Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology, the sub-miniature technology that can be sensed through the microscope, may be a perfect solution to our current mass energy, resource, and environment depletion.
This analysis provides an ongoing framework to test if Nanotechnology is the solution our age needs it to be.
What is Nanotechnology ?
As a product current Nanotechnology is any product that is less than 100 nanometers, one billionth of a meter, 80,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair strand. It can be organic such as DNA, non-organic such as carbon or a composite of natural elements.
Nanotechnology is beyond the capability of human sight when manufactured and so it needs specialist materials to be manufactured, and specialist equipment to see it and to repair it.
Nanotechnology is not yet a domestic manufacturing system.
Where is Nanotechnology produced ?
Nanotechnology is a paradox in terms of its manufacturing process.
It is created and manufactured in multiple, standard sized factories using large machinery.
The typical current Nanotechnology process plant has a research and development laboratory, a resource delivery area, a bulk storage area, a purification area, an industrial process area, an assembly area, a packing and dispatch area and an administration area.
From the outside the building could contain any manufacturing process. Only the entrance sign may give a clue to the purpose of the architecture.
Nanotechnology currently depletes the environment by occupying large land areas for the product it produces.
What are the current manufacturing processes ?
Nanotechnology uses a process of material extraction, synthesis, purification, inspection, packaging and transport to manufacture its components.
Source: See Environmental Assessment of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Processes Meagan L. Healy, Lindsay J. Dahlben, and Jacqueline A. Isaacs 2008 by Yale University
Raw materials
Resources are taken in bulk from the environment.
Synthesis, Purification, Inspection processes
These were the synthesis processes in use in Nanotechnology in 2008.
High pressure carbon monoxide, chamber mixing at high temperatures and pressures of gases to produce, react and bond nano-particles of metal to form carbon dioxide and carbon to create Carbon nano-tubes.
It is used for biomedical products, electronics and fuel cell electrodes.
It has the lowest environment ‘load’ in terms of energy input, airborne inorganics, climate change and acidification.
Source: Environmental Assessment of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Processes Meagan L. Healy, Lindsay J. Dahlben, and Jacqueline A. Isaacs 2008 by Yale University
Arc and Lazer ablation; dissolving, vaporizing, chipping, eroding and depositing; to form carbon nano-tubes.
This has environment ‘loads’ in terms of energy input, airborne inorganics, climate change and acidification.
Source: Environmental Assessment of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Processes Meagan L. Healy, Lindsay J. Dahlben, and Jacqueline A. Isaacs 2008 by Yale University
Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Decomposition and deposition of a material to form carbon nano-tubes.
This has environment ‘loads’ in terms of energy input, airborne inorganics, climate change and acidification.
Source: Environmental Assessment of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Processes Meagan L. Healy, Lindsay J. Dahlben, and Jacqueline A. Isaacs 2008 by Yale University
Chemical Vapour Decomposition, mixing, separating and bonding process of gases at high temperatures to form carbon nano-tubes that can be manufactured into multiple levels of quality and type.
This has the highest environment ‘load’ in terms of energy input, airborne inorganics, climate change and acidification.
Source: Environmental Assessment of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Processes Meagan L. Healy, Lindsay J. Dahlben, and Jacqueline A. Isaacs 2008 by Yale University
What are the Environmental Implications for each process ?
Nanotechnology needs raw materials in bulk to begin its manufacturing process.
Currently at the synthesis stage the amount recovered from raw material is at best 4% of the original material. Of this 4% only 90 % can be purified to allow it to be used to make carbon nano tubes. Purity of material being a key necessity to allow nanotechnology to operate.
Source: Environmental Assessment of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Processes Meagan L. Healy, Lindsay J. Dahlben, and Jacqueline A. Isaacs 2008 by Yale University
This allows approximately 3% of the original bulk material to be manufactured into carbon nanotubes.
Therefore Nanotechnology does not reduce the extraction of raw materials it currently increases the waste of raw material product.
The manufacturing processes requires high amounts of energy input from existing energy sources including a high level of fossil fuel sources.
In comparison to other processes in 2007 single wall nanotechnology used more energy than wafer and polycrystalline silicon, aluminium and steel per kg in its manufacturing processes.
