NANOMATERIALS

Department of Chemistry

Government College of Technology -Coimbatore

Introduction

Nanomaterials are cornerstones of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Nanostructure science and technology is a broad and interdisciplinary area of
research and development activity that has been growing explosively worldwide in the
past few years.

It has the potential for revolutionizing the ways in which materials and
products are created and the range and nature of functionalities that can be
accessed. It is already having a significant commercial impact, which will assuredly
increase in the future.

Nanomaterials

Nanoscale materials are defined as a set of substances where at least one

dimension is less than approximately 100 nanometers.

A nanometer is one millionth of a millimeter - approximately 100,000 times

smaller than the diameter of a human hair.

Nanomaterials are of interest because at this scale unique optical, magnetic,

electrical, and other properties emerge.

These emergent properties have the potential for great impacts in electronics,
medicine, and other fields.

Synthesis of Nanomaterials
Synthesis of nanomaterials and nanostructures are the important aspect of
nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Physical properties and applications of nanomaterials are only possible when

nanostructured materials are made available with desired size, shape, morphology,
crystal structure and chemical composition.

DISTINCTION BETWEEN NANO PARTICLES, MOLECULES AND BULK

MATERIALS

o The size of nano particles are less than 100 nm in diameter, molecules are in
the range of picometers, but bulk materials are larger in micron size.
o Molecule is a collection of atoms, nano particles are collection of few molecules
that is less than 100 nm but bulk materials contains thousands of molecules.
o Surface area of nano particles is more than the bulk materials.
o Hardness of nano materials is 5 times more than the bulk materials.
o Strength of nano materials is 3 - 10 times higher than the bulk materials.
o Nano particles possesses size dependent properties, but bulk materials
possess constant physical properties.
o Nano particles possesses lower melting point than the bulk materials.
 o Corrosion resistance is more than the bulk materials, hence localised corrosion
in nano materials is stopped.
o Behaviour of bulk materials can be changed, but cannot enter inside the nano
particles.
o Nano particles, due to its size, possess unexpected optical (visible) properties.
intering of nano particles takes place at lower temperature and in short time
than the bulk materials.
o Electrical properties, resistivity of nano particles are increased by 3 times.
o Suspension of nano particles is possible, because nano particles possess high
surface area, but bulk materials cannot.
o The wear resistance of nano particles are 170 times higher than the bulk
materials.

Examples
(i) Gold nano particles appear deep red to black colour in solution compared to
yellow colour with Gold.

(ii) ZnO nanoparticles possesses superior UV blocking property compared to

bulk material.

(iii) Absorption of solar radiation in photovoltaic cell containing nano particles

are higher than the film (bulk material).
Gold nanoparticles melt at lower temperature (300°C) for 2.5 nm, but Gold slab melts
at 1064°C.
Classification of Techniques for synthesis of Nanomaterials

There are two general approaches for the synthesis of nanomaterials as shown
in

a) Top- down approach

b) Bottom–up approach.

a) Top-down approach

 Top-down approach involves the breaking down of the bulk material into
nanosized structures or particles.
 Top-down synthesis techniques are extension of those that have been used for
producing micron sized particles.
 Top-down approaches are inherently simpler and depend either on removal or
division of bulk material or on miniaturization of bulk fabrication processes to
produce the desired structure with appropriate properties.
 The biggest problem with the top-down approach is the imperfection of surface
structure.

For example, nanowires made by lithography are not smooth and may contain
a lot of impurities and structural defects on its surface.

Examples of such techniques are high-energy wet ball milling, electron beam
lithography, atomic force manipulation, gas-phase condensation, aerosol
spray, etc.

(b) Bottom-up approach

✓ The alternative approach, which has the potential of creating less waste and
hence the more economical, is the „bottom- up‟.

✓ Bottom-up approach refers to the build-up of a material from the bottom:

atom-by-atom, molecule-by-molecule, or cluster-by cluster.
 ✓ Many of these techniques are still under development or are just beginning
to be used for commercial production of nano powders.

✓ Organometallic chemical route, revere-micelle route, sol-gel synthesis,

colloidal precipitation, hydrothermal synthesis, template assisted sol-gel,
electrodeposition etc, are some of the well- known bottom–up techniques
reported for the preparation of luminescent nanoparticles .

Classified Nanomaterials
Nanomaterials have extremely small size which having at least one dimension
100 nm or less.

