Nanotechnology in Chemistry
Definition
According to National Nantechnology Initiatve (NNI) : Nanotechnology is the understanding and control
of matter at dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable
novel
Nanotechnology a term encompassing nanoscale science, engineering, and technology is focused on u
nderstanding, controlling, and exploiting the unique properties of matter that can emerge at scales of one
to 100 nanometers
Nanomaterials: are those which have structured components with at least one dimension less than
100nm.
ISO (2015) defines a nanomaterial as a: ‘material with any external dimension in the nanoscale
(size range from approximately 1 – 100 nm) or having internal structure or surface structure in
the nanoscale’. Or; A material having particles or constituents of nanoscale dimensions, or one that is
produced by nanotechnology.
Materials that have one dimension in the nanoscale (and are extended in the other two
dimensions) are layers, such as graphene, thin films or surface coatings.
Materials that are nanoscale in two dimensions (and extended in one dimension)
include nanowires and nanotubes.
Materials that are nanoscale in three dimensions are particles, for example precipitates, colloids
and quantum dots (tiny particles of semiconductor materials).
Nanocrystalline materials, made up of nanometre-sized grains, also fall into this category.
A quantum dot has all three dimensions in the nano range.
The term quantum is associated with these three types of nanostructures because the changes in
properties arise from the quantum-mechanical nature of physics in the domain of the ultra-small.
According to Siegel, Nanostructured materials are classified as Zero dimensional, one dimensional, two
dimensional, three dimensional nanostructures.
(a) 0D spheres and clusters, (b) 1D nanofibers, wires, and rods, (c) 2D
films, plates, and networks, (d) 3D nanomaterials.
, Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals tiny enough to demonstrate quantum mechanical
phenomena. Alex Ekimov found quantum dots in a glass matrix in 1981, and Brus identified them in
colloidal fluids in 1985. Quantum dots are used in transistors, solar cells, LEDs, and diode lasers, among
other things. In medical imaging and quantum computing, they're also used as agents.
Natural nanoparticles (e.g. volcanic ash, forest fire soot) and by-products of combustion processes (e.g.
welding, diesel engines) are typically physically and heterogeneously ultrafine. Engineered nanoparticles
are created with specific features in mind, such as shape, size, surface properties, and chemistry.
Aerosols, colloid, and powders all reflect these qualities. The surface area of nanoparticles may have a
greater impact on their behavior than the particle composition itself. One of the most important aspects
that affects a material's reactivity, strength, biological, mechanical, functional, and electrical properties is
its relative surface area..
Engineered nanoparticles can be purchased from a commercial vendor or created in the lab using
experimental processes (e.g., carbon nanotubes produced by laser ablation, HiPCO-high pressure carbon
monoxide, CVD-chemical vapour deposition). Carbon buckyballs or fullerenes; carbon nanotubes; metal
or metal oxide nanoparticles (e.g., gold, titanium dioxide); and quantum dots are examples of designed
nanomaterials.
Examples of nanoparticles;
Nanomaterials' characteristics differ greatly from those of other materials due to two main factors: greater
relative surface area and quantum effects (showing discontinuous behavior due to quantum confinement
effects in materials with delocalized electrons). Properties like reactivity, strength, and electrical
Definition
According to National Nantechnology Initiatve (NNI) : Nanotechnology is the understanding and control
of matter at dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable
novel
Nanotechnology a term encompassing nanoscale science, engineering, and technology is focused on u
nderstanding, controlling, and exploiting the unique properties of matter that can emerge at scales of one
to 100 nanometers
Nanomaterials: are those which have structured components with at least one dimension less than
100nm.
ISO (2015) defines a nanomaterial as a: ‘material with any external dimension in the nanoscale
(size range from approximately 1 – 100 nm) or having internal structure or surface structure in
the nanoscale’. Or; A material having particles or constituents of nanoscale dimensions, or one that is
produced by nanotechnology.
Materials that have one dimension in the nanoscale (and are extended in the other two
dimensions) are layers, such as graphene, thin films or surface coatings.
Materials that are nanoscale in two dimensions (and extended in one dimension)
include nanowires and nanotubes.
Materials that are nanoscale in three dimensions are particles, for example precipitates, colloids
and quantum dots (tiny particles of semiconductor materials).
Nanocrystalline materials, made up of nanometre-sized grains, also fall into this category.
A quantum dot has all three dimensions in the nano range.
The term quantum is associated with these three types of nanostructures because the changes in
properties arise from the quantum-mechanical nature of physics in the domain of the ultra-small.
According to Siegel, Nanostructured materials are classified as Zero dimensional, one dimensional, two
dimensional, three dimensional nanostructures.
(a) 0D spheres and clusters, (b) 1D nanofibers, wires, and rods, (c) 2D
films, plates, and networks, (d) 3D nanomaterials.
, Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals tiny enough to demonstrate quantum mechanical
phenomena. Alex Ekimov found quantum dots in a glass matrix in 1981, and Brus identified them in
colloidal fluids in 1985. Quantum dots are used in transistors, solar cells, LEDs, and diode lasers, among
other things. In medical imaging and quantum computing, they're also used as agents.
Natural nanoparticles (e.g. volcanic ash, forest fire soot) and by-products of combustion processes (e.g.
welding, diesel engines) are typically physically and heterogeneously ultrafine. Engineered nanoparticles
are created with specific features in mind, such as shape, size, surface properties, and chemistry.
Aerosols, colloid, and powders all reflect these qualities. The surface area of nanoparticles may have a
greater impact on their behavior than the particle composition itself. One of the most important aspects
that affects a material's reactivity, strength, biological, mechanical, functional, and electrical properties is
its relative surface area..
Engineered nanoparticles can be purchased from a commercial vendor or created in the lab using
experimental processes (e.g., carbon nanotubes produced by laser ablation, HiPCO-high pressure carbon
monoxide, CVD-chemical vapour deposition). Carbon buckyballs or fullerenes; carbon nanotubes; metal
or metal oxide nanoparticles (e.g., gold, titanium dioxide); and quantum dots are examples of designed
nanomaterials.
Examples of nanoparticles;
Nanomaterials' characteristics differ greatly from those of other materials due to two main factors: greater
relative surface area and quantum effects (showing discontinuous behavior due to quantum confinement
effects in materials with delocalized electrons). Properties like reactivity, strength, and electrical
