Exploring the Current Literature on Nanotechnology

Exploring the Current Literature on Nanotechnology

Part 1

Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary field which is concerned with materials and processes taking place in the nanoscale. Nanotechnology utilizes scientific and technological approaches to gain understanding and control atoms and nanostructures in the fields of physics, biology, chemistry and technology. In recent years, nanotechnology has attracted a great deal of attention among scholars and international scientific organizations because of the application of nanoparticles in today’s innovation in the field of medicine and communication. Numerous nanotechnology conferences have been convened in different cities across the globe in order to enable scholars to learn more about the field and create a platform for sharing ideas and opinions that can shape nanoscience. The participants in these conferences are normally science researchers, professors, delegates, science communities, business executives, investors and students who are either exhibiting knowledge or exploring new advancements in the industry. There are many nanotechnology and nanoscience-related conferences being held across the world, which are varying in magnitude. The following are the top conferences which have been held in the recent past:

Conference 1:

1. The recently highly ranked nanotechnology conference was held in Tokyo, Japan at Tokyo International Convention and Exhibition Center (Tokyo Big Sight). The conference was named “NanoTech 2020 – The 19th International Nanotechnology Exhibition & Conference” and took place from January 29-January 31, 2020. Its official website is https://www.nanotechexpo.jp/.

   Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page

   GET CUSTOM PAPER
2. The objective of this conference was to showcase new innovations in different nanotechnology fields including electronics, energy, precision equipment, industrial machinery and biotechnology. More than 43,000 professionals and exhibitors participated in the conference (“Jethro”).
3. The fair was broken down into a series of thematic sessions. Each exhibitor was allocated between 3-7 hours to showcase their products.
4. The conference is top-rated because it’s an annual fair which attracts leading companies and professionals in the world. The conference attracts many exhibitors than other similar events in Europe and the United States.

Conference 2:

1. Another top-rated nanotech conference held recently was “The International Nanotech & Nanoscience Conference and Exhibition Nanotech”, which took place in Paris, France from June 26-June 28, 2019. The conference venue was the Espace Saint-Martin Exhibition Center. Its website is http://www.nanotechfrance.com/.
2. The conference was convened to enable the exchange of the latest information in nanotechnology and nanoscience between leading scientists, researchers, technology developers, researchers and policymakers. The conference presented new opportunities for students and business communities in the area of innovation and research. The topics discussed included advanced nanomaterials, nanoelectronics, nanotechnology safety, nano applications, etc.
3. The major segment of the conference was the presentation of the keynotes speakers, who were allocated 45 minutes each. Oral presentation and invited talks were done in 15 minutes and 30 minutes, respectively. There were also 2-3 minutes for discussion on the topic presented by the speakers.
4. This conference is highly-ranked because of its international status and the high number of submissions it attracted. The participants of the fair also include eminent personalities and top international industry players.

Conference 3:

1. “International Nanotechnology Exhibition and Conference” duped Nano Israel is another highly rated nanoscience conference. The 18th edition of the conference was held at International David Televiv Center, Israel from May 14 – May 16, 2019. The conference’s website is https://www.nanoilconf.com.The conference was aimed at exploring and discussing new opportunities in nanotechnology. International participants had the opportunity to learn about the highly-developed Israel’s nanotechnology industry.
2. Each of the 300 exhibitors present at the conference was allocated 30 minutes for a presentation. The invited speakers were allocated 1 hour to present on the selected topics.
3. Nano Israel is a top-rated conference owing to Israel’s success in nanotechnology. Hundreds of researchers, doctors, engineers and investors from all over the world attended the 18th edition.

Part b) Top Nanotechnology Scientists, Researchers, Engineers

First scientist

1. a) Charles M. Lieber

Lieber is an American nanoscientist who has contributed enormously to the conceptualization and the growth of nanotechnology. Lieber is currently the head of the Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department at Harvard University. Due to his numerous scientific publications, Lieber was named as the leading chemist in the world in the period 2000 to 2010. Lieber works under his group called Lieber Research Group, which is based at Harvard University. The group’s website is http://cml.harvard.edu/.

