Nanotechnology is the business of manufacturing products from components smaller than 100 nanometres (the smallest size object that can be seen under a light microscope), of which a nanoparticle is defined as having three dimensions, a nanotube as having two dimensions, and a nanosurface as having one dimension.
Nanotechnology is not new. In manufacturing, processes such as grinding can lead to some material that falls below 100nm. The semiconductor industry has been operating within the nanoscale for some time and the catalyst industry is moving towards the nanoscale.
The point is that the novel properties exhibited by nanoscaled structures/particles (e.g. increased surface area, and changes in optical, magnetic and electrical properties) are becoming increasingly understood, enabling exploitation of features at the nanoscale to improve existing products and the potential for new products across a wide range of sectors. Basically, the idea is to change the construction of products at the cellular level in order to build "smaller, stronger, tougher, and lighter products than ever before”. Some potentially interesting nanomaterials include carbon nanotubes used in electronics, nanoclays used in composite materials, and nanoscale metals, alloys, and oxides, used in the power and renewable energy industries.
All very interesting, you might say, but are there any UK stocks that might benefit from this trend? Well, that's what this thread is here to find out!
One such candidate for consideration is Nanoscience Inc, recently renamed as Toumaz Holdings Ltd, although I am not yet sure how real the nanotechnology piece is (or whether it's more cosmetic).
Toumaz’s principal activity is the design and development of low power and ultra-low power integrated circuits and silicon chips for use in wireless and signal processing applications. The Directors and Proposed Director believe that Toumaz’s technology is applicable to a wide range of sectors and, in particular, in the field of nanoscale and nanopower applications.
http://web.toumazholdings.com/downloads/Nanoscience%20Admission%20Doc.pdf
