Could you imagine a new world of medicine where microscopic implants would guard our bodies? These implants would fight diseases and protect our arteries.
您能想象一个新的医学世界，显微植入物将保护我们的身体吗？ 这些植入物将抗击疾病并保护我们的动脉。
In this new world, we would also see the creation of computer chips that are no bigger than a grain of salt. And these tiny devices could not only monitor our climate, it could even monitor the atmospheres of distant planets.
在这个新世界中，我们还将看到创建的计算机芯片不超过一粒盐。 这些微小的设备不仅可以监控我们的气候，甚至可以监控遥远星球的大气。
What we are describing is the potential of nanotechnology. And its application has no bounds. Virtually every conceivable discipline in our civilization could utilize a nanotech application of some sort.
我们所描述的是纳米技术的潜力。 而且它的应用是无止境的。 实际上，我们文明中每一个可以想到的学科都可以利用某种纳米技术。
透视纳米 (Putting Nanoscale into Perspective)
Nanotechnology is best described as applying engineering and science at an atomic and molecular scale. It utilizes nanomaterials that are generally measured between 0.1 and 100 nanometers (nm)¹. And one nanometer is equal to one billionth of a meter.
最好将纳米技术描述为在原子和分子规模上应用工程和科学。 它使用的纳米材料通常测量范围为0.1至100纳米(nm)¹。 一纳米等于十亿分之一米。
To put this scale into perspective, if a nanometer were the width of a grain of salt, then a meter would be the distance from Dallas to St Louis.
从规模上看，如果一个盐的宽度等于一纳米，那么一米就是从达拉斯到圣路易斯的距离。
Thus, nanotechnology operates within the same scale as our biological world. And science discovered some years ago that these nanomaterials have unique properties.
因此，纳米技术的运作规模与我们的生物界相同。 几年前，科学发现这些纳米材料具有独特的性能。
使用纳米材料的好处 (Benefits of Using Nanomaterials)
The magic of nanotechnology lies within its tiny size. Ordinary materials often exhibit amazing characteristics when reduced to nanoscale dimensions.
纳米技术的魅力在于它的微小尺寸。 普通材料在缩小到纳米尺寸时通常表现出惊人的特性。
In the nanoscale world, these ordinary materials suddenly have extraordinary levels of strength, electrical conductivity, superparamagnetic behavior, and chemical reactivity — among others². Yet the same material does not have these properties at macroscale or microscale dimensions.
在纳米世界中，这些普通材料突然具有非同寻常的强度，导电性，超顺磁性行为和化学React性–²。 然而，相同的材料在宏观或微观尺度上都没有这些特性。
This profound change in material property is because its surface area becomes significantly larger relative to its overall volume as it reaches nanoscale proportions. And there are also quantum effects occurring at this atomic scale.
材料性能的这种深刻变化是因为当其达到纳米级比例时，其表面积相对于其总体积而言变得明显更大。 而且在此原子尺度上也会发生量子效应。
3惊人的纳米技术的未来应用 (3 Amazing Nanotech Future Applications)
While there are countless developments currently taking place in nanotechnology, some of the most fascinating is the potential developments we could see in the future.
尽管纳米技术目前正在发生着无数的发展，但最令人着迷的是我们将来可以看到的潜在发展。
As you might imagine, many of these are theoretical, but let us look at three (3) future applications that are quite astonishing.
您可能会想到，其中许多都是理论上的，但让我们看一下三(3)个令人惊讶的未来应用程序。
智能尘埃 (Smart Dust)
Smart dust is a description given to extremely small computing particles and devices. These miniature devices contain cameras, sensors, and other properties required to share data with a base unit for processing³.
