2. 2 Nanotechnology: basic concepts and potential applications Ralph C. Merkle, Ph.D. Principal Fellow

3. 3 The overheads (in PowerPoint) are available on the web at: http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/talks/ppt/ Berkeley 010505.ppt Slides on web

4. 4 Ninth Foresight Conference on Molecular Nanotechnology November 9-11, 2001 Santa Clara, California Introductory tutorial November 8 www.foresight.org/Conferences/MNT9/ Foresight

5. 5 www.foresight.org/SrAssoc/ www.nanodot.org Gatherings

6. 6 Health, wealth and atoms

7. 7 Arranging atoms Diversity Precision Cost

8. 8 Richard Feynman,1959 There’s plenty of room at the bottom

9. 9 Eric Drexler, 1992

10. 10 President Clinton, 2000 “Imagine the possibilities: materials with ten times the strength of steel and only a small fraction of the weight -- shrinking all the information housed at the Library of Congress into a device the size of a sugar cube -- detecting cancerous tumors when they are only a few cells in size.” The National Nanotechnology Initiative

11. 11 The term “nanotechnology” is very popular. Researchers tend to define the term to include their own work. Definitions abound. A more specific term: “molecular nanotechnology” Terminology

12. 12 Arrangements of atoms. Today

13. 13 The goal.

14. 14 Consider what has been done, and improve on it. Design systems de novo based purely on known physical law, then figure out how to make them. New technologies

15. 15. What we can make today (not to scale) If the target is “close” to what we can make, the evolutionary method can be quite effective.. Target New technologies

16. 16. What we can make today (not to scale) But molecular manufacturing systems are not “close” to what we can make today. Molecular Manufacturing New technologies

17. 17 Backward chaining (Eric Drexler) Horizon mission methodology (John Anderson) Retrosynthetic analysis (Elias J. Corey) Shortest path and other search algorithms in computer science “Meet in the middle” attacks in cryptography Working backwards

18. 18 Core molecular manufacturing capabilities Today Products Overview

19. 19 Lengthmetermm0.001 Areameter 2 mm 2 0.000001 Volumemeter 3 mm 3 0.000000001 Masskilogram  g0.000000001 Timesecondms0.001 Speedm/smm/ms1 Scaling laws Chapter 2 of Nanosystems

20. 20 Manufacturing is about moving atoms Molecular mechanics studies the motions of atoms Molecular mechanics is based on the Born-Oppenheimer approximation Molecular mechanics

21. 21 The carbon nucleus has a mass over 20,000 times that of the electron Moves slower Positional uncertainty smaller Born-Oppenheimer

22. 22 σ 2 :positional variance k: restoring force m: mass of particle ħ :Planck’s constant divided by 2 π Quantum uncertainty

23. 23 C-C spring constant:k~440 N/m Typical C-C bond length:0.154 nm σ for C in single C-C bond:0.004 nm σ for electron (same k):0.051 nm Quantum uncertainty

24. 24 Treat nuclei as point masses Assume ground state electrons Then the energy of the system is fully determined by the nuclear positions Directly approximate the energy from the nuclear positions, and we don’t even have to compute the electronic structure Born-Oppenheimer

25. 25 Internuclear distance Energy Hydrogen molecule: H 2

26. 26 Internuclear distance for bonds Angle (as in H 2 O) Torsion (rotation about a bond, C 2 H 6 Internuclear distance for van der Waals Spring constants for all of the above More terms used in many models Quite accurate in domain of parameterization Molecular mechanics

27. 27 Limited ability to deal with excited states Tunneling (actually a consequence of the point-mass assumption) Rapid nuclear movements reduce accuracy Large changes in electronic structure caused by small changes in nuclear position reduce accuracy Molecular mechanics Limitations

