Nanotechnology ("nanotech") is the manipulation of matter on an
atomic,
molecular, and
supramolecular scale. The earliest, widespread description of nanotechnology
[1][2]
referred to the particular technological goal of precisely manipulating
atoms and molecules for fabrication of macroscale products, also now
referred to as
molecular nanotechnology. A more generalized description of nanotechnology was subsequently established by the
National Nanotechnology Initiative, which defines nanotechnology as the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100
nanometers. This definition reflects the fact that
quantum mechanical effects are important at this
quantum-realm
scale, and so the definition shifted from a particular technological
goal to a research category inclusive of all types of research and
technologies that deal with the special properties of matter that occur
below the given size threshold. It is therefore common to see the plural
form "nanotechnologies" as well as "nanoscale technologies" to refer to
the broad range of research and applications whose common trait is
size. Because of the variety of potential applications (including
industrial and military), governments have invested billions of dollars
in nanotechnology research. Through its National Nanotechnology
Initiative, the USA has invested 3.7 billion dollars. The European Union
has invested
[when?] 1.2 billion and Japan 750 million dollars.
[3]
Nanotechnology as defined by size is naturally very broad, including fields of science as diverse as
surface science,
organic chemistry,
molecular biology,
semiconductor physics,
microfabrication, etc.
[4] The associated research and applications are equally diverse, ranging from extensions of conventional
device physics to completely new approaches based upon
molecular self-assembly, from developing
new materials with dimensions on the nanoscale to
direct control of matter on the atomic scale.
Scientists currently debate the future
implications of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology may be able to create many new materials and devices with a vast range of
applications, such as in
medicine,
electronics,
biomaterials
and energy production. On the other hand, nanotechnology raises many of
the same issues as any new technology, including concerns about the
toxicity and environmental impact of nanomaterials,
[5] and their potential effects on global economics, as well as speculation about various
doomsday scenarios. These concerns have led to a debate among advocacy groups and governments on whether special
regulation of nanotechnology is warranted.
