Skip to main content

Small Wonders, Endless Frontiers A Review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (2002) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

4. Important Areas for Investment
Pages 36-45

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 36...
... Nanoparticles have also been used in creating novel optical films and in producing materials having optical or magnetic properties that enable new performance levels. For example, magnetic nanoparticles and quantum dots will be used to produce ultrasmall disk drives with 10 times the current capacity and memory chips with speeds of several hundred gigahertz.
Read the entire page →
From page 37...
... The nanoscale architecture of these matrices is critical for the proper functioning of each tissue. Advances in cell biology and nanotechnology are expected to enable the fabrication of structurally and functionally designed synthetic matrices that will provide cells with all the necessary cues to regenerate structural tissues, organs, and body parts.
Read the entire page →
From page 38...
... These structures may help us create materials that resemble bone for medical applications, but they could also produce bone-inspired hybrid materials in which organic nanofibers guide the organization of quantum dots or other inorganic nanocrystals (Figure 4.2.3~. Such hybrid materials, and others such as carbon nanotubes, may someday be part of computers with memories and speeds that are thousands or millions of times greater than the ones we know today or be part of materials that help us improve the energy efficiency of the systems we use everyday.
Read the entire page →
From page 39...
... Cellular processes and molecular biology techniques are inherently nanoscale phenomena. By elucidating cellular mechanisms, molecular biology provides us with a good textbook on nanoscaTe technology.
Read the entire page →
From page 40...
... Box 4.5 discusses a new Army initiative to utilize nanoscale technology in defense applications. Potential early breakthroughs in medicine include regeneration of functional biomaterials such as bone or skin using nanostructurect materials as a template for BOX 4.4 The Nanofabrication Challenge: A Biological Light Conversion Device Versus a Man-made Photovoliaic Device {Solar Cell} Green plants have structures called ch~oroplasts that carry out the highly efficient conversion of light into energy and biomass.
Read the entire page →
From page 41...
... NSET should examine means to increase the NNI investment in research at the intersection between nanoscale technology and biology and biomedicine. One could envision a multiagency research program in bio-nano areas for which an interagency review mechanism is established, as it may not be reasonable to expect single agencies to bear the very high cost of biobased research.
Read the entire page →
From page 42...
... Many of the interdisciplinary techniques researchers wish to utilize require nonstandard materials, so no user facilities are available for them. This issue must be addressed if NNUN is to truly serve the needs of researchers working at the interface between biology, chemistry, and materials science at the nanoscale.
Read the entire page →
From page 43...
... Recently, DOE Basic Energy Sciences decided to fund nanoscale science research centers (NSRCs) at three national laboratories: the "molecular foundry" at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Center for Integrated Nanotechno~ogies at Los Alamos anc Sandia National Laboratories, anc the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Read the entire page →
From page 44...
... Since very few small start-ups or even large companies can afford to spend decades pursuing dreams without near-term economic payback, extended research in universities and national laboratories is needed to establish much of the groundwork for the most profound breakthroughs in nanoscale technology. This research will need to be far more interdisciplinary than that which most universities currently foster.
Read the entire page →
From page 45...
... New massively parallel schemes such as cellular automata or nanostructures integrated to perform quantum computing are ripe for exploration, including demonstrating in principle their potential functionality. The current state of the art has not demonstrated the feasibility of executing even a greatly simplified computational task.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • nanoscale technology
  • lawrence berkeley
  • organic nanofibers
  • user facilities
  • solar cell

  • berkeley national
  • nanophase materials
  • nanofabrication processes
  • integrated circuits
  • quantum dots

  • photovoltaic device
  • nanoscale devices
  • fabrication processes
  • integrated nanotechnologies
  • nni investment

  • nanoscale phenomena
  • inorganic nanocrystals
  • power dissipation
  • devices based
  • biological warfare

  • materials sciences
  • mimic collagen
  • molecular foundry
  • sandia national
  • integrated circuit

  • nanoscale advances
  • specialized facilities
  • almaden research
  • provide actuation
  • discovered organic


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.