Nanotechnology is a science and technology that uses a single atom or molecule to make matter. Nanoscience is a science based on many modern advanced science and technology. It is a modern science (chaotic physics, quantum mechanics, mesoscopic physics, molecules). Biology and the combination of modern technology (computer technology, microelectronics and scanning tunneling microscopy, nuclear analysis technology), nanoscience will trigger a series of new science and technology, such as nanoelectronics, nanomaterial science, nano machinery Learn and so on.

Nanoscience and technology, sometimes referred to as nanotechnology, is the study of the properties and applications of materials with structural sizes ranging from 0.1 to 100 nanometers. Nano is the translated name of English nano, which is a unit of length, originally called nanometer, which is 10 to -9 square meters (one billionth of a meter is equivalent to 4 to 5 atoms long together. Nanostructure usually refers to Tiny structures with sizes below 100 nm).

Concept

After the invention of the scanning tunneling microscope in 1981, a world of research molecules with a length of 0.1 to 100 nanometers was born. Its ultimate goal is to construct products with specific functions directly by atoms or molecules. Therefore, nanotechnology is actually a technology that uses single atoms and molecular range materials.

Nanotechnology is a comprehensive cross-disciplinary subject, and the research involves a broad field of modern technology. Nanoscience and technology mainly include: nanosystem physics, nanochemistry, nanomaterials, nanobiology, nanoelectronics, nanofabrication, nanomechanics, etc. These seven relatively independent and interpenetrating disciplines and three research areas of nanomaterials, nanodevices, and nanoscale detection and characterization. The preparation and research of nanomaterials is the foundation of the entire nanotechnology. Among them, nanophysics and nanochemistry are the theoretical basis of nanotechnology, and nanoelectronics is the most important content of nanotechnology.

From the research to date, there are three concepts about nanotechnology:

The first is the molecular nanotechnology proposed by Dr. Drexler in 1986 in the book The Machine of Creation. According to this concept, it is possible to make a machine for combining molecules practical, and to manufacture nano-computers and nano-robots, so that all kinds of molecules can be arbitrarily combined, and any kind of molecular structure can be manufactured. Nanotechnology of this concept has not yet made significant progress.

The second concept positions nanotechnology as the limit of micromachining technology. That is, the technique of artificially forming a nano-sized structure by nanometer precision ""processing"". This nano-scale processing technology has also brought semiconductor miniaturization to its limit. Even if the prior art is developed, it will theoretically reach a limit because if the line width of the circuit is gradually reduced, the insulating film constituting the circuit will be extremely thin, which will destroy the insulation effect. In addition, there are problems such as heat and shaking. To solve these problems, researchers are working on new nanotechnology.

The third concept is proposed from a biological point of view. Originally, organisms have nanoscale structures in cells and biofilms. The development of DNA molecular computers and cellular bio-computers has become an important part of nano-biotechnology.