Nanotechnology (sometimes shortened to "nanotech") is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale.

Generally nanotechnology deals with structures sized between 1 to 100 nanometer in at least one dimension, and involves developing materials or devices within that size.

Nanotechnology is very diverse, ranging from extensions of conventional device physics to completely new approaches based upon molecular self-assembly , from developing new materials with dimensions on the nanoscale to investigating whether we can directly control matter on the atomic scale.

Buckminsterfullerene C60, also known as the buckyball, is a representative member of the carbon structures known as fullerenes. Members of the fullerene family are a major subject of research falling under the nanotechnology umbrella. The first use of the concepts found in 'nanotechnology' was in a talk given by physicist Richard Feynman. Feynman described a process by which the ability to manipulate

individual atoms and molecules might be developed, using one set of precise tools to build and operate another proportionally smaller set, and so on down to the needed scale.In the course of this, he noted, scaling issues would arise from the changing magnitude of various physical phenomena: gravity would become less important, surface tension and van der Waals attraction would become increasingly more significant, etc. This basic idea appeared plausible, and exponential assembly enhances it with parallelism to produce a useful quantity of end products.

. The term "nanotechnology" was defined by Professor Norio Taniguchi in a 1974 paper[2] as follows: "'Nano-technology' mainly consists of the processing of, separation, consolidation, and deformation of materials by one atom or by one molecule." In the 1980s the basic idea of this definition was explored by Dr. K. Eric Drexler. Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology(1986) is considered the first book on the topic of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology and nanoscience got started in the early 1980s with two major developments; the birth of cluster science and the invention of the scanning tunneling microscope. This development led to the discovery of fullerenes in 1985 and carbon nanotubes a few years later. In another development, the synthesis and properties of semiconductor nanocrystals was studied; this led to a fast increasing number of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles and quantum dots. The atomic force microscope was invented six years after the STM was invented.

The picture gives the usage of nanotechnology in our daily life

By utilizing molecular nanotechnology, compact fuel cell can be made possible thereby making vehicle packaging efficient. New strong, light weight materials can derive from various sources and be 100% recyclable.

Nanotechnology Aids Cheap Fuel Cell Development in UK and Iran Nanotechnology has already helped provide many breakthroughs in all areas of science, technology and engineering. Scientists in the UK and Iran are now using nanotechnology to aid in creating cheaper and more durable fuel cells for cars and production of hydrogen. According to Nanowerk, Ulster scientists have found a cheaper solution that could help bring fuel cell devices a step closer to the market. To create a catalyst system that can tolerate more carbon monoxide, they deposited platinum nanocrystals on a support material of graphene oxide and reduced it slightly to increase its electrical conductivity.

They used a simple scalable, fast and eco-friendly microwave approach that has the advantage of reducing graphene oxide (RGO) and forming platinum nanoparticles simultaneously. To test the activity of the Pt/RGO the team looked at the oxidation of methanol a reaction that takes place at the anode of a methanol fuel cell. Their research shows that the new material displays an unprecedented CO poisoning tolerance, a much better long term stability and a higher electrocatalytic activity than those exhibited by commercially available carbon-supported Pt (Pt/C) electrocatalysts.

In Iran, scientists are using fuel cells in reverse to produce cheap, purified hydrogen gas. they first synthesized and stabilized the low-cost nanoscale copper on the surface of modified polymeric glassy carbon electrode, then synthesized platinum metallic nanoparticles by Galvanic replacement of copper nanoparticles with platinum ions and propagated them on the modified polymeric electrode surface. The content of the deposited platinum nanoparticles on the electrode surface is very low in this method. As a matter of fact, the most decomposing yield is produced by deposition of the least amount of platinum on the modified polymeric electrode surface.

The electrolyte includes an ionic conductive polymer membrane; a porous support having nano-sized pores; and inorganic conductive nanoparticles including an ionic conductive material impregnated into the porous support. The inorganic conductive nano-particles are impregnated into microchannels formed by aggregation of polar portions of the ionic conductive polymer membrane, and/or between polymer backbones of the ionic conductive polymer membrane.

