Nanoengineering. Учебное пособие

times a second. Dr. Sykes was excited about the future of his discovery, (11)

____: "The next thing to do is to get the thing to do work that we can measure - to [link] it to other molecules, lining them (12) ____ next to one another so they're like miniature cog-wheels.”

Comprehension

5.Mark the following statement as T(true) or F(false).

1.Scientists have made the second-smallest motor ever invented.

2.The motor was made with just a single molecule.

3.The molecule in the motor has a width of a millionth of a metre.

4.The motor is 200 times smaller than the current world-record holder.

5.Scientists can also make molecules create movement from light.

6.Sykes’ creation is the third molecule device to be accepted as a motor.

g. Dr Sykes’ molecule motor spins at a rate of 50 times a second.

h.Next, Dr Sykes will make cog wheels for the world’s smallest watch.

6.Find sentences in the text that include the words below and translate them:

Vocabulary development

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8. Match up. Sometimes more than one choice is possible.

Grammar focus

9. Point out Adverbial Participle constructions and Absolute Participle constructions in the following sentences, translate them accordingly.

1.Structural approaches of nanotechnology facilities having been discussed, scientists came to the conclusion that nanotechnology requires extremely stable environment.

2.If developed, new technologies will be used for measuring nanoscale forces and dimensions.

3.Appropriate nanotechnology criteria having been specified due to thorough research, scientists cannot always incorporate them in nanotechnology facilities.

4.Being successfully used in memory circuits, resonant tunneling devices deserve special attention in the context of this report.

5.Being fabricated from nonmagnetic materials, the read heads would not suffer from magnetic noise limitations.

6.Discovered in Japan, carbon nanotubes are divided into two basic types: single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) and multiwalled nanotubes (MWNTs).

7.Being hollow, nanotubes are lightweight, transparent to visible light and are excellent conductors of electricity.

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8.Though first demonstrated in nanotube transistors in the late 1990, nanotubes were first commercially used as structural reinforcements in composites and in lithium-ion batteries.

9.The temperature rising from absolute zero to 78000 K, disintegration of a double-wall nanotube happens.

10.Made of structures designed at the molecular level, DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) machines with moving parts could be employed as nanomechanical sensors, switchers as well as for more elaborate robotic functions.

Speaking

10. Discuss the following questions in class.

1.How do you think scientists can work with and make things that are a billionth of a metre wide?

2.Do you think the molecule motor is a feat of scientific genius?

3.What would the inventors of the first motors over a hundred years ago think of a nanotechnology motor?

4.How is it possible a single molecule can make a motor?

5.What things do you find mind-boggling?

6.What would you like nanotechnology (the tech of the future) to do?

7.Why do you think people are interested in nanotechnology?

Writing

11. Write a letter to a nanotechnology expert. Ask him/her three questions about nanotechnology. Give him/her three ideas on what to make next. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

UNIT 8. NANOTECHNOLOGY IN FOOD

Before you read

1. Train the pronunciation and translate the international words and word combinations.

nanocomposite, field, health benefits, nanoparticle, researcher, possibility, antibacterial protection, stability, nanosensor, nanocapsule, to contain, to enhance, storage system, nutrient, particular, to encapsulate, to pursue, plant, growth, safety

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2. Give the Russian equivalents to the following English words.

impact, to deliver, clay, impermeable, embedded, previously, harmful, silicate, moisture, to spoil, to incorporate, contaminate, sample, to conduct, properly, nutrient, flavor, enhancer, to trigger, to accomplish, to pursue, dispenser, deficient, fertilizer

3. Read the text and say what new facts you have found out. Nanotechnology in Food

Nanotechnology is having an impact on several aspects of food science, from how food is grown to how it is packaged. Companies are developing nanomaterials that will make a difference not only in the taste of food, but also in food safety, and the health benefits that food delivers.

Clay nanocomposites are being used to provide an impermeable barrier to gases such as oxygen or carbon dioxide in lightweight bottles, cartons and packaging films. Storage bins are being produced with silver nanoparticles embedded in the plastic. The silver nanoparticles kill bacteria from any material that was previously stored in the bins, minimizing health risks from harmful bacteria. Researchers are using silicate nanoparticles to provide a barrier to gasses (for example oxygen), or moisture in a plastic film used for packaging. This could reduce the possibility of food spoiling or drying out. Zinc oxide nanoparticles can be incorporated into plastic packaging to block UV rays and provide anti bacterial protection, while improving the strength and stability of the plastic film.

Nanosensors are being developed that can detect bacteria and other contaminates, such as salmonella, at a packaging plant. This will allow for frequent testing at a much lower cost than sending samples to a lab for analysis. This point-of-packaging testing, if conducted properly, has the potential to dramatically reduce the chance of contaminated food reaching grocery store shelves.

Research is also being conducted to develop nanocapsules containing nutrients that would be released when nanosensors detect a vitamin deficiency in your body. Basically this research could result in a super vitamin storage system in your body that delivers the nutrients you need, when you need them. «Interactive» foods are being developed that would allow you to choose the desired flavor and color.

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Nanocapsules that contain flavor or color enhancers are embedded in the food; inert until a hungry consumer triggers them. The method hasn't been published, so it will be interesting to see how this particular trick is accomplished. Researchers are also working on pesticides encapsulated in nanoparticles; that only release pesticide within an insect's stomach, minimizing the contamination of plants themselves.