1. b) Current research

Lieber is currently researching on the development of nanoelectronics-enabled cellular tools and modulation of neural activity in brain science. Lieber intends to integrate the central nervous system with the electronics in a more efficient and less-destructive manner. This work is aimed at producing a mechanism that can treat stroke, traumatic injury and neurological diseases. The work has been recognised once as one of the top ten world-changing ideas.

1. c) Major contributions

Lieber has contributed greatly in publishing several peer-reviewed scientific journals and editing of many books on nanoscience. As a researcher, he has also contributed to the rational growth and applications of nanoscale materials and heterostructures that provided the bottom-up paradigm of nanotechnology. His three major contributions include (i) nanomaterials synthesis, where he articulated the growth of nanometer-diameter wires and how it can be predicted; (iii) Nanoelectronics and nanophotonics, where he used quantum-confined core to demonstrate ballistic and quantum transport; and (iii) development of parallel and scalable assembly of nanowire and nanotube building blocks (“People Pill”).

1. d) H-index and number of citations

According to the Google Scholar Database, Charles Lieber currently has an h-index of 64 and 18,649 citations.

Second scientist

1. a) Ben Feringa

Ben Feringa is another top nanotechnologist. Feringa has specialised in nanotechnology and molecular analysis. He’s currently the professor of organic chemistry in the University of Groningen, and he is regarded as one of the best scientists, both within Netherland and worldwide. He is the head of his research group called Ben Reringa Research Group (http://www.benferinga.com/group.php), which has contributed holistically to the development of expertise in organic chemistry and nanotechnology.

1. b) Current research

Feringa is currently focused on developing phytopharmacology and structure-based approach to smart antibiotics together with his group. He has also been working on the construction of a photoactive protein-peptides- and DNA-bioconjugates in his labs since 2010.

1. c) Major contributions

Feringa has achieved many breakthroughs in various fields of chemistry and nanoscience. His first major work is the development of design and synthesis of molecular machines, an achievement that earned him a Nobel Prize in 2016 “(Nobel Prize”). With this invention, Feringa managed to develop a molecular motor by making a molecular rotor blade to continuously spin in the same direction. His other work is the use of chiral electromagnetic radiation to generate enantioselectivity and other components used in asymmetric catalysis. In his early work, Feringa also contributed to the development of chiroptical molecular switches used in an optical display.

1. d) H-index and number of citations

Ben Feringa had done over 945 research works which have attracted an h-index of 101 and 42128 citations (“Google Scholar”).

Third scientist

1. a) James Tour

James Tutor is another top American nanotechnologist which has contributed greatly to the growth of the industry. Tour is currently the professor of chemistry and materials & nanoengineering at Rice University. Tour was ranked in 2019 among the top 100 of the 7 million scientists who had published at least five articles in their careers. He has also been named as the most influential nanotechnologists in other reports. Tour currently works with his colleagues in a research group called James M Tour based at Rice University. The group’s website is https://www.jmtour.com/.

1. b) Current research

Tour’s scientific research is focused on nanoelectronics, green carbon, grapheme electronics and carbon nanovectors. He is currently researching on the nano elements that support and originate life. Tour wants to use the ability of random mutation to account for the complexity of life. He wants to develop scientific tools that can be used to assess the evolution and the origin of life.

1. c) Major contributions

Tour has achieved a lot of milestones both as a student and as a professor. As a student, Tour developed Nanokids concept for K-12 education and other related nanoscale packages such as Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution. These discoveries later expanded to SciRave program, which has risen to be number one widely adopted program for complementing science teaching in schools in Texas. His second greatest contribution to nanotechnology was the development of oxide-based transparent electronic memories that can be built onto flexible substrates. His third greatest contribution was the synthesis of graphene oxide, a mechanism that is currently used in capturing radionuclides from water (“People Hill”).

1. d) H-index and number of citations

Tour’s work is rated to have 144 h-index and 10, 0860 citations (“Google Scholar”).