It is strange that for us unnoticed there took place the event when the person for the first time moved separate atom from one place on another. Penetration into a microcosm in such degree that became possible to influence separate atoms and molecules, is not less significant event, than weeds in space. Emergence of nanotechnologies opened ample opportunities for the person in all spheres of his activity.
Instruction
1. There are different definitions of nanotechnologies. In the simplest and general expression of nanotechnology is a complex of the ways and receptions allowing to create, control and change the objects consisting of elements the sizes less than 100 nanometers. The name of nanoparticles is appropriated to these elements, their sizes fluctuate from 1 to 100 nanometers (nanometer). 1 nanometer is equal 10-9 meters. To have an idea of this size, it will be useful to know that the sizes the majority of atoms fluctuates in the range from 0.1 to 0.2 nanometers, and the human hair has thickness of 80000 nanometers.
2. The appeal of nanotechnologies to the person is that with their help it is possible to receive the nanomaterials having such properties which have neither separate atoms and molecules, nor the usual materials consisting of them. It turned out that if to collect atoms or molecules (or their groups) in the way, a bit different, other than a usual way, the received structures find surprising properties. And not only when they exist in itself. Being introduced in usual materials, they change also their properties. Nanotechnologies are quite widely applied in various areas of human activity already now, and there are all bases to consider that over time this application will become just boundless.
3. Now distinguish several classes of nanomaterials. Nanofibres are the fibers having diameter less than 100 nanometers, length – several centimeters. Nanofibres are applied in biomedicine, at production of fabrics, filters, as the reinforcing material at production of plastic, ceramics, other nanocomposites.
4. Nanoliquids are various colloidal solutions in which nanoparticles are evenly distributed. Nanoliquids are used in electronic microscopes, vacuum furnaces, in automotive industry (in particular, as the magnetic liquid reducing friction between the rubbing details).
5. Nanocrystals are nanoparticles with the ordered structure of substance. The expressed facet they are similar to usual crystals. They are applied in electroluminescent panels, in fluorescent markers and so forth. The graphene representing a crystal lattice of atoms of carbon thickness in one atom is considered future material. Its durability surpasses durability of steel and diamond. Wide use of graphene is supposed as an element of chips where it, thanks to the high heat conductivity, will be able to replace silicon and copper. Its small thickness will allow to create very thin devices.
6. The prospects of use of nanotechnologies in medicine seem promising. Nanocapsules and nanoscalpels promise to bring a revolution in fight of the person against diseases. They will allow to communicate directly with each cell of a human body, to overcome if it is necessary, immunorejection, is localized to influence viruses and bacteria, to diagnose a focus of the disease of the molecular size.
7. In nanotechnologies it is necessary to influence separate atoms and molecules. To do it, it is necessary to have tools which sizes are commensurable with sizes of objects. Development of such tools is one of the main objectives of nanotechnologies. The scanning probe microscope (SPM) applied now, allows not only to see separate atoms, but also to influence directly them, moving them from one point to another.
8. Perhaps, in the future laborious work on assembly of atoms and molecules will manage to be assigned to nanorobots – the microscopic "beings" commensurable by the size with atoms and molecules and having ability to perform a certain work. As engines for nanorobots it is supposed to use nanoengines – molecular rotors the energy creating torque at the message to them, molecular propellers (the spiral molecules capable to rotate thanks to the form), etc. Also use of nanorobots in medicine looks quite real. Introduced in our organism, they will bring order there when developing diseases.