MODULE 12 158

The Nano World

it via the online link provided or write your answers on a sheet of paper that you can physically submit, or you may take

INTRODUCTION

Scientific researchers made some innovations that lead to the advancement of technology
that can be used in different aspects. Nanotechnology deals with the dimensions and tolerances
of less than 100 nm, especially in the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules. Nano
science and nanotechnology employs the study and application of exceptionally small things in
other areas of science including materials science, engineering, physics, biology and chemistry
(NNI, 2017). In addition, research studies shows the increasing potential impacts of the use of
nanomaterials in heath, medicine, environment, agriculture, energy production and other areas in
the community.

This module focuses on defining nanotechnology, its applications to the various areas of
society, the risks it imposes and any activities to widen our understanding to the nano world.
After completing the module, you should be able to answer the following:
 What are the major concerns related to nanotechnology in the community?
 What is the status of the use of nanotechnology in the Philippines?

Science,Technology and Society (STS-GEC 6)

Isabela State University
 159

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, the learner should be able to:

o Discuss the benefits and risks of nanotechnology in the society;

o Discuss the major impacts (both potential and realized) of nanotechnology on
society;
o Analyze the issue through the conceptual STS lenses; and
o Critique the issue on its costs and benefits to society

LEARNING CONTENT
What is Nanotechnology?
The idea of nanotechnology and Nano science started on
December 29, 1959 when American Theoretical Physicist Richard
Feynman introduce a method in which scientists can direct and
control individual atoms and molecules in his talk “ There’s Plenty
of Room at the Bottom” at an annual meeting of the American
Physical Society at Caltech (NNI, 2017)

Professor Norio Taniguchi used the term

NANOTECHNOLOGY to describe semi-conductor processes
such as thin film deposition and ion beam milling exhibiting
characteristic control on the order of nanometer.
Moreover, the invention of Scanning Tunnelling Microscope and Fig. 12.1 Richard Feynman
Atomic Force microscopy marked the beginning of
Nanotechnology. These instruments enable scientists to see and manipulate atoms.

Therefore, nanotechnology is the study of phenomena and fine-tuning of materials at

atomic, molecular and macromolecular scale, where properties differ significantly from those at
a large scale. (European Commission). Nanotechnology is an advanced interdisciplinary field
that encompasses science and technology that manufactures materials of great help to the
improvement of various areas of society especially health care, environment, energy, food, water
and agriculture.

LESSON 1. Nanomaterials and Nano Scale

Nanomaterials are chemical substances or materials that are manufactured and used at
a very small scale. Nanomaterials are developed to exhibit novel characteristics compared to the
same material without nanoscale features, such as increased strength, chemical reactivity or
conductivity.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Science discussed that nano- sized
particles exist in nature and can be created from a variety of products, such as

Science,Technology and Society (STS-GEC 6)

Isabela State University
carbon or minerals like silver, but nanomaterials by definition must have at least one dimension
that is less than approximately 100 nanometers. Most nanoscale materials are too small to be
seen with the naked eye and even with conventional laboratory microscopes.
Materials engineered to such a small scale are often referred to as engineered
nanomaterials (ENMs), which can take on unique optical, magnetic, electrical, and other
properties. These emergent properties have the potential for great impacts in electronics,
medicine, and other fields. For example:

1. Nanotechnology can be used to design pharmaceuticals that can target specific organs
or cells in the body such as cancer cells, and enhance the effectiveness of therapy.
2. Nanomaterials can also be added to cement, cloth and other materials to make them
stronger and yet lighter.
3. Their size makes them extremely useful in electronics, and they can also be used in
environmental remediation or clean-up to bind with and neutralize toxins.

A nanometer is a billionth of a meter (109). The illustration below shows how small Nano
scale is compared to other particles or materials.

