Jan 09, 2023
Nanotechnology and the Internet of Things: Boosting efficiency and capability.
(Nanowerk Spotlight) The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of
interconnected physical objects equipped with sensors, processors,
and other technologies that allow for the exchange of relevant data
over the internet.
In 1999, British technologist Kevin Ashton coined the term
Internet of Things to define a network that not only connects people,
but also the objects around them. According to Ashton, “the IoT network
integrates the interconnectedness of human culture – our 'things' –
with the interconnectedness of our digital information system – the internet.”
The number of IoT devices is expected to reach 75 billion by 2025,
generating potentially hundreds of zettabytes of data. This growth is
enabled by technologies such as cloud computing and big data analytics,
as well as communication protocols including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee,
NFC, LPWA, and 5G.Number of installed IoT devices per person in 2030
According to forecasts, the number of IoT connected devices will grow
dramatically to 75 billion in 2025 and a staggering 125 billion by 2030.
At that point, there will be almost 15 things connected to the Internet
for each human on earth. (Source: reply.com)
As billions of 'dumb' inanimate objects have become 'smart'
(i.e., connected), and billions more are added every year, the IoT
is now at work all around us. RFID tags track produce from harvest
to store shelf; GPS systems guide cars, ships and planes to their
destinations; streetlights dim when there is no car nearby; smart
room controls turn off heat, air conditioning and lights when rooms
are unoccupied.
Industries and governments now use IoT to understand consumer
needs in real time; become more responsive; improve production
processes and entire factory efficiencies; transform communities
into smart cities.
Nanotechnology has the potential to impact and improve several key
components of the IoT. Key components that are essential to the
functioning of the Internet of Things include sensors and devices,
network connectivity, data storage and processing, user interfaces,
and security. Many aspects of these elements can be enhanced by
nanotechnologies.
These include:
Sensors and devices: These are the "things" in the Internet of
Things, and they are equipped with sensors that can collect
data about their environment, such as temperature, humidity,
location, and motion.
Nanomaterials can be used to create smaller, more sensitive sensors
that are capable of detecting a wide range of parameters, including
temperature, humidity, pressure, and chemical composition. Nanosensors
use a variety of nanomaterials to monitor physical, chemical, and
biological phenomena, and can have advantages in terms of sensitivity,
response time, and power consumption.
For example, carbon nanotubes and graphene have been used to create
highly sensitive sensors for detecting gases and pollutants.
One great example of these new types of sensors and how they can be
used in novel ways is a 'tooth tattoo' sensor that may help dentists
assess patients' oral health: tooth tattoo sensor.
The sensor (A), attached to a tooth (B) and activated by radio signals
(C), binds with certain bacteria (D). (Illustration: Manu Mannoor)
The sensor is relatively simple in its construction and made up of
just three layers: a sheet of thin gold foil electrodes, an atom-thick
layer of graphene, and a layer of specially engineered peptides,
chemical structures that “sense” bacteria by binding to parts of
their cell membranes.
Powering these devices requires energy and researchers are working on
various ways of doing that. For instance, the size of the single solar
cell used in IoT applications is much smaller, and in combination with
the lower power input available in low-light indoor settings as well as
the emission spectra of light sources other than the sun, renders the
need for high conversion efficiency paramount.
A recent progress report compares emerging indoor photovoltaic technologies
with alternative energy harvesters (piezoelectric, triboelectric,
thermoelectric, and ambient RF) and provides a great overview of this
field ("Emerging Indoor Photovoltaic Technologies for Sustainable Internet of Things").
As another recent review explains and addresses in great detail
(Advanced Functional Materials, "Advances in Organic and Perovskite
Photovoltaics Enabling a Greener Internet of Things"), the requirements
that solar cells should satisfy to power IoT devices are quite different
to the ones usually deemed necessary for application in outdoor-placed
solar panels.
Network connectivity: In order for the sensors and devices to communicate
with each other and with the wider internet, they need to be connected to
a network. This could be a local area network (LAN), a wide area network
(WAN) such as the internet, or a combination of both.
Nanostructures can be used to improve network connectivity.
For instance, nanomaterials such as graphene, quantum dots and
silver nanowires can be used to create smaller, more efficient
antennas and other components that are essential for wireless
communication. These materials have high conductivity and can
transmit signals over long distances with minimal loss.
Nanoantennas, often made from graphene, can be used for wireless
communication in the terahertz frequency band and can be consolidated
with nanosensors using carbon nanotubes.
In addition, nanostructures such as nanoparticles and nanofilms
can be used to create more efficient and robust wireless communication
systems, such as those used in satellite and 5G networks.
Well-established nanophotonics technologies will enable the secure
quantum communication and information networks that are required by
the IoT. For instance, a recently demonstrated nanoantenna will help
bring quantum information networks closer to practical use. Here,
researchers have substantially enhanced photon-to-electron conversion
through a metal nanostructure, which is an important step forward in the
development of advanced technologies for sharing and processing data.
