This module examines three application areas associated with nanoscale engineering: structured technologies, energy and electronics, and health. Interactive software supports the module materials, and Multiphysics simulations allow you to design systems and devices that use nanoscale engineering and model their performance.
Introduction
This section introduces nanoscale engineering and briefly describes the technologies under consideration throughout the module, using examples of nature-inspired engineering that utilise nanostructures. It explores the critical roles played by thermal energy and intermolecular forces and emphasises the rapidly evolving nature of nanotechnologies.
Part 1: Structured technologies
In this part, you’ll learn about low-adhesion surfaces, including self-cleaning glass, stain-resistant fabrics, and waterproofing. You'll also describe the role of surface modification in creating new functionality. You'll explore top-down and bottom-up methods, including vacuum systems, material deposition techniques, and surface characterisation. Devices, including accelerometers, actuators, and detectors, will also be considered.
Part 2: Energy and electronics
This part focuses on nanostructures and nanomaterials, exploring their enhanced properties conferred by scaling. It also investigates the development of state-of-the-art and next-generation, low-power electronic devices. You’ll study the fabrication and characterisation of these devices and the range of light/matter interactions that are exploited in nanotechnologies. Application areas include energy storage, energy harvesting, supercapacitors, and logic/memory technologies.
Part 3: Health
This part explores nanotechnology as utilised in healthcare and biochemical applications for early diagnosis and prevention, as well as for the treatment and monitoring of disease. Particular emphasis is placed on diagnostics, including advanced biosensors for health, drug delivery techniques, lab-on-a-chip and nano-robots. You’ll study microfluidic and nanofluidic devices and arrays of nanomaterials-based sensor technology.
Future prospects
You’ll explore the future prospects for nanotechnology, including molecular machines, and recently awarded Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and Physics, which are expected to lead to functional engineered devices and products.
The knowledge and skills developed in this module are applicable in various engineering roles. At the end of it, you’ll be able to:
This module will help you gain knowledge and skills essential for the practising engineer. It can help you to:
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
Additionally, the website includes:
We also provide physical:
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
T366 is an option module in our:
Nanoscale engineering (T366) starts once a year – in October.
It will next start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2028.
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