Difference between Nanotechnology and Nanoscience

Nanotechnology and nanoscience are two fields of study concentrating on things at the nanoscale scale. Any studies involving items smaller than a hundred nanometers fall under the purview of nanotechnology or nanoscience. These topics are interdisciplinary, combining information from various disciplines such as physics, chemistry, engineering, and biology.

The ability to observe and manipulate individual atoms and molecules is fundamental to nanoscience and nanotechnology. Particles make up everything on Earth, such as the food we consume, the clothes we wear, the buildings and houses we reside in, and our bodies.

In general, technology refers to applying science to a specific living goal. While science is the objective pursuit of information that improves our understanding of the world, technology implements that knowledge to develop useful objects for everyday living. Nanotechnology, in that meaning, is the implementation of nanoscience.

Technically, there is no distinction. Nanotechnology, often called nanoscience, studies atom or molecule-level material for specific uses. It also addresses the method of creating or manufacturing such materials in connection with the application. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter long, and nanotechnology is focused on imaging, measuring, modeling, and controlling materials on this scale. Nanoscale research, engineering, and technology are all addressed.

Nanoscience and nanotechnology have received worldwide attention as fascinating topics in science and engineering, especially for their possible industrial applications. Both involve examining extremely small objects and can be applied to any other branch of science. Nanoscience and nanotechnologies involve the research and application of very small things, such as nanometer-sized materials.

Nanotechnology applications have emerged with the increasing need for nanoparticles used in different fields of the food industry and food microbiology, such as food preparation, packaged food, nutritional and functional development, and food hygiene. Nanotechnology has the potential to reduce total medical costs, improve things, and add value to drug therapy, mainly by boosting the effectiveness of drug development, illness diagnostics, and drug delivery.

So, in essence, nanoscience refers to the study of nanoparticles and their characteristics, whereas nanotechnology is the application of those substances and features to create something new or distinct. Nanotechnology has the potential to change the way we exist.

Read this article to find out more about Nanotechnology and Nanoscience and how they are different from each other.

What is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is creating tiny items at the cellular scale using various techniques. Nanotechnology refers to establishing tools and strategies to develop a nanoscale architecture or system that uses molecular properties to be more precise and effective. Nanotechnology concentrates on properties like hardness, lightweight, thermal and electrical conductivity, and responsiveness to develop and produce useful objects using nanotechnology understanding of material properties at the nanoscale.

In nanotechnology, there are two approaches known as top-down and bottom-up. Nanotechnology also incorporates ideas such as structure made and molecular machines. Nanotechnology uses man-made and natural materials with sizes less than 100 nm. Nanotechnology has been praised as having the power to improve energy efficiency, help improve the environment, and tackle major health problems. It is believed to be able to massively increase manufacturing output while massively reducing expenses.

Nanotechnology is used in various industries, including computer technology, automobiles, healthcare, textiles, and agriculture. Nanotechnology is expected to be the next industrial revolution, and many countries, institutions, and businesses worldwide are heavily investing in the field of nanotechnology

Manufacturing field effects circuits with carbon nanotubes is an instance of a nanotechnology application. As a result, objects categorized as nanotechnology are expected to have one or more sizes on the nanometer scale. Nanotechnology is observing, manipulating, detecting, constructing, controlling, and producing materials at the nanometer scale to convert the nanoscience concept to useful daily applications.

What is Nanoscience?

The study of objects that have a size of fewer than a hundred nanometers in at least one dimension is defined as nanoscience. When things decrease to the nanometer scale, their behavior changes and the laws that regulate them may no longer remain the same as when they were larger

Nanoscience is focused on determining the underlying rules of these tiny objects, providing conceptual models that describe the behavior of these nanostructured materials, and analyzing their attributes. Nanoscience is the convergence of atomic physics with the physics and chemistry of complicated systems.

How atoms and molecules combine on the nanoscale into larger structures affects important properties of substances, such as electrical, optical, thermodynamic, and mechanical characteristics. Moreover, because quantum state phenomena are important in nanometer-sized objects, these properties often diverge from those on the macroscale. Furthermore

nanomaterials can be used to develop new types of solar panels, fuel cells, and hydro storage systems that can provide renewable energy to developing nations that rely heavily on non-renewable polluting fuels.

Differences between Nanotechnology and Nanoscience

The following table highlights the major differences between Nanotechnology and Nanoscience −

Characteristics	Nanotechnology	Nanoscience
Definition	The science and engineering of understanding and controlling matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale is defined as nanotechnology.	Nanoscience is nuclear physics's convergence with complicated systems' physics and chemistry
Dimensions	Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary field that researches and manipulates materials at scales ranging from one to 100 nanometers.	Understanding the fundamental interactions and behaviors of systems restricted to nanoscale dimensions is the goal of nanoscience
Theory	The science and technology of objects at the nanoscale level is referred to as nanotechnology.	Studying the forces and theories at work in nanotechnology is only one aspect of the field of nanoscience.
Approach	There are two approaches in nanotechnology one is top-down, and the other is a bottom-up approach	It involves the development of a theoretical model to describe the features of nanoscale objects
Application	Nanotechnology involves the study of nanoscience to implement in various fields like medicine, automobile, IT sector, etc	The knowledge of nanoscience is important to implement in nanotechnology

Conclusion

Nanoscience and nanotechnology are at the cutting edge of contemporary research. The rapidly expanding economy in this area needs professionals with outstanding expertise in nanoscience and the capacity to use this knowledge in newer products.

Interdisciplinary science training is crucial for providing industry and research facilities with high-quality specialists who possess a broad background in numerous sub-disciplines, including computers, physics, chemistry, science, and biotechnology, as well as being specialists in a particular field.