Nanomaterials are materials with at least one dimension less than 100 nanometers. They exhibit unique physical and chemical properties due to their small size and large surface area. They have innumerable applications in vast fields including electronics, medicine, energy, materials science, environment and health.
Nanoceramics, metals, and alloys are materials that have been engineered at the nanoscale to exhibit unique properties. Nanoceramics are known for their high hardness and wear resistance, while nanometals and alloys can have improved strength, ductility, and thermal stability. These materials have potential applications in fields such as aerospace, biomedical engineering, and electronics.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are allotropes of carbon showing cylindrical structures with exceptionally high aspect ratio made of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. They have extraordinary mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties, making them promising for a wide range of applications, from nanoelectronics and energy storage to drug delivery and tissue engineering. However, their production and functionalization still remains a challenge.
Semiconductor quantum dots are tiny structures made of semiconductor materials, typically just a few nanometers in size. They have unique optical and electronic properties due to their size and quantum confinement effects, making them useful for a wide range of applications, from solar cells and LEDs to biological imaging and quantum computing.
Nanomagnetic materials are materials with magnetic properties at the nanoscale level. They have a wide range of applications, including data storage, biomedical imaging, and sensing. Their unique magnetic properties arise from their small size, which allows them to exhibit behaviors different from bulk materials.
Superconducting nanomaterials are materials that exhibit superconductivity at the nanoscale level. They have potential applications in areas such as quantum computing, energy storage, and high-speed electronics. Their small size allows for unique properties, such as enhanced superconductivity and magnetic flux pinning. However, their synthesis and processing can be challenging due to their size.
Inorganic-organic hybrids or nanocomposites refer to materials composed of both organic and inorganic components at the nanometer scale. These materials exhibit unique properties due to their combined composition, such as improved mechanical strength and thermal stability. They have potential applications in fields such as electronics, catalysis, and medicine.
Nanomaterials characterization techniques include atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X- ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-VIS spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, among others. These methods enable the study of the properties and behavior of nanomaterials at the atomic, molecular, and bulk levels. Characterization is critical to understand and optimize the performance of nanomaterials in various applications, including energy storage, drug delivery, and environmental remediation.