Goal is to develop handheld
diagnostic devices for personalized
medical testing and treatment