Conceptual illustration of efficient illumination of photons to
semiconductor lateral quantum dots, by using a surface plasmon antenna
and excitation of electrons in the quantum dots
Conceptual illustration of efficient illumination of photons to
semiconductor lateral quantum dots, by using a surface plasmon
antenna and excitation of electrons in the quantum dots.
(Image: Oiwa lab, Osaka University)
Data storage and processing: The data collected by the sensors
and devices needs to be stored somewhere, and often needs to be
processed in order to be useful. This is typically done using
servers and cloud computing resources.
Nanostructures such as nanoparticles and nanofilms can be used
to create denser, more efficient storage media, such as hard drives
and memory chips. For example, researchers have used nanoparticles
to create high-density data storage media with a capacity that is
several orders of magnitude higher than current hard drives.
In addition, nanoelectronics could be used to create faster,
more powerful processors and other computing components. For example,
researchers are exploring the use of quantum dot technology
to create ultra-fast, low-power processors.
Avoiding traditional silicon chips and instead using a fabrication
technique called transfer printing, researchers have developed
nanoelectronics stickers specifically for the use with IoT devices.
These tiny, thin-film electronic circuits are peelable from a surface.
The technique not only eliminates several manufacturing steps and the
associated costs, but also allows any object to sense its environment or
be controlled through the application of a high-tech sticker. Watch the video:
User interfaces: In order for people to interact with the IoT system,
there needs to be some kind of user interface, such as a smartphone app
or a web-based dashboard.
Nanostructures can be used to create smaller, more portable devices
such as smartphones and tablets. For example, researchers are exploring
the use of flexible nanomaterials such as graphene and silver nanowires
to create bendable and foldable displays.
Smart fabrics could be used to monitor vital signs and provide
real-time information to users, and could be used for industrial
purposes to ensure worker safety.
In addition, nanostructures can be used to improve the performance
and efficiency of displays and other components, such as touchscreens,
cameras, and speakers. For example, nanoparticles can be used to
create brighter and more efficient displays, and nanofibers can be
used to create more powerful speakers.
Security: Ensuring the security of an IoT system is critical,
as it involves sensitive data and the potential for malicious
actors to compromise the system.
Nanomaterials can be used to create more secure, anti-counterfeiting
authentication systems, such as biometric sensors and nanoscale
security features. For example, researchers are exploring the use
of carbon nanotubes for physically unclonable functions.
Another example is an optical microresonator array with unreplicable
The researchers used their technology to create a millimeter-size
approximation of the Mona Lisa (see image below).
This approximation contains a unique, embedded fluorescence
fingerprint that cannot be duplicated.
Optical microresonator arrays of fluorescence-switchable
diarylethenes depicting the Mona Lisa
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba create millimeter-size
chips with unique color patterns that cannot be forged.
In addition, nanostructures can be used to create more robust
and resilient network infrastructure, which can help to prevent
attacks and improve the overall security of the IoT system.
For example, researchers are exploring the use of nanomaterials
to create more secure and efficient encryption systems, and to
create networks that are more resistant to interference and jamming.
In terms of terminology, some argue that the Internet of Things
has given rise to the concept of the Internet of Nano Things (IoNT),
which is a communication network paradigm based on nanotechnology
that enables the interconnection of nanoscale devices through existing networks.
In other words: the IoNT isn’t that different from the IoT – except
that is connects nanoscale devices, objects and even organisms. For the
purpose of this article, we stick just to the IoT.
Specific examples of how nanotechnology is being used to enhance the IoT
Longer-lasting batteries: Nanoparticles can be used to create more efficient
and longer-lasting batteries for IoT devices. For example, mechanical
engineers at the University of Maryland have demonstrated that using
nanotechnology in batteries will improve battery performance.
This could lead to IoT devices with much longer battery life,
reducing the need for frequent charging.
More sensitive and accurate sensors: Nanosensors are incredibly
small sensors that can detect a wide range of physical, chemical,
and biological parameters. They can be used to improve the
sensitivity and accuracy of IoT devices, such as wearable fitness
trackers or environmental monitoring systems.
For example, researchers at the University of California,
Berkeley have developed a nanosensor that can detect trace
amounts of toxic gases and turn your smartphone into a
smart gas sensor.
Self-powered systems: Self-powered nanotechnology based on
piezoelectric nanogenerators aims at powering nanodevices
and nanosystems using the energy harvested from the
environment in which these systems are suppose to operate.
This offers a completely new approach for harvesting mechanical
energy using organic and inorganic materials. These nanogenerators
could be used to power small, lightweight IoT devices, such as
wearable sensors, without the need for external batteries.
