• is already making today’s products:

• Lighter
• Stronger
• Faster
• Smaller
• More Durable
Units in nanometers (µm)
A Human Hair is about 100,000 µm wide
• Nanomaterials are an increasingly important product of
nanotechnologies. Nanotechnologies make use of very small
objects or artefacts. They contain nanoparticles, smaller than
100 nanometres in at least one dimension.
• Nanomaterials are coming into use in healthcare, electronics,
cosmetics and other areas. Their physical and chemical
properties often differ from those of bulk materials
Engineered nanomaterials are resources designed at the
molecular (nanometre) level to take advantage of their small size
and novel properties which are generally not seen in their
conventional, bulk counterparts.
The two main reasons why materials at the nano scale can have
different properties are increased relative surface area and new
quantum effects.
 Relative surface area
 Quantum effects
These property can change or enhance property such as
reactivity, strength, electric and magnetic behaviour
• As the size of particle decreases greater proportion of atom are
found at the surface for e.g.
Size 30 nm- 5% of atom on its surface
Size 10 nm- 20% of atom on its surface
Size 3 nm- 50% of atom on its surface

To understand the effect of particle size on surface area, consider an

American Silver Eagle coin. This silver dollar contains 31 grams of coin
silver and has a total surface area of approximately 3000 square
millimeters. If the same amount of coin silver were divided into
nanoparticles – say 10 nanometer in diameter – the total surface area
of those particles would be 7000 square meters (which is equal to the
size of a soccer field
• Nanomaterials have a much greater surface area to volume
ratio than their conventional forms, which can lead to greater
chemical reactivity and affect their strength.
• The so-called quantum size effect describes the physics of
electron properties in solids with great reductions in particle
size. This effect does not come into play by going from macro to
micro dimensions. However, it becomes dominant when the
nanometer size range is reached.
• Quantum effects can begin to dominate the behavior of matter
at the nanoscale - particularly at the lower end (single digit
and low tens of nanometers) - The causes of these drastic
changes stem from the weird world of quantum physics.
• The bulk properties of any material are merely the average of
all the quantum forces affecting all the atoms that make up the
material. As you make things smaller and smaller, you
eventually reach a point where the averaging no longer works
and you have to deal with the specific behavior of individual
atoms or molecules - behavior that can be very different to
when these atoms are aggregated into a bulk material.
• Materials reduced to the nanoscale can suddenly show very
different properties compared to what they show on a
macroscale. For instance, opaque substances become
transparent (copper); inert materials become catalysts
(platinum); stable materials turn combustible (aluminum); solids
turn into liquids at room temperature (gold); insulators become
conductors (silicon).
• The quantum confinement effect can be observed once
the diameter of particle is of the same magnitude as
the wavelength of electron
• Quantum confinement effect is responsible for
increase of energy gap between energy state and
band gap.
• When particles are small there electric optical and
magnetic properties differ significantly from bulk
materials
• Zero dimension (quantum dots)
• One dimension (quantum wires, rods)
• Two dimension (plates, network, quantum wells)
• Three dimension (fullerenes- C60, haeckelites)

Classification of Nanomaterials (a) 0D spheres and clusters, (b) 1D

nanofibers, wires, and rods, (c) 2D films, plates, and networks, (d) 3D
nanomaterials.
• Nanomaterial - synthesis and processing
• Nanomaterials deal with very fine structures: a nanometer is a
billionth of a meter. This indeed allows us to think in both the
‘bottom up’ or the ‘top down’ approaches to synthesize
nanomaterials, i.e. either to assemble atoms together or to dis-
assemble (break, or dissociate) bulk solids into finer pieces until
they are constituted of only a few atoms.
• This domain is a pure example of interdisciplinary work
encompassing physics, chemistry, and engineering upto
medicine.

