Editing Nanotechnology (section)

==Origins==
{{Main|History of nanotechnology}}
The concepts that seeded nanotechnology were first discussed in 1959 by physicist [[Richard Feynman]] in his talk ''[[There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom]]'', in which he described the possibility of synthesis via direct manipulation of atoms.

[[File:Comparison of nanomaterials sizes.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|right|Comparison of nanomaterials sizes]]

The term "nano-technology" was first used by [[Norio Taniguchi]] in 1974, though it was not widely known. Inspired by Feynman's concepts, [[K. Eric Drexler]] used the term "nanotechnology" in his 1986 book ''[[Engines of creation|Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology]]'', which achieved popular success and helped thrust nanotechnology into the public sphere.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ford |first=Martin |authorlink=Marin Ford |year=2018 |title=[[Rise of the Robots|Rise of the Robots: Technology and the threat of a jobless future]] |publisher=[[Basic Books]] |isbn=978-0-465-09753-1 |page=242 |quote=He coined the term "nanotechnology" and wrote towo books on the subject.  The first, Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology, published in 1986, achieved popular success and was the primary force that thrust nanotechnology into the public sphere.}}</ref>  In it he proposed the idea of a nanoscale "assembler" that would be able to build a copy of itself and of other items of arbitrary complexity with atom-level control. Also in 1986, Drexler co-founded [[The Foresight Institute]] to increase public awareness and understanding of nanotechnology concepts and implications.

The emergence of nanotechnology as a field in the 1980s occurred through the convergence of Drexler's theoretical and public work, which developed and popularized a conceptual framework, and experimental advances that drew additional attention to the prospects. In the 1980s, two breakthroughs helped to spark the growth of nanotechnology. First, the invention of the [[scanning tunneling microscope]] in 1981 enabled visualization of individual atoms and bonds, and was successfully used to manipulate individual atoms in 1989. The microscope's developers [[Gerd Binnig]] and [[Heinrich Rohrer]] at [[IBM Zurich Research Laboratory]] received a [[Nobel Prize in Physics]] in 1986.<ref name="Binnig">{{Cite journal| vauthors = Binnig G, Rohrer H |title=Scanning tunneling microscopy|journal=IBM Journal of Research and Development|volume=30|issue=4|year=1986|pages=355–369 |doi=10.1147/rd.441.0279}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Press Release: the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physics|url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1986/press.html|publisher=Nobelprize.org|access-date=12 May 2011|date=15 October 1986|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605005907/http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1986/press.html|archive-date=5 June 2011}}</ref> Binnig, [[Calvin F. Quate|Quate]] and Gerber also invented the analogous [[atomic force microscopy|atomic force microscope]] that year.

[[File:C60 Molecule.svg|thumb|upright=0.8|left|[[Buckminsterfullerene]] C<sub>60</sub>, also known as the [[buckyball]], is a representative member of the [[Allotropes of carbon|carbon structures]] known as [[fullerene]]s. Members of the fullerene family are a major subject of research falling under the nanotechnology umbrella.]]

Second, [[fullerenes]] (buckyballs) were discovered in 1985 by [[Harry Kroto]], [[Richard Smalley]], and [[Robert Curl]], who together won the 1996 [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry]].<ref>{{Cite journal | vauthors = Kroto HW, Heath JR, O'Brien SC, Curl RF, Smalley RE |doi=10.1038/318162a0|title=C<sub>60</sub>: Buckminsterfullerene|journal=Nature|volume=318|issue=6042|pages=162–3 |year=1985 |s2cid=4314237|bibcode=1985Natur.318..162K}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Adams WW, Baughman RH | title = Retrospective: Richard E. Smalley (1943-2005) | journal = Science | volume = 310 | issue = 5756 | pages = 1916 | date = December 2005 | pmid = 16373566 | doi = 10.1126/science.1122120 | doi-access = free }}</ref> C<sub>60</sub> was not initially described as nanotechnology; the term was used regarding subsequent work with related [[carbon nanotube]]s (sometimes called [[graphene]] tubes or Bucky tubes) which suggested potential applications for nanoscale electronics and devices. The discovery of [[carbon nanotubes]] is attributed to [[Sumio Iijima]] of [[NEC]] in 1991,<ref name="carbon">{{Cite journal|title=Who should be given the credit for the discovery of carbon nanotubes?|doi=10.1016/j.carbon.2006.03.019| vauthors = Monthioux M, Kuznetsov V |journal=[[Carbon (journal)|Carbon]]|volume=44|year=2006|url=http://www.cemes.fr/fichpdf/GuestEditorial.pdf|pages=1621–3|issue=9|bibcode=2006Carbo..44.1621M|access-date=2019-07-09|archive-date=2009-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929073818/http://www.cemes.fr/fichpdf/GuestEditorial.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> for which Iijima won the inaugural 2008 [[Kavli Prize]] in Nanoscience.

