‘Nanotech evolved over billions of years’

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: Nanotechnology might have become the buzzword today but few are aware that it was in use in ancient times for producing a number of products. Of late, scientists have not only rediscovered it, they have also reinvented it to keep in pace with changing times, claims American chemist and Nobel Laureate, Robert Floyd Curl Jr of Rice University. Curl is known for his contributions to microwave and laser spectroscopy and the discovery of the first fullerene—the third known form of pure carbon (after diamond and graphite) in 1985. Curl’s initial work was on small clusters of atoms of semiconductors, such as germanium and silicon. For his contributions, Curl shared the 1996 Nobel Prize for chemistry with Smalley and Harold Kroto. Later work on the discovery by other scientists developed fullerene chemistry, devoted to the use of fullerenes in the production of superconductors, industrial catalysts, and nanotubes. Curl was in India recently to participate in the 95th Indian Science Congress in Visakhapatnam. In an interview to Ashok B Sharma, he outlines the future prospects of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Excerpts:

Can nanotechnology surpass other technologies in the times to come?

Nanotechnology is the technology for the future generation. It will surpass all other forms of existing technologies. It can be used not only for industrial purposes but also in life sciences, particularly relating to drug delivery at the targeted points in the body.

How long should we wait to reap the benefits of this emerging technology?

Nanotechnology is not new. It evolved over billions of years as a natural phenomenon. In the medieval period of history, there were instances where nanotechnology was deployed. Many items like the Persian Khanjar and the Damascus steel were made by unconsciously applying nano technology. The iron ore was procured from India and processed in traditional way at requisite temperatures to produce these wonderful items. A hot-forged metal was used in sword making with its particles in microns—one-millionth of a metre. While examining these ancient products, we find the existence of carbon nanotubes in them. Tipu Sultan, the ruler of the erstwhile kingdom of Mysore in India had a sword made of Damuscus steel. India, too, produced many products by unconsciously deploying nanotechnology.