Nanosensors

This past week I have been learning about nanosensors. It is a very interesting topic and I have never learned about nanosensors! Here is all my knowledge about nanosensors.

What are Nanosensors?

In the modern society where innovation, digitization and automation has become a vital need.

Before we discuss nanosensors, let first understand what sensors are and what role they play in our modern lives.

• Sensors in the road detect cars at traffic lights and adjust the flow accordingly
• Sensors in the mall detect you and when you are coming in with the automatic doors

Nanosensors can be chemical sensors or mechanicals sensors. They can detect various chemicals in gases for pollution monitoring, they are also used for medical diagnostic purposes for blood borne sensors, bloodborne is a disease that can be spread by blood and other body fluids.

Nanosensors work the same way normal sensors work except nanosensors either they can detect minute particles or miniscule quantiles.

Why are they important?

Nanosensors are chemical or mechanical sensors that can be used to discover the shows of different types of chemicals and nanoparticles, or monitor physical parameters such as temperature, on the nanoscale. Medical diagnostics also uses nanosensor technology.

Here are some other reasons why nanosensors are important.

• It’s faster, tinier and more powerful computers that use way less power and the batteries last longer. Circuits built from carbon nanotubes could be vital in maintaining the success of computer power.
• It’s faster, more functionable and more authentic medical diagnostics gear, Lab-on-a-chip technology enables point-of-care experimenting in the real time, which speeds up delivery of medical care. Nanomaterial surfaces on implants improve wear and resist infection.
• Nanoparticles in pharmaceutical brands improve their absorption within the body and make them easier to deliver, often though the combination medical devices. Nanoparticles can also be preowned to deliver chemotherapy drugs to specific cells, such as cancer cells.
• Improved vehicle fuel efficiency and corrosion resistance by construction vehicle parts from nanocomposite materials that are lighter, more heavy and more chemically resistant than metal. Nanofilters remove nearly all airborne particles from the air before it reaches combustion chamber, further fixing gas mileage.
• Nanoparticles or nanofibers in fabrics can enhance stain resistance, water resistance and flame resistance. Without a significant increase in weight, thickness, or stiffness of fabric.

For example: Nano-whiskers on pants make them resistant to water and marks or stains.

• Water filters that are only 15–20 nanometers wide can remove nano-sized particles, including virtually all viruses and bacteria. These cost-efficient, portable water remedy systems are ideal for fixing the quality of water in countries
• Carbon nanotubes have a variety of commercial uses, including making sports equipment more stronger and lighter.

For Example: a tennis racquet made with carbon nanotubes bends less during encounter, and increases the force and the efficiency of the delivery. Nanoparticle-treated tennis balls can keep on bouncing twice as longs as the normal tennis balls.

• Most of the sunscreens today are made from nanoparticles that effectively absorb light, including the more risky ultraviolet (UV) range. They can also spread more easily on the skin. The same nanoparticles are also used in food packaging to reduce UV exposure and prolong shelf line.
• Many drink bottles are made from plastic including nanoclays, which increase resistance to permeation by oxygen, carbon dioxide and moisture. This supports retain carbonation and pressure, and increases shelf life by various months.
• Thanks to nanotechnology an enormous collection of chemical sensors can be programmed to identify particular chemical at incredibly low levels.

For Example: one single molecule out of billions. This capability is ideal for surveillance and security systems at the lab, industrial sites and airports. On the medical front, nanosensors can be used carefully analyze particular cells or substances in the body.

How do Nanosensors work?

Nanosensors work with there special sensing ability, which can sense information and data. There arrangement is kinda like normal sensors, but the big difference between sensors and nanosensors is that nanosensors are developed at the nanoscale, which makes them more successful than the normal ones. Nanosensors can determine detailed cells or the parts of the body having any defect. They work by calculating and measuring ups and downs adjustments, displacement, dislocations, concentration, volume, acceleration, external forces pressure or temperature of each cell in the living body and molecular controllers to deliver medicines in the human body. They are also allowed to detect macroscopic shifts that come from the external interactions and connect these variations to the other nancomponets working onward.

Chemical Method:

Nanosensors work by monitoring electric changes in the sensors materials. For example: when a molecule of nitrogen dioxide it will strip from the nanotube, in this case it will make the nanotube less conductive. Nanotubes are a tubular molecule composed of a large number of atoms.

Mechanical Method :

Same with the chemical nanosensors, the mechanical also measure electric differences. Nanosensors used in the MEMS (Microelectromechanical) that the car airbag relies on are looking carefully at the changes in capitaliance. All theses systems have miniscule weighed shaft attached to the capacitor. The shaft curves and bends with changes acceleration and this is measured as changes in the capacitance. (acceleration means when a vehicles capacity to gain more speed with a short amount of time.)

How are they built?

Nanosensors are made in the lab, they are really tiny (they are smaller than your whole nail)

Nanosensors are made with nanowires. Nanowires are extremely small wires. As I said nanosensors are really small so that is why they use nanowires to make nanosensors beacuse both are really tiny.

Other things that are used to make nanosensors are:

• Silver
• Iron
• Copper
• Metal
• Silicon
• Zinc oxide
• Germanium

The Problems With Nanofabrication

Here are some problems with Nanofabrication:

1. Making it is difficult because it’s very small.
2. Dust particles are as small as Nanofabrication, and can easily ruin Nanofabrication by clogging it.
3. People working on it need to be highly educated, which means that they might be hard to find.
4. The equipment and facilities are very expensive.

Ways To Improve Nanofabrication:

Currently, Nanotechnology is seen as a very difficult field. Grassroot programs need to be founded to teach children and the general public the fundamental aspects of Nanotechnology, potentially creating interest. More people need to be interested in the subject, ensuring an abundance of workers. This abundance of workers means Nanotechnology will progress significantly, similar to the increase of gold during the Gold Rush when aspiring prospectors scampered to obtain gold. Thus, it can be used in many different fields, and become more prevalent, ensuring that costs will be driven down. To solve the issue of dust, people need to regularly clean their sensors, removing dust. Keep your facility hygenic to remove all traces of dust.

Nanotechnology is an expanding field, with many important uses. Their are many drawbacks, but these are outweighed by it’s potential applications and other benefits. Nanotechnology is a cool field and I would love to study it one day!