Nanomateriales, La Fuerza Del Cambio

Nanomaterials
– the driving force
The growth in activity surrounding nanomaterials continues unabated as more R&D funds are poured into nanotechnology and companies look to exploit the expanding range of novel properties that are being discovered. Advances in existing production techniques are improving the quality and yields, providing a clear prospect of commercially viable volume production.There is still a wide range of processes being used, and it is clear those that will be commercially successful will be those for which the materials have been developed at the same time as the application. Recent reports from a number of working groups have highlighted the need for increased examination of the health, environmental, and ethical aspects of nanotechnology, and this is an area thatthe industry will need to understand more fully and take appropriate action on if the benefits of nanomaterials are to be realized.
by Michael J. Pitkethly
The nanotechnology bandwagon continues to roll. The number of individuals and groups active in this field continues to grow as funding, especially for government-supported work, continues to rise. It has been estimated that $8.6 billion willbe spent worldwide on nanotechnology-related R&D in 2004, of which just over half ($4.6 billion) is from governmental bodies1. A consequence of this is the accelerating number of publications and patents2 coming out each year (Fig. 1).
An added incentive to researchers developing applications, especially budding entrepreneurs, is the talk of nanotechnology companies going public and the highshare values associated with them, although this has taken a tumble in recent months. The drive behind nearly all this activity is the continued development of nanomaterials and the constant stream of new properties and capabilities that are being discovered. These innovations appear to make possible an ever-increasing number of applications for which nanomaterials can provide improved performanceand the promise of competitive advantage and value creation. In many areas where the industries are mature, such as automotives, commodity plastics, and power generation, the slightest advantage over one’s competitors can mean the difference between struggling to survive and a sustainable existence. The use of nanomaterials in these industries and others is increasingly being seen as one way ofgaining this advantage in the marketplace. However, nanotechnology is not new and, although the term was first coined in the 1960s, it can be argued that

QinetiQ Nanomaterials Ltd, Y25 Bldg, Cody Technology Park, Ively Road, Farnborough, Hants GU14 0LX, UK E-mail: mjpitkethly@QinetiQ.com URL: www.nano.QinetiQ.com

20

December 2004

ISSN:1369 7021 © Elsevier Ltd 2004

MARKET REPORTmaterial scientists and chemists have been working in nanotechnology since their disciplines started. In fact, nanoparticles were used over 2000 years ago in Roman glass4, where clusters of Au nanoparticles were used to generate vivid colors, and more widely in ceramics and glass from the 10th century5. The real move toward the use of nanoparticles did not occur until the early 20th century with theproduction of carbon black and, subsequently, fumed silica in the 1940s. The discovery of C60 in 19856 and carbon nanotubes in 19917 gave a real stimulus to the development of nanomaterials and made scientists ready to explore more avidly the use of these materials. The advances in computing power and materials modeling, coupled with significant advances in characterization such as atomic forcemicroscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and greater interest in synthesis routes, have provided the additional factors that have enabled nanomaterials to be designed for specific purposes. It is this ability to design and characterize materials at the nanoscale that distinguishes modern nanotechnology from previous activities in materials science and chemistry.

Fig.1 The growth...