Welcome to the Department of Toxic Substances Control

Nanotechnology

DTSC Nanotechnology Series

2008 Nano Summit
The Future of Nanotechnology: A Legislative Summit

Assemblymember Mike Feuer, UCLA Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, UCLA State Government Relations and the California Nanosystems Institute (CNSI) sponsored a half-day event at the CNSI Auditorium on April 25, 2008. This summit was the first step for stakeholders from industry, government, research institutes and environmental groups to discuss responsible ways to regulate nanotechnology without stifling progress. For more information on this event, click here.

You can view the proceedings for past DTSC nanotechnology symposia on-line.


What is nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is the design, characterization, production, and application of structures, devices, and systems by controlling the shape and size at the nanometer scale. A nanometer (nm) is one billionth of a meter. For comparison, a single human hair is about 80,000 nm wide, a red blood cell is approximately 7,000 nm wide and a water molecule is almost 0.3 nm across. The nanoscale generally is defined in nanotechnology to be from 100 nm down to the size of atoms (approximately 0.2 nm). Understanding and controlling matter at the nanoscale interests researchers in the sciences, medicine, agriculture, and industry because a material’s properties at the nanoscale can be very different from those at a larger scale. As reports of new discoveries and applications for nanotechnology emerged, governmental, industrial, and public stakeholders recognized the need to develop a standard nanotechnology terminology to facilitate communication among the various communities. A globally recognized terminology standard is

nanobouquet

Flower Bouquet, a 3-D nanostructure grown by controlled nucleation of silicon carbide nanowires on gallium catalyst particles. As the growth proceeds, individual nanowires 'knit' together to form 3-D structures. Photo: ©Ghim Wei Ho and Prof. Mark Welland, Nanostructure Center, University of Cambridge

not only critical to the development of the nanotechnology industry by allowing precise descriptions of the chemical compositions and physical forms of these nanoscale materials, but without a such a precise and accepted terminology standard, efforts to understand the risks and benefits of nanotechnology are unlikely to lead to successful outcomes. For example, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) noted that the term 'carbon nanoparticles.' Has been used to describe a range of very diverse nanomaterials such as carbon-60, single-walled carbon nanotubes, and even diesel exhaust, The ASTM, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and International Organization of Standards (ISO) have formed workgroups consisting of industry, academia, and government participants to address the need for common terms and definitions. In December 2006, the ASTM and their partners published standard E2456-06, Terminology for Nanotechnology. This standard is the first step in developing common terms associated with nanotechnology and will be updated as new terms emerge. Some of the definitions in E2456-06 useful for our present discussion are:

  • agglomerate, n—in nanotechnology, a group of particles held together by relatively weak forces (for example, Van der Waals or capillary), that may break apart into smaller particles upon processing, for example.
  • aggregate, n—in nanotechnology, a discrete group of particles in which the various individual components are not easily broken apart, such as in the case of primary particles that are strongly bonded together (for example, fused, sintered, or metallically bonded particles).
  • nanotechnology, n – A term referring to a wide range of technologies that measure, manipulate, or incorporate materials and/or features with at least one dimension between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers (nm). Such applications exploit the properties, distinct from bulk/macroscopic systems, of nanoscale components.
  • nanoparticle, n—in nanotechnology, a sub-classification of ultrafine particles with lengths in two or three dimensions greater than 0.001 micrometer (1 nanometer) and smaller than about 0.1 micrometer (100 nanometers) and which may or may not exhibit a size-related intensive property.

Developing common terminology is essential in effectively communicating results and information associated with this emerging technology.


Back to Top of Page
Why is nanotechnology of interest?

ldm-nanotech_04-0

Photo: Phillips

 The unique physical, chemical, and biological properties of materials at the nanoscale enable novel applications and functions with the potential to promote enormous societal and economic benefits. Some current innovative applications of nanotechnology include the use of nanomaterials in liquid filtration and water purification, as catalysts in petroleum refining and catalytic converters, and in nanoscale biological imaging. In the near future of two to five years, nanotechnology will be integrated into advanced drug delivery systems, real-time medical diagnostic tools, sensors for airborne chemicals or other toxins, and photovoltaics (solar cells), fuel cells and portable power to provide inexpensive, clean energy.

