Unit – V: Superconductor, Semiconductor, Magnetic Material, 2021

Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology

Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology
Properties of nanomaterials optical, electrical, mechanical, and magnetic, Introduction to
nanotechnology and applications in computer chips, storage devices, catalysis, sensors,
environmental, space, defense and automobile.

Nanotechnology
The engineering of matter at scale less than 100 nm to achieve size dependant properties
and functions. This design, characterization, production, and application of structures,
devices, and systems by controlled manipulation of size and shape at the nanometer scale
(atomic, molecular, and macromolecular scale) produces structures, devices, and systems
with at least one novel/superior characteristic or property.

Nanotechnology: “The manipulation and manufacture of materials and devices on the scale
of atoms or small groups of atoms in the size range of nano size (10-9m)”.
(Reference: https://www.britannica.com/technology/nanotechnology)

Nanomaterials: “A natural or artificial material containing particles having one or more

dimensions is in size range of 1 nm to 100nm is called Nanomaterial”.

Optical properties of nanoparticles:

Optical properties exhibited by
nanomaterials are quite different from their bulk
counterpart. The reason behind this change in
property is mainly due to the effect of the surface
plasmon resonance. In addition, the increased
energy level spacing is also an important criterion
for this changing behavior. Nanoparticles also often
possess unexpected optical properties as they are
small enough to confine their electrons and produce
quantum effects. One example of this is that gold
nanoparticles appears deep black in solution.

Mechanical properties:
All the nanomaterials possess high mechanical strength as compared to their
conventional counterparts. The mechanical strength of nanomaterials may be one or two
times higher in magnitude than that of single crystals in the bulk form.

Electrical properties of the nanomaterials:

The spacing between energy levels and the band gap increasing with decreasing particle size.
A modified electronic structure with wide and discrete band gap appears. The reduction of particle
size into this range would result in an increased electrical resistivity.

Magnetic Properties:
Other properties unique among nanoparticles are quantum confinement in semiconductor
particles, surface Plasmon (In physics, a plasmon is a quantum of plasma oscillation. Just as light (an
optical oscillation) consists of photons, the plasma oscillation consists of plasmons. ) resonance in
some metal particles and superparamagnetism in magnetic materials.
For example, ferroelectric materials smaller than 10 nm can switch their magnetisation
direction using room temperature thermal energy, thus making them unsuitable for memory storage.
Thus this property is not always desired in nanoparticles.

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 Unit – V: Superconductor, Semiconductor, Magnetic Material, 2021
Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology
(Reference: Nanotechnology Notes by Dr.B.G.Toksha, MIT, Aurangabad)

Applications in Computer Chips:

The microelectronics industry has been
emphasizing miniaturization, whereby the circuits,
such as transistors, resistors, and capacitors, are
reduced in size. By achieving a significant reduction
in their size, the microprocessors, which contain these
components, can run much faster, thereby enabling
computations at far greater speeds.

However, there are several technological

impediments to these advancements, including lack of the ultrafine precursors to manufacture
these components; poor dissipation of tremendous amount of heat generated by these
microprocessors due to faster speeds; short mean time to failures (poor reliability), etc.
Nanomaterials help the industry break these barriers down by providing the manufacturers
with nanocrystalline starting materials, ultra-high purity materials, materials with better
thermal conductivity, and longer-lasting, durable interconnections (connections between
various components in the microprocessors).

Applications in Storage devices:

Devices, such as computer hard-disks

function based on their ability to magnetize a smal l
area of a spinning disk to record information, are
established nano-applications. Discs and tapes
containing engineered nanomaterials can store large
amounts of information. Future avenues for magnetic
recording that will drastically increase the capability
of data storage include spintronics and nanowires.

Batteries:
High energy density batteries can be developed with nanomaterials. Conventional and
rechargeable batteries are used in almost all applications that require electric power. These
applications include automobiles, laptop computers, electric vehicles, next- generation
electric vehicles (NGEV) to reduce environmental pollution, personal stereos, cellular
phones, cordless phones, toys, and watches. The energy density (storage capacity) of these
batteries is quite low requiring frequent recharging. The life of conventional and rechargeable
batteries is also low. Nanocrystalline materials synthesised by sol-gel techniques are
candidates for separator plates in batteries because of their foam-like (aerogel) structure,
which can hold considerably more energy than their conventional counterparts. Furthermore,
nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries made of nanocrystalline nickel and metal hydrides
are envisioned to require far less frequent recharging and to last much longer because of their
large grain boundary (surface) area and enhanced physical, chemical, and mechanical
properties. Applications being developed for carbon nanotubes include using zinc oxide
nanowires in a flexible solar cell.
Sunlight concentrated on nanoparticles, can produce steam with high energy efficiency.
The "solar steam device" is intended to be used in areas of developing countries without
electricity for applications such as purifying water or disinfecting dental instruments.
Lead free solder reliable enough for space missions and other high stress environments