1. Zero-Dimensional

1. The materials where in all the dimension are measured within the nanoscale
(no dimensions o-D a large then 100nm).
2. The common representations of zero dimensions are nanoparticles.

Structural

1. Be amorphous (or) Crystalline

2. Be single crystalline (or) poly crystalline
3. Be composed of single (or) multi chemical elements
4. Exhibit various shapes and forms
5. Exit individual (or) incorporated in matric
6. Be metallic, Ceramic and polymeric

D ≤ 100nM

Nanoparticle –all dimensional (x,yand Z) pf Nano scals

2. One-Dimesional

1. The one dimensions is outside the nanoscal.

2. This is leaeds to needle like,shaped nanomaterials
3. One dimensional include nanotubes, naniroads and nanowires.

Structural
1. Amorphous or Crystalline
2. Chemically pure or impure
3. Standalone material or embedded in within another medium
4. Metallic, ceramic or polymeric structural

D ≤ 100nm
One-dimensional (x, y) of Nano scale other dimensional (L) is not one

Two-Dimensional
1. Two-dimensional of the are not conformed to the Nano scale
2. Two-dimensional nanomaterial’s exhibited, like single-layer materials
3. Two-Dimensional Nanostructures covers the fabrication methods and
properties of these materials
4. Two-dimensional example of Nano includes Nano films, Nano Layers and Nano
coating.
Structure
1. Amorphous or Crystalline
2. Made up of various chemical compositions
3. Used as a single layer or as multi-layer structure
4. Deposited as a substance
5. Integrated in a surrounding matrix material
6. Metallic, ceramics and polymers

t ≤ 100 nm
Two-dimensional (t) Nano scale other two-dimensional (Lx, Ly) are not scales.
Three-Dimensional
1. Three dimensional is bulk dimensional are materials that are not confined to
the Nano scale in my dimension, these materials are thus characterization by
having three dimensional arbitrary directions above 100 nm.
2. Materials possess a Nano crystalline structure or involve the presence of
feature at the Nano scale
3. In term of Nano crystalline bulk Nanomaterial’s can be composed of an
arrangement of Nano scale by crystalline mostly typically in different
orientation
4. The respect to the presence of feature at the Nano scale three-dimensional
Nano materials an contain dispersion of Nano particle, bundle of Nanowires,
and Nano tubes as well as multi new layers

Structure
t ≤ 100 nm
No dimensional at the Nano scale all dimensions

SIZE DEPENDENT PROPERTIES OF NANOMATERIALS

Definition of Nanotechnology:
Nanotechnology is the collaboration of the physics, chemistry, biology,
computer and material sciences integrated with engineering entering the
nanoscale.
 This means science and Engineering focused on making the particles, things
and devices at the atomic and molecular scale.

The various properties, which get tremendously altered due to the size
reduction in at least one dimension are:

c) electronic properties: Electrical conduction.

d) Optical properties: Absorption and scattering of light.

e) Magnetic properties: Magnetization.

Optical Properties

 Because of the quantum confinement in nanomaterials, the emission of visible

light can be tuned by varying the nanoscale dimensions.
 It is observed that the size reduction in nanomaterials shifts the emission of
peak towards the shorter wavelength (blue shift).
 The optical emission and adsorption occur when the transition of the electrons
occur between these two States.
 Semiconductors and many metals show large changes in optical properties
such as colour, as a function of particle size.
 Colloidal suspense of gold nano particles has a deep red colour which becomes
progressively more yellow as the particle size increases.

• Golds spheres of10O20nm exhibit red colour

• Gold spheres of!2O5nm exhibit yellow colour

• Gold spheres of!>20nm exhibit purple colour

Similarly,

• Silver particles of 40nm exhibit blue color

• Silver particles of 100nm exhibit yellow color

• Prism shaped silver particles red color.

Other properties which may be affected by reduced dimensionality include
photocatalysis, Photoconductivity, photoemission and electroluminescence.

Reduction of material dimensions has pronounced effects on the optical

properties. Optical properties of nano-materials are different from bulk forms.

The change in optical properties is caused by two factors

The quantum confinement of electrons within nano-particles increases the
energy level spacing.
Example

1. The optical absorption peak of a semiconductor nano-particles shifts to a short

wavelength, due to an increased band gap.
2. Surface plasma resonance, which is due to smaller size of nano-particles than
the wavelength of incident radiation.
3. The colour of metallic nano-particles may change with their sizes due to surface
plasma resonance.