28. 28 PropertyDiamond’s valueComments Chemical reactivityExtremely low Hardness (kg/mm2)9000CBN: 4500 SiC: 4000 Thermal conductivity (W/cm-K)20Ag: 4.3 Cu: 4.0 Tensile strength (pascals)3.5 x 10 9 (natural)10 11 (theoretical) Compressive strength (pascals)10 11 (natural)5 x 10 11 (theoretical) Band gap (ev)5.5Si: 1.1 GaAs: 1.4 Resistivity (W-cm)10 16 (natural) Density (gm/cm3)3.51 Thermal Expansion Coeff (K-1)0.8 x 10 -6 SiO2: 0.5 x 10 -6 Refractive index2.41 @ 590 nmGlass: 1.4 - 1.8 Coeff. of Friction0.05 (dry)Teflon: 0.05 Source: Crystallume Diamond physical properties What to make

29. 29 Hydrocarbon bearing

30. 30 Hydrocarbon universal joint

31. 31 Rotary to linear NASA Ames

32. 32 Bucky gears NASA Ames

33. 33 Bearing

34. 34 Planetary gear

35. 35 Neon pump

36. 36 Fine motion controller

37. 37 Positional assembly

38. 38 Stewart platform

39. 39 σ:mean positional error k: restoring force k b : Boltzmann’s constant T:temperature Thermal noise

40. 40 σ:0.02 nm (0.2 Å) k: 10 N/m k b : 1.38 x 10 -23 J/K T:300 K Thermal noise

41. 41 E:Young’s modulus k: transverse stiffness r: radius L:length Stiffness

42. 42 E:10 12 N/m 2 k: 10 N/m r: 8 nm L:100 nm Stiffness

43. 43 Gimzewski et al. Experimental work

44. 44 H. J. Lee and W. Ho, SCIENCE 286, p. 1719, NOVEMBER 1999 Experimental work

45. 45 Saw-Wai Hla et al., Physical Review Letters 85, 2777-2780, September 25 2000 Manipulation and bond formation by STM II Experimental work

46. 46 Buckytubes

47. 47 Experimental work Nadrian Seeman’s truncated octahedron from DNA

48. 48 Stiff struts Adjustable length Pathways Self assembly of a positional device

49. 49 ABCABCABCABCABCABCABCABCABCABCABCABC a a a a | | | | x x x x XYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZ a | x joins the two struts Sliding struts

50. 50 ABCABCABCABCABCABCABCABCABCABCABCABC a c a ca c a |/ |/ | / | xy xy x y x XYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZ a | x join the two struts c | y and Sliding struts

51. 51 ABCABCABCABCABCABCABCABCABCABCABCABC c c c c | | | | y y y y XYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZXYZ Joins the two struts, which have now moved over one unit. c | y Cycling through a-x, c-y and b-z produces controlled relative motion of the two struts. Sliding struts

52. 52 Self replication

53. 53 Complexity (bits) Von Neumann's constructor 500,000 Mycoplasma genitalia 1,160,140 Drexler's assembler 100,000,000 Human 6,400,000,000 NASA over 100,000,000,000

54. 54 There are nine and sixty ways of constructing tribal lays, And every single one of them is right. Rudyard Kipling There are many ways to make a replicating system Replication

55. 55 Von Neumann architecture Bacterial self replication Drexler’s original proposal for an assembler Simplified HydroCarbon (HC) assembler Exponential assembly Convergent assembly And many more… There are many ways to make a replicating system Replication

56. 56 main(){char q=34, n=10,*a="main() {char q=34,n=10,*a=%c%s%c;printf(a,q,a,q,n);}% c";printf(a,q,a,q,n);} A C program that prints out an exact copy of itself Self replication

57. 57 Print the following statement twice, the second time in quotes: “Print the following statement twice, the second time in quotes:” English translation: Self replication

58. 58 The Von Neumann architecture Universal Computer Universal Constructor http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/vonNeumann.html Self replication

59. 59 Elements in Von Neumann Architecture On-board instructions Manufacturing element Environment Follow the instructions to make a new manufacturing element Copy the instructions Self replication

