SATHEE: Nanotechnology

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: B
1 nanometre is equal to
A) 10⁻⁶ m
B) 10⁻⁹ m
C) 10⁻¹² m
D) 10⁻³ m
Ans: B
Who discovered carbon nanotubes?
A) Curl & Kroto
B) Binnig & Rohrer
C) Sumio Iijima
D) C.V. Raman
Ans: C
The first Indian nano-mission was launched in
A) 2001
B) 2005
C) 2007
D) 2014
Ans: C
Fullerene C₆₀ is also known as
A) Buckyball
B) Quantum dot
C) Nanorod
D) Graphene sheet
Ans: A
Which 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: C
World Nano Day is celebrated on
A) 1 May
B) 9 October
C) 28 February
D) 15 September
Ans: B
The tensile strength of carbon nanotube is about ______ times that of steel.
A) 5
B) 10
C) 25
D) 50
Ans: D
Which microscope made nanoscale imaging possible?
A) Electron microscope
B) Scanning Tunnelling Microscope
C) Light microscope
D) Simple microscope
Ans: B
Nano-silver is primarily used for its
A) Magnetic property
B) Optical property
C) Antimicrobial property
D) Superconductivity
Ans: C
The 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: A
India’s National Mission on Nano-Science & Technology is implemented by
A) DRDO
B) DST
C) ISRO
D) Ministry of Railways
Ans: B
Which approach involves building nano-devices atom-by-atom?
A) Top-down
B) Bottom-up
C) Left-right
D) Centre-out
Ans: B
The projected global nanotech market by 2030 is around
A) $ 50 bn
B) $ 76 bn
C) $ 100 bn
D) $ 125 bn
Ans: D
The first trial of nano-paint on railway coaches was done at
A) Kapurthala
B) Hubballi
C) Perambur
D) Banaras
Ans: B
CNT-reinforced catenary wires can save about ______ % electric energy.
A) 5
B) 10
C) 20
D) 40
Ans: C
Nobel Prize for discovery of fullerene was given in
A) 1985
B) 1990
C) 1996
D) 2000
Ans: C
Which 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: B
India’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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