Nanomaterials

Materials whose particle size varies from 1nm-100nm are nanomaterials. Nano science is the
study of nanomaterials.Such structures are called Nano structures. Nanotechnology deals with
design, synthesis, characterization and applications of materials at nano scale. When we go from
large scale to nano scale the properties of matter change.

Properties of nanomaterials:-
1. Melting point: The melting point temperature of nano metal decreases with the size.
The figure shows the variation of melting of point with size of particles.

2. Electrical property: In nanoceramics and magnetic nanocomposites the electrical

conductivity increases with reduction in size whereas in metals electrical conductivity
decreases.

3. Mechanical Property : Most metals consists of grains if these grains are in nanoscale the
boundaries between the grains slow down or arrest the propagation of defects when
material is stressed hence giving material large strength.
4. Magnetic property: Nanocluster of magnetic
materials exhibit totally new class of magnetic
properties.In a cluster magnetic moment of
each atom will interact with moments of
other atoms and can force all the moments of
the other atoms to align in one direction
resulting in net magnetic moment.As cluster
size decreases it therefore becomes easier for
them to exhibit ferromagnetic behavior.

5. Electronic property : As the bulk

matter shrink in size there is a
dramatic change in these bands.The
continuos density of states is replaced
by set of discrete energy levels as
shown in the figure.

6. Optical property: Energy level seperations in a nanocluster depend on size of

cluster.Hence the clusters of different sizes exhibit different colours.For e.g., nanoscale
gold particles can be orange,purple,red or greenish depending on the size of the cluster.

7. Chemical property: Nanoclusters are found to be more reactive because of large suface
area to volume ratio.Also have strong effect on catalytic properties.Hydrogen storage
tendency observed in metals at nanoscale which is absent in bulk size of metals.

The properties of materials changes at nano scale for two main reasons
1. Surface Area to Volume Ratio : Nano materials have a relatively large surface area as
compared some mass in larger form i.e., nano particle have large surface to volume
ratio.For a given shape surface area to volume ratio is inversely proportional to size as
shown in the table given below.As the size of the particle decreases surface atoms start
dominating the properties of whole material.

Size of Total Surface

edge Area Volume of Cube S.A/Volume
a 6a2 a3 6/a
1 6 1 6
2 24 8 3
4 96 64 1.5
6 216 216 1
8 384 512 0.75
 2. Quantum Confinement when the dimensions of the material is if the order of deBroglie
wavelength of electrons or mean free path of of electrons(i.e. within few tens of
nanometer )energy levels of electron change.This effect is called quantum confinement.
This affect the optical ,electrical, and magnetic behavior of materials.

When the size or dimension of a material is continuously reduced from a large or macroscopic
size (such as centimeter) to a very small size, then the properties of matter remains same in
the beginning but small changes occur afterward. Finally if the size drops below 100nm then
drastic changes occur in properties, a progressive generation of diminishing of rectangular
nano structure takes place.
1. If one dimension is reduced to nano range while their dimension remain large the
structure so formed is called quantum well.
2. If the two dimensions are
reduced to nano range while the
third remains the same, then
resulting structure so formed is
called quantum wire.
3. When all the three dimensions of
the material are reduced to nano
range then it is called quantum
dot.

Methods for preparation of nanomaterials:-

Synthesis of nanomaterials is broadly classified in two types

A)Bottom Up Method: In this method materials are brought from atomic size to nano size
B)Top Down Method : In this method materials are brought from bulk size to nano size.
 1.Solgel method:-
Solgel method is popular for synthesizing nano materials of non metallic inorganic materials like
glass or ceramic material at low temperature. It is a bottom up technique. A sol is a solution with
particles suspended in it. Gel is a semi rigid mass .In this process, first the starting material
(precursor) is processed to form colloidal suspension(sol) of the particles of the compound and
then converted into gel. The gel so formed is a network of atoms in liquid phase. Removal of liquid
from sol yield gel after calcination of gel thin film or powder is obtained.

2.Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD):-

The deposition of films in the form of nano layers from gaseous phase by thermal decomposition
or chemical reaction on the substrate at high temperatures is known as chemical vapour deposition.
This technique is used for the preparation of various organic as well as inorganic compounds. Some
of the example are as follows.
Formation of silicon and germanium from silane and germane
SiH4 ---> Si + 2H2
GeH4 ---> Ge + 2H2

O
R

O
R
 3.Ball milling method:- It is mechanical method for
producing nano particles. It is a top down method. Because
large scale object or material is reduced in dimension to nano
scale. This method employs a special type of grinder. The Ball
Mill is a cylindrical device made for grinding materials like ores,
chemical, ceramic raw material etc. The mill rotates around a
horizontal axis and is partially filled with material to be
grounded plus grinding medium as shown in figure. Different
material are used as media. The grinding works on the principle
of critical speed at which grinding medium start rotating along the direction of cylindrical device after
which there will be no further grinding.

Carbon Nanotube:-
Carbon nanotube is a cylindrical rolled up
sheet of graphene which is a single layer of
graphite atoms arranged in a hexagonal
pattern as shown in the figure.The length of a
carbon nanotube is much greater than its
diameter.Their hexagonal structure gives
them great tensile strength and elastic
properties.The tubes are tough when bent or Fig.1
squeezed they spring back to their original
shape.They are 600 times stronger than steel and 6 times lighter than it.

Types of carbon nanotubes:

1.Single Wall Carbon Nano
Tube(SWCNT) : Single walled carbon
nano tubes is like a layer atom thick
sheet of graphite wrapped in the
form of a cylinder as shown in the
figure.The SWCNT has diameter in
the range 1nm to 5nm and are usually
well over 1mm in length.
2.Multi Wall Carbon Nano Tube
(MWCNT) : It consists of multiple
coaxial tubes of graphene sheets
forming tube like structure as shown in figure.The separation between the neighbouring tubes is roughly
0.34 to 0.36nm.MWCNT have inner diameters from 1.5 to 15nm and outer diameters from 2.5 to 30nm
and well over 1mm in length.

Application of nano materials

1.The electronic devices with nano dimensions becomes faster ,compact and cheaper.
2.Nanotechnology aids in targeted drug delivery.
3.Nanomaterials helps in the detection of cancer cells using Raman effect
3.Nanotechnology will improve the efficiency of the solar cell.
4.Ocean water can be converted into drinking water using nanotechnology.
5.Sensor fabricated using nanotechnology are more sensitive.
6.Light weight and high strength of nanomaterials makes them suitable for tear resistant bullet proof
clothing.