Frequently Asked Questions
What is a nanometer?
It's defined as one billionth of a meter. How small is that? Some ways to think about just how small a nanometer is:
- A sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick.
- Blond hair is probably 15,000 to 50,000 nanometers in diameter, but black hair is likely to be between 50,000 and 180,000 nanometers.
- There are 25,400,000 nanometers in an inch.
- A nanometer is a millionth of a millimeter.
See The Scale of Things and Three Examples at the Nanoscale
A nanometer-sized particle also is smaller than a living cell and can be seen only with the most powerful microscopes available today.
Why fund nanotechnology?
Because of the promise of nanotechnology to improve lives and to contribute to economic growth, the Federal Government, through the guiding efforts of the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), is supporting research in nanotechnology. As a result of the NNI research efforts, the United States is a global leader in nanotechnology development.
How much money is the U.S. government spending on nanotechnology?
Federal funding for nanotechnology R&D has increased substantially since inception of the NNI, from $464 million in 2001 to an estimated $1,392 million in 2007. The 2008 budget request that President Bush has sent to Congress calls for a total NNI budget of $1,445 million.
How does this spending compare to other countries?
The United States is not the only country to recognize the tremendous economic potential of nanotechnology. While difficult to measure accurately, some have estimated that worldwide government funding has increased to about five times what it was in 1997, exceeding $2 billion in 2002. Asian countries, including Japan, China and Korea, as well as several European countries, have made leadership in nanotechnology national priorities.
What products available today have resulted from nanoscience?
Numerous products featuring the unique properties of nanoscale materials are available to consumers and industry today. Most computer hard drives, for instance, contain giant magnetoresistance (GMR) heads that, through nano-thin layers of magnetic materials, allow for a significant increase in storage capacity. Other electronic applications include non-volatile magnetic memory, automotive sensors, landmine detectors and solid-state compasses.
Some other current uses that are already in the marketplace include:
- Burn and wound dressings
- Water filtration
- Catalysis
- A dental-bonding agent
- Step assists on vans.
- Coatings for easier cleaning glass
- Bumpers and catalytic converters on cars
- Protective and glare-reducing coatings for eyeglasses and cars
- Sunscreens and cosmetics.
- Longer-lasting tennis balls.
- Light-weight, stronger tennis racquets.
- Stain-free clothing and mattresses.
- Ink.
See Applications and Products.
What products will be available in the next few years?
Watch for solar cells in roofing tiles and siding that provide electricity for homes and facilities. The vision of researchers working in this field is a much cleaner environment due to greater use of solar energy (and less burning of fossil fuels) and a higher standard of living for the many parts of the world that do not have access to efficient, reliable energy.
Prototype tires exist today that provide improved skid resistance, reduced abrasion and resulting longer wear, although a date for market introduction has yet to be announced. The nanocomposites being used in tires can be used in other consumer products as well, according to experts, including high performance footwear, exercise equipment, and car parts such as belts, wiper blades and seals.
The pharmaceutical and chemical industries are being impacted greatly by nanotechnology, as well. New commercial applications of nanotechnology that are expected in two to five years in these industries include:
- advanced drug delivery systems, including implantable devices that automatically administer drugs and sensor drug levels and
- medical diagnostic tools, such as cancer tagging mechanisms.
What products will be available in the next 10-20 years?
It’s hard to predict what products will move from the laboratory to the marketplace over such a long period, but today’s predictions center on pervasive computing applications. It is believed that nanotechnology will facilitate the production of ever-smaller computers that store vastly greater amounts of information and process data much more quickly than those available today. Computing elements are expected to be so inexpensive that they can be in fabrics (for smoke detection, for instance) and other materials. Read about Moore's Law and continued advances in computing and electronics.
Advances in the field of defense are also expected through work in nanoscience. See the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, which is housed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass.
What are engineered nanoparticles?
Engineered nanoparticles refers to those that do not occur naturally but are created by people. People have been putting together different materials throughout time, and now are doing so on the nanoscale.
How can I get funding for my research in nanotechnology?
How many researchers are working in nanotechnology today?
The current estimate is about 20,000 worldwide.
What are future workforce needs?
The National Science Foundation has estimated that 2 million workers will be needed to support nanotechnology industries worldwide within 15 years.