The "nano-fever" is coming. At present, more than 200 enterprises in China hold high the banner of "nano", and more enterprises will enter the competition of nano products in the future. This seems to mean that the nano age is not far away from us. What people want to know most is: "Are there any nano products at present?" Many people even doubt whether nanotechnology has been applied in related fields. Some people think that nanotechnology is still in the laboratory and has not gone to the market. So what exactly is nano? How about the application of nanotechnology now? With various speculations about the application of nanotechnology, a few days ago, the reporter interviewed relevant experts and enterprises on the occasion of Beijing International Week of High-tech Industries.
Many advertisements for nano-products are misleading consumption.
With the increase of media reports and advertisements on nano-products, the word nano may no longer be strange to many people, but I am afraid that many people have not yet figured out what nano is.
At the Canton Fair held not long ago, the reporter saw that many manufacturers were selling products containing nanotechnology. Huzhou Huayuan Tianchang Import and Export Company took a sip of their "nano-silk"; Shandong Xiaoya Group grandly launched "Nano Washing Machine"; Meiling's advertisement about nano-refrigerator is in full swing ... but when the reporter interviewed the person in charge of the relevant manufacturer, few people could make it clear.
What is nano? According to experts, nanometer is the unit of length, and 1 nanometer is only the negative 9 power of 1 meter. Nanotechnology is a high-tech that rose in the late 1980s. Nano-material is a brand-new ultrafine solid material. Generally, ultrafine particles with a particle size of 1- 100nm are called nanoparticles.
Nanometer is just a unit of length. Why are manufacturers so keen on branding their products? On May 12, Chen Benming, a researcher at the Polymer Materials Laboratory of Chinese Academy of Sciences and a senior consultant of Sinocospulen Company, said in an interview that the most advanced part of nanotechnology focuses on microelectronics and wiring in integrated circuits. If the width of the wire reaches nanometer level, the volume of all electronic products will be greatly reduced. In the future, cameras can be installed in eyes, robots can be installed in blood vessels, and computers may be reduced to the size of matchboxes or even smaller. In addition, materials science is also an important aspect of nanotechnology application. Using nano-materials as refrigerator liner will greatly improve the impact strength of refrigerator, and also play an antibacterial, bacteriostatic and bacteriostatic role. Using nanotechnology to produce clothing fabrics not only has soft texture, good moisture conductivity, good air permeability and comfortable wearing, but also produces far infrared, antistatic and electromagnetic radiation, which plays a role in sterilization and cleaning. For example, anti-ultraviolet nano-particles are added to polyester, so that they are evenly dispersed in polyester melt to make anti-ultraviolet polyester chips, which have higher viscosity and better stability than ordinary polyester. The anti-ultraviolet polyester produced from anti-ultraviolet polyester chips can be widely used in tents, umbrellas, summer women's wear, agricultural work clothes and sportswear. For example, far-infrared fibers can be developed by adding far-infrared nano-ceramic materials to the fibers, and the fabrics processed with this fiber have the effect of heat preservation and health care.
Chen Benming believes that nanotechnology will be widely used in all walks of life, and it will bring a beautiful world to mankind. Known as the "industrial revolution" of 2 1 century. Some people call it "industrial monosodium glutamate". If it is sprinkled in traditional industries, it will be a miracle. Chen Benming pointed out that the application of nanotechnology is still in its infancy. At present, some enterprises launch advertisements such as "nano refrigerator" and "nano paint", which are actually misleading consumption. Some household appliances, such as refrigerators and washing machines, only use nano-materials, but not all of them use nano-materials. If all nanotechnology is used, the size of the refrigerator will be very small, too small to be seen by the naked eye. So small refrigerators and washing machines are of no practical value. Therefore, we can't generally refer to the products using nano-parts technology as "nano-products".
Ma Bing, associate researcher of Institute of Chemical Metallurgy, China Academy of Sciences, and leader of the special group of plasma chemical engineering, has been engaged in nanotechnology research for many years as an expert in plasma technology-nano-ceramic material preparation engineering in China. On March 13, he revealed to reporters the present situation and future development direction of nanotechnology research in China. "China began to study fine materials related to nanotechnology from 1974, but there was no concept of nanometer at that time. Later, with the introduction and research of nano concept abroad, further research began in China. At present, the successful research and application of nanotechnology in China is mainly nano-powder materials, while the research of nano-solid materials and integrated circuits is still being further explored. "
Ma Bing believes that once nanotechnology is applied to a certain industry, it will increase the profit of this industry by dozens of times. Take paint as an example. At present, the price per ton of common coatings on the market is about 20,000 yuan, while the price per ton of coatings using nanotechnology can reach 250,000-400,000 yuan, which is also the real intention of some manufacturers to flaunt "nano products".
It is still difficult for nano to go from laboratory to market.
People have been speculating that nanotechnology is still in the laboratory and has not really come to market. At present, some advertisements about nano-products are just hype concepts by manufacturers.
Chen Benming does not agree with all kinds of speculations from the outside world. He believes that nanotechnology has been widely used in material applications. Many domestic refrigerator manufacturers have adopted nano-materials as refrigerator liners, and nano-materials are also widely used as clothing fabrics in the clothing industry.
