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Introduction to Nanotechnology

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Springer Handbook of Nanotechnology

Part of the book series: Springer Handbooks ((SHB))

Abstract

A biological system can be exceedingly small. Many of the cells are very tiny, but they are very active; they manufacture various substances; they walk around; they wiggle; and they do all kinds of marvelous things – all on a very small scale. Also, they store information. Consider the possibility that we too can make a thing very small which does what we want – that we can manufacture an object that maneuvers at that level.

(From the talk Thereʼs Plenty of Room at the Bottom, delivered by Richard P. Feynman at the annual meeting of the American Physical Society at the California Institute of Technology; Pasadena, December 29, 1959).

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Abbreviations

AFM:

atomic force microscope

AFM:

atomic force microscopy

DLP:

digital light processing

DMD:

deformable mirror display

DMD:

digital mirror device

DNA:

deoxyribonucleic acid

DOD:

Department of Defense

DOE:

Department of Energy

DOE:

diffractive optical element

EPA:

Environmental Protection Agency

EU:

European Union

FP6:

Sixth Framework Program

GMR:

giant magnetoresistive

IWGN:

Interagency Working Group on Nanoscience, Engineering, and Technology

MEMS:

microelectromechanical system

MOEMS:

microoptoelectromechanical system

MST:

microsystem technology

NASA:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NEMS:

nanoelectromechanical system

NIH:

National Institute of Health

NIST:

National Institute of Standards and Technology

NNI:

National Nanotechnology Initiative

NOEMS:

nanooptoelectromechanical system

NSF:

National Science Foundation

NSTC:

National Science and Technology Council

QB:

quantum box

QWR:

quantum wire

RNA:

ribonucleic acid

STM:

scanning tunneling microscope

STM:

scanning tunneling microscopy

SWCNT:

single-wall carbon nanotube

SWCNT:

single-walled carbon nanotube

bioMEMS:

biomedical microelectromechanical system

bioNEMS:

biomedical nanoelectromechanical system

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio- and Nanotechnology and Biomimetics (NLB2), Ohio State University, 201 W. 19th Avenue, 43210-1142, Columbus, OH, USA

    Bharat Bhushan

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  1. Bharat Bhushan
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Correspondence to Bharat Bhushan .

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  1. Ohio State University, Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio- and Nanotechnology and Biomimetics (NLB2), 201 W. 19th Avenue, 43210-1142, Columbus, OH, USA

    Bharat Bhushan

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Bhushan, B. (2010). Introduction to Nanotechnology. In: Bhushan, B. (eds) Springer Handbook of Nanotechnology. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02525-9_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02525-9_1

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