Mechanical properties

 Mechanical properties of nanomaterials may reach the theoretical strength,

which are one or two orders of magnitude higher than that of single crystals in
the bulk form.
 The enhancement in mechanical strength is simply due to the reduced
probability of defects. Carbon nanotubes are 100 times stronger than steel but
six times lighter.

 The nano-materials have less defects compared to bulk materials, which increases
the mechanical strength.

 (i) Mechanical properties of polymeric materials can be increased by the addition

of nano-fillers.

 (ii) As nano-materials are stronger, harder and more wear resistant and corrosion
resistant, they are used in spark plugs.

Example

 Nano-crystalline carbides are much stronger, harder and wear resistant and are
used in micro drills.
Electronic Properties
 In bulk materials, conduction of electrons is delocalized, that is, electrons can
move freely in all directions.
 When the scale is reduced to nanoscale, the quantum effect dominates.
 For zero dimensional nanomaterials, all the dimensions are at the nanoscale
and hence the electrons are confined in 3-D space.
 Therefore, no electron delocalization (freedom to move) occurs.
 For one dimensional nanomaterial, electrons confinement occurs in 2-D space
and hence electron delocalization takes place along the axis of
nanotubes/nanorods/nanowires.
  Due to electron confinement, the energy bands are replaced by discrete energy
states which make the conducting materials to behave like either
semiconductors or insulators.
 Electrical conductivity decreases with a reduced dimension due to increased
surface scattering. However,
it can be increased, due to better ordering in micro-structure.
Example: Polymeric fibres.
 Nanocrystalline materials are used as very good separator plates in batteries,
because they can hold more energy than the bulk materials.

Example: Nickel-metal hydride batteries made of nanocrystalline

nickel and metal hydride, require far less frequent recharging and
last much longer.

Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles are the particles, the size of which ranges from 1 to 100 nm.
These are tiny aggregates of atoms but smaller than their crystals but bigger
than molecules. They have three dimensional structures.
Examples: TiO2, gold, silver, ZnO, etc.,

Applications of Nanoparticles
1. TiO2 is used in cosmetics as they are very good UV - absorber.
2. Nano silver particles are used as a catalyst in industries.
3. Nanoparticles are used in medicine.

Nano silver particles are used in making bone cement, surgical instruments, etc.,

Nanorods

Nanorod is two-dimensional cylindrical solid material having an aspect ratio

i.e., length to width ratio less than 20.

Examples: Zinc oxide, Cadmium sulphide, Gallium nitride nano rods.

Synthesis of nanorods

Nano-rods are produced by direct chemical synthesis.

A combination of ligands act as shape control agents and bond to different
facets of the nano-rods with different strength.
This allows different nanorods to grow at different rates producing an elongated
objects.
 Many of the above nanorods are not manufactured due to lack of commercial
demand.

Properties of nanorods

1. Nanorods are two-dimensional materials.

2. It exhibits optical and electrical properties.

Applications of nanorods

1. Nanorods find application in display technologies.

2. It is also used in the manufacturing of micro mechanical switches.

3. Nanorods are used in an applied electric field, micro electro mechanical

systems, etc.,

4. Nanorods along with noble metal nanoparticles function as theragnostic

agents.

5. They are used in energy harvesting and light emitting devices.

6. Nanorods have used as cancer therapeutics.

Nanowires

Nanowire is two-dimensional cylindrical solid material having an aspect ratio

ie., length to width ratio greater than 20. Diameter of the nanowire ranges from
10 - 100 nm.

Examples: Different types of nanowires

Types of nanowires : Examples

1. Metallic nanowires: Au, Ni, Pt

2. Nanowires of semiconductors: InP, Si, GaN

3. Nanowires of insulators: SiO2, TiO2

4. Molecular nanowires: DNA

Synthesis of nanowires

1. Template-assisted synthesis

Template assisted synthesis of nanowires is a simple way to fabricate

nanostructures.
These templates contain very small cylindrical pores or voids within the host
material and the empty spaces are filled with the chosen material to form
nanowires.