60. 60 The Von Neumann architecture http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/vonNeumann.html Manufacturing element New manufacturing element Instructions Self replication

61. 61 The Von Neumann architecture http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/vonNeumann.html Instructions (tape) Read head Manufacturing element New manufacturing element Self replication

62. 62 Replicating bacterium DNA DNA Polymerase Self replication

63. 63 http://www.foresight.org/UTF/Unbound_LBW/chapt_6.html Drexler’s proposal for an assembler Self replication

64. 64 http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/selfRep.html Macroscopic computer Molecular constructor Molecular constructor Molecular constructor Broadcast architecture

65. 65 Broadcast architecture Some broadcast methods: Pressure (acoustic) Electromagnetic (light, radio) Chemical diffusion Electrical

66. 66 Can provide both power and control Multi-megahertz operation Moderate pressure (  P ~ one atmosphere) can be reliably detected with small pressure actuated pistons Feasible designs Acoustic broadcast

67. 67 Compressed gas External gas Actuator (under tension) Pressure actuated device

68. 68 External pistons to detect pressure changes Two pistons can drive a demultiplexor, which in turn drives tens of signal lines Polyyne (carbyne) rods in buckytube sheaths is adequate to convey force (derailleur cable mechanism) Piston design issues

69. 69 12 nm radius by 20 nm length for a volume of about 9,000 nm 3 10 5 Pa (~ one atmosphere) results in  P  V ~ 10 -18 Joules ~ 200 kT at room temperature (high reliability) Force of ~45 piconewtons Piston design issues

70. 70 Advantages of broadcast architecture Smaller and simpler: no instruction storage, simplified instruction decode Easily redirected to manufacture valuable products Inherently safe Broadcast replication

71. 71 Compressed neon Approximate dimensions: 1,000 nm length 100 nm radius http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/casing.html HC assembler

72. 72 Elements in HC assembler No on-board instructions (acoustic broadcast) No on-board computer Molecular positional device (robotic arm) Liquid environment: solvent and three feedstock molecules Able to synthesize most stiff hydrocarbons (diamond, graphite, buckytubes, etc) Broadcast replication

73. 73 Well studied, robust Warning: synthesis of this casing will not use anything resembling current methods. Bucky tubes are well understood and well studied, simplifying design. Buckytubes as casings

74. 74 An assembler manufactures two new assemblers inside its casing The casings of the new assemblers are rolled up during manufacture The original assembler releases the new assemblers by releasing the casing from the manufacturing component Replication

75. 75 Compressed neon to maintain shape Pressure too low results in collapse Pressure too high bursts casing Pressures in the range of several tens of atmospheres should work quite well Casing shape

76. 76 Acetone (solvent) Butadiyne (C 4 H 2, diacetylene: source of carbon and hydrogen) Neon (inert, provides internal pressure) “Vitamin” (transition metal catalyst such as platinum; silicon; tin) http://nano.xerox.com/nanotech/hydroCarbonMetabolism.html Feedstock

77. 77 A set of synthetic pathways that permits construction of all molecular tools from the feedstock. Can’t “go downhill,” must be able to make a new complete set of molecular tools while preserving the original set. http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/ hydroCarbonMetabolism.html (about two dozen reactions) Parts closure

78. 78 Binding sites HC assembler

79. 79 Freitas, adapted from Drexler HC assembler

80. 80 Freitas, adapted from Drexler HC assembler

81. 81 Subsystems Casing Binding sites (3) Pistons (2) Demultiplexor Positional device Tool synthesis Zero residue HC assembler

82. 82 Design and modeling of HC assembler feasible today Speed development Explore alternative designs Clearer target Clearer picture of capabilities Assembler design project

83. 83 Making diamond today Illustration courtesy of P1 Diamond Inc.

