Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology – Complete GK Capsule for Railway Exams
“The science of the ultra-small with mega-impact on economy, health & environment.”
1. What is Nanotechnology?
- Definition: Branch of science & engineering that deals with materials, devices and systems at 1–100 nanometre (nm) scale (1 nm = 10⁻⁹ m).
- Coined by: Prof. Norio Taniguchi (University of Tokyo, 1974).
- Popularised by: Dr. K. Eric Drexler through his 1986 book “Engines of Creation”.
2. Key Facts & Figures
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| 1 nanometre | 10⁻⁹ m ≈ 1/80,000 width of human hair |
| Size of DNA helix | ≈ 2 nm |
| Size of red blood cell | ≈ 7,000 nm |
| Atoms in 1 nm cube (gold) | ≈ 88,000 |
| World nanotech market 2023 | ≈ US $ 76 billion |
| Projected market 2030 | US $ 125 billion (CAGR ~9 %) |
| India’s Nano-Mission budget (2019-24) | ₹ 650 crore |
3. Historic Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1959 | Richard Feynman gives visionary talk “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom” (29 Dec). |
| 1974 | Term “nanotechnology” first used by Taniguchi. |
| 1981 | Invention of Scanning Tunnelling Microscope (STM) – Binnig & Rohrer (Nobel 1986). |
| 1985 | Discovery of Buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀) – Curl, Kroto & Smalley (Nobel 1996). |
| 1991 | Sumio Iijima discovers carbon nanotubes (CNT). |
| 2000 | US launches National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). |
| 2001 | India starts Nano-Science & Technology Initiative (NSTI) under DST. |
| 2007 | India’s Nano-Mission approved (₹ 1,000 crore for 5 years). |
| 2019 | National Mission on Nano-Science & Technology (NSTM) under 12th Plan extension. |
4. Nano-Structures & Examples
| Structure | Size | Example Use |
|---|---|---|
| Quantum dot | 2–10 nm | QLED TVs, bio-imaging |
| Nanoparticle (Ag) | 10–50 nm | Antibacterial coatings in railways |
| Carbon nanotube | 1–50 nm Ø | Lightweight overhead railway wires |
| Fullerene (C₆₀) | 0.7 nm | Drug delivery, lubricants |
| Nanocomposite | — | Stronger rail composites, self-cleaning coach paints |
5. Applications in Indian Railways
| Area | Nano-enabled solution |
|---|---|
| Coaches | Nano-TiO₂ self-cleaning & anti-microbial paints (1st trial 2019, Hubballi workshop). |
| Tracks | Nano-enhanced R400W & R350HT rails → 40 % more wear life. |
| Wires | CNT-reinforced catenary wires → 20 % power saving, 30 % weight reduction. |
| Bearings | Nano-lubricants → 15 % reduction in energy loss. |
| Sensors | Nano-chemiresistor for real-time CO₂ & smoke detection in coaches. |
| Water | Nano-silver & TiO₂ membranes in RO plants at stations → 99.9 % bacterial kill. |
6. Quick Reference Tables
A. Nano-Scale vs. Objects
| Object | Approx. size |
|---|---|
| Atom (H) | 0.1 nm |
| Glucose molecule | 1 nm |
| Virus | 50–200 nm |
| Bacterium | 1,000 nm (1 µm) |
B. Government Bodies & Labs (India)
| Acronym | Full Form | Location |
|---|---|---|
| DST-NSTM | Dept. of Science & Tech – Nano Mission | New Delhi |
| JNCASR | Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Adv. Sc. Res. | Bengaluru |
| IIT-B | Centre for Nano-Science & Engg. | Mumbai |
| ARC-I | Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy | Hyderabad |
| CGCRI | Central Glass & Ceramic Res. Inst. | Kolkata |
7. One-liner Revision Bullets
- Golden ratio of nano: 1–100 nm where quantum & surface effects dominate.
- Top-down approach: etching/lithography; Bottom-up: self-assembly of atoms.
- CNT tensile strength is 50× that of steel at ⅙ weight.
- Nano-coatings on locomotive pistons reduce friction by 25 %.
- Bharat Nano-Products Ltd. (Hyderabad) 1st PSU to commercialise nano-TiO₂.
- Nano-silver socks supplied to RRB staff in 2022 to prevent fungal infection.
- World Nano Day: 9 October (10⁻⁹).
8. 15+ MCQs for Railway Exams
Click to expand MCQs with answers
The term ‘nanotechnology’ was coined by
A) Richard Feynman
B) Norio Taniguchi
C) Eric Drexler
D) Sumio Iijima
Ans: B1 nanometre is equal to
A) 10⁻⁶ m
B) 10⁻⁹ m
C) 10⁻¹² m
D) 10⁻³ m
Ans: BWho discovered carbon nanotubes?
A) Curl & Kroto
B) Binnig & Rohrer
C) Sumio Iijima
D) C.V. Raman
Ans: CThe first Indian nano-mission was launched in
A) 2001
B) 2005
C) 2007
D) 2014
Ans: CFullerene C₆₀ is also known as
A) Buckyball
B) Quantum dot
C) Nanorod
D) Graphene sheet
Ans: AWhich nano-material is used in self-cleaning coach paints of Indian Railways?
A) Nano-silver
B) Nano-ZnO
C) Nano-TiO₂
D) Nano-Al
Ans: CWorld Nano Day is celebrated on
A) 1 May
B) 9 October
C) 28 February
D) 15 September
Ans: BThe tensile strength of carbon nanotube is about ______ times that of steel.
A) 5
B) 10
C) 25
D) 50
Ans: DWhich microscope made nanoscale imaging possible?
A) Electron microscope
B) Scanning Tunnelling Microscope
C) Light microscope
D) Simple microscope
Ans: BNano-silver is primarily used for its
A) Magnetic property
B) Optical property
C) Antimicrobial property
D) Superconductivity
Ans: CThe size range of quantum dots lies approximately between
A) 1–10 nm
B) 10–100 nm
C) 100–500 nm
D) 0.1–0.5 nm
Ans: AIndia’s National Mission on Nano-Science & Technology is implemented by
A) DRDO
B) DST
C) ISRO
D) Ministry of Railways
Ans: BWhich approach involves building nano-devices atom-by-atom?
A) Top-down
B) Bottom-up
C) Left-right
D) Centre-out
Ans: BThe projected global nanotech market by 2030 is around
A) $ 50 bn
B) $ 76 bn
C) $ 100 bn
D) $ 125 bn
Ans: DThe first trial of nano-paint on railway coaches was done at
A) Kapurthala
B) Hubballi
C) Perambur
D) Banaras
Ans: BCNT-reinforced catenary wires can save about ______ % electric energy.
A) 5
B) 10
C) 20
D) 40
Ans: CNobel Prize for discovery of fullerene was given in
A) 1985
B) 1990
C) 1996
D) 2000
Ans: CWhich of the following is NOT a natural nano-material?
A) Clay
B) Viruses
C) Graphene
D) Lotus leaf wax
Ans: C (synthesised)The approximate number of atoms in a 1 nm gold cube is
A) 8,800
B) 88,000
C) 880,000
D) 8.8 million
Ans: BIndia’s nano-mission budget for 2019-24 was
A) ₹ 350 cr
B) ₹ 500 cr
C) ₹ 650 cr
D) ₹ 1,000 cr
Ans: C
🎯 Remember: Nano = 10⁻⁹ m; Feynman 1959, Taniguchi 1974, CNT 1991; DST-Nano Mission 2007; Railways use nano-TiO₂ paints & CNT wires for energy & hygiene savings.
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