Enhanced data storage: Nanostructures can also be used to
improve data storage in IoT devices. For example, researchers
at the University of Southampton have developed a fast and
energy-efficient laser-writing method for producing high-density
nanostructures in silica glass. These tiny structures can be used
for long-term five-dimensional optical data storage that is more
than 10,000 times denser than Blue-Ray optical disc storage technology.
four colorful glass squares
Researchers developed a new fast and energy-efficient laser-writing
method for producing nanostructures in silica glass. They used
the method to record 6 GB data in a one-inch silica glass sample.
The four squares pictured each measure just 8.8 X 8.8 mm.
They also used the laser-writing method to write the university
logo and mark on the glass. (Image: Yuhao Lei and Peter G. Kazansky,
University of Southampton)
Improved wireless communication: Single-layer molybdenum disulfide
(MoS2) can be used to improve wireless communication in IoT devices
by increasing the speed and range of data transmission. For example,
researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed
flexible radio frequency (RF) transistors operating at GHz performance,
which very promising for the design of low-power and high-frequency
flexible RF nanoelectronics systems.
Another example is a tunable, graphene-based device that could
significantly increase the speed and efficiency of wireless
communication systems such as the IoT. The device, which is only
several hundred micrometers (around 0.05 cm) long and wide, can
be stiff or flexible, is easily miniaturized, and uses very
little energy. In addition to improving the flow of data between
connected devices, it could extend battery life and lead to ever
more compact devices. In its flexible state, it could be easily
used in sensors placed in clothes or directly on the human body.
Increased durability: Nanoparticles can be used to make IoT
devices more durable and resistant to wear and tear.
For example, researchers at Osaka University have developed cohesive
circuit protection for wearable electronics using self-healing
cellulose nanofibers.Improved data security: Quantum Cryptography
is one emerging security technology that offers radically new
protection measures for communication systems. At the heart of
any quantum system is the most basic building block, the quantum
bit or qbit, which carries the quantum information that can be
transferred and processed (this is the quantum analogue of the
bit used in current information systems). The most promising carrier
qbit for ultimately fast, long distance quantum information transfer
is the photon, the quantum unit of light.
Already, researchers have demonstrated an efficient and compact
single photon source that can operate on a chip at ambient temperatures.
Using quantum dots, the scientists developed a method in which a single
nanocrystal can be accurately positioned on top of a specially designed
and carefully fabricated nano-antenna. Such highly directional single
photon source could lead to a significant progress in producing compact,
cheap, and efficient sources of quantum information bits for future
quantum technological applications
Advanced medical devices: Nanomaterials and -structures can be used
to create advanced medical devices for use in the IoT, such as smart
pills that can monitor and diagnose medical conditions from inside
the body. For example, engineering researchers at the University of
California, San Diego, have developed a battery-free, pill-shaped
ingestible biosensing system designed to provide continuous monitoring
in the intestinal environment. It gives scientists the ability to
monitor gut metabolites in real time.self-powered ingestible sensor system
The self-powered ingestible sensor system designed to monitor metabolites
in the small intestine over time. (Image: David Ballot, Jacobs School
of Engineering, UC San Diego)
Enhanced renewable energy: Nanotechnology can be used to improve the
efficiency of renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels, for
use in the IoT. For example, materials scientists at the University of
California, Los Angeles, have developed a highly efficient thin-film
solar cell that generates more energy from sunlight than typical solar
panels, thanks to its double-layer design. The cell's copper, indium,
gallium and selenide (CIGS) base layer, which is about 2 microns thick,
absorbs sunlight and generates energy on its own, but adding a 1
micron-thick perovskite layer improves its efficiency – much like
how adding a turbocharger to a car engine can improve its performance.
The two layers are joined by a nanoscale interface that the researchers
designed; the interface helps give the device higher voltage, which
increases the amount of power it can export. (For more on this read:
"Perovskite photovoltaics for a greener Internet-of-Things")
Conclusion.
In conclusion, the combination of nanotechnology and the Internet
of Things has the potential to bring significant benefits and
improvements to a wide range of applications. Nanotechnology can
enhance the performance and capabilities of IoT devices by enabling
the creation of smaller, more efficient, and more versatile sensors,
antennas, and processors. These improvements can lead to greater
accuracy, energy efficiency, and versatility in a variety of
applications, including healthcare, industrial monitoring, and
environmental sensing.
However, there are also challenges and limitations to using
nanotechnology in the IoT, including the cost of production,
communication and processing limitations, and susceptibility
to physical damage and interference. To overcome these challenges,
it will be important to continue researching and developing strategies
for addressing these issues, as well as exploring new IoT-relevant
applications and technologies that can take advantage of the
unique capabilities of nanotechnology.
Overall, the intersection of nanotechnology and the IoT holds
great promise for the future, and it will be interesting to see
how these two technologies continue to evolve and intersect in
the coming years.
Michael Berger By Michael Berger –
Michael is author of three books by the Royal Society of Chemistry:
Nano-Society: Pushing the Boundaries of Technology,
Nanotechnology:
The Future is Tiny and
Nanoengineering:
The Skills and Tools Making Technology Invisible,
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