Nanotechnology for Dummies

387 Pages·2007·8.37 MB·English

by Richard Booker and Earl Boysen

Nanotechnololgy

FOR
DUMmIES

‰

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Nanotechnololgy

FOR
DUMmIES

‰

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by Richard Booker and Earl Boysen

Nanotechnololgy

FOR
DUMmIES

‰

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Nanotechnology For Dummies®

Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774

www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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ISBN-13: 978-0-7645-8368-1

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About the Authors

Richard Booker is a doctoral student at Rice University working under Dr.
Richard Smalley, discoverer of the buckyball. He was lucky enough to get an
outstanding education, starting with four intense years at Boston University
earning a computer-engineering degree. After college, he joined the Air Force,
where he managed weapon systems and researched battlespace networks
while simultaneously working on his master’s degree in computer engineering.

After four years, Captain Booker left the wild blue yonder to pursue his Ph.D.
in applied physics at Rice and delve into the “new” world of nanotechnology.
Rich’s next ambitious adventure will be developing the armchair quantum
wire (see Chapters 4 and 5 of this book) and helping to bring other nano-
applications to market. His interests include flying, skydiving, scuba diving,
music, art, movies and, in his spare time, working on being humble.

Earl Boysen is an engineer who, after 20 years in the computer-chip industry,
decided to “slow down” and move to a quiet town in Washington. Earl is the
co-author of Electronics For Dummies, and holds degrees in chemistry and
physics. He lives in a house he designed and built himself, and keeps as busy
as ever writing, acting, teaching math and science, dancing, and walking.

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Dedication

For Him who gave us wisdom and heart to help each other.

For my fantastically supportive parents, Richard and Lorraine: Dad, whose
insatiable appetite for knowledge, tenacity, and hard work ethic led me by
example; and Mom, whose great teaching, organizational skills, and love kept
me sane during my writing.

— R.B.

To my wonderful lady, Nancy, who (as well as providing support during the
writing of this book) is the best thing that ever happened to me.

— E.B.

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Authors’ Acknowledgments

We’d like to thank our acquisitions editor, Katie Feltman, for giving us this
opportunity and Richard Smalley for permitting his graduate student (Rich)
to write this book in his “spare time.”

Our project editor Paul Levesque and copy editor Barry Childs-Helton did a
fantastic job at deciphering our nano-lingo and “Dummying” the rest. The
graphic artists at Wiley did a great job at reproducing graphics — and a spe-
cial thanks to those who provided use of photos free of charge; both fulfilled
our vision of visually representing nanotech.

Special thanks to Nancy Stevenson for helping out on several of the chapters.

We’d also like to thank some of our tech reviewers:

Drs. Enrique Barrera, Wade Adams, and Howard Schmidt

Ph.D.s in training Joseph Cole, Aaron Saenz, Erik Haroz, Sungbae Lee, and
Tushar Prasad

To our Web site developer, Jasyn Chen — thanks for all your hard work and
generosity.

And yes, nanoscientists do marry supermodels.

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Publisher’s Acknowledgments

We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our online registration form
located at www.dummies.com/register/.

Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions, Editorial, and
Media Development

Project Editor: Paul Levesque

Acquisitions Editor: Katie Feltman

Senior Copy Editor: Barry Childs-Helton

Technical Editor: Earl Boysen

Editorial Manager: Leah Cameron

Permissions Editor: Laura Moss

Media Development Manager:
Laura VanWinkle

Media Development Supervisor:
Richard Graves

Editorial Assistant: Amanda Foxworth

Cartoons: Rich Tennant (www.the5thwave.com)

Composition Services

Project Coordinator: Shannon Schiller

Layout and Graphics: Jonelle Burns,
Karl Brandt, Carl Byers, Andrea Dahl
Lauren Goddard, Stephanie D. Jumper
Lynsey Osborn, Rashell Smith

Proofreaders: Leeann Harney, Jessica Kramer,
Joe Niesen, TECHBOOKS Production
Services

Indexer: TECHBOOKS Production Services

Publishing and Editorial for Technology Dummies

Richard Swadley, Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher

Mary Bednarek, Executive Acquisitions Director

Mary C. Corder, Editorial Director

Publishing for Consumer Dummies

Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher

Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director

Composition Services

Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

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Contents at a Glance

Introduction ................................................................1

Part I: Getting Small with Nanotechnology ....................7

Chapter 1: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Nanotechnology ................................................9
Chapter 2: Nano in Your Life ..........................................................................................29
Chapter 3: Gathering the Tools of the Trade ...............................................................39
Part II: Building a Better World with Nanomaterials ....63

Chapter 4: Nanomaterials Galore ..................................................................................65
Chapter 5: Adding Strength with Composites .............................................................83
Part III: “Smarter” Computers! Faster Internet!
Cheaper Energy! ......................................................115

Chapter 6: Building a Better Digital Brain ..................................................................117
Chapter 7: Routing Information at the Speed of Light ..............................................161
Chapter 8: Nano-fying Electronics ...............................................................................183
Chapter 9: Getting Energy and a Cleaner Environment with Nanotech .................201
Part IV: Living Healthier Lives ..................................219

Chapter 10: Diagnosing Personal Health Quickly, Easily, and Pain-Free ................221
Chapter 11: The Fantastic Voyage into Medical Applications .................................249
Part V: Investing in Nanotech ...................................279

Chapter 12: Industries Going Small .............................................................................281
Chapter 13: Countries Investing In a Nano Future ....................................................291
Chapter 14: Nanotechnology Goes to School ............................................................305
Part VI: The Part of Tens ..........................................317

Chapter 15: Ten (or So) Nanotech Movers and Shakers ..........................................319
Chapter 16: Further Reading on the Web and in Your Library ................................327
Glossary ..................................................................333

Index .......................................................................343

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