Question Hi Jan. I am hoping that you can help answer my few preety general questions regarding the field of nanotechnology. As we all know that these days researchers are getting more and more involved into the tiniest structures (nanostructure) in order understand or study further into the properties and functions of various objects that surround us. So first I want to ask about the concept of nanorobotics. Now we know the current situation is that nano robots has been produced at the size of a millimetre or so but a nano meter is long way compared to a millimeter. So how do you think that creating a robotic at such a scale would be feasible, what kind of tool would they use to produce something that cannot bee seen by our naked eyes, can you even manufacture a needle of such minute size probably invisible to the naked eye that could be used to manufacture a robot of that scale? And the other question is about the molecular concept of nanostructure. You see when we talk about the alterations that take place in a combined structure of atoms like twist, fold, etc. that would alter its properties or density as a chemical, etc. This must be a basic question in the field of research but still, how is it possible to compromise with or alter the state or positions of a group of atoms or nano structure, what tools would be needed, would it be something like a centrifuge machine, you couldn’t possibly use pins for such process could you, or is it by mixing those subject molecules with other chemicals and catalysts? Your help will be much appreciated. I hope you won’t find it too difficult to answers my questions. Thank you
Answer Hi Derick,
Your questions are intrigueing but I'm afraid we will not be using needles to manufacture things on the nanoscale. You can move atoms around using and atomic force microscope, which in essence is a charged needle, but to actually manufacture something at the atomic scale using that technique would be rather time consuming to say the least. You can use ion beams to cut and machine materials on very small scales, and this has been done to produce very small gears etc. I'm sure people are working on making nanobots, but this also is some time away. Although at the current rate of advancement, who knows what is possible? There is certainly research going on at the atomic scale, and electron microscopes help to image and illustrate small atomic variations or defects that cause large structural or electronic effects. By understanding what is happening at the atomic scale, the manufacturing process can be enhanced to either suppress or enhance the effects. Hope this helps, Jan