84. 84 A synthetic strategy for the synthesis of diamondoid structures Positional assembly (6 degrees of freedom) Highly reactive compounds (radicals, carbenes, etc) Inert environment (vacuum, noble gas) to eliminate side reactions Molecular tools

85. 85 Hydrogen abstraction tool

86. 86 Other molecular tools

87. 87 C 2 deposition

88. 88 Carbene insertion

89. 89 Micro rotation

90. 90 Exponential assembly

91. 91 No on-board instructions (electronic broadcast) External X, Y and Z (mechanical broadcast) No on-board computer MEMS positional device (2 DOF robotic arm) Able to assemble appropriate lithographically manufactured parts pre-positioned on a surface in air Exponential assembly

92. 92 Convergent assembly

93. 93 Convergent assembly

94. 94 Convergent assembly

95. 95 Convergent assembly

96. 96 Functionality can be moved from the replicating component to the environment On-board / off board instructions and computation Positional assembly at different size scales Very few systematic investigations of the wide diversity of replicating systems Take home message: the diversity of replicating systems is enormous Replication

97. 97 Potatoes, lumber, wheat and other agricultural products have costs of roughly a dollar per pound. Molecular manufacturing will make almost any product for a dollar per pound or less, independent of complexity. (Design costs, licensing costs, etc. not included) Replication Take home message: and manufacturing costs will be very low

98. 98 An overview of replicating systems for manufacturing Advanced Automation for Space Missions, edited by Robert Freitas and William Gilbreath NASA Conference Publication 2255, 1982 A web page with an overview of replication: http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/selfRep.html Replication

99. 99 be like living systems be adaptable (survive in natural environment) be very complex have on-board instructions be self sufficient (uses only very simple parts) Popular misconceptions: replicating systems must Replication

100. 100 Fear of self replicating systems is based largely on misconceptions Misplaced fear could block research And prevent a deeper understanding of systems that might pose serious concerns Foresight Guidelines address the safety issues Misconceptions are harmful Replication

101. 101 Development and analysis of more replicating architectures Systematic study of existing proposals Education of the scientific community and the general public What is needed Replication

102. 102 The impact of a new manufacturing technology depends on what you make Impact

103. 103 We’ll have more computing power in the volume of a sugar cube than the sum total of all the computer power that exists in the world today More than 10 21 bits in the same volume Almost a billion Pentiums in parallel Powerful Computers Impact

104. 104 New, inexpensive materials with a strength-to-weight ratio over 50 times that of steel Critical for aerospace: airplanes, rockets, satellites… Useful in cars, trucks, ships,... Lighter, stronger, smarter, less expensive Impact

105. 105 Disease and ill health are caused largely by damage at the molecular and cellular level Today’s surgical tools are huge and imprecise in comparison Impact Nanomedicine

106. 106 In the future, we will have fleets of surgical tools that are molecular both in size and precision. We will also have computers much smaller than a single cell to guide those tools. Impact Nanomedicine

107. 107 Mitochondrion ~1-2 by 0.1-0.5 microns Size of a robotic arm ~100 nanometers Impact 8-bit computer

108. 108 “Typical” cell: ~20 microns Mitochondrion Size of a robotic arm ~100 nanometers Impact

109. 109 Mitochondrion Molecular computer + peripherals “Typical” cell

110. 110 Remove infections

111. 111 Clear obstructions

112. 112 Respirocytes http://www.foresight.org/Nanomedicine/Respirocytes.html

113. 113 ATP, other metabolites Na +, K +, Cl -, Ca ++, other ions Neurotransmitters, hormones, signaling molecules Antibodies, immune system modulators Medications etc. Release/absorb

114. 114 Correcting DNA

115. 115 Nanosensors, nanoscale scanning Power (fuel cells, other methods) Communication Navigation (location within the body) Manipulation and locomotion Computation http://www.foresight.org/Nanomedicine Nanomedicine Volume I