Another development being pursued is a network of nanosensors and dispensers used throughout a farm field. The sensors recognize when a plant needs nutrients or water, before there is any sign that the plant is deficient. The dispensers then release fertilizer, nutrients, or water as needed, optimizing the growth of each plant in the field one by one.

Comprehension

4. Answer the questions.

1.What are the aims of companies developing nanomaterials?

2.Why are clay nanocomposites being used?

3.Why are storage bins being produced with silver nanoparticles embedded in the plastic?

4.How can zinc oxide nanoparticles incorporated into plastic help?

5.What will allow for frequent testing at a much lower cost than sending samples to a lab for analysis?

6.Under what condition has this point-of-packaging testing the potential to dramatically reduce the chance of contaminated food reaching grocery store shelves?

7.What kind of system will be a super vitamin storage system in your

body?

8.What would «interactive» foods allow you to do?

9.What is the benefit of pesticides encapsulated in nanoparticles?

10.How can a network of nanosensors and dispensers used throughout a farm field help?

Word Building

5. Give derivatives from the following words and translate them.

Example: to deliver – delivery – deliverer

to embed, harm, to spoil, to conduct, deficient, to enhance, to trigger, to publish, to accomplish, to pursue, frequent, to fertilize

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Vocabulary development

6. Match the words similar in meaning.

7. Match each word with its opposite.

8. Find the English equivalents in the text.

иметь влияние на кого-либо (что-либо); польза для здоровья; непреодолимый барьер; углекислый газ; упаковочная пленка; контейнер (бункер) для хранения; встроенный в пластмассу; обеспечить антибактериальную защиту; улучшить прочность; заметно (значительно) сократить; зараженная еда; недостаток витаминов; доставить питательные вещества.

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contains nanoparticles of silver that inhibits the growth of mildew and bacteria.

• Solar cells that can be installed as a coating on windows or other building materials, referred to as «Building Integrated Photovoltaic's».

Text 2

Nanotechnology in Space

Nanotechnology may hold the key to making space flight more practical. Advancements in nanomaterials make lightweight solar sails and a cable for the space elevator possible. By significantly reducing the amount of rocket fuel required, these advances could lower the cost of reaching orbit and traveling in space. In addition, new materials combined with nanosensors and nanorobots could improve the performance of spaceships, spacesuits, and the equipment used to explore planets and moons, making nanotechnology an important part of the «final frontier». Researchers are looking into the following applications of nanotechnology in space flight:

•Employing materials made from carbon nanotubes to reduce the weight of spaceships while retaining or even increasing the structural strength.

•Using carbon nanotubes to make the cable needed for the space elevator, a system which could significantly reduce the cost of sending material into orbit.

•Including layers of bio-nano robots in spacesuits. The outer layer of bio-nano robots would respond to damages to the spacesuit, for example to seal up punctures. An inner layer of bio-nano robots could respond if the astronaut was in trouble, for example by providing drugs in a medical emergency.

•Deploying a network of nanosensors to search large areas of planets such as Mars for traces of water or other chemicals.

•Producing thrusters for spacecraft that use MEMS devices to accelerate nanoparticles. This should reduce the weight and complexity of thruster systems used for interplanetary missions. One cost-saving feature of these type of thrusters is their ability to draw on more or less of the MEMS devices depending upon the size and thrust requirement of the spacecraft, rather than designing and building different engines for different size spacecraft.

•Using carbon nanotubes to build lightweight solar sails that use the pressure of light from the sun reflecting on the mirror-like solar cell to pro-

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pel a spacecraft. This solves the problem of having to lift enough fuel into orbit to power spacecraft during interplanetary missions.

• Working with nanosensors to monitor the levels of trace chemicals in spacecraft to monitor the performance of life support systems. Prepare a

5-minutes’ presentation about one of the ideas given above.

Text 3

How can nanotechnology improve the capabilities of electronic components?

Nanoelectronics holds some answers for how we might increase the capabilities of electronic devices while we reduce their weight and power consumption. Researchers are looking into the following nanoelectronics projects:

1.Building transistors from carbon nanotubes to enable minimum transistor dimensions of a few nanometers and developing techniques to manufacture integrated circuits built with nanotube transistors.

2.Using electrodes made from nanowires that would enable flat panel displays to be flexible as well as thinner than current flat panel displays.

3.Using MEMS techniques to control an array of probes whose tips have a radius of a few nanometers. These probes are used to write and read data onto a polymer film, with the aim of producing memory chips with a density of one terabyte per square inch or greater.

4.Transistors built in single atom thick graphene film to enable very high speed transistors.

5.Combining gold nanoparticles with organic molecules to create a transistor known as a NOMFET (Nanoparticle Organic Memory FieldEffect Transistor).

6.Using carbon nanotubes to direct electrons to illuminate pixels, resulting in a lightweight, millimeter thick «nanoemmissive» display panel.

7.Using quantum dots to replace the fluorescent dots used in current displays. Displays using quantum dots should be simpler to make than current displays as well as use less power.

8.Making integrated circuits with features that can be measured in nanometers (nm), such as the process that allows the production of integrated circuits with 22 nm wide transistor gates.

9.Using nanosized magnetic rings to make Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM) which research has indicated may allow memory density of 400 GB per square inch.

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