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Nanotechnology |
Nanotechnology has been defined as shaping the world
atom by atom. More and more materials and products will
be made from the bottom-up, that is by building them up
from atoms, molecules, and the nanoscale powders, fibers
and other small structural components.
The impact of nanotechnologies is vast. New materials
with novel magnetic properties will permit orders of magnitude
higher data storage capacities than present day media.
New generations of prosthetic and medical implants whose
surfaces are molecularly designed to interact with the
body will arise through synergy between nanomaterials
and bioengineering. New materials with unprecedented combinations
of strength, toughness and lightness will make all transportation
vehicles more fuel efficient. New energy conversion technologies
and improvedstorage devices will become available through
nanotechnology.
Present realizations where nanotechnology is enabling
new systems include dispersions and coatings as realized
in thermal barriers, imaging enhancements, abrasive slurries
and information recording. Biotechnology examples include
include bio-sensors capable of single molecule detection
and targeted drug delivery and gene therapy. Energy conversion
and storage are benefitting by new solar cell and battery
materials. In general nanostructured materials “by design”
will be stronger, lighter, harder, self-repairing and
safer. Future NASA applications for nanotechnology include
microspacecraft, new power and propulsion technologies,
bio-sensors, nano-metrology, giant magnetoresistance for
data storage, nanocomposites and nanoelectronics.
Our work at the National Center includes catalyst development
and characterization for fuel cells, nanostructured carbon
for Li ion batteries and supercapacitors, reinforced composite
materials, space-compatible nanoengineered lubricants,
and optical diagnostics of cellular metabolism and response
based on specific and selective nanoparticle interactions.
Related modelling work includes fluid transport processes
within the lung circulatory systems in low-gravity environments.
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