116. 116 Today, loss of cell function results in cellular deterioration: function must be preserved With medical nanodevices, passive structures can be repaired: structure must be preserved A revolution in medicine

117. 117 Liquid nitrogen Time Temperature Cryonics

118. 118 Select N subjects Vitrify them Wait 100 years See if the medical technology of 2100 can indeed revive them But what do we tell those who don’t expect to live long enough to see the results? Clinical trials

119. 119 It works It doesn't Experimental group www.alcor.org A very long and healthy life Die, lose life insurance Control group Die Payoff matrix

120. 120 “Thus, like so much else in medicine, cryonics, once considered on the outer edge, is moving rapidly closer to reality” ABC News World News Tonight, Feb 8 th “…[medical] advances are giving new credibility to cryonics.” KRON 4 News, NightBeat, May 3, 2001 Public perception

121. 121 “Everyone who has died and told me about it has said it’s terrific!” Shirley MacLaine

122. 122 Launch vehicle structural mass could be reduced by about a factor of 50 Cost per pound for that structural mass can be under a dollar Which will reduce the cost to low earth orbit by a factor of better than 1,000 Space http://science.nas.nasa.gov/Groups/ Nanotechnology/publications/1997/ applications/

123. 123 Light weight computers and sensors will reduce total payload mass for the same functionality Recycling of waste will reduce payload mass, particularly for long flights and permanent facilities (space stations, colonies) Space

124. 124 SSTO (Single Stage To Orbit) vehicle 3,000 kg total mass (including fuel) 60 kilogram structural mass 500 kg for four passengers with luggage, air, seating, etc. Liquid oxygen, hydrogen Cost: a few thousand dollars Space K. Eric Drexler, Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, V 45, No 10, pp 401-405 (1992). Molecular manufacturing for space systems: an overview

125. 125 Solar electric ion drive Thin (tens of nm) aluminum reflectors concentrate light Arrays of small ion thrusters 250,000 m/s exhaust velocity Acceleration of 0.8 m/s Tour the solar system in a few months Space K. Eric Drexler, Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, V 45, No 10, pp 401-405 (1992). Molecular manufacturing for space systems: an overview

126. 126 O’Neill Colonies Dyson spheres Skyhooks Max population of solar system Space

127. 127 Military applications of molecular manufacturing have even greater potential than nuclear weapons to radically change the balance of power. http://nano.xerox.com/nanotech/nano4/jeremiahPaper.html Weapons Admiral David E. Jeremiah, USN (Ret) Former Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff November 9, 1995

128. 128 New technologies, new weapons At least one decade and possibly a few decades away Public debate has begun Research into defensive systems is essential Gray goo, gray dust, … Weapons

129. 129 Human impact on the environment Population Living standards Technology The environment

130. 130 Greenhouse agriculture/hydroponics Solar power Pollution free manufacturing The environment Reducing human impact on the environment

131. 131 The scientifically correct answer is I don’t know Trends in computer hardware suggest early in this century — perhaps in the 2010 to 2020 time frame Of course, how long it takes depends on what we do How long?

132. 132 Nanotechnology offers... possibilities for health, wealth, and capabilities beyond most past imaginings. K. Eric Drexler

134. 134 Arranging Molecular Building Blocks (MBBs) with SPMs Picking up, moving, and putting down a molecule has only recently been accomplished Stacking MBBs with an SPM has yet to be done Positional assembly

135. 135 Designing MBBs and SPM tips The next step is to design an MBB/SPM tip combination that lets us pick up, move, put down, stack and unstack the MBBs A wide range of candidate MBBs are possible Positional assembly

136. 136

137. 137

138. 138 The sunshine reaching the earth has almost 40,000 times more power than total world usage. Molecular manufacturing will produce efficient, rugged solar cells and batteries at low cost. Power costs will drop dramatically Energy

139. 139 20 nm scale bar Ribosome Molecular computer (4-bit) + peripherals Molecular bearing Mitochondrion