When we think of the ocean what comes to mind? Well, most likely the large waves or beautiful beachy images, but what about within the ocean? Sharks and whales? Coral reefs? Schools of fish? Has anyone ever imagined the plankton? No! Of course not. Why would anyone care about something so small? Well, as always, they definitely don’t play a plankton-sized role in the ocean by far. So people should definitely picture plankton, right? I still won’t. But I will appreciate the role it plays in maintaining the ocean’s beauty that does come to mind. Well, just like plankton, nanotechnology won’t play a nanosized role in the future of ocean science and should also be appreciated greatly.
There seem to be two significant problems, of many, in the ocean that novel nanotechnology can resolve. Pollution (oil spills, waterborne diseases, nuclear waste) and shipwrecks.
In 2010, following the Gulf of Mexico’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster, researchers from the State University of New York (SUNY) developed a nanogrid of photocatalytic copper tungsten oxide nanoparticles. Say that 10 times fast. Well, basically, these nanoparticles, once activated by sunlight, can break down oil pollution into biodegradable compounds. The oil is no longer a concern to the oceanic environment. There are additional instances of nanoparticles eliminating other forms of pollution from the water. For example, Titanate nanofibers act as good absorbents of radioactive ions such as cesium and iodine in water. Furthermore, nanotechnology such as titanium dioxide catalysts can provide a solution for waterborne infectious diseases through photocatalytic disinfection.
So yes, nanotechnology can protect the water in which all of the important organisms live, but what about protecting the humans and goods traveling in this water.
Researchers have identified that humidity and salinity are the cause of 30% of all ship failures, repair needs, and equipment modifications in the marine industry. But unfortunately, traditional protective coatings and paints for ships have only been able to slow this process, but new advancements in nanotechnology might prove to be a much better solution. Nanostructured coatings can contain nanoparticles that target and prevent chemical reactions that corrode ships. These coatings are able to operate at the atomic scale which significantly improves the durability of ships.
Next time you are on a luxurious cruise maybe remember that nanotechnology is likely the reason that your ship is still in use and on its current path through unpolluted saltwater. Could nanotechnology become just as important as plankton in the ocean? Probably not, because they are pretty much crucial to life, but maybe in the near future, nanotechnology could come close.