In the early 2000s, the field garnered increased scientific, political, and commercial attention that led to both controversy and progress. Controversies emerged regarding the definitions and potential implications of nanotechnologies, exemplified by the [[Royal Society]]'s report on nanotechnology.<ref name="royalsociety">{{cite web |date=July 2004 |title=Nanoscience and nanotechnologies: opportunities and uncertainties |url=http://www.nanotec.org.uk/finalReport.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526060835/http://www.nanotec.org.uk/finalReport.htm |archive-date=26 May 2011 |access-date=13 May 2011 |publisher=Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering |page=xiii}}</ref> Challenges were raised regarding the feasibility of applications envisioned by advocates of molecular nanotechnology, which culminated in a public debate between Drexler and Smalley in 2001 and 2003.<ref name="counterpoint">{{cite journal|url=http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/8148/8148counterpoint.html|title=Nanotechnology: Drexler and Smalley make the case for and against 'molecular assemblers'|journal=Chemical & Engineering News|volume=81|issue=48|pages=37–42|date=1 December 2003|access-date=9 May 2010|doi=10.1021/cen-v081n036.p037|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Meanwhile, commercial products based on advancements in nanoscale technologies began emerging. These products were limited to bulk applications of [[nanomaterials]] and did not involve atomic control of matter. Some examples include the [[Silver Nano]] platform for using [[silver nanoparticles]] as an [[Bactericide|antibacterial agent]], [[nanoparticle]]-based sunscreens, [[Carbon fibers|carbon fiber]] strengthening using [[Silicon dioxide|silica]] nanoparticles, and [[Carbon nanotube|carbon nanotubes]] for stain-resistant textiles.<ref name="americanelements">{{cite web|title=Nanotechnology Information Center: Properties, Applications, Research, and Safety Guidelines|url=http://www.americanelements.com/nanomaterials-nanoparticles-nanotechnology.html|publisher=[[American Elements]]|access-date=13 May 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226011154/http://www.americanelements.com/nanomaterials-nanoparticles-nanotechnology.html|archive-date=26 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="emergingnano">{{cite web|year=2008|url=http://www.nanotechproject.org/inventories/consumer/analysis_draft/|publisher=The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies|title=Analysis: This is the first publicly available on-line inventory of nanotechnology-based consumer products|access-date=13 May 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505011238/http://www.nanotechproject.org/inventories/consumer/analysis_draft/|archive-date=5 May 2011 }}</ref>

Governments moved to promote and [[Funding of science|fund research]] into nanotechnology, such as American the [[National Nanotechnology Initiative]], which formalized a size-based definition of nanotechnology and established research funding, and in Europe via the European [[Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development]].

By the mid-2000s scientific attention began to flourish. Nanotechnology roadmaps centered on atomically precise manipulation of matter and discussed existing and projected capabilities, goals, and applications.<ref name="PNRoadmap">{{cite web |title=Productive Nanosystems Technology Roadmap |url=http://www.productivenanosystems.com/docs/Nanotech_Roadmap_2007_main.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130908014630/http://www.productivenanosystems.com/docs/Nanotech_Roadmap_2007_main.pdf |archive-date=2013-09-08}}</ref><ref name="NASAroadmap">{{cite web |title=NASA Draft Nanotechnology Roadmap |url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/501325main_TA10-Nanotech-DRAFT-Nov2010-A.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122114146/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/501325main_TA10-Nanotech-DRAFT-Nov2010-A.pdf |archive-date=2013-01-22}}</ref>