ACCORDING to committee on science U.S. House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Basic Research draft-hearing charter on "The state of Nano-science and its prospects for the next decade" Major new efforts in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology at the Department of Energy will take advantage of opportunities afforded by recent advances. These efforts will be part of the Basic Energy Sciences (BES) program and have the following broad goals: (1) to attain a fundamental scientific understanding of nanoscale phenomena, particularly collective phenomena; (2) to achieve the ability to design and synthesize materials at the atomic level to produce materials with desired properties and functions; (3) to attain a fundamental understanding of the processes by which living organisms create materials and functional complexes to serve as a guide and a benchmark by which to measure our progress in synthetic design and synthesis; and (4) to develop experimental characterization tools and theory/modeling/simulation tools necessary to drive the nanoscale revolution.

EXAMPLES

Nanostructures also allow scientists to manipulate light in ways not previously possible. Based on nanofabricating several 100 nanometer-sized bars into regular structures, photonic lattices allow the steering of light beams around corners, and reflect them with near 100% efficiency.This capability represents the new generation of nanocomponents that may herald in an age of optical computing.Already, structuring semiconductors at the nanoscale led to the development of the Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser or VCSEL the most efficient, low-power light source available and fast becoming a key 21st Century technology for communications.

The Sandia National Laboratory already has used ion-implantation techniques to create lightweight aluminum composite surfaces that are as strong as the best steel available. Beams of energetic particles produce surface layers, which improve friction and wear of metals for long-term use in micro mechanical devices. These beams might be used to create unimagined performance of nanomaterials for tiny components and also with other techniques for large-scale synthesis of stronger, lighter materials that are more economical to produce. Automotive bodies and engine blocks might never be the same

For example, Nanomix is working on the first commercially available product made using molecular electronics--Sensors that use nanotube sensing elements on a silicon chip. The sensor chips offers the highest sensitivity in the smallest possible package. Electronic sensing is simple and direct, offering higher signal to noise ratios than competing technologies. Applications include toxic gas leak detection, medical monitoring and industrial control. A key to the success of the emerging fuel cell industry is the discovery of new ways to store hydrogen. Using novel new nanomaterials, Nanomix has developed a new Hydrogen Storage System that equals the energy density of gasoline. Engineering prototypes are being used to demonstrate the technology's feasibility for the fuel cell powered automobiles slated for commercial production in 2005. And, efforts are underway to design new hydrogen storage materials to power micro-fuel cells in portable electronics, toys and power tools.

NASA's Nanotechnology Mission: National Aeronautics Space Agency (NASA) views Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at the gateway to future breakthroughs due to the following characteristics:

Advanced miniaturization is a key thrust area to enable new science and exploration missions.

Ultrasmall sensors, power sources, communication, navigation, and propulsion systems with very low mass, volume and power consumption are needed.

Revolutions in electronics and computing will allow reconfigurable, autonomous, "thinking" spacecraft.

Nanotechnology presents a whole new spectrum of opportunities to build device components and systems for entirely new space architectures.

Networks of ultrasmall probes on planetary surfaces

-Micro-rovers that drive, hop, fly, and burrow.

Collection of microspacecraft making a variety of measurements.

Uwaje is CEO of Connect Technologies Ltd.