智能尘埃是对极小的计算粒子和设备的描述。 这些微型设备包含相机，传感器和与基本单元共享数据进行处理所需的其他属性³。
Practical Applications of Smart Dust
智能除尘的实际应用
To be able to release smart dust into a specific environment has incredible potential. Here are a few smart dust applications that we could see in the future:
能够将智能粉尘释放到特定环境中具有巨大的潜力。 以下是我们将来可以看到的一些智能除尘应用程序：
- Monitor crops to assess watering and nutritional needs. 监测农作物以评估浇水和营养需求。
- Identify corrosion and structure weaknesses in various systems. 识别各种系统中的腐蚀和结构缺陷。
- Monitor equipment to facilitate more timely maintenance. 监控设备，以便更及时地进行维护。
- Wireless monitoring of people and inventory for security purposes. 无线监控人员和库存以达到安全目的。
- Patrol country borders against enemy invasion. 巡逻国抵制敌人入侵。
As smart dust is considered for future use, there have been several concerns that must be addressed. Perhaps the biggest concern about using these tiny devices is their ability to invade a person’s privacy. Since they are microscopic and can record and measure most anything, this concern is well-founded. They could enter our homes with ease.
由于考虑将智能粉尘用于将来使用，因此必须解决一些问题。 使用这些微型设备的最大问题也许就是它们侵犯个人隐私的能力。 由于它们是微观的并且可以记录和测量任何东西，因此这种担心是有充分根据的。 他们可以轻松进入我们的家。
After billions of smart dust particles are deployed, it is inconceivable to believe that all of them can be controlled or even retrieved. It would be like trying to put the toothpaste back into the tube. Also, what happens when smart dust is used by criminals and terrorists? Would authorities be able to stop such an operation?
部署了数十亿个智能尘埃粒子后，令人难以置信的是，所有这些尘埃粒子都可以得到控制甚至回收。 这就像试图将牙膏放回管中一样。 另外，当罪犯和恐怖分子使用智能尘埃时会发生什么？ 当局可以停止这种行动吗？
隐形斗篷 (Invisible Cloak)
Who would’ve ever imagined that the invisible cloaks depicted in science fiction movies would ever exist in our lifetimes? This is more of a reality than many people think.
谁曾想到，科幻电影中描绘的隐形斗篷将在我们的一生中存在？ 这比许多人认为的更现实。
The concept of creating a cloak of invisibility is to wrap objects in materials that cause electromagnetic waves to pass around it and recombine on the other side.
创建隐形斗篷的概念是将物体包裹在会导致电磁波在其周围通过并在另一侧复合的材料中。
When light waves strike an object, the waves become rippled and render that object as visible.
当光波撞击物体时，波会起波纹并使该物体可见。
To make something invisible, we need optical wavelengths to somehow not be disrupted by the object. Also, we must ensure that the object doesn’t absorb any of the light waves. Metamaterials have shown great promise in achieving these objectives.
为了使某些东西不可见，我们需要使光波长不被物体干扰。 另外，我们必须确保物体不吸收任何光波。 超材料已显示出实现这些目标的巨大希望。
Metamaterials are artificial materials that use a combination of components like semiconductors, crystals, and metals. These unique structures are designed to manipulate the dispersion of light waves.
超材料是人造材料，它使用诸如半导体，晶体和金属等成分的组合。 这些独特的结构旨在操纵光波的色散。
As you might imagine, the military has heavily invested in developing this exciting new technology⁴. While there are still many issues with this concept, the invisible cloak is becoming a reality.
就像您想象的那样，军方在开发这项令人兴奋的新技术上投入了大量资金。 尽管这个概念仍然存在很多问题，但无形的斗篷正在成为现实。
适形和可变形纳米材料 (Conformable and Deformable Nanomaterials)
Having the ability to work with conformable and deformable nanomaterials is an ultimate goal for nanotechnologists. This would allow for the endless combining of nanomaterials that have different properties.
能够处理顺应性和可变形纳米材料的能力是纳米技术人员的最终目标。 这将允许无休止地结合具有不同特性的纳米材料。
And what if these materials were malleable and could be bent into any desired shape? This is exactly what can be achieved with these types of nanomaterials.
如果这些材料具有延展性并且可以弯曲成任何所需的形状，该怎么办？ 这些类型的纳米材料正是可以实现的。
One of the biggest benefits of using conformable nanomaterials is that they can be used to integrate multiple nanotech functions.
使用顺应性纳米材料的最大好处之一是它们可用于集成多种纳米技术功能。
For instance, we could place an electronic device on top of the silicon. Then we could combine that with something like gallium, which harvests energy. And finally, we could add a photodetector made of yet another nanomaterial.
