Seminar report: nanotechnology – planning for the future now

Citation

Bogue, R. (2004), "Seminar report: nanotechnology – planning for the future now", Assembly Automation, Vol. 24 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2004.03324aaf.009

Seminar report: nanotechnology – planning for the future now

Seminar report: nanotechnology – planning for the future now

Keywords: Nanotechnology, Nanoscience, Research, Funding

Abstract

This paper reviews an Institute of Physics seminar on the future prospects for nanotechnology in the UK. Various technical developments, applications and funding issues are discussed.

In light of the recent controversy surrounding nanotechnology in the UK, the Institute of Physics (IOP) organised a timely seminar in May 2003 entitled Nanotechnology – planning for the future now. Chaired by Professor David Wallace, President of the IOP, this event aimed to dispel certain myths associated with nanotechnology, illustrate some of its potential capabilities and consider how the UK might best develop and exploit its skills in this rapidly developing multidisciplinary field.

Much of the public controversy arose from an article in a tabloid newspaper in April 2003 with the headline “Charles: 'Grey Goo' Threat to the World”. In this, Prince Charles reiterated the outlandish scenario, first expressed by Erich Drexler, the “father” of nanotechnology, that self-replicating molecular nanorobots could some day consume everything on the planet, reducing it to a featureless “Grey goo”. Whilst clearly rooted in the realms of science fiction/ fantasy, the very fact that these comments received widespread publicity illustrates the need for public education if this technology is not to suffer the same image problem as genetic engineering and progress be stifled by inappropriate and unnecessary regulation.

The first of the two main presentations was by Mark Welland, Professor of Nanotechnology at the University of Cambridge. Prior to directing the Cambridge Interdisciplinary Research Centre (IRC) for nanotechnology, he pioneered atomic resolution scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and invented the scanning probe microscope, two key nanotechnology techniques. The first part of the talk was effectively an introduction to nanotechnology, which, although viewed as being new, was first referred to as such in a paper by Norio Taniguchi from Tokyo University in 1971. However, the concept was anticipated even earlier by the renowned US physicist Richard Feynman who considered the possibility of making computer shift registers from single atoms in the 1960s. It was explained that nanotechnology or nano-engineering involves controlling material properties with nanometer precision, rather than fabricating devices with overall dimensions in the nanometer region. The critical dimensions were placed in context: 1nm (10⁻⁹ m) is approximately the diameter of five atoms and it is at this scale that many aspects of chemistry, biology, physics and engineering technologies converge, which largely explains why nanotechnology has such wide-ranging potential applications.

Of the many materials being studied by nanotechnologists, fullerene (C₆₀), the so-called third form of carbon, has attracted much recent interest and fullerene nanotubes are currently being produced globally at rate of 10 tons per month for use in tennis rackets, due to their immense strength. An STM image of a single C₆₀ molecule on a silicon substrate is shown in Figure 3. Of greater interest from the scientific viewpoint, nanocircuits based on carbon nanotubes were reported in 2001 and at these dimensions, conductors and other electrical devices exhibit unusual properties which are not seen in their macroscopic counterparts. The critical issue of research funding was also addressed: in the US the state of California alone is spending $380 million on a nanotechnology R&D centre whilst the Cambridge IRC is only funded to the tune of $30 million.

Figure 3 STM image of a C₆₀ molecule on a silicon substrate

The second presentation was by John Ryan, Professor of Bionanotechnology and Director of the Oxford Bionanotechnology IRC. This is a collaboration between six Oxford departments, five other UK universities and the National Institute for Medical Research. The funding issue was again raised and it was noted that the US has recently set up five nanotechnology R&D centres, each with an initial capital investment of $200 million and an annual operating budget of $30 million. The Oxford IRC's initial six-year programme has received £10 million from the science and medical research councils and the MOD.

In February 2003, a DTI-funded fact-finding mission to the US on nanotechnology reported back and concluded that:

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  the UK needs to invest in this technology now;

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  existing UK strengths in the technology should be expanded, rather than attempting to start from scratch;

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  industry must have easy access to research; and

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  facilities must exist to establish both scientific and commercial nanotechnology communities.

Unsurprisingly, the two other main countries making a major investment in this technology are Germany and Japan but as well as initial funding, it is vitally important that the UK's research effort has continuity of funding, a characteristic of the research efforts in both these countries. Further, as well as elevating awareness of the strategic importance of nanoscience and technology, education and training in these fields is vital if the UK is to maintain its momentum and ultimately reap the commercial benefits of its indigenous expertise. A critical issue decides where best to aim investment and because the potential applications are so widespread (healthcare, electronics, computing, sensors, materials etc.), this is a vital consideration. The fact that, after Hitachi and NEC, L'Oreal, the cosmetics company, presently holds the third highest number of nanotechnology patents, is testimony to this diverse user base. The speaker argued that, as the UK has a minimal indigenous microelectronic industry but has large and globally competitive pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sectors, it is these that would most benefit.

Figure 4 Focused ion beam image of gallium nitride (GaN) LEDs, based on indium gallium nitride (InGaN) quantum wells sandwiched between p-type and n-type GaN

Figure 5 Writing on PMMA plastic by electron beam nanolithography. In this passage from Encyclopaedia Britannica each letter is 250 nm tall. If one letter is considered to be equivalent to 8 bits then the storage density achieved is around 1,000 Gbit in.⁻²

In addition to applications in the physical sciences, such as quantum dot devices, LEDs (Figure 4), lasers, data storage (Figure 5) and single electron transistors based on tunnelling junctions, several examples of the biological and clinical applications of nanotechnology were discussed. These included the ability to image individual atoms on proteins with STM; speculative concepts such as DNA- and myosin-based nanomachines; and nanomedicine, where highly specific therapeutic agents may be attached to gold and other nanoparticles which can penetrate individual cell walls and interact with intra- cellular components, presently the topic of a massive R&D effort. The advanced state already reached in some fields of the technology was well illustrated by an atomic force microscopy (AFM) video of a molecule of myosin, a muscular protein, in motion. A fascinating result, reported in the journal Nature in May 2003 (“Life's Transistors”), showed that the ion channels in cell membranes can be opened by the application of a voltage and that the channel's I/V characteristic resembles that of a field-effect transistor (FET). Perhaps this discovery will ultimately provide the basis for the much- discussed biological computer.

It is evident that nanotechnology, underpinned by the multidisciplinary nanosciences, will lead to the discovery of all manner of new phenomena and techniques. In turn these will ultimately contribute to the development of novel processes, materials and devices which will be applied across a broad spectrum of industries. This seminar provided technical, commercial and policy-making delegates with a thought-provoking insight into this field, where existing expertise, about to be further strengthened by a major round of government funding of £90 million, should ensure a bright future for nanotechnology in the UK.

Robert BogueAssociate Editor – Assembly Automation