Recent advances in nanotechnology: key issues & potential problem areas

Recent developments in nanosciences and nanotechnology have created tremendous enthusiasm among researchers and scientists across the globe. The rapidly increasing interest among various engineering disciplines toward research and development needs of nano-domain have spurred the growth in areas such as nanoelectronics, biotechnology & health delivery system and commerce in general. In this paper, a state-of-the-art encompassing the recent developments and the key problems in nanomanufacturing that relate to the domain are presented. Furthermore, contribution in this field from the researchers in different parts of the world are included and compared to monitor the present progress. With the down sizing of present silicon, IC technology, validity of Moore's law has become seemingly limited. However, it is strongly believed that the novel materials will provide the answer for further scaling of device density and performance. For example, most recent attention has been paid on carbon nanotubes, which can be used in nanosize electronic devices. It is still a question whether nanotube based technology will actually contribute to the existing CMOS technology or it is a totally new device architecture from CMOS technology. Besides, it is unclear whether this material will meet scalability, durability and existing performance. Modelling and simulation is a vital element for gaining insight to the behaviour of these materials and also to the characterization process. A part of this paper will be devoted to fully analyze the current trends in nanoelectronics based on nanostructured materials other than silicon.