CHAPTER 6

CHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY

OF NANOMATERIALS

1. What are nanomaterials (introduction to

nanoscience and nanotechnology)?
2. What are the roles of nanomaterial
chemistry to some aspects of todays and
future lives?
 What is a “nano”?
• A nano is one billionth of a meter or 10-9 m
• A normal person can walk 32 kilometers or
about 20 miles in one day. If a person were
shrunk so that they were one nanometer tall,
how long would it take them to walk the
length of a dollar bill?
• 24 years
 What is Nanotechnology?
• The science of manipulating atoms and molecules to make
new materials and devices.
• Interdisciplinary – where science and engineering
interconnect, chemistry takes important role.
• Occurs at the 1-100 nanometer range
– One nanometer is 10-9 meters or about 3 atoms long. For
comparison, a human hair is about 60-80,000 nanometers
wide
 Two Parts of Nanotechnology
• Nanotechnology is often divided into two parts:
– Nanoscience – where researchers learn about the chemical and
physical properties of materials at the 1- 100 nanometer (nm) scale.
Materials at 1-100 nm are called nanostructures. They are the smallest
things that can be made.
– Nanotechnology – where researchers develop and apply materials at
this scale to develop new products or methods; i.e., turning
nanostructures into useable tools and applications
 Unique Properties and Nanotechnology
• Nanotechnology involves the manufacturing and application of
instruments and materials that have unique properties because of their
small size.
• At the nanoscale, properties of materials behave differently and are said
to behave under atomic and molecular rules.
• Researchers are using these unique properties of materials at this small
scale to create new and exciting tools and products in all areas of science
and engineering.
 Nanofabrication
– Top-down nanofabrication – start with
large material and bring it down to the
nanoscale
– Bottom-up nanofabrication – start with
individual atoms and build upwards to make
a nanostructure
 Nanoscience Biomimicry
Ways scientists are attempting to mimic the wonders of
nanoscience in nature:
•sticky “feet”
•strong spider silk

•self-cleaning light reflecting butterfly wings

•optical nanoscience

•water collecting beetle backs

•tough and light toucan beaks

•and the list could go on and on.

Taken from WebQuest Nanoscience in Nature by Jeanne Nye

 Nanotechnology is not New!
Gold nanoparticles in glass are reflected as red

Ancient stained-glass makers knew if they put finely ground gold or silver in the
glass they would get beautiful colors. They used nanosized gold and silver
particles. Optical properties change with the nanoscale.
What are some applications of
Nanotechnology?
 Nano Careers

• Design Public Service

• Development Fabrication
• National security Patent Attorney
• Technical support Environment
• Research Sales
• Management Teaching
• Packaging Testing
• Energy producer Construction
• Clothing design And Many More