The Technological Knowledge Strand Explanatory Papers Updated May 2010
Technological Products
Illustrative Examples from Technology1
Nanotechnology is an exciting new field. There is a wealth of information available about nanotechnology, including some interesting arguments for and against it currently being debated at all levels of society. From 'grey goo' horror stories to utopian visions, nanotechnology provides insight into all of the generic concepts associated with this component. The relationship between material performance properties and product possibilities is central to this field. The Centre for Responsible Nanotechnology provides a useful starting website resource at http://crnano.org. Key concepts underpinning nanotechnology can be found at www.zyvex.com/nano, and for more general news articles see www.nanotech-now.com.
Professor Wei Gao and his group, in the Faculty of Engineering’s Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Auckland, have developed a technique to make a thin film of zinc oxide adhere to substrates of glass, silicon, and metal. The thin films can act as semiconductors and emit light. This ongoing research and development is leading towards a new generation of optoelectronic materials for use in devices such as screen display, solar cells, and lasers which display information using electrical signals and light emission.
This new material provides an interesting case study as work is still being undertaken to better control the sought-after functional properties. If successful, zinc oxide is set to revolutionise the optoelectronics industry in much the same way as silicon revolutionised the ICT industry.
1 These are provided for the purpose of increasing teacher background understandings of this component – however they may also be relevant for senior students.
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