Short Communication
M R Islam
Abstract
Information age marks revolutionary changes in all aspects, but most notably in the domain of nanotechnology. The technological revolution involves nano-materials, engineered or otherwise, that have great mechanical stability, high thermal conductivity, large current carrying ability, and tremendous flexibility in terms of compatibility with other materials. Unfortunately, much of the excitement about nanotechnologies has been diminished due to the fact that most of these technological products are inherently toxic to the environment. As such, they are unsustainable. In this paper, the origins of unsustainability in selected technologies are revealed through sustainability analysis based on a comprehensive criterion. A newly developed scientific theory, which is free from paradoxical assumptions of the currently used theories, is used to construct a guideline for sustainable material development. An array of novel materials for a wide range of applications is proposed. Sustainability analysis of these materials is performed. It is shown that these materials are technologically more effective than their conventional counterparts. In terms of environmental sustainability, they are shown to be inherently beneficial to the environment. As a consequence, the engineering problem becomes that of maximizing value addition instead of minimizing waste. This material conversion instead of waste disposal opens up the prospect of zero waste engineering. With this double dividend, products of nanotechnology satisfy simultaneously all economical and environmental constraints, thus removing century old misconception that environmental sustainability must come with an economic cost.