2. Size Dependent Properties of Nanomaterials
Why materials in the nano range alone are having so
much importance?
• Nanomaterials exhibit distinctively different physical
properties.
• In nanoscale range a material will show different
properties when the size is slightly varied.
• Transition from atoms or molecules to bulk form takes
place in nano scale range.
• Nanomaterials are governed by quantum mechanics rather
than Newtonian physics
3. (A) Surface Area
An interesting comparison…
Surface area of a cube with side length 1m = 6m2
This cube may be cut into 1027 cubes (each with a volume of
1nm3), then the collective surface area = 6000 km2.
Properties influenced by surface area
Catalytic Activity
Gas Adsorption
Chemical Reactivity
4. (B) Electrical Properties
• Electronic bands in bulk materials are continuous whereas it is
discrete in nanomaterials
• The separation between different electronic states varies with the
size of nanomaterial
Therefore a conductor in bulk may become semiconductor or
5. (C) Optical Properties
Nanomaterials exhibit unique colours
Electronic transition among the discrete
electronic states
Scattering of light
Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)
o When light falls on a metal surface plasmons start
oscillating in a synchronised manner – SPR
o Resonating electrons have much higher cross sectional
area than the nanoparticle.
o Resonating electrons capture radiation of different
wavelength depending on oscillation frequency.
6. Synthesis
Top-down
Sputtering, pulsed laser deposition, laser ablation, high
energy ball milling, electric arc method, nanolithography,
ion-beam implantation
Expensive catalyst, surface defects, contamination
Bottom-up
Sol-gel, precipitation, gas condensation, CVD,
hydrothermal & thermolytic process
Simple and cost effective, control over chemical
composition, less defects and high purity
7. Precipitation Method
Precipitation from solution
Steps: i) Nucleation ii) Growth of Particles
Precursors – metal salts eg. Zinc Acetate
To the precursor solution acid or base is added to obtain
desired pH.
A precipitating agent (eg. TAA)is added
It also causes supersaturation of the solution due to the
added ions.
Nucleus formation commences at this stage.
Nucleus further grows into particles and gets precipitated
The precipitate is filtered, washed with water, air dried and
finally calcined to remove counter anions.
8. Advantages
• Particle size, crystallinity and morphology can be
controlled by varying concentration, temperature,
pH and rate of addition of reagents and mixing
processes.
• If the solution attains supersaturation slowly then
larger particles are formed.
• Simple and rapid preparation.
9. Fullerene
Third allotropic form of carbon
Consists of hexagonal and alternate pentagonal rings
Fullerene with 60 C atoms – with 12 pentagons and 20
hexagons is called Buckminster fullerene.
First Isolated from soot of chimneys.
10. 100 nm
Characteristcs
Requires high energy to break (10000C).
Insoluble in water soluble in toluene and CS2.
It is not toxic but its derivatives are toxic.
Applications
• Powerful antioxidants
• Used as FED’s replacement for LCD and plasma
• Blended with polymers can be used in photovoltaics.
• Used as catalyst, in water purification and in fuel cells
11. Carbon Nanotubes
• They are called bucky tubes
• Posses high strength
• Types SWCNT’s and MWCNT’s
12. Characteristcs
Tensile strength of CNT is greater than carbon
steel.
In hardness scale it is harder than diamond
and boron nitride.
CNT s are having high thermal conductivity
along the material compared to copper.
Shows high thermal insulation along the axis.
14. • Depending upon the size and diameter they are
nano wires (dia-1nm) and nanorods (dimension
100-nm)
Applications
In electronics and optics.
Used as rectifiers, diodes, transistors and LED’s
Nanorods are used in display technology (change in
reflectivity with change in orientation.
Nanorods are selectively absorbed by cancer cells
and heated in IR
They used in energy harvesting
15. • Depending upon the size and diameter they are
nano wires (dia-1nm) and nanorods (dimension
100-nm)
Applications
In electronics and optics.
Used as rectifiers, diodes, transistors and LED’s
Nanorods are used in display technology (change in
reflectivity with change in orientation.
Nanorods are selectively absorbed by cancer cells
and heated in IR
They used in energy harvesting
17. • Dendrimer in greek means tree like structure.
• Molecules forming tightly packed ball like structure
resulting in low viscosity.
• Because of presence of large surface groups they
act as catalysts.
• Because of presence of cavity used in selective
reaction as sieves (Host – guest)
Applications
Invitro diagnosis of cardiac problems
Contrasting agents in MRI
Target delivery drugs
Used as proton sensors