Society owes much to the advancements in nanoscience, a field that has revolutionized health monitoring and miniaturized electronics. As scientists continue to explore the chemistry at the nanoscale, the transition of various nanotechnologies from the laboratory to the marketplace is paving the way for a multi-billion-pound sector in the coming decades.
An article published in the journal Nano Letters earlier this year outlined potential developments in nanoscience over the next 25 years. Among the significant issues that society must address, environmental, health, and technological challenges are expected to drive the field forward.
Improving Health and Environment
Nanoparticles have been a focal point of nanotechnology research, particularly in drug delivery systems. Katsuhiko Ariga from the University of Tokyo explains that mimicking the body’s ability to release molecules like neurotransmitters in response to signals is a goal for nanoscience. He emphasizes, “Intelligent release of drugs – by constructing controlled nanostructures – is the goal going forward.” Such systems may include nanobots and other active materials that respond to stimuli like chemical gradients, magnetic fields, or sound waves, enabling targeted drug delivery.
However, challenges remain. Teri Odom from Northwestern University, who led the Nano Letters article, notes, “There is still not yet an actively targeted nanoconstruct that has been [US Food and Drug Administration] approved.” Beyond nanomedicine, nanotechnology can enhance health monitoring through improved wearable electronics and sensors, like those in smartwatches. Overcoming the challenge of balancing electronic and mechanical performance in materials could lead to enhanced sensing capabilities and better integration with the human body.
Odom also highlights the environmental impact of nanotechnology, stating, “Over the last years, there have been good discussions about the risks of nanoscience but less on how nanoscience can benefit the environment.” Innovations such as membranes with angstrom-sized nanochannels could aid in desalinating seawater or reclaiming precious metals from industrial waste. Nanoscale catalysts might convert pollutants into usable products, contributing to a circular economy of commodity chemicals. However, manufacturing these membranes and catalysts on an industrial scale requires atomic-level precision in macroscale structures.
Next-Generation Technology
Andrea Ferrari, director of the Cambridge Graphene Centre in the UK, stresses the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in the future of nanotechnology. He explains that while developing a novel nanomaterial can be time-consuming, AI and computational methods could accelerate the discovery of new materials. “AI data centres also require a vast amount of energy, so we need new materials to meet the demands of such centres,” he says. This necessity could drive advancements in perovskite photovoltaic cells and solar-powered fuels.
Nanomaterials are also being explored to enhance battery technologies, according to Douglas Natelson, a nanoscientist at Rice University. Novel nanomaterials for battery electrodes and supercapacitors could increase interface surface areas, improving energy storage and supporting the transition to renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
Going Quantum
The next generation of computing is likely to be driven by quantum technology, which can solve complex problems beyond the reach of conventional computers. Chemists are particularly interested in quantum computing for chemical modeling and tackling challenges such as nitrogen fixation by the nitrogenase enzyme. Current quantum computing capabilities are limited to arrays of around 1000 qubits operating at ultralow temperatures. Reducing qubits’ size and error rate, and integrating them into existing technology, will require advancements across nanoscience.
Ariga believes that efforts to create materials exhibiting quantum phenomena at the macroscopic level must intensify. Building on the quantum properties of zero-dimensional quantum dots and one-dimensional carbon nanowires is essential. Connecting the nanoscale world to the macroscopic one is becoming possible through layers of 2D materials held together with van der Waals forces. These methods allow for precision engineering of electronic structures by varying layer order, twist angles, and defect types.
Natelson notes, “There’s a lot of fundamental work that still needs to be done on just understanding these 2D materials and growing them at scale.” Advances in microscopic techniques will offer better resolution on atomic positions below a sub-angstrom scale. Detectors capable of capturing events from chemical reactions to quantum effects on the order of milli to picoseconds using sub-watt power supplies could unlock real-time monitoring of in-situ experiments. Machine learning and AI may also assist in data analysis and automate the characterization of new materials.
Regulating a Growing Field
Since nanoscience’s inception, policymakers have developed ethical and safety standards alongside scientific progress. Natelson points out, “The safety recommendations you would make for a block of something is different to the same 1kg of stuff ground up into 10nm particles,” highlighting how nanoparticles interact differently with the environment compared to standard chemicals.
However, it is estimated that fewer than 20% of nanomaterials on the market comply with current international guidelines on exposure and toxicity testing protocols. This limitation reduces their effectiveness in assessing the impact on health and the environment. The variability in size, shape, and surface chemistry of nanomaterials complicates standardizing safety assessments, even with standardized synthetic procedures.
Natelson emphasizes, “One of the real goals is to be able to efficiently and accurately assess concerns – you don’t want it to take 30 years to figure out what the impacts [of a nanomaterial] are.” Developing standardized, high-throughput structure-toxicity assays with shorter turnaround times could increase the proportion of nanomaterials tested efficiently.
Despite the challenges, Natelson acknowledges the importance of nanoscience in addressing technical challenges, stating, “There’s no shortage of technical challenges that we face in the world and nanotechnology is not going to solve all of them … but I think that there are certain aspects where nanoscience is certainly going to be important.” Odom concurs, noting that many significant outcomes, such as mRNA vaccines and advanced battery electrode materials, are due to nanoscience. She believes that chemists will continue to play a crucial role in advancing discoveries, but recognizes that “it will take many disciplines working closely together for the most significant breakthroughs.”
