Nanotechnology has its applications in every field, medicine, clean water energy, etc. It is capable of enabling major changes in the lifestyles of populations around the globe. It is one of the most promising breakthroughs of the last few decades. Nanotechnology may form a component in many cheap and easy-to-use materials, devices and systems. These nanotechnology solutions for development can offer interesting perspectives for medical care, water treatment, agriculture, and food, as well as rural infrastructure development.
Nano-related products
Nano-related products are cost-effective and have the potential positive outcomes. Nanomaterials have special characteristics which allow it to be used in many industrial applications. By the use of nanotechnology Developing countries can target mainly five areas: medicine, agriculture, water, food, and energy. In energy generation, distribution, storage, and conversion are areas where a lot of research and application development is taking place in laboratories around the world.
A sustainable future
In energy, nanotechnology can provide a path to a sustainable future. According to the 2016 World Energy Outlook, an estimated 1.2 billion people 16% of the global population does not have access to electricity. Photovoltaics and energy storage are the key areas for improving their situation.
According to the World Water Council, 600 million people face water scarcity. Depending on future rates of population growth, between 2.7 billion and 3.2 billion people may be living in either water-scarce or water-stressed conditions by 2025. The use of nanotechnologies in five key water industry segments detection, monitoring, desalinization, purification, wastewater treatment could play a large role in preventing the coming water crisis.
With regard to nanotechnology and water treatment, the emerging area of research is the development of novel nanomaterials. A variety of nanomaterials are in various stages of research and development, that is potentially useful in industrial effluents, groundwater, surface water, and drinking water.
Hoping that the ‘magic’ of nanotechnology will help in solving all problems in the developing world.
Dr. Yogesh Chhabra, India
Principal
CT Institute of Technology and Research, Jalandhar, India