Source: Environmental Assessment of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Processes Meagan L. Healy, Lindsay J. Dahlben, and Jacqueline A. Isaacs 2008 by Yale University and ref as report Gutowski et al. 2007
Therefore in 2008 Nanotechnology was found to be extremely energy, resource and environmentally depleting.
Source: Environmental Assessment of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Processes Meagan L. Healy, Lindsay J. Dahlben, and Jacqueline A. Isaacs 2008 by Yale University and ref as report Gutowski et al. 2007
All of the current processes are undergoing extensive re-development to improve initial synthesis yield and energy input, airborne inorganics, climate change and acidification implications.
They are all however concentrating on a mass market output of want and desire and not on the economics of manufacture when needed.
What is the Current Influence of Nanotechnology ?
Nanotechnology is being used for energy collection devices, lighting, air and water filters, surfaces and coatings, adhesives, thermal performance enhancing materials, structural fibre and lattice materials, non-structural materials, hygiene control materials and self maintaining and cleaning materials.
The Architectural potential of Nanotechnology has and is being examined.
There is a scale issue however. At a nano scale physics operates differently. If structures are built from new nano materials and scaled up to a human level then the structure could be overdesigned and wasteful or worse it could be under designed and dangerous and unsuitable for its design purpose.
Height of buildings could be increased.
Weight of materials could be reduced.
The Architecture could conduct energy.
The Architecture could not be easily repaired but it could self repair.
The Architecture could be totally recyclable.
The Architecture could alter by season and environment.
Human design input would end and change to algorithm shared over the wireless links between robot builders and even the building elements.
Arches would have to become an obsolete design element due to the inability of the carbon nanotube to resist certain types of loading. The lattice would replace the single arch.
Walls, floors, ceilings and furniture would become one element.
The Architecture could adapt without human input to local environmental conditions.
Insulations could become transparent and self supporting.
Architecture could collect human needs from the environment, process them with embedded energy and allow humans to feed, drink and maintain hygiene off the walls of their buildings.
What is the Future of Nanotechnology ?
If Nanotechnology can meet our worlds current energy, resource and environment depletion conditions, be moved into the domestic area, use domestic power systems and be part of a 3d printer formed from an electron microscope or a specialist cutting, shaping output, and use only recycled materials, then it may be a possible manufacturing solution.
What Domestic Forms could Nanotechnology take
Here are some options; based on available technology in 2013; that may be the basis for that manufacturing industry.
Desktop sized Electron Microscope basic cost.
Electron microscope energy cost.
= £40,000 for the electron microscope.
= Single-phase 100VA, AC100~240V ±10%
or
A 3d printer that is fitted with a carbon nano-tube dispensing nozzle that has a 1 atom output. The printing material could be a carbon strand or modified dust of less than one atom viscosity.
= £700 for 3D printer.
= 12v for power
= £100 for materials
= £1500 for carbon nano-tube dispensing nozzle
or
A 3d printer that is fitted with a carbon nano-tube dispensing nozzle that has a 1 atom output. The printer output is a high pressure air jet as currently used in stone cutting. The printing material could be a carbon or recycled plastic block.
= £700 for 3D printer. £5,000 for air jet cutter
= 240v for power
= £100 for materials
= £1500 for carbon nano-tube dispensing nozzle
or
A 3d printer that is fitted with a carbon nano-tube dispensing nozzle that has
a 1 atom output. The printer output is a lazer as currently used in stone cutting and etching. The printing material could be a carbon block.
= £700 for 3D printer. £20,000 for lazer bridge cutter
= 240v for power
= £100 for materials
= £1500 for carbon nano-tube dispensing nozzle
or
A 3d printer that is fitted with a carbon nano-tube dispensing nozzle that has a 1 atom output. The printer output is a lazer as currently used in stone cutting and etching. The printing material could be a recycled plastic block.
= £700 for printer. £20,000 for lazer bridge cutter
= 240v for power
= £100 for materials
= £1500 for carbon nano-tube dispensing nozzle
Conclusion
Currently Nanotechnology is a mass consumer technology product.
It is not easily repaired.
It is not easily recycled.
To become useful current Nanotechnology needs to become something created on a domestic scale table top by individuals as the need arises.
It needs to move out of the factory and into the home.
It needs to manufacture only from a recycled material and energy potential.
Ian K Whittaker
Websites:
https://sites.google.com/site/architecturearticles
Email: iankwhittaker@gmail.com
14/10/2020
1565 words over 4 pages