Nanoelectronics refers to very small, electrically charged components. Nano is the third smallest increment on the metric scale, and electronics deals with electrical components. Nanotechnology and nanoelectronics have seen advancements due to the ability to work with very small units. The potential for future developments in medicine, technology, and materials is vast, but the study of nanoelectronics is heavily regulated due to potential negative implications.
To understand the meaning of nanoelectronics it is useful to decompose the word into components. The first half of the word nano refers to the size of something, especially something very small. Electronics can be defined as the scientific and technological branch that deals with electrical components or loads. Therefore, the term nanoelectronics refers to very small, electrically charged components.
Scientists over time have developed a universal prefix system for identifying the size of something, usually based on the metric system with the basic unit being the metre. The metric system has a number of prefixes that describe the size of something; for example, the prefix centi means one cent or 0.01. This can also be written as 10 with an exponent of -2. Nano is the third smallest increment described on the metric scale; its value is 0.00000001 or one-billionth of a base value.
A nanometre, for example, would be one billionth of a metre. This is such a small amount that it is difficult for the human mind to comprehend. The point to make here is that the prefix dwarf describes something very small, generally not visible to the eye.
Electronics encompasses a huge variety of concepts and inventions that have been used for a long time in the advancement of technology. At the heart of electronics is the manipulation and use of electrically charged units in ways that release energy, which can then be harnessed for mechanical function. This phenomenon was first discovered by Benjamin Franklin and has allowed us to take part in a variety of activities, such as watching television or having an electrically lit room, often taken for granted in modern times.
Nanotechnology and nanoelectronics, two terms sometimes used interchangeably, have seen a number of advancements due to the modern ability to see and work with very small units. This is due to other scientific advances such as microscopes. Generally, these units are so small that they are on an atomic or molecular scale. The potential for the emerging science of nanoelectronics far exceeds its current use, with future developments in medicine, technology and materials all possible.
The roots of nanoelectronics began to develop in the early 1980s. The tremendous potential for new products and developments within this branch of technology has both positive and negative implications. On the positive side, many advances can lead to life changing or saving innovative materials. Negatively, the radiation involved in molecular manipulation may prove harmful to society, and others fear that this science could be exploited for things like weapons of mass destruction. For these reasons, the study of nanoelectronics is heavily regulated, usually by government sources.
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