The properties of materials at the nanoscale are attributed to two main factors. First, nanomaterials have a relatively larger surface area when compared to the same mass of material produced in a larger form. This can make materials more chemically reactive (in some cases materials that are inert in their larger form are reactive when produced in their nanoscale form), and affect their strength or electrical properties. Second, quantum effects can begin to dominate the behavior of matter at the nanoscale - particularly at the lower end of the scale- affecting the optical, electrical and magnetic behavior of materials. The photo above shows an example of quantum dots. Particles of inorganic semiconducting crystals with nanometer scale dimensions ("quantum dots") exhibit size-dependent optical properties. In other words, the color of a cadmium-selenium (CdSE) quantum dot will vary depending on the quantum dot’s size, even though the chemical composition of the dot has not changed. Companies are investigating quantum dots to develop composite materials such as those used as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) where the color is determined by the size of the quantum dots. The superior optical properties of quantum dots are being studied for use in diode lasers, optical amplifiers and switches, biological sensors, and solid-state quantum computing.

The unique properties exhibited by nanomaterials for commercial applications also raise concerns regarding potential environmental and human impact of these materials. Scientists, regulators, and the public are asking the question: What do we know about the safety of nanotechnology and nanomaterials?


Why is DTSC interested in nanotechnology?
DTSC sees nanotechnology as the new “plastic” because it will show up in many industrial applications and consumer products. Materials and devices designed at the nanoscale level are being used or considered for use in applications as diverse as cancer treatment to scratch-resistance automotive coatings.  Because of the unique properties of nanomaterials, DTSC is gathering information on nanotechnology and monitoring the efforts of other regulatory agencies about this emerging technology.  DTSC sees a need to understand this industrial sector and its products.  DTSC also wants to work with this emerging industrial sector to incorporate the benefits of "green chemistry" approaches, pollution prevention techniques, and sustainable manufacturing strategies to prevent potential adverse public health and environmental consequences.  "High technologies" such as nuclear power, genetically modified organisms, and ever-smaller consumer electronics have begun to leave their legacy.  The benefits of nuclear power in preventing global warming and genetically modified organisms in increased food production are obscured by public fear of perceived consequences.  Consumer electronics, while providing entertainment and ease today, at the end of their service life produce an increasing burden of "e-waste" the heavy metals of which can cause harm in many ways. Nanotechnologies are diverse in form, substance, function, and  promise. DTSC is working toward a partnership with this industrial sector to develop an industrial ecology of manufacturing to product stewardship approach that will protect public health and the environment. DTSC will also continue to explore the merits of pro-active industrial initiatives and traditional governmental regulatory approaches.

Cover for the report entitled Thinking Big About Thinking Small An Action Agenda for California

Thinking Big About Thinking Small An Action Agenda for California

As a starting point in this process, DTSC reviewed the December 2004 report issued by the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Nanotechnology addressed major areas of concern in promoting nanotechnology research and development, commercialization, facilities and infrastructure, policies and ethics, and education.  The members of the Task Force came from many backgrounds including academia, government, corporate California, start-up and consulting firms, non-profit groups, and industry associations.  Several recommendations called for CalEPA’s involvement in understanding and communicating the environmental, social, and even ethical implications of nanotechnology.


Back to Top of Page
What are its current applications in industry?

Picture of clothing

Some examples of nanotechnology used in clothing are stain-resistant pants and shorts with built-in sunscreen.

Assortment of vegetables

Examples of agrifood research include developing bacterial pathogen detectors from nanochemicals for use post-harvest.

 Some examples of nanotechnology used in clothing are stain-resistant pants and shorts with built-in sunscreen.  Examples of agrifood research include developing bacterial pathogen detectors from nanochemicals for use post-harvest.  Most science and technology experts consider nanotechnology to be an industrial revolution on the horizon that will have an enormous social and economic impact.  However, currently the applied use of nanomaterials and nanotechnology is limited, except in the electronics and information technology industries, where certain minimum feature size of semiconductor devices has been at the nanoscale for several decades.  Companies have introduced nanotechnology in several consumer products such as cosmetics, food and clothing.   The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars developed searchable databases listing the uses of nanotechnology in consumer products and the research being conducted on agrifood (e.g., food, agriculture, forestry, and agroecosystems).  Other applications include new detection systems, filtration media, and electronic chip design.

Additional information

Nanotechnology Related Web Site Links

Nanotechnology Events Calendar (non-DTSC events are provided only for the reader’s information).

General

Environmental Cleanup

Research


Back to Top of Page

Questions, Comments, and Suggestions

If you have any comments or suggestions regarding this web page or questions related to nanotechnology and the environment, please send them to nanotechnology@dtsc.ca.gov.  If you would like to receive updates on DTSC related activities regarding nanotechnology, please subscribe to the DTSC Nanotechnology listserv.
 
 
Copyright © 2007 State of California