Fig. 12.2 The Nanoscopic Scale

Source: [Link]
APPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

Nanotechnology is being used in several applications that may leads to the

advancement of our environment and improve quality of life. The following are:

MEDICINE Researchers developed customized nanoparticles the size of molecules that

can deliver drugs directly to diseased cells in your body. This method could greatly
eradicate the damage treatment such as chemotherapy.
ELECTRONICS Nanotechnology holds some answers for how we might increase the capabilities of
electronic devices while we reduce their weight and power consumption.

FOOD Nanotechnology is having an impact on several aspects of food science, from

how food is grown to how it is package.
FUEL CELLS Nanotechnology is being used to reduce the cost of catalysts, used in fuel cells to
produce hydrogen ions from fuels such as methanols to improve the efficiency of
membranes used in fuel cells to separate hydrogen ions from
other gases such as oxygen.
SOLAR CELLS Companies have developed nanotech solar cells that can be manufactured
at significantly lower costs done conventional solar cells.
Companies are currently developing a batteries using nanomaterials. One such a
BATTERIES battery will be a good as new after sitting in the shelf for decades’.
Another battery can be recharged significantly faster than conventional batteries.

SPACE Nanotechnology may hold the key to making space-flight more practical.
Advancements in nanomaterial makes lightweight spacecraft and cables for the
space elevator possible. By significantly reducing the amount of rocket fuel
required, these advances could lower the cost of reaching orbit and
traveling in space.
FUEL Nanotechnology can address the shortage of fossil fuels such as diesels
BETTER AIR Nano technology can improve the performance of catalysts used to
QUALITY transform vapours escaping from cars and industrial plants into harmless gases.

CLEANER Nanotechnology is being used to develop solutions to solve different problems

WATER in water quality. Nanoparticles can be used to convert the contaminating
chemicals through chemical reaction to make it harmless.
CHEMICAL Nanotechnology can enable sensors to detect the very small amounts of chemical
SENSORS vapors. Various types of detecting elements such as carbon nanotubes, zinc oxide
nanowires or palladium nanoparticles can be used in nanotechnology-based
sensors. Since these materials are small. It allows to
detect a very low concentration of chemical vapors.
FABRICS Making composite fabrics with nano-sized particles or fibers allows
improvement of fabric properties without a significant increase in weight,
thickness, or stiffness as might have been the case with previously-used
techniques.
Nanomanufacturing

Manufacturing at the nanoscale is known as nanomanufacturing. It involves scaled-up,

reliable, and cost-effective manufacturing of nanoscale materials, structures, devices, and
systems. It also includes research, development, and integration of top- down processes and
increasingly complex bottom-up or self-assembly processes. In more simple terms,
nanomanufacturing leads to the production of improved materials and new products
([Link]
There are two basic approaches to nanomanufacturing:
1. Top-down fabrication reduces large pieces of materials all the way down to the
nanoscale, like someone carving a model airplane out of a block of wood. This
approach requires larger amounts of materials and can lead to waste if excess
material is discarded.
2. The bottom-up approach to nanomanufacturing creates products by building them
up from atomic- and molecular-scale components, which can be time- consuming.
Scientists are exploring the concept of placing certain molecular- scale components
together that will spontaneously “self-assemble,” from the bottom up into ordered
structures.
There are also a growing number of new processes that enable nano manufacturing:

 Chemical vapor deposition is a process in which chemicals react to produce very

pure, high-performance film
 Molecular beam epitaxy is one method for depositing highly controlled thin films
 Atomic layer epitaxy is a process for depositing one-atom-thick layers on a
surface
 Dip pen lithography is a process in which the tip of an atomic force microscope
is "dipped" into a chemical fluid and then used to "write" on a surface, like an
old fashioned ink pen onto paper
 Nanoimprint lithography is a process for creating nanoscale features by
"stamping" or "printing" them onto a surface
 Roll-to-roll processing is a high-volume process to produce nanoscale
devices on a roll of ultrathin plastic or metal
 Self-assembly describes the process in which a group of components come together
to form an ordered structure without outside direction

