Molecular Manufacturing Technology Development
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Applied Science (IJSEAS) – Volume-2, Issue-4,April 2016 ISSN: 2395-3470 www.ijseas.com Molecular Manufacturing Technology Development: A Review 1 2 3 Chanduri Rajendra Prasad , Rentala Girish Srivatsa , Sarap Raghavendra 1, 2, 3 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lords Institute of Engineering & Technology, Hyderabad, India. Abstract products with every atom in its specified place. Today the theories for using mechanical chemistry to Research and development of molecular directly fabricate Nanoscale structures. These are manufacturing and related, enabling technologies are well-developed and awaiting progress in enabling proceeding at an accelerating pace. As its name technologies. implies, molecular manufacturing will be achieved when we are able to build things from the molecule Molecular manufacturing is different from biology. up, and we will be able to rearrange matter with In those biological systems, they are not engineered. atomic precision. Other terms such as molecular The functional properties of a cell or even a protein engineering or productive molecular nanosystems are are complex and hard to predict. However, the also often applied when describing this emerging process of building protein molecules from small technology. The general capability to synthesize molecular fragments is quite programmable, and macroscopic objects and devices to atomic scientists are developing the ability to design and specification brings with it some surprising and synthesize proteins with desired properties. This will important consequences, which are outlined in this allow protein chemistry to be used in engineering, presentation. This new emerging technology is now rather than a biological, context. This would be one receiving attention at the highest level of government approach to molecular manufacturing. Other all over the world. The aim of this present paper is to approaches using different kinds of chemistry may understand the basic terminology and concept of also work, producing better materials. molecular building blocks, like nanofibers and nanowires in terms of size, properties, manufacturing Discussion of molecular manufacturing has been process and their applications. The information distorted by several factors. From the beginning, it presented in this paper can be a part asset to the has been associated with "grey goo" (runaway engineer who wish to work in the field of biosphere-eating self-replicators), leading to nanotechnology. excessive fear and attempts to counteract that fear. It has also been associated with extreme science- Keywords: Molecular Manufacturing, fictional projections-though it can be hard to tell Nanotechnology, Molecular Nanosystems. fantasy from the sober calculation because the calculations predict some pretty amazing capabilities. 1. Introduction In reaction to these factors, some mainstream scientists have attempted to shut down discussion Manufacturing today works by cutting or deforming entirely by declaring that molecular manufacturing is large chunks of matter, then fastening together the impossible or that its major proponents are not remaining pieces into products. Molecular credible. The discussion has been further distorted by manufacturing plans to be more efficient and make a variety of widespread conceptual confusions. better products by assembling products directly from the smallest pieces: atoms and molecules. The basic The position that molecular manufacturing is idea is to develop a small set of chemical reactions impossible is not supportable. Living organisms are that can be applied repeatedly to build large not an example of molecular manufacturing because molecules, and then control the sequence and/or they are not based on engineering but rather on position of the reactions by the computer in order to interlocking complex systems. However, the build engineered molecular systems. biochemistry of life could be adopted almost unchanged to a molecular manufacturing system. Molecular manufacturing (MM) means the ability to build devices, machines and eventually whole 151 International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Applied Science (IJSEAS) – Volume-2, Issue-4,April 2016 ISSN: 2395-3470 www.ijseas.com A few prominent scientists have nonetheless claimed current computer technology, we could then direct that molecular manufacturing is impossible, and fabricators to secure and position compounds at the others have echoed them. However, the study of their precise locations where chemical reactions occur. objections shows that the arguments are weak, based Using this method, a network of fabricators working on intuition rather than calculation. Some of the in tandem (such as a nano factory) can construct arguments elevate engineering difficulties to the atomically perfect objects of any size by initiating status of fundamental limitations. Others are built on multiple sequences of controlled chemical reactions. basic misunderstandings of the proposals. A simplified way to visualize this concept is to think of a fabricator as an atomic magnet able to attract and repel molecules. 2. The Coming Era of Molecular Manufacturing This generation will witness the greatest 2.2 How Molecular Manufacturing Might Be technological breakthrough in human history, the Developed development of molecular manufacturing and personal nano factories. Molecular manufacturing Molecular manufacturing will most likely be (MM) refers to a process that builds complicated developed under the auspices of a massive machines out of precisely designed molecules. This governmental defense project for a major world emerging technology will allow us to guide the power. Likely candidates are the United States, the molecular assembly of objects by mechanically European Union, Japan, India, Israel, or China - positioning reactive molecules. although most nations in the world community have developed limited nanotechnology initiatives. In all This new manufacturing process, sometimes referred likelihood, the events of September 11th provided the to as molecular nanotechnology (MNT), should not necessary incentive for the United States (and other be confused with “structural nanotechnology” which world powers) to undertake organized and concerted refers to the present-day and near-future efforts to accelerate the development of molecular incorporation of nanoscale elements in modern manufacturing. Given the enormous benefits, as well industrial products. Nanoscale components are as the unacceptable national security consequences of already present in many products, such as fabrics, losing this new arms race to an unfriendly power, it electronics, and pharmaceuticals. appears most capable nations have instituted such projects and are fervently racing toward the But molecular manufacturing harbors far greater construction of the world’s first self-contained abilities. Promising to deliver a monumental impact molecular manufacturing system. on human society, molecular manufacturing will provide us the means to manufacture products from 2.3 Why Molecular Manufacturing Will Be the bottom up and enable us to rearrange matter with Developed atomic precision. Once molecular manufacturing is developed, it will provide us with a thorough and National security concerns will constitute the initial inexpensive system for controlling the structure of driving force to develop molecular manufacturing matter. In a relatively short time period following the and reach the assembler breakthrough as soon as development of the first nano-factory, mankind will possible. Able to replicate swiftly, assemblers can appear to have complete dominion over the physical become abundant in a very short period (if the self- universe. replication period for an assembler is 15 minutes, then a single assembler can replicate into two to the 2.1 How Molecular Manufacturing Works ninety-fifth power assemblers in the first 24 hour period). Those assemblers can then be used to create The central, but not the only, component necessary to weapons pre-designed in anticipation of the future achieve molecular manufacturing is a fabricator or development of molecular manufacturing, weapons assembler. A fabricator will be a nanoscale device capable of enormous destructive power - weapons capable of precisely positioning molecules. Using that most people would find difficult to imagine. 152 International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Applied Science (IJSEAS) – Volume-2, Issue-4,April 2016 ISSN: 2395-3470 www.ijseas.com In addition to its national security implications, molecular manufacturing promises to change every Nanotechnology advocates have yet to introduce a aspect of human life. Molecular manufacturing will specific set of policy initiatives to be undertaken also yield the following: following the development of molecular manufacturing. Specific policies must be developed • A cleaner environment to deal with the implications of molecular • The eradication of diseases manufacturing within the framework of international • The elimination of poverty order and security, the world economic order, and • Safer, inexpensive space travel safeguards must be put in place to protect our • Acceleration in the development of advanced environment. In the end, no one will realize the artificial intelligence. benefits of molecular manufacturing if we fail to preserve human life and liberty. 2.4 The Dangers of Molecular Manufacturing The Centre for Responsible Nanotechnology is We must remain alert and vigilant