Nanotechnology, also known as nanotechnology, is a technology for studying the properties and applications of materials with a structure size ranging from 1 nanometer to 100 nanometers. After the invention of the scanning tunneling microscope in 1981, a molecular world with a length of 1 to 100 nanometers was born. Its ultimate goal is to directly use atoms or molecules to construct products with specific functions [2]. Therefore, nanotechnology is actually a technology that uses single atoms and molecules to make matter.
From the research so far, there are three concepts about nanotechnology:
The first is the molecular nanotechnology proposed by the American scientist Dr. Drexler in the book "The Machine of Creation" in 1986. According to this concept, a machine that combines molecules can be put into practical use, so that all kinds of molecules can be combined arbitrarily, and any kind of molecular structure can be produced. This concept of nanotechnology has not made significant progress.
The second concept positions nanotechnology as the limit of micromachining technology. That is, the technology of artificially forming nano-sized structures through nano-precision "processing". This nano-level processing technology also makes semiconductor miniaturization about to reach its limit. Even if the existing technology continues to develop, theoretically, it will eventually reach its limit. This is because if the wire width of the circuit is gradually reduced, the insulating film constituting the circuit will become extremely thin, which will destroy the insulating effect. In addition, there are problems such as heat generation and shaking. In order to solve these problems, researchers are studying new types of nanotechnology.
The third concept is proposed from the perspective of biology. Originally, organisms have nano-scale structures in cells and biofilms. The development of DNA molecular computers and cell biological computers has become an important part of nano-biotechnology.