• Schematic illustration of the

• preparative methods of nanoparticles.
• Fullerenes are spherical carbon-cage molecules with sixty (C60) or more
carbon atoms. The molecule was named after R. Buckminster Fuller, who
confirmed structural formula . A hollow pure carbon molecule in which atom
lies at the vertices of polyhedron with 12 pentagonal faces and any number
of hexagonal faces.
• Each carbon is bound to other three carbon in pseudo spherical arrangement
of alternating pentagonal and hexagonal rings in the manner of soccer ball .
Hence the nick name Bucky ball. They measure about 0.7-1.5 nm in diameter.
They are fascinating for scientists because they show unusual properties for
carbon materials. Fullerenes are studied for potential medical use: they are
strong antioxidants; one could also bind specific antibiotics to the structure to
target resistant bacteria and even target certain cancer cells such as
melanoma. Heat resistance and superconductivity are some of the more
heavily studied properties of fullerenes in mechanical engineering.
• Quantum dot:
Quantum dots are tiny semiconductot crystal, this means this
particle can either conduct or resist depending upon
temperature and purity of lab. There size ranges between 2-
10nm. Because of small size they are governed bu quantum
mecchanics. The size, energy level and emission colour of
quantum dot can be precisely controlled hence they are
extremely useful in variety of application. One of the unique
property of quantum dots is their emission colour depend upon
their size not the materials. The bigger the quantum dot bigger
will be the wavelength and smaller the frequency it will emit.
This means larger quantum dot will emit red light and smaller
will emit blue.
• The average distance between an electron and a hole in a
exciton is called the Excited Bohr Radius.When the size of the
semiconductor falls below the Bohr Radius, the semiconductor is
called a quantum dot.
• Quantum dots can be prepared by variious ways but they are
generally by chemical synthesis methods. Many different
semiconductor can be used to prepare quantum dots such as
cadmium selenide, cadmium sulphide, indium arsenide etc. The
unique property of quantum dots are useful in medical
imaging, energy efficient lighting displays and photovoltaic
cell
• By changing size,
shape, and
composition, quantum
dots can change their
absorptive and
emissive properties
dramatically
• Medicine-
• Can be set to any arbitrary emission spectra to allow labeling and observation of
detailed biological processes.
• Quantum Dots can be useful tool for monitoring cancerous cells and providing a
means to better understand its evolution.
• In the future, Qdots could also be armed with tumor-fighting toxic therapies to
provide the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
• Qdots are much more resistant to degradation than other optical imaging probes
such as organic dyes, allowing them to track cell processes for longer periods of time.
• Quantum dots offer a wide broadband absorption spectrum while maintaining a
distinct, static emission wavelength.

• LED-
• Used to produce inexpensive, industrial quality white light.
• Marked improvement over traditional LED–phosphor integration by dot’s ability to
absorb and emit at any desired wavelength.
• Produce white light by intermixing red, green, and blue emitting dots homogenously
within the phosphor difficult to accomplish with the traditional LED-phosphor set up.
• Traditional solar cells are made of semi-conductors and expensive to
produce. Theoretical upper limit is 33% efficiency for conversion of sunlight
to electricity for these cells.
• Utilizing quantum dots allows realization of third-generation solar cells at
~60% efficiency in electricity production while being $100 or less per
square meter of paneling necessary.
• Effective due to quantum dots’ ability to preferentially absorb and emit
radiation that results in optimal generation of electric current and voltage.

• Other Future Quantum Dot Applications…

• Anti-counterfeiting capabilities: inject dots into liquid mixtures, fabrics,
polymer matrices, etc. Ability to specifically control absorption and
emission spectra to produce unique validation signatures. Almost
impossible to mimic with traditional semi-conductors.
• Counter-espionage / Defense applications: Integrate quantum dots into
dust that tracks enemies. Protection against friendly-fire events.
• Research continues. The possibilities seem endless…
• There name is derived from long hollow structure with wall formed by one
atom thick sheets of carbon called graphene. These sheets are rolled at
specific and discrete (chiral) angle. The combination of rolling angle and
radius decides the nano tubes properties For e.g. Whether nano tube shell is
metal or semi conductor.
• They have outstanding mechanical and electronic properties and are good
thermal conductors. The tensile strength, or breaking strain of CNTs is 6-7
times that of steel. They are among the stiffest and strongest fibers known.
CNTs can be metallic or semiconducting depending on their structure. Some
CNTs are the most efficient electrical conductors ever made, while others
behave more like silicon. These properties, coupled with the lightness of
carbon nanotubes, give them great potential for use in reinforced composites,
nanoelectronics, sensors and nanomechanical devices.
• Carbon nano tubes are categorized as,
Single walled nano tubes (SWNT) Multi walled nano tubes (MWNT)

Nanotubes have been constructed with length-to-diameter ratio of up to

132,000,000 :1 significantly larger than for any other material. These
cylindrical carbon molecules have unusual properties, which are valuable
for nanotechnology, electronics, optics and other fields of materials science and
technology
Single-walled
carbon nanotubes:
• armchair - metallic
• zigzag - semiconducting
• chiral - semiconducting

