hanna_wittmack_DESMA9_Blog_07

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 NanoTech + Art: 


This week we looked into the development of nanotech over the years and analyzed its connections to art. The term nanotech was coined by Japanese professor and scientist Norio Taniguchi¹ to describe the process scientists have developed to manipulate at the scale of a single atom. Nano is the greek root for dwarf and tech is an abbreviation for technology hence technology used to work with extremely small scales. So small in fact, that a single nanometer is approximately three atoms long². Seen below (Figure 1) is a diagram that shows what scale a nanometer would fall under; between a singular protein and the size of a virus. 

Figure 1: 
1 *, Name. “Size-Comparison-Bio-Nanoparticles Nanometer Scale Comparison Nanoparticle Size Comparison Nanotechnology Chart Ruler.” Wich Research Lab, 3 Aug. 2017, https://www.wichlab.com/nanometer-scale-comparison-nanoparticle-size-comparison-nanotechnology-chart-ruler-2/.

While the technology has been developing for the past few decades, working with nano particles isn't a new idea. In fact many ancient civilizations used nanoparticles to create natural solutions. In ancient Rome artists used nano particles of specific metals to color their work. A 

Famous example is The Lycurgus Cup, a glass cup covered in ornamentation which appears green but changes to red depending on if light is passed through it³. They were able to capture this seemingly trick by grinding down precious metals such as silver and gold and embedding it into the glass itself.⁴Pictured below is the Lycurgus Cup with both angles of light.(Figure 2)

Figure 2: “Drinking-Cup: British Museum.” The British Museum, https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1958-1202-1.


Today we use Nanoparticles in many aspects of everyday life. A prime example is its use in athletic gear. In fact “Nanotechnology has changed the properties of materials to a great extent and among the various developed products, nanofibers (NFs) have great significance”⁵ Using the nano metals allows for fabric to reduce smells and bacteria resulting in long lasting use through tough wear. Below (Figure 3) is  an example of the technology used in a pair of socks. 

FIgure 3: “Men Nanosilver Ankle Socks 3 Pairs Bundle.” Einashop, 8 Mar. 2022, https://www.einashop.com/product/men-nanosilver-ankle-socks/.

Citations: 

1 “What Is Nanotechnology?” National Nanotechnology Initiative, https://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101/what/definition#:~:text=In%20his%20talk%2C%20Feynman%20described,Taniguchi%20coined%20the%20term%20nanotechnology. 

2 “What Is Nano?” NNCI, https://nnci.net/what-nano#:~:text=Nano%20is%20an%20SI%20prefix,smaller%20than%20our%20everyday%20experience. 



3 “Drinking-Cup: British Museum.” The British Museum, https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1958-1202-1. 


4 Magazine, Smithsonian. “This 1,600-Year-Old Goblet Shows That the Romans Were Nanotechnology Pioneers.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 1 Sept. 2013, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/this-1600-year-old-goblet-shows-that-the-romans-were-nanotechnology-pioneers-787224/. 



5 Gharehaghaji, Ali Akbar. “Nanotechnology in Sport Clothing.” Materials in Sports Equipment (Second Edition), Woodhead Publishing, 24 May 2019, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780081025826000186. 



Image Citations: 

 

1 *, Name. “Size-Comparison-Bio-Nanoparticles Nanometer Scale Comparison Nanoparticle Size Comparison Nanotechnology Chart Ruler.” Wich Research Lab, 3 Aug. 2017, https://www.wichlab.com/nanometer-scale-comparison-nanoparticle-size-comparison-nanotechnology-chart-ruler-2/. 


2 “Drinking-Cup: British Museum.” The British Museum, https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1958-1202-1. 


3 “Men Nanosilver Ankle Socks 3 Pairs Bundle.” Einashop, 8 Mar. 2022, https://www.einashop.com/product/men-nanosilver-ankle-socks/. 


Comments

  1. Vivek ChotaiMay 18, 2022 at 9:58 PM

    Hi Hanna,
    I liked how you touched upon color in your blog post. In the lecture the professor said that the color of particles at the nano level actually change from what we think their colors are with our eyes. I find that really interesting. I never knew colors could change with the magnification of the lens you look at the particles from. Thanks for the post!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Geovany MartinMay 22, 2022 at 6:19 PM

    Hi Hanna,
    I found it interesting how you brought up that nanotech is actually used in athletics. I did not know that was a thing. After reading up on it I found that nanotech is actually being used everywhere in sports equipment. It is used to reduce equipment weight and amplify efficiency. For example they began to add nanotech to tennis and footballs in order for longer use.

    ReplyDelete

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