Diatoms Nanotechnology – Redefining Man-made
JM: Nanotechnology seeks to make materials and devices out of microscopic particles. As this new science develops, it will likely rewrite the definition of the things that we call man-made. I’m Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.
GR: “Nanoparticles are tiny bits of matter. These nanoparticles can be made by nature or they can be manmade.”
JM: Dr. Greg Rorrer is an associate professor of Chemical Engineering at Oregon State University.
GR: “Typical nanoparticles might have only a few hundred atoms inside them, or they might be only 20 atoms across. They’re so tiny that we can only see them with an electron microscope. Nanoparticles play a crucial role in nanotechnology. They literally are the building blocks of processes and products that make use of nanotechnology. Because the nanoparticles are so tiny, the atoms inside them behave differently. They obey the laws of quantum mechanics and not the laws of the real world as we see them everyday. For example, nanoparticles containing the element germanium glow bright blue when energy’s applied to them. It’s a trick which has many applications in electronic devices. Another thing is that you could put a bunch of different nanoparticles together or add them to existing known materials, such as metals or plastics, and you make materials with superior properties higher strength, lighter weight, and more resistance to wear. Nanoparticles can be made in many different ways. Many current technologies use exotic processes that operate at extremes of temperature and pressure. Some even use beams of electromagnetic radiation to assist with assembling different types of atoms together to make nanostructured materials.”
JM: There are other ways to make nanoparticles using microorganisms. We’ll hear more in future programs. Pulse of the Planet is presented by the National Science Foundation. I’m Jim Metzner.