Untitled NANOTECHNOLOGY

Currently, there is no common understanding of the term nanotechnologies. Depending on the scientific discipline such as physics, chemistry, computer sciences, machine building etc. different concepts and technologies are summarised under this term. They all have in common that very small structures, originally of the size below 1 µm (1 µm is 10-6 m) down to 100 nm (1 nm is 10-9 m) are used. In information and communication technologies (ICT) today structures smaller than 100 nm are already implemented. For comparison: the visible light has wavelengths from 400 to 700 nm.

The term “nanotechnology” was introduced in science by Richard P. Feynman, physicist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and later professor at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), in a talk titled “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom” in 1959.

Today nanotechnologies have found a number of applications [Paschen et al. (2004), Hoffknecht, Teichert (2006)]:

1. In chemistry e.g. as carrier for catalysts, paints with active surfaces to prevent dirt, colours for liquid crystal displays (LCD), thermal and chemical protection of surfaces or aggregate for tyres. 

2. In energy production, conversion and transportation e.g. as components for fuel cells, photocells and batteries, or for superconductive wires. 

3. In physics e.g. for sensors and actuators. 

4. In pharmacy e.g. as adsorbents for active pharmaceutical ingredients. 

5. In ICT e.g. for electronic components (such as transistors), integrated circuits (ICs) and micro processors 

Development of microprocessors is of relevance in the context of identity and identity management, as it is one of the main driving factors for Moore’s law. In 1965 Gordon E. Moore observed that the number of ICs per square inch is growing exponentially over time; today a prediction of growth by factor 2 every 18 months is largely accepted. This growth in integration and density of ICs also courses a significant growth in processing power of micro processors. Since 2005 transistors of the size of 65 nm in micro processors are state of the art, memory chips and micro processors using 45 nm technologies are being developed.

This development has a large influence on data processing in general, including personal data. Indirectly also all types of Identity Management Systems (IMS) will take benefit from the resulting increased computing power and memory as more and more complex identity management operations can be carried out in shorter time. For example in the context of user controlled IMS (type 3 IMS) relatively complex cryptographic calculations of e.g. digital anonymous credentials are possible on smaller and smaller devices such as hand held computers or PDAs. In addition ICs are enablers for Ubiquitous Computing and they may also play an important role in solutions for energy supply of objects in ambient intelligent environments. 

Research in nanotechnologies is being funded by many national institutions and the EU.