Small, Very Small
Nanotechnology refers to the design, production, and application of structures, devices or systems at the incredibly small scale of atoms and molecules. Nanoscience is the study of phenomena and the manipulation of materials at this scale, generally understood to be 100 nanometres (nm) or less. To put 100nm in context, a single strand of DNA measures 2.5nm across, red blood cells measure about 7,000nm and a human hair is 80,000nm wide.
Often people will interchange reference to nanotechnology and nanoscience. It is common to use the term nanotechnology to refer to the production and use of nanoscale materials (nanomaterials). Materials at the nanoscale level include nanoparticles (e.g., metal oxides), nanotubes, nanowires, quantum dots, and carbon fullerenes (buckyballs), among other things..
Self-Powered
Scientists have developed nanoscale devices that self harvest energy. This means they are self powered, at a nanoscale scale. Some refer to these types of devices that are able to provide power on a miniscule scale ‘power plants nanogenerators.’
These self powering devices that have no need for battery replacements have been incorporated into implantable biosensors. The technology is also used in various sensors for environmental uses and infrastructure.
MEMS
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are becoming widespread, from homeland security to use in nanorobotics.
Low Power
One unique aspect to these devices is that they typically operate at a very low power level, in the range of nanowatts to microwatts.
Power Sources
Developers have found ways to use the vibrations or motions of a location (e.g. roadways), temperature variations, biochemistry, ultrasonic waves, and audible noises as a power source in the design of these devices.
The human body provides numerous sources of fuel for nanomechanical devices and microchip sensors. Sources from the body include mechanical energy, heat energy, vibrational energy, chemical energy (in the form of glucose), and hydraulic energy (circulatory system). These energy sources convert into electricity, and only a very small amount is needed for these devices to work.
Electromagnetic Transducers
Scientists have built small vibration- based generators using both piezoelectric and electromagnetic transducers. The electro-magnetic microgenerator utilizes a moving magnet or coil for inducing an alternating electric current in a circuit.
Although some microgenerators have been fabricated at the scale of MEMS, the technology tends to require structures ranging from one to 75 cubic centimeters, which work in vibration ranges from 50 hertz (cycles per second) to five kilohertz. A typical piezoelectric vibration-based generator uses a two-layered beam of lead zirconium titanate. Researchers designed the device to create a positive and negative voltage across the beam. As the mass oscillates back and forth, an alternating voltage is created.
Zinc Oxide Nanowires
Zinc oxide nanowires are one form of nanotechnology. They are crystal that is grown on a solid conductive material using a standard vapor-liquid-solid process in a small tube furnace. The typical diameter of the nanowires is 30 to 100 nanometers, measuring one to three microns in length.
Detection
Since nanotechnology is so small, it is not very easily detected by doctors or methods that one would normally use to look for something undesirable. Most people don’t have microscopes or equipment that can see at the nanoscale level. It is possible to use an EMF meter; however, to detect the frequencies generated at a nanowatt or milliwatt level. In fact, when a microchip or nanosensor is present, you may likely see two levels switching back and forth on the meter (one slightly more powerful and one less powerful at the exact same frequency).