2. VLS (Vapour - Liquid - Solid) method

 It involves the absorption of the source material from the gas phase into a liquid
phase of catalyst.
 Upon supersaturation of the liquid alloy, a nucleation event generates a solid
precipitate of the source material.
 This seed serves as a preferred site for further deposition of material at the
interface of the liquid droplet, promoting the elongation of the seed into a
nanowire.

Properties of nanowires

1. Nanowires are two-dimensional material.

2. Conductivity of a nanowire is less than that of the corresponding bulk

materials.

3. It exhibits distinct optical, chemical, thermal and electrical properties due to

this large surface area.

4. Silicon nanowires show strong photoluminescence characteristics.

Uses of nanowires

1. Nanowires are used for enhancing mechanical properties of composites.

2. It is also used to prepare active electronic components such as p-n junction

and logic gates.

3. Semiconductor nanowire crossings are expected to play a important role in

future of digital computing
 4. Nanowires find applications in high-density data storage either as magnetic
read heads or as patterned storage media.

5. Nanowires replace conventional copper wires used in computers, televisions.

6. It is also used to link tiny components into very small circuits.

Nanotubes

 Nanotubes are tube like structures with diameter of 1-100 nm and a length of
few nm to microns.
 Nanotubes consist of tiny cylinders of carbon and other materials like boron
nitride. Nanotubes may be organic (or) inorganic.

Examples

1. Carbon nanotube

2. Silicon nanotube

3. DNA nanotube

4. Boron nitride nanotube

1. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)

 Carbon nanotube is a tubular form of carbon with 1-3 nm diameter and a

length of few nm to microns.
 Generally carbon in the solid phase exits in different allotropic forms like
graphite, diamond, fullerence and nano tubes.

Single walled carbon nanotubes

 Carbon nanotubes are tubular forms of carbon.
 When graphite sheets are rolled into a cylinder, their edges join to each other
form carbon nanotubes.
  Each carbon atom in the carbon nanotubes is linked by covalent bonds. But
the number of nanotubes align into ropes and are held together by weak Vander
Walls forces.

Structures (or) types of carbon nanotubes

Depending upon the way in which graphite sheets are rolled, two types of CNTs
are formed.

1. Single - walled nanotubes (SWNTS).

2. Multi - walled nanotubes (MWNTs).

1. Single - walled nanotubes (SWNTS)

o SWNTs consist of one tube of graphite. It is one-atom thick having a diameter

of 2 nm and a length of 100 um.
o SWNTs are very important, because they exhibit important electrical
properties. It is an excellent conductor.

Types of single walled carbon nanotubes

Three kinds of nanotubes are resulted, based on the orientation of the hexagon
lattice.

(a) Arm-chair structures: The lines of hexagons are parallel to the axis of the
nanotube.

(b) Zig-zag structures: the centre: The lines of carbon bonds are down the
center.

(c) Chiral nanotubes: It exhibits twist or spiral around the nanotubes.

It has been confirmed that arm-chair carbon nanotubes are metallic while zig-
zag and chiral nanotubes are semiconducting.
Properties of CNTS

 CNTs are very strong, withstand extreme strain in tension and posses elastic
flexibility.
 The atoms in a nano-tube are continuously vibrating back and forth.
 It is highly conducting and behaves like metallic or semiconducting materials.
 It has very high thermal conductivity and kinetic properties.

Uses of CNTs

 It is used in battery technology and in industries as catalyst.

 It is also used as light weight shielding materials for protecting electronic
equipment’s.
 CNTs are used effectively inside the body for drug delivery.
 It is used in composites, ICs.
 It also acts as an efficient catalyst for some chemical reactions.
 It acts as a very good biosensor. Due to its chemical inertness carbon
nanotubes are used to detect many molecules present in the blood.
 It is also used in water softening process as a filter.

2. Multi - walled nanotubes (MWNTs)

MWNTs (nested nanotubes) consist of multiple layers of graphite rolled in on

themselves to form a tube shape.
It exhibits both metallic and semiconducting properties.
It is used for storing fuels such as hydrogen and methane.

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes

It consists of several single walled nanotubes with different diameters

Multi wall CNT

Multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT):

 There are two structural models of multi wall nanotubes.

