Nanotechnology

GLOBAL INVESTOR FOCUS
Nanotechnology—15
“The impact of nanotechnology on the health, wealth,
and lives of people will be at least the equivalent of the combined
influences of microelectronics, medical imaging, computeraided
engineering and man-made polymers developed in this
century.” // Richard E. Smalley, 1996 Chemistry Nobel Laureate
with a tenfold reduced power consumption and eventually even an
elevator to space, as recently studied by NASA. Nanotechnology will
also have potentially significant impacts on energy efficiency, storage
and production. Nanotechnology could help revolutionize the energy
industry, producing advances in solar power cell technology and the
development of fuel cells.
No nanotechnology without the right tools
In 1981, Heinrich Rohrer and Gerd Binnig at IBM Research Laboratory
in Zurich developed the scanning tunneling microscope, STM, a device
that enables researchers to analyze and manipulate matter at the
atomic scale. This invention laid the groundwork for further advances
in nanotechnology. Further progression in nanotechnology generated
a demand for new commercial instruments for routine use in the handling
of nanostructures and nanodevices. A whole range of tools
similar to the STM, such as the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), and
an entirely new generation of instruments has evolved to support microand
nanotechnology. The emerging market of tools for nanotechnology
will play a key role in the development of this industry.
Do the benefits outweigh potential risks?
While many believe that the influence of nanotechnology will be a
universal cure-all, others have serious concerns about its social,
political and economic effects. A primary fear is the use of nanotechnology
will generate unwanted side effects, which could harm lives
and the environment. It is impossible to avoid such effects completely,
as almost any technology can be abused. However, internal
control of scientific and technological developments in nanotechnology
is inherently better than in other fields of high technology. This
is due to the fact that an interdisciplinary group of scientists and
engineers are ultimately responsible for their findings. Nevertheless,
experts predict that governments may soon step in to create laws or
regulations concerning nanotechnology.
æ
Miele’s easy clean ovens
Oven cleaning is not a favorite
chore for most people.
It often gets put off until the task
takes hours of scrubbing to
remove burned-on grease. Knowing
this, Miele has created
PerfectClean enamel, a material
treated with nanotechnology
surface finishing that prevents
food and grease particles
from bonding with the oven cavity,
racks and even its baking
sheets. Spills also can’t burn on.
This technology hasn’t abolished
the need for oven cleaning,
but made it significantly simpler.
www.miele.de
Source: Miele
Hartchrom’s surface technology
Hartchrom, Switzerland, and
Nanogate Coating Systems,
Germany, developed Nanochrome ® ,
a surface technology that is
antiadhesive, and corrosion- and
temperature-resistant. The
Nanochrome ® coating system has
been used for web offset printing,
and resulted in a reduction of
cleaning effort for the paper guide
rolls up to 85 percent. In comparison,
customary paper guide
rolls must be cleaned after
333,000 rotations and Nanochrome
® rolls require cleaning
after only 850,000 to 1.3 million
rotations. Nanochrome ® applications
in other industrial fields,
such as in paper and foil manufacturing,
are being developed.
www.hartchrom.com
Table 1
Estimated public funding of nanoscience
and nanotechnology
Source: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
(in CHF million) 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Europe 240 400 580 850 900
Switzerland 20 25 25 27 30
USA 360 500 680 920 1020
Japan 330 720 900 950 950
Others 180 250 540 600 650
Source: Hartchrom, Switzerland