Nanomaterials

Nanomaterials is a field that takes a materials science-based approach to nanotechnology. It

studies materials with morphological features on the nanoscale, and especially those that have
special properties stemming from their nanoscale dimensions. Nanoscale is usually defined as
smaller than a one tenth of a micrometer in at least one dimension,[1] though this term is
sometimes used for even smaller materials.

On 18 October 2011, the European Commission adopted the following definition of a

nanomaterial:[2]

A natural, incidental or manufactured material containing particles, in an unbound state or as an

aggregate or as an agglomerate and where, for 50% or more of the particles in the number size
distribution, one or more external dimensions is in the size range 1 nm – 100 nm. In specific
cases and where warranted by concerns for the environment, health, safety or competitiveness
the number size distribution threshold of 50% may be replaced by a threshold between 1 and
50%.

An important aspect of nanotechnology is the vastly increased ratio of surface area to volume
present in many nanoscale materials, which makes possible new quantum mechanical effects.
One example is the “quantum size effect” where the electronic properties of solids are altered
with great reductions in particle size. Nanoparticles, for example, take advantage of their
dramatically increased surface area to volume ratio. Their optical properties, e.g. fluorescence,
become a function of the particle diameter. This effect does not come into play by going from
macro to micro dimensions. However, it becomes pronounced when the nanometer size range is
reached.

A certain number of physical properties also alter with the change from macroscopic systems.
Novel mechanical properties of nanomaterials is a subject of nanomechanics research. When
brought into a bulk material, nanoparticles can strongly influence the mechanical properties of
the material, like stiffness or elasticity. For example, traditional polymers can be reinforced by
nanoparticles resulting in novel materials which can be used as lightweight replacements for
metals. Such nanotechnologically enhanced materials may enable a weight reduction
accompanied by an increase in stability and improved functionality.[citation needed] Catalytic activities
also reveal new behaviour in the interaction with biomaterials.
Application of semiconductor nanomaterials

Semiconductor nanomaterials have interesting physical and

chemical properties and useful functionalities when compared with
conventional bulk counterparts and molecular materials. Narrow and
intensive emission spectra, continuous absorption bands, high chemical
and photobleaching stability, processability, and surface functionality
are among the most attractive properties of these materials. The
development of “nanochemistry” is reflected in an immense number of
publications on the synthesis of semiconductor nanoparticles [2]. For
instance, spatial quantum confinement effect results in significant
change in optical properties of semiconductor nanomaterials. The very
high dispersity (high surface-to-volume ratio), with both physical and
chemical properties of the semiconductor has major influence on their
optical and surface properties. As a result, semiconductor nanomaterials
have been the focus of research for about 20 years and have attracted
significant interest in research and applications in diverse disciplines
such as solid-state physics, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry,
colloid chemistry, materials science, and recently biological sciences,
medical sciences, engineering, and interdisciplinary fields. Among the
unique properties of nanomaterials, the movement of electrons and holes
in semiconductor nanomaterials is primarily governed by the well-
known quantum confinement, and the transport properties related to
phonons and photons are largely affected by the size and geometry of
the materials [3-6]. The specific surface area and surface-to-volume ratio
increase dramatically as the size of material decreases [3, 7]. Parameters
such as size, shape, and surface characteristics can be varied to control
their properties for different applications of interest [8].
These novel properties of semiconductor nanomaterials have
attracted significant attention in research and applications in emerging
technologies such as nanoelectronics, nanophotonics, energy conversion,
non-linear optics, miniaturized sensors and imaging devices, solar cells,
catalysis, detectors, photography and biomedicine etc., In this section we
discuss about the application of semiconductor nanomaterials in
catalysis and medical sciences.