Nanotechnology-enabled materials and devices are expected to play a major role in the implementation of smart cities, across sectors such as electronics, communications, construction and energy, writes the platform Nanowerk in an article.
In the field of smart city construction, nanotechnology signals the future, says Nanowerk. It explains that the addition of nanoparticles can lead to stronger concrete that is air-purifying and fire-resistant. Nanotechnology can improve the energy efficiency of homes, too. For example, according to Nanowerk, insulation materials made from nanospheres can reduce existing insulation material thicknesses.
Furthermore, wireless sensors can monitor environmental factors such as humidity, temperature and air pressure. “One example of IoT-suitable sensing devices are fully integrated and packaged wireless sensors for environmental monitoring applications that can be 3S printed,” writes the article.
Looking further into the future, Nanowerk cites the example of smart dust - a cloud of sensors that can relay data on storms to weather stations or be embedded into roads to monitor traffic, road surface damage and identify available parking spaces. There is also the potential to distribute nanosensors over areas with fire hazards to detect a fire in its early stages.
