Is there anything nanoscale technology can't do?

While some futurists paint a bleak picture of what nanotech has in store for mankind (gray goo, anyone?), there are many that think that a sustainable, "clean" economy hinges on advancements in the field.

Already, nanotech is being credited with helping to boost the output of plastic solar cells, a promising alternative to costly silicon based panels. A report from the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies -- which is backed by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and The Pew Charitable Trusts -- examines the issues of not only developing greener products, but also assuring that the production of those products adhere to environmentally safe standards.

Want an example? Here's one from the group's report, Green Nanotechnology: It's Easier Than You Think:

A newly developed nanomaterial could replace the tin-lead solders widely used as interconnects in electronic products, said Yi Li, a chemist at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Her lab is investigating alternative materials called electronically conductive adhesives (ECAs), which are lead-free and can be produced with less energy and in fewer steps. The group enhanced the performance of ECAs by adding nanosilver fillers and molecular monolayers to create an environmentally friendly nanocomposite for use in interconnects.

Visit their website for the rest of the report (PDF, 1.7 MB).