• multi-walled - metallic
• Arc Method
• Laser Method
• Chemical deposition method
• Electrical Conductivity
• Strength and Elasticity
• Thermal Conductivity
• High aspect ratio and Field emission
• The conductivity of CNT have been found to be function of their
chirality, degree of twist as well as diameter. CNTs can be either
metallic or semi conductor. The resistivity of single walled nanotubes
ropes was of the order of 10-4 ohm-cm at 27C. This means they are
the most conductive carbon fiber known. The current density that was
possible to achieve was 109 A/cm2 (while copper burn at 106 A/cm2 )
It has been reported that SWNT may contain some defects. This
defects allow the SWNT to act as transistors, rectifying diodes. It has
also been reported that single wall nanotubes can route electrical
speed up to 10 GHz.
• CNTs are expected to be ultimate high strength fiber. Single
walled nanotubes are stiffer than steel and are resistant to
damage from physical forces. Pressing on the tip of nanotubes
will cause it to bend without damage to the tip. This property
make CNTs very useful as probe tip for high resolution scanning
probe microscopy.The current Young’s modulus value for single
walled nanotubes is about 1 teraPascal but this value is highly
disputed and a value as high as 1.8 TPa(tera Pascal)Young
modulus depend on size and chirality of single walled nano
tube.
• CNTs have been shown to exhibit superconductivity below 20
K. Preliminary experiments and simulation studies on thermal
property of CNT show very high thermal conductivity. It is
expected therefore nanotube reinforcement in polymeric
materials may also significantly improve the thermal and thermo
mechanical properties of composites. CNTs represent very high
aspect ratio. The high aspect ratio means that lower loading of
CNTs is needed than to other conductive material. CNTs have
proven to be excellent additives to impart electric conductivity
in plastics.
In Combat jackets, the CNTs are used as ultrastrong fibres.
They are also used in suspension bridges instead of steels.
They are used in the field of robotics, where large linear
movement is often needed.
CNTs can be used to produce nanowires of other metals such as
gold or zinc oxide.
CNTs are used as an ulternative to tungsten filaments in light
bulbs.
MWCNTs coated with magnetite are used as magnets.
Nanotube membranes can be used for filtration of water.
CNTs have been shown to be superconducting at low temperature.
Nanotubes can be used as a biotech container.
CNTs have the potential to store between 4.2 to 65% hydrogen
by weight.
The CNTs is often used as a vessel for transporting drugs into the
body .
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Energy &
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Carbon nanotubes are stiff and hard like diamond but flexible
due to this they find several mechanical application. Cutting tools
made up of Nano crystalline materials such as tungsten carbide
titanium carbide are more wear resistant than convectional counter
parts. They find application in drill, helmets, bullet proof cloth, etc.
At present fastest known oscillators are made up of nanotubes.
Nanotubes develop material which are slicker than Teflon and also
waterproof. Membrane made up of CNTs allow liquid flow up to
five times faster than conventional membrane.
Nano sphere of inorganic material can act as nano sized ball
bearing. They also find application in high performance engine
and drivers.
• Nanomaterials are of the size 10-9. Hence the are smaller or
comparable than single cell, virus, protein. Thus materials can
freely move through tissue or bind to biological system.
Endothelium layers are porous thus nano particle can penetrate
through them and can be used as medicine or carrier. Many of
magnetic nano particles have been used in cancer therapy like
hyperthermia. Magnetic particle are also used for tagging
cancer cells, bacteria red blood cells. They are also used in
contrast enhancing agent in MRI. Thus they can used to detect
brain tumor liver tumor and lymph nodes.
• With nano technology it is possible to synthesize metal nano
particles of highly ordered mono dispersed film. These nano
catalyst greater activity and specific in action. It is possible to
achieve specific or selective activity. This will reduce huge
requirement of all rare earth metal in the production of catalyst
• Nano porous aluminum silicates(zeolites) are used in water
treatment. Nano porous membrane with definite and desired
pore are used as nano filters for dust and impurities from air
and water. Gold nano particles are used for degradation of
toilet odor. Nano ZnO is used for degradation of chlorinated
phenol. Nano photo catalyst are used for degradation of
pollutant present in waste water.
• Traditional electronic circuits are built by etching individual
• components into silicon wafers. Rapid technological progress was first
predicted in 1965 by Gordon Moore who stated that integrated
circuit(IC) density and performance would double every 18 months.
Electronic miniaturization has been the true driving force for
nanotechnology research and applications. Nano electronics can help
us to improve the capabilities of electronics devices while we reduce
their weight and power consumption. Nanotechnologies are therefore
expected to enable the production of smaller, cheaper devices with
increasing efficiency. CNTs are being used for low voltage field
emission displays. Nano crystalline nickel and metal hydrides are
envisioned to require less frequent recharging and last longer. Nano
scale fabricated magnetic material find application in data storage.