In this regard, Chen Ben Ming told reporters about his difficult journey from a scientist who studied and applied nanotechnology to an entrepreneur who promoted nanotechnology products. He said that in the early 1990s, the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed an ultra-fine denier polyester yarn, which is a garment raw material using nanotechnology. Because people doubt the function of polyester yarn, it has been unable to be popularized in the market. In order to turn scientific research achievements into products, the Chinese Academy of Sciences had to set up Spun Company, so he went to sea as the general manager of Spun Company. The company spins, weaves and dresses itself, and sends people to all parts of the country, especially the southeast coast, during which it has suffered a lot. So far, the company has not made a profit. Chen Benming believes that it takes a long time to promote the marketization of scientific research achievements, which requires the support of the government and the understanding of the society, especially when new technologies and new products have just come out, and should not be misinterpreted and stifled in the bud. We should also understand and support the application and popularization of nanotechnology. We should not unilaterally say that nanotechnology is still in the laboratory and has not yet reached the market, killing an enterprise that actively promotes nanotechnology.
The industrialization of nanotechnology needs government support.
The appearance of nano-materials and technology is quite noticeable, and almost all industrialized countries are paying attention to the research process of nano-technology, especially the research and application in material science. However, experts predict that the industrialization of nanotechnology is still far away, and the research and application of nanotechnology in China is far less mature than that abroad.
According to experts such as Zhang Xiwei of China Textile Research Institute, the US Army Systems Command and university of akron are jointly developing nanofiber materials for clothing, and making use of the low density, high porosity and large specific surface area of nanofibers to make multifunctional protective clothing. This kind of microfiber net has many micropores, which is similar to a film product. It can allow vapor diffusion (i.e. "breathability"), prevent wind and filter fine particles. Due to the barrier of aerosol, it can provide protection against biological or chemical weapons and biochemical poisons, while breathability ensures the comfort of wearing. In addition, some American companies and universities have also jointly studied the preparation of polyethylene oxide microfibers for medical dressings and nonwovens.
Li Xuejun, a senior engineer of China Cosplon Company, said that at present, it has become the focus of foreign research institutions and high-tech enterprises to prepare micro-denier fibers by electrospinning and study their properties and applications. In China's clothing industry, chemical fiber spinning preparation, solution spinning and post-treatment are mainly used for nanofibers and their applications. With the development of domestic nanofiber and its application research, it will play a positive role in changing traditional textile materials, developing new textile materials and their applications.
On May 12, Bai Chunli, Vice President of China Academy of Sciences, said at the "New Century Scientists Forum" held during the "International Week": "Although China scientists have made some excellent research achievements in several fields of carbon nanotubes and nanomaterials, the overall level of the country in the field of nanotechnology still lags far behind that of the United States, Japan and Europe, especially in the field of nano-devices. "
At the forum of International Week, an American scholar said that it will take at least three years to commercialize nanotechnology, and all countries are now stepping up basic research.
Not long ago, Professor Gu, director of the State Key Laboratory of Ultrafine Materials of the Ministry of Education of East China University of Science and Technology and the State Key Laboratory of Nanotechnology of China, said that China has advantages in scientific discovery in the field of nanotechnology, but this does not mean that the research of nanomaterials in China has reached the stage of industrialization.
China has been studying nanotechnology and materials for more than 10 years, and is now following the United States, Japan, Germany and other countries. Professor Gu also reminded consumers that many antibacterial refrigerators and antibacterial washing machines actually use micron technology.
Nanotechnology is a frontier and cross-cutting emerging scientific field that gradually developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. 1999, the United States has listed it as one of the key areas of 265438+ 1 1 before the 20th century, with an investment of about 495 million US dollars. China has also launched the "National Key Basic Research" project on nanomaterials, with an investment of US$ 7 million.
Bai Chunli, vice president of China Academy of Sciences, called on the "New Century Scientists Forum" on May 12: In order to ensure China's future sustainable development and national security, it is necessary to increase the research work on nanotechnology and mobilize multidisciplinary, cross-sectoral and cross-industry forces to participate in this field as soon as possible.
Vice President Bai Chunli put forward six suggestions for the development of Nano in China:
First, determine the development strategy of nanotechnology in China from the national level, and formulate short-,medium-and long-term plans for the development of nanotechnology in China. Give consideration to the coordinated development of basic research, applied research and development research. Promote the industrialization of scientific and technological achievements and assist relevant departments to formulate technical standards for nanotechnology-related products as soon as possible.
Two, the establishment of the national "nano science and technology expert advisory group". To assist the government in formulating and researching strategies for developing nanotechnology in China.
Three, the establishment of national nanotechnology research and engineering center, centralized technology platform to provide services for the development of nanotechnology, organize and coordinate the participation of scientific research institutions, universities, national laboratories and industry.
Fourth, adhere to the principle of "doing something, not doing something", give play to advantages and highlight characteristics. It is necessary to strengthen the construction of research bases, improve infrastructure conditions, increase investment in scientific and technological projects, and attach great importance to intellectual property protection.
Five, strengthen the construction of information network platform, and promote the information exchange of nanotechnology at home and abroad.
6. Establish a new mode of training and attracting nanotechnology talents with the National Center for Nanotechnology Research and Engineering as the carrier.