Unit-I E: Concepts of Nanomaterials

Prof.(Dr.) A. A. Ansari
Assistant Director & Head
Environment Division

Northern India Textile Research Association

Sector-23, Raj Nagar, Ghaziabad
1
What is nano? Nano
DNA (width)

Micro
Macro Red blood cells
Grains of sand

Often requires a microscope
Can see with naked eyes to see
Requires a highly
specialized micro-
scope, such as a
Scanning Electron
Microscope (SEM)
to see
2
• A nanometre (nm) is a unit of length, equal to one billionth of a
meter (10-9 m).

• The nanometre is often used to express dimensions on the atomic

scales.

For example-
• Diameter of a helium atom is about 0.1 nm
• Diameter of a ribosome is about 20 nm

• Nanometer was formerly known as the millimicron (mµ).

• Because one nanometer is 1/1000 of a micron (micro-
metre).

• One micrometer is one millionth of a meter (10-6 m).

• Nanomaterials have structures with at least one dimension sized

from 1 to 100 nanometer.

3
• At the nanometer scale, many things behave differently.

• We can use this new behavior to make new technologies.

• The properties of materials on nanoscale differ from their bulk

counterparts.

• For example the number of atoms on the surface of an iron particle

increases with decrease in size of the iron particle.

• A 30 nm iron particle has only 5% atoms on the surface

• A 10 nm iron particle has 20% atoms on the surface
• A 3 nm iron particle has 50% atoms on the surface

4
Types of Nanomaterials

• Nanomaterials fall into two

categories: fullerenes and nano-
particles.

1. Fullerenes

• Fullerenes are a class of allotropes Buckminister

of carbon like diamond, graphite etc. Fullerene

• These are graphene* sheets rolled

into tubes or spheres.
• These include carbon nanotubes
which are of interest due to
mechanical strength and electrical
properties. Carbon Nanotube
Graphene is one of the crystalline form of carbon 5
2. Nanoparticles

• Nanoparticles are made of metals,

semiconductors or oxides.

• They are of particular interest due to their

mechanical, electrical, magnetic, optical,
Gold Nanoparticle
chemical and other properties.

• They have unique properties arising from

their nanoscale dimensions.

6
 Applications of Nanotechnology

Gecko Tapes

• The feet of a gecko are covered with elastic hairs and the end of
these hairs are split into nanoscale structures.

• The sheer abundance and proximity of these nanoscale structures

to the surface make it sufficient for van der Waals forces alone to
provide the required adhesive strength.

Micro and nano view of gecko's toe 7

• Geckos have unique ability to scale walls and suspend from
ceilings.

• Based on this concept Carbon allotropes are used to produce

gecko tape.

• Gecko tape has directional adhesion, which refers to the ability of

an adhesive material to grip a load in one direction and to release
its grip when the direction is reversed

Gecko Tape
8
Anti bio-fouling Applications

• The surfaces are coated with nanoparticles to prevent bio-fouling.

Example: A submarine.

9
Biomedical Applications
• Nano-sized features are incorporated on implants to prevent bacterial
growth and to encourage the body to grow correct type of cells on the
implant.

10
The Lotus Effect

• Lotus leaves are self-cleaning due to nano and micro scale

structures and a waxy coating.

• Together these features create a super hydrophobic surface.

Lotus Effect, with a droplet of water

11
Other Applications of Nanotechnology

• Over 800 manufacturer-identified nanotech products are publicly

available.

• Most applications are limited to the use of "first generation" passive

nanomaterials which include-

• Titanium dioxide in sunscreen, cosmetics, surface

coatings and some food products.

• Silver in food packaging, clothing, disinfectants and

household appliances.

• Zinc oxide in sunscreens and cosmetics, surface

coatings, paints and outdoor furniture varnishes.

• Cerium oxide as a fuel catalyst.

12
• Further applications allow-

• Tennis balls to last longer

• Golf balls to fly straighter
• Cricket balls to become more durable and have a harder
surface.

• Trousers and socks have been infused with nanotechnology so that

they will last longer and keep people cool in the summer.

• Bandages are being infused with silver nano-particles to heal cuts

faster.

• Cars are being manufactured with nano-materials so that they may

need fewer metals and less fuel to operate in the future.

• Video games and personal computers may become cheaper,

faster, and contain more memory. 13