Having been in the nanotechnology field for six years, I have seen many books on nanotechnology. This is the best one I have seen for business executives and other decision makers that are new to the field and trying to understand where the opportunities are for their organizations. The book is well-structured, and written in an erudite, accessible and engaging style.
Unlike many books on the subject, Gasman provides specific guidance on the applications that are most likely to pay off in the near and medium term, and which are not. While not exhaustive, it provides a good overview of the most fertile opportunities. The summaries of the "takeaways" from each chapter, and the ample reference to further reading are particularly useful for the busy reader. These will help the neophyte to locate the gems as they wade through the huge amount information on nanotech, much of which is quite mediocre. Unlike many authors who provide a superficial and shallow treatment of the subject, Gasman's experience as a high-quality, disciplined and thorough market analyst comes through in this book.
If I have one primary complaint about the book, it is that there are a few important elements of the nanotech field that are missing. For example, his summary of nanotechnology tools does not make any reference to electron microscopes and focused ion beam devices, which are key to imaging and manipulation at the nanoscale. These omissions are more than balanced by the overall quality of the book. I recommend it highly.
Author(s): Lawrence Gasman
Series: Artech House nanotechnology library
Edition: 1
Publisher: Artech House
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 241
City: Boston
Nanotechnology Applications
and Markets......Page 2
Contents......Page 8
Preface xiii......Page 14
Disputes and Definitions: What Is Nanotechnology? 1......Page 28
A Very Brief Guide to the Science Behind Nanotech: Why 100 Nanometers? 2......Page 29
The Early History of Nanotech 7......Page 34
Eric Drexler’s View of Nanotech as Molecular Manufacturing 9......Page 36
Nanotools and Nanomanufacturing 11......Page 38
Summary: Key Takeaways from This Chapter 21......Page 48
Further Reading 22......Page 49
Introduction: The Hidden Assumption of Nanobusiness 25......Page 52
Three Scenarios for the Nanotechnology Industry 27......Page 54
Nanomaterials and Nanodevices 36......Page 63
A Word or Two About MEMS 43......Page 70
Four Types of Nanotech Business Opportunities 45......Page 72
The Importance of IP in Nanotech 48......Page 75
The National Nanotechnology Initiative and Other Government Nanotech Programs 51......Page 78
Funding Issues for Nanotech Businesses and Projects 59......Page 86
Nanotech, Safety, and the Environment: Nanotech’s Little PR Problem 62......Page 89
Summary: Key Takeaways from This Chapter 68......Page 95
Further Reading 70......Page 97
Introduction: Nanotech and Moore’s Law 71......Page 98
When Moore’s Law Fails 72......Page 99
Nanotubes, Nanowires, Nanoelectronics 76......Page 103
Notes on Nanowires 84......Page 111
Spin and Nanoelectronics 85......Page 112
Nanoelectronics with Molecules 86......Page 113
Just One Word, “Plastics” 88......Page 115
On Quantum Dots 96......Page 123
Nanophotonics 97......Page 124
Summary: Key Takeaways from This Chapter 98......Page 125
Further Reading 99......Page 126
Introduction: The Real Energy Crisis 101......Page 128
Economic Analysis of the Opportunities for Nanoenergy Firms 103......Page 130
The Impact of Nanotechnology on the Energy Sector 105......Page 132
The Nano-Enhancement of Fossil Fuels 106......Page 133
Nanotech, the Environment, and the Road to the Hydrogen Economy 111......Page 138
Nano-Solar Power 115......Page 142
The Nano-Enhanced Distributed Electricity Grid of the Future 118......Page 145
Nano Power for the Pervasive Network 119......Page 146
Summary: Key Takeaways from This Chapter 121......Page 148
Further Reading 124......Page 151
A Nanotech Paradox 127......Page 154
Timescapes 128......Page 155
The Tipping Point 130......Page 157
Seven Ways Nanoengineering Will Contribute to Nano-Enabled Drug Discovery 131......Page 158
Six Ways That Nanotechnology Will Contribute to Drug Delivery 136......Page 163
Nanotechnology and Medical Diagnostics 139......Page 166
Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine 142......Page 169
Timeframes, Futuristic Nanomedicine, and a Business Perspective on “Transhumanism” 145......Page 172
Summary: Key Takeaways from This Chapter 147......Page 174
Further Reading 148......Page 175
The Coming of the Nano Economy 151......Page 178
From Chemical Industry to Nanomaterials Industry 152......Page 179
Nanotextiles and “Intelligent Clothing” 154......Page 181
Building Nanotechnology 161......Page 188
Nanotech, Food, and Agriculture: A “Nanolithic” Revolution 164......Page 191
Planes, Trains, and Nanotechnology: Too Many “Opportunities”? 166......Page 193
Nanotech and Robotics 167......Page 194
Summary: Key Takeaways from This Chapter 171......Page 198
Further Reading 172......Page 199
Why an Audit? 175......Page 202
Establishing Objectives 177......Page 204
Fact and Trend Selection 178......Page 205
Establishing a Data Collection Methodology 180......Page 207
Opportunity Analysis 182......Page 209
Threat Analysis 185......Page 212
Organizational Analysis 186......Page 213
Further Reading 187......Page 214
Appendix: Eleven Essential Information Sources for Nanobusiness 189......Page 216
A.1 The Diamond Age 190......Page 217
A.2 The Singularity Is Near 191......Page 218
A.4 Nanotechnology.com 192......Page 219
A.6 NanoMarkets 193......Page 220
A.8 The Foresight Nanotech Institute 194......Page 221
A.10 Nanotechnology Law and Business 195......Page 222
A.11 Nano-Hype: The Truth Behind the A.11 Nanotechnology Buzz 196......Page 223
Endnotes 197......Page 224
About the Author 205......Page 232
Index 207......Page 234
