March 9th 2009

NANOTECHNOLOGY – A BROAD APPROACH      

                   (A Brave New Very,Very Small World)

     given by John Rant

In his talk to the Society on the 9th March, John Rant, a member of U3A, gave a fascinating insight into the world of nanotechnology an emerging science of which comparative little is known outside specialised areas of research. Funding for further research does not seem to be a problem, even cash strapped Britain is throwing 90 million pounds at development in the coming year and as you might expect NASA and American Universities considerably more than that.

Speaking to a near capacity audience John took time to explain just how small small really is in the context of nanotechnology, One nanometer (nm) is one billionth, or 10-9 of a metre. John went on to explain that even at this scale by using a series of nano hinges it is possible to build quite complex machinery.

The uses of this comparative new technology are amazingly diverse, ranging from motorised scrapers in the blood stream to clean clogged arteries, to making advanced camouflage suits which are capable of making the wearer invisible. There is even talk of nano rockets!!!And there is much more to come form, such as suntan lotion, cosmetics, protective coatings, and stain resistant clothing.

                     A molecular gear train                                                                                    Aligned carbon nanotubes

Answering questions from the floor, John revealed that materials reduced to the nanoscale can suddenly show very different properties compared those they exhibit on a macroscale. For instance, opaque substances become transparent inert materials become catalysts stable materials turn combustible; solids turn into liquids at room temperature and some insulators become conductors, which is chemically inert at normal scales, can serve as a potent chemical catalyst at nanoscales. Much of the fascination with nanotechnology stems from these unique quantum and surface phenomena that matter exhibits at the nanoscale

John was thanked by our Richard Aldridge on behalf of the Society for a balanced informative introduction to nanotechnology. This overview is we hope seasons.

Mike Vincent     March 2009