The NANO Timeline

Nanotechnology is the study of matter at an

incredibly small scale, generally between one
and 100 nanometers. The nanoscale is so tiny
Nanotechnology
that a sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers Panel
A big history of the very small thick. Nanotechnology could bring about the next
wave of innovation in science and engineering—
the possibilities are endless.

The global market for nanotechnology

products will be $1 trillion, of which
$800 billion will be in the U.S.*
Tokyo Science University Professor
The vibrant colors Norio Taniguchi coins the term
of stained glass “nanotechnology.” The U.S. government
Early nanotechnology
in the windows of recognizes the strategic
companies begin
Europe’s medieval importance of nanotechnology
to operate.
cathedrals are due to and plans to spend nearly
metallic nanoparticles. Michael Faraday discovers $2 billion in research.
colloidal “ruby” gold,
demonstrating that Scientists receive the 1996 Nobel Prize
nanostructured gold in Chemistry for their discovery of the
under certain lighting buckyball, a soccerball-shaped carbon
conditions produces molecule approximately a nanometer
different colored solutions. in diameter.

9th-17th C 1959 2000 2005 2020

1875 1974 1990s 2012 2015

13th-18th C The National Nanotechnology
Initiative launches to coordinate
“Damascus” saber blades federal R&D efforts and The Nanotechnology
contain carbon nanotubes promote commercialization of Panel of the American
and cementite nanowires. nanotechnology applications. Chemistry Council
forms.

Richard Feynman of the California

Institute of Technology gives what
is considered to be the first lecture A study funded by the National Science
on technology and engineering at Foundation estimates that six million
the atomic scale, “There’s Plenty of nanotechnology workers will be needed
Room at the Bottom.” worldwide by 2020, with two million of
those jobs estimated to be in the
United States.*

www.americanchemistry.com/nanotechnology
* Roco, Mihail C. 2011. Journal of Nanoparticle Research 13:427–445.