Structures and properties of materials can be improved through these nanomanufacturing

processes. Such nanomaterials can be stronger, lighter, more durable, water-repellent, anti-
reflective, self-cleaning, ultraviolet- or infrared-resistant, anti-fog, antimicrobial, scratch-
resistant, or electrically conductive, among other traits.
 Fig. 12.3 & 12.4 A product of nanomanufacturing: A 16 gauge wire (left), approximately 1.3 millimeters in
diameter, made from carbon nanotubes that were spun into thread. And the same wire on a 150 ply spool (right.)
Courtesy of Nanocomp. Source: [Link]

Please click/ visit the link below:

Read more about nanotechnology on consumer products using the link provided.
[Link] com/nanotechnology-consumer- products

READ

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1. More on Products of Nanotechnology.

(Lesson Check – Up)

Give atleast four (4) specific products of Nanotechnology, its uses and impact
to the society. Refer to the table below and submit your output via _.

Products Uses Impact to the Society

On a clean sheet of paper, write your reflection on the question:

1. What are the factors that need to be considered before manufacturing materials through nanotechnology?
LESSON 2. Risks Involved in the Use of Nanotechnology

Nanoparticles are likely to be dangerous for three main reasons:

([Link]

1. Nanoparticles may damage the lungs. We know that 'ultra fine' particles from diesel
machines, power plants and incinerators can cause considerable damage to human
lungs. This is both because of their size (as they can get deep into the lungs) and also
because they carry other chemicals including metals and hydrocarbons in with them.
2. Nanoparticles can get into the body through the skin, lungs and digestive system. This
may help create 'free radicals' which can cause cell damage and damage to the DNA.
There is also concern that once nanoparticles are in the bloodstream they will be able to
cross the blood-brain barrier.
3. The human body has developed a tolerance to most naturally occurring elements and
molecules that it has contact with. It has no natural immunity to new substances and is
more likely to find them toxic.

The danger of contact with nanoparticles is not just speculation. As more research is
undertaken, concerns increase. Here are some of the recent findings:
 Some nanoparticles cause lung damage in rats. Several studies have shown that carbon
nanotubes, which are similar in shape to asbestos fibres, cause mesothelioma in the lungs
of rats. Other nanoparticles have been shown to lead to brain damage in fish and dogs
 A German study found clear evidence that if discrete nanometer diameter particles
were deposited in the nasal region (in rodents in this case), they completely
circumvented the blood/brain barrier, and travelled up the olfactory nerves straight
into the brain.
 Inhaled carbon nanotubes can suppress the immune system by affecting the function of T
cells, a type of white blood cell that organizes the immune system to fight infections.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2. Let’s dig deeper!

(Lesson Check – Up)
List down the benefits and risks of nanotechnology in the society. Use the given
links below to guide you. Submit your output in word or PDF format through .
[Link]
[Link]
  ASSESSMENT TASK

Nanotechnology in the Philippines

Due to its potential impacts, nanotechnology has been gaining popularity worldwide. The
Philippines with its vast naturally-occurring nanomaterials such as clay, limestone, etc., has large
potential in the field of nanotechnology. With this, determine the possible applications of
nanotechnology in the Philippines search on the government’s strategic planning and projects
related to nanotechnology.
Put your output in word or pdf format and be sure to submit it on _ at
_ or email it at _ .

mprovement of various areas of society especially health care, environment, energy, food, water and agriculture. Moreover, e

 REFERENCES:
 Covid-19 and Nanotechnology. Accessed 5 July 2020 at
[Link]
 Jacob, James Kennard et. al. 2018 Science Technology and Society.
Malabon City, Mutya Publishing House, Inc.
 Manufacturing at the Nanoscale. National Nanotechnology Initiative, 2017.
Accessed 5 July 2020 at [Link]
101/what/manufacturing
 Nanomaterials (N.D). National Institute of Environmental Health and
Sciences. Accessed 15 June 2020 at
[Link]
 Serafica, J. P. J., Pawilen, G. T., Caslib, B. N. B., & Alata, E. J. P,. Science,
Technology and Society, First Edition 2018, Rex Book Store, Inc. Manila