What Can be Done with Nanotechnology Today?
Much of what people talk about doing with nanotechnology lies in the future. However, you can find many examples of nanotechnology making a difference today.
Nanotechnology makes it possible to achieve several benefits when you manufacture materials. For example, nanomaterials can be stronger and more lightweight than their non-nano counterparts. Nano also makes it possible to make materials smaller, a key aspect of building computer chips, for example.
In addition, nanoparticles can help fibers resist stains and repel water. Used as catalysts in chemical reactions, nanoparticles can make processes more efficient and reduce the amount of energy they require. Nano also has several applications in healthcare.
Here’s a list of the types of things nano is making possible today. Nano is being used
To make strong lightweight equipment ranging from tennis racquets to windmill blades
To clean up industrial solvents contaminating groundwater
To protect clothing with nanoparticles that shed water or stains
As catalysts to make chemical manufacturing more efficient while saving energy and keeping waste products to a minimum
As a coating on countertops that kills bacteria
In sunscreens to provide protection from UV rays without producing a thick white residue
In wound dressings to rapidly stop bleeding in trauma patients
As a film on glass to stop water from beading and dirt from accumulating
In paints to prevent corrosion and the growth of mold as well as to provide insulation
To make integrated circuits with features that can be measured in nanometers (nm), allowing companies to make computers chips that contain billions of transistors
In bandages to kill germs
For coatings in heavy-duty machinery, such as ships and the oil industry, to make equipment last longer
In plastic food packaging to keep oxygen out so the food spoils at a much slower rate