By the 1970s, research and development involving nanoscale science and advanced miniaturization had begun to emerge, although the widespread development of modern nanotechnology took place later. Nanoscale technologies have since found applications in areas such as military systems, space technology, and security.

Miniaturization is an ongoing trend in technological development, and nanotechnology contributes to some of these advances. In everyday life, take cell phones as an example: they once served mainly as a means of making calls, but now they are smaller, more powerful, and equipped with more functions. Camera sensors and electronic components in digital cameras have also become increasingly compact, although miniaturization alone does not necessarily involve nanotechnology. Dual-core 64-bit CPUs in computers are manufactured using advanced semiconductor fabrication processes that incorporate nanoscale features. Nanotechnology has the potential to transform many aspects of human life in the 21st century, and its applications are increasingly integrated into everyday products.

Currently, advertisements of all kinds are heavily promoting “nano” products. Consumers should not readily believe every claim made by manufacturers; nanotechnology did not emerge overnight, and the use of the term “nano” does not automatically mean a product is more effective or safer. International standards bodies, including the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), have developed standards covering nanotechnology terminology, measurement methods, and safety practices. These standards can help consumers and industry assess products and claims more reliably.

In water and air filtration technologies, particle size is one factor used to assess filtration performance. Particles smaller than 0.1 micrometers are smaller than 100 nanometers (1 centimeter = 10,000 micrometers; 1 micrometer = 1,000 nanometers; 1 nanometer = 10 angstroms). The nanoscale is generally defined as approximately 1 to 100 nanometers. However, a filter’s ability to capture particles in this size range depends on its design, materials, and operating conditions; it does not, by itself, establish that the filter uses nanotechnology. The definition and application of nanomaterials also depend on their dimensions, structure, and nanoscale properties.

By Michael Chiu, MWS, CI
Previously published in Ming Pao Daily News – Updated and Revised in 2026