例如，我们可以在硅片上放置一个电子设备。 然后，我们可以将其与像镓一样收集能量的东西结合起来。 最后，我们可以添加由另一种纳米材料制成的光电探测器。
The traditional problem with combining these various materials is their atomic structure does not typically line up properly as required by functions like semiconducting. Some of these materials may not even have lattice structures — they could have crystalline, amorphous, or even non-planar structures.
结合这些各种材料的传统问题是它们的原子结构通常无法像半导体功能那样正确排列。 这些材料中的一些甚至可能没有晶格结构-它们可能具有晶体，非晶或什至非平面结构。
Thanks to nanotechnology, methods have been developed to solve this problem. A diverse array of materials can now be placed on a template that can then be transferred onto another substrate.
由于纳米技术，已经开发出解决该问题的方法。 现在可以将各种各样的材料放置在模板上，然后将其转移到另一个基板上。
This development is revolutionary. It gives nanotechnologists the ability to combine rigid and flexible nanomaterials which is very powerful⁵.
这一发展是革命性的。 它使纳米技术专家能够结合刚性和柔性纳米材料，这是非常强大的。
In the future, the cardiac mapping could be achieved by combing electronic and biological materials into a medical implant. The combination of rigid and flexible substrates could also greatly reduce the cost of devices that are used for solar energy.
将来，可以通过将电子和生物材料组合到医疗植入物中来实现心脏定位。 刚性和柔性衬底的组合还可以大大降低用于太阳能的设备的成本。
最后的想法 (Final Thoughts)
Stay tuned for upcoming developments in the exciting world of nanotechnology. Not only will there be an assortment of amazing new technologies, but existing systems and processes will also become more efficient and cost-effective.
请密切关注令人兴奋的纳米技术领域的未来发展。 不仅会有各种各样令人惊叹的新技术，而且现有的系统和流程也将变得更加高效和具有成本效益。
[1]: Nanotechnology Now. (April 20, 2105). Nanotechnology Introduction. http://www.nanotech-now.com/introduction.htm
[1]：现在的纳米技术。 (2105年4月20日)。 纳米技术简介 。 http://www.nanotech-now.com/introduction.htm
[2]: Maria Benelmekki. (April 2015). An introduction to nanoparticles and nanotechnology. https://iopscience.iop.org/book/978-1-6270-5469-0/chapter/bk978-1-6270-5469-0ch1
[2]：玛丽亚·贝内尔梅基(Maria Benelmekki)。 (2015年4月)。 纳米粒子和纳米技术概论 。 https://iopscience.iop.org/book/978-1-6270-5469-0/chapter/bk978-1-6270-5469-0ch1
[3]: Bernard Marr. (September 16, 2018). Smart Dust Is Coming. Are You Ready? https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2018/09/16/smart-dust-is-coming-are-you-ready/
[3]：伯纳德·马尔。 (2018年9月16日)。 智能尘埃来了。 你准备好了吗？ https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2018/09/16/smart-dust-is-coming-are-you-ready/
[4]: Eric Tegler. (May 29, 2020). The Army Is Funding Research Into A Structural Cloak Of Invisibility To Protect Soldiers, Vehicles And More. https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2020/05/29/the-army-is-funding-research-into-a-structural-cloak-of-invisibility-to-protect-soldiers-vehicles-and-more/
[4]：埃里克·泰格勒。 (2020年5月29日)。 陆军正在为一种隐形结构的斗篷提供研究资金，以保护士兵，车辆等 。 https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2020/05/29/the-army-is-funding-research-into-a-structural-cloak-of-invisibility-to-protect-soldiers-vehicles-和更多/
[5]: Future Markets. (April 2018). The Global Market for Stretchable and Conformable Materials and Electronics. https://www.futuremarketsinc.com/the-global-market-for-stretchable-electronics-ten-year-forecast/
[5]：未来市场。 (2018年4月)。 可拉伸和适形材料和电子产品的全球市场。 https://www.futuremarketsinc.com/the-global-market-for-stretchable-electronics-ten-year-forecast/
翻译自: https://medium.com/discourse/3-fascinating-nanotechnology-applications-in-the-new-tech-frontier-df8e52025453