 In the Russian Doll model, a carbon nanotube contains another nanotube
inside it (the inner nanotube has a smaller diameter than the outer nanotube).
 In the Parchment model, a single graphene sheet is rolled around itself
multiple times, resembling a rolled-up scroll of paper.
 The simplest representative of a MWNT is a double-walled carbon nanotube
(DWNT).
  Multi wall carbon nanotubes have similar properties to single wall nanotubes,
yet the outer walls on multi wall nanotubes can protect the inner carbon
nanotubes from chemical interactions with outside materials.
 Multi wall nanotubes also have a higher tensile strength than single wall
nanotubes.
 The diameters of MWNT are typically in the range of 5 nm to 50 nm. The
interlayer distance in MWNT is close to the distance between graphene layers
in graphite, around 3.39Ao.
 MWNT are easier to produce than SWNT.
 The structure of MWNT is less well understood because of its greater complexity
and variety.
 Regions of structural imperfection may diminish its desirable material
properties.

Applications

Carbon nanotube technology can be used for a wide range of new and existing
applications, which are as follows:

 Nanotubes can potentially replace indium tin oxide in solar cells to generate
photocurrent.
 SWNTs are used in transistors and solar panels.
 MWNTs are used in lithium-ion batteries to enhance cycle life.
 Parallel CNTs have been used to create loudspeakers.
 CNTs can serve as a multifunctional coating material.
 CNTs can be used to produce nanowires.

Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD)

 This process involves conversion of gaseous molecules into Solid nanomaterials

in the form of tubes, wires or thin films.

 First the solid materials are converted into gaseous molecules and then deposited
as nanomaterials.

Example : CNT preparation.

 The CVD reactor consists of a higher temperature vacuum furnace maintained at

inert atmosphere.

 The solid substrate containing catalyst like nickel, cobalt, iron supported on a
substrate material like, silica, quarts is kept inside the furnace.
  The hydrocarbons such as ethylene, acetylene and nitrogen cylinders are connected
to the furnace.

Chemical vapour deposition and

 Carbon atoms, produced by the decomposition at 1000°C, condense on the
cooler surface of the catalyst.
 As this process is continuous, CNT is produced continuously.

Types of CVD Reactor

Generally, the CVD reactors are of two types

Types of CVD Reactors

1. Hot-wall CVD
Hot wall CVD reactors are usually tubular in form. Heating is done by
surrounding the reactor with resistance elements.
2. Cold-wall CVD
In cold-wall CVD reactors, substrates are directly heated inductively
while chamber walls are air (or) water cooled.
Advantages of CVD
1. Nanomaterials, produced by this method, are highly pure.
2. It is economical.
3. Nanomaterials, produced by this method, are defect free.
4. As it is simple experiment, mass production in industry can be done
without major difficulties.
Electro-deposition (or) Electrochemical deposition
Electro-deposition is an electrochemical method in which ions from the
solution are deposited at the surface of cathode.
Template assisted electro-deposition is an important technique for
synthesizing metallic nanomaterials with controlled shape and size.
Array of nano-structured materials with specific arrangements can be
prepared by this method using an active template as a cathode.

Process of electro-deposition

Electrodeposition method
The cell consists of a reference electrode, specially designed cathode and
anode.
All these electrodes are connected with the battery through an, voltmeter and
dipped in an electrolytic solution of a soluble metal as shown in figure.
When the current is passed through the electrodes of template, the metal ions
from the solution enter into the pores and gets reduced at the cathode,
resulting in the growth of nanowire inside the pores of the template.
 Example: Electrodeposition of Gold or Silver
Nanostructured gold can be prepared by the electrodeposition technique
using gold sheets as an anode and silver plate as a cathode.
An array of alumina template is kept over the cathode as shown in the figure
2.13 and AuCl3 is used as an electrolyte.
When the current of required strength is applied through the electrodes, Aut
ions diffuse into the pores of alumina templates and gets reduced at the
cathode resulting in the growth of nanowires (or) nanorods inside the pores of
the alumina templates.

Advantages of Electro-deposition
1. This method is relatively cheap and fast.
2. Complex shaped objects can be coated.
Applications of Nanomaterials
 Nano-technology finds significant impact on all most all the industries
and all areas of society.
 Since nano-materials possess unique beneficial chemical, physical and
mechanical properties, they can be used for a wide variety of
applications.

