nanotechnologists
Molecular machine builders
Nanotechnologists are scientists and engineers who work with materials and devices at the nanometer scale—roughly one to one hundred billionths of a meter.
At this scale, matter behaves differently than in bulk, enabling applications in medicine, electronics, and materials science: Nanotechnologists are developing targeted drug delivery systems that attack cancer cells directly.
Billionth-meter dimension
Ultrasmall engineered matter
- grapheneMonolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
- nanoparticlesUltrafine material fragments
- nanocrystalsCrystalline structures under 100nm
- nanofibersUltrathin synthetic threads
Circuitry at billionth-meter dimensions
- nanoroboticsMolecular-scale machine science
- nanosensorsNanoscale detection devices
- nanotubesHollow molecular cylinders
- nanowiresAtom-scale conductive strands
Creating nanometer-scale structures
- microfabricationManufacturing miniature structures precisely
- self-assemblySpontaneous structural organization
- photolithographyLight-transfers patterns onto silicon
- etchingAcid-incised metal print
nanomanufacturing · bottom-up · top-down · deposition · sputtering · templating · patterning · assembly
Study of substances' interactions
- physicsScience of matter and energy
- biologyStudy of organisms
- bioengineeringEngineering applied to biology
- biophysicsPhysics applied to life
Methods identifying problems
Facility for scientific investigation
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
- nanoscienceStudy of atomic-scale phenomena
- academiaHigher education community
- publicationIssued written material
PhD · professor · grants · collaboration · conferences · thesis · postdoc · interdisciplinary
nanoscale
Billionth-meter dimension
atomic · picometer · microscopic · subatomic · near-field
nanomaterials
Ultrasmall engineered matter
- grapheneMonolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
- nanoparticlesUltrafine material fragments
- nanocrystalsCrystalline structures under 100nm
nanoelectronics
Circuitry at billionth-meter dimensions
- nanoroboticsMolecular-scale machine science
- nanosensorsNanoscale detection devices
- nanotubesHollow molecular cylinders
nanowires · MEMS · lab-on-a-chip · nanoprobes · biosensors
nanofabrication
Creating nanometer-scale structures
- microfabricationManufacturing miniature structures precisely
- self-assemblySpontaneous structural organization
- photolithographyLight-transfers patterns onto silicon
etching · nanomanufacturing · bottom-up · top-down · deposition · sputtering · templating · patterning · assembly
chemistry
Study of substances' interactions
- physicsScience of matter and energy
- biologyStudy of organisms
- bioengineeringEngineering applied to biology
diagnostics
Methods identifying problems
laboratory
Facility for scientific investigation
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
- nanoscienceStudy of atomic-scale phenomena
- academiaHigher education community
publication · PhD · professor · grants · collaboration · conferences · thesis · postdoc · interdisciplinary · characterization
nanotechnologistscivil engineers
Professionals designing public infrastructure
structural engineers · shipbuilders · aerospace engineers · architects · construction workers