The amount of porous support comprises 50-300 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the inorganic conductive nano-particles. The ionic conductive nanoparticles used is in the range of 3-90 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight the polymer electrolyte, and a mixed weight ratio of the porous support and the ionic conductive material is 1:9 to 9:1, and the ionic conductive polymer membrane comprises at least one ionic conductive polymer selected from the group consisting of a 4fluorinated sulfonated polymer and a benzene sulfonated polymer membrane having a benzene ring; wherein the inorganic conductive nanoparticles have a size of from about 0.1 to about 50 nm; and wherein the ionic conductive polymer membrane has a thickness of from 30 to 200 microns.

The polymer electrolyte inorganic conductive nanoparticles are impregnated into an ionic conductive polymer membrane by: soaking an ionic conductive polymer membrane in a solvent; adding a heteropoly acid to the ionic conductive polymer membrane in the solvent to form a mixture; and mixing a precursor of a porous support with the mixture, wherein by mixing the heteropoly acid and the precursor, the heteropoly acid and the precursor react to form inorganic conductive nano-particles within at least one selected from the group of microchannels formed by aggregation of polar portions of the ionic conductive polymer membrane, and between polymer backbones of the ionic conductive polymer membrane, thus impregnating the ionic conductive polymer membrane with inorganic conductive nano-particles.

Graph 1; ionic conductivity of a polymer electrolyte . Graph 2; change in cell potential with respect to current density and nanoparticles used in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs)

Nano Fuel Saver uses both the latest nanotechnology and the principle of FIR to make your driving experience extraordinary. After installation, it absorbs the heat energy from engine to lead out FIR thermal energy to minify fuels molecules, purify impurities contained in the fuel, advance atomization effect, enhance complete combustion, increase horsepower and torque, improve fuel economy, reduce engine vibration, faster acceleration, cut down fuel consumption, reduce engine carbon build-up, reduce toxic exhaust emissions to diminish air pollution, keep the engine in optimum condition to extend its lifetime, easy installation, no engine refit, and no chemical additive.

According to a report from iRAP, Fuel Cells, Hydrogen Energy and Related NanotechnologyA Global Industry and Market Analysis, the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industry is highly fragmented. Worldwide about 3870 organizations are involved in fuel cells, hydrogen energy and related nanotechnology and spent an estimated $8.4 billion in 2008. This market is estimated at $8.8 billion in 2009 and expected to increase to $14 billion by 2014, with a compound average growth rate of 9.6%. More than 2180 organizations are involved in nanotechnology related to fuel cells and hydrogen energy and will spend a total of $4.7 billion for fuel cells and hydrogen energy incorporating nanotechnology. Of that $4.7 billion, about $2 billion in 2008 represents the value of nanotechnology for fuel cells and hydrogen energy separate from all other expenditures.

Those organizations involved in nanotechnology are developing electrodes, catalysts, membranes as well as nano coating, thermal and filtration products for fuel cells as well as materials for hydrogen production, purification and storage. More than half the organizations involved in fuel cells, hydrogen energy and related nanotechnology have overlapping interests and are developing more than one kind of fuel cell or technology for more than one type of fuel cell. They may also offer balance of plant products that can be applied to more than one type of fuel cell such as fuel reformers, pumps and compressors and power electronics. Manufacturing equipment is also similar for some fuel cell types such as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) even though their chemistry is very different. Nanotechnology manufacturing methods that can be applied to PEMFCs is often applicable to DMFCs as both use proton exchange membranes but different types of fuel.

The lure of fuel cells is the promise to be one of the most ubiquitous products of the 21st century. Fuel cells can compete with batteries, the internal combustion engine and the power grid. Hydrogen can compete with any fuel now produced and cause no pollution but its price is higher than gasoline or natural gas because it is difficult to transport and store. Nanotechnologies will provide the technological keys that enable fuel cells and hydrogen as a fuel to become competitive and commonplace. Nanomaterials can make up 10% to 25% of the cost of a fuel cell. we can target up to 30% energy savings using this technologie.