Medicine
1. Nano drugs
Nano materials are used as nano drugs for the cancer and TB therapy,
2. Laboratories on a chip
Nano technology is used in the production of laboratories on a chip.
3. Nano-medibots
Nano particles function as nano-medibots that release anti-cancer drug
and treat cancer.
4. Gold-coated nanoshells
It converts light into heat, enabling the destruction of tumours.
5. Gold nano particles as sensors
Gold nano particles undergo colour change during the transition of
nano particles.
6. Protein analysis
Protein analysis can also be done using nanomaterials.
 7. Gold nanoshells for blood immuno assay
Gold nano shells are used for blood immuno assay.
8. Gold nano shells in imaging
Optical properties of the gold nano shells are utilized for both imaging
and therapy.
9. Targeted drug delivery using gold nano particles
It involves slow and selective release of drugs to the targeted organs.
10. Repairing work
Nano technology is used to partially repair neurological damage.
In Agriculture
o Nanomaterials prepared by eco-friendly and green method with plant extracts
(Nano formulations) could increase agriculture potential for improving
fertilization process, plant growth regulators.
o They also minimize the amount of harmful chemicals that pollute the
environment.
o Nanosensors are used in crop protection for the identification of diseases and
residues of agrochemicals.
o Nanodevises are used for the genetic engineering of plants.
o Nanomaterials are used in plant disease diagnostics.
o It is also used in postharvest management.
o Precision farming techniques might be used to further improve the crop yields
but not damage soil and water.
o Some nanomaterials are used as antimicrobial agents in food packing
especially silver nanoparticles are in great interest.
o Nano particle - based pesticides and herbicides are being explored for the
application of antimicrobial agents to protect crops from various diseases.

In Energy
Nanomaterials are used in several applications to improve the efficiency of
energy generation (or) develop new methods to generate energy.
1. Power generation
Sun light, concentrated on nanoparticles, can produce steam with high
energy efficiency, which can even be used in running power plants.
2. Generating hydrogen from sea water
The use of a nanostructured thin film of nickel selenide as a catalyst for
the electrolysis of hydrogen from sea water.
 3. Producing high efficiency light bulbs
Nano-engineered polymer matrix is used for the production of high
efficiency light bulbs.
4. Increasing the electricity generated by wind mills
Stronger and lower weight blades, made from nanotubes-filled epoxy, in
wind mills increases the amount of electricity.
5. Generating electricity from waste heat
Sheets of nanotubes have been used to build thermocells that
generates electricity, when the sides of the cell are at different
temperature
6. Storing hydrogen for fuel cell powered cars
Graphene layers are used in fuel tank, resulting in a higher amount of
hydrogen storage and therefore lighter weight fuel tank.
7. Reducing power loss in electric transmission wires
The wires containing carbon nanotubes lowers resistance than the
wires currently used in the electric transmission grid.
8. Reducing the cost of solar cell
Nanotech solar cells are manufactured at significantly lower cost than
the conventional solar cells.
9. Nano battery and fuel cell
Nanomaterials, used in batteries and fuel cell, increases their efficiency.
IV. Electronics
1. Quantum wires are found to have high electrical conductivity.
2. The integrated memory circuits have been found to be effective devices.
3. A transistor, called NOMFET, (Nanoparticle Organic Memory Field Effect
Transistor) is created by combining gold nanoparticles with organic
molecules.
4. Nano wires are used to build transistors without p-n junctions.
5. Nano radios are the other important devices, using carbon nanotubes.
6. MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor), performs
both as switches and as amplifiers.
V. In Catalysis
Nanoparticle catalysts are highly effective because of the following two
reasons
(i) huge surface area
(ii) enhanced reactivity
1. Water purification
Nano silver catalyst is highly efficient in controlling microbes in water.
2. Bio-diesel production
Solid base nanocatalyst KF/CaO can be used for biodiesel production
with yield more than 96%.
3. Fuel cell application
Carbon supported electro-catalysts play an important role in fuel cell.
4. In drug delivery
Carbon nanomaterials find more applications in biological fields.
CNTs may be suitable for bio-applications in bio recognition and drug
delivery systems.
5. Gold nanoparticles
It is an important catalyst in co-oxidation, epoxidation of propylene,
hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons.
6. Nanopowder silica catalyst (or) platinum nanoparticles exhibit very strong
catalytic activity for hydrolysation reactions.
7. Titania-based nanocatalysts are being increasingly used in photocatalysis.
8. Nanocrystalline MgO particles act as an effective catalyst for dehydrogenation.