Nano-technology can put an end to our current woes: CNR Rao

Addressing a packed gathering of students and academicians at the fourth Bangalore Nano, Scientist and chairman of the prime minister’s science advisory council, Professor CNR Rao, said nano-technology would be the answer to the world’s energy crisis.

“India currently uses 3.5  lakh MW to 4 lakh MW of power and in a matter of time, it will reach 8 lakh MW. This will be a burning problem,” he said, adding that nuclear technology would not be able to meet the demand.

“There are those who say that nuclear technology can generate up to 2 lakh MW of power. But here’s the thing; all the available uranium in the world won’t be able to generate that much!” he quipped. Rao elucidated that water and nanotechnology would be major players in deterring the energy crisis. “Water is the future coal of mankind. We need to split water into hydrogen,” he explained.

Rao also elaborated on the various fields that will benefit from nano-technology. “Some of the applications of nano-technology are nano-lithography, nano-electronics, field emission and more,” he added. 

While he focused on the future, Rao paid tribute to the past as well, saying that humans have been putting nanotechnology to use for centuries. “The Damascus sword (a sword used in West Asia in the 17th century) actually contains carbon nanotubes, making it stronger,” he said, adding that the Raman Spectroscopy (observed first by CV Raman) is used as an important tool in this field.