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 spectral fingerprints to create optical
patterns that cannot be duplicated. 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.
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
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 is The Skills
and Tools of Making Technology Invisible
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