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 Unit – V: Superconductor, Semiconductor, Magnetic Material, 2021
Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology
using copper nanoparticles. Silicon nanoparticles coating anodes of lithium-ion batteries can
increase battery power and reduce recharge time. Semiconductor nanoparticles are being
applied in a low temperature printing process that enables the manufacture of low cost solar
cells.
Producing batteries with greater power output can be developed with nanomaterials.
Researchers have developed a method to make anodes for lithium ion batteries from a
composite formed with silicon nanospheres and carbon nanoparticles. The anodes made of
the silicon-carbon nanocomposite make closer contact with the lithium electrolyte, which
allows faster charging or discharging of power.

Applications in Environmental:

Nanocrystalline materials possess extremely large grain boundaries relative to their grain
size. Hence, nanomaterials are very active in terms of their chemical, physical, and
mechanical properties.

Due to their enhanced chemical activity, nanomaterials can be used as catalysts to react
with such noxious and toxic gases as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide in automobile
catalytic converters and power generation equipment to prevent environmental pollution
arising from burning gasoline and coal.
Silver chloride nanowires are used to decompose organic molecules in polluted water.
Photocatalytic copper tungsten oxide nanoparticles to break down oil into biodegradable
compounds. The nanoparticles are in a grid that provides high surface area for the reaction is
activated by sunlight and can work in water, making them useful for cleaning up oil spills.

Researchers are using gold nanoparticles embedded in a porous manganese oxide as a

room temperature catalyst to breakdown volatile organic pollutants in air. Iron nanoparticles
are being used to clean up carbon tetrachloride pollution in ground water. Iron oxide
nanoparticles are being used to clean arsenic from water wells.
The potential of nanoparticles to react with pollutants in the air, soil, and water and
transform them into harmless compounds is currently being researched. Nanotechnology
could be applied to clean up existing pollution and to decrease or prevent its generation.

Applications in Automobiles:
Greater Fuel Efficiency can be achieved with nanomaterials. Currently, automobile
engines waste considerable amounts of gasoline, thereby contributing to environmental
pollution by not completely combusting the fuel. A conventional spark plug is not designed
to burn the gasoline completely and efficiently. This problem is compounded by defective, or
worn-out, spark plug electrodes. Since nanomaterials are stronger, harder, and much more
wear-resistant and erosion-resistant, they are presently being envisioned to be used as spark
plugs. These electrodes render the spark plugs longer-lasting and combust fuel far more
efficiently and completely. A radically new spark plug design called the "railplug" is also in
the prototype stages. This railplug uses the technology derived from the "railgun," which is a
spin-off of the popular Star Wars defense program. However, these railplugs generate much
more powerful sparks (with an energy density of approximately 1 kJ/mm2). Hence,
conventional materials erode and corrode too soon and quite frequently to be of any practical
use in automobiles. Nevertheless, rail-plugs made of nanomaterials last much longer even the
conventional spark plugs.
Automobiles waste significant amounts of energy by losing the thermal energy generated
by the engine. This is especially true in the case of diesel engines. Hence, the engine
cylinders (liners) are currently being envisioned to be coated with nanocrystalline ceramics,
such as zirconia and alumina, so that they retain heat much more efficiently and result in
complete and efficient combustion of the fuel.

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 Unit – V: Superconductor, Semiconductor, Magnetic Material, 2021
Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology

Car tires: Nanoparticles of carbon black ranging between 10 nm - 500 nm act as filler in the
polymer matrix of tires, and are used for mechanical reinforcement.
Car bumpers: Clay particle based composites containing plastics and nano-sized clay are
used to make car exteriors that are lighter and twice as resistant to scratches as usual
materials.
Cutting tools made of nanocrystalline materials (such as tungsten carbide, WC) are much
harder than their conventional due to the fact that the microhardness of nanosized composites
is increased compared to that of microsized composites.
Lubricants: Nanospheres of inorganic materials could be used as lubricants, acting as
nanosized ball bearings

Applications in Defense:
Better and Future Weapons Platforms, Conventional guns, such as cannons, 155 mm
howitzers, and multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS), utilize the chemical energy derived
by igniting a charge of chemicals (gun powder). The maximum velocity at which the
penetrator can be propelled is approximately 1.5-2.0 km/sec. On the other hand,
electromagnetic launchers (EML guns), or railguns, use the electrical energy, and the
concomitant magnetic field (energy), to propel the penetrators/projectiles at velocities up to
10 km/sec. This increase in velocity results in greater kinetic energy for the same penetrator
mass. The greater the energy, the greater is the damage inflicted on the target. Since a railgun
operates on electrical energy, the rails need to be very good conductors of electricity. The
wear and erosion of copper rails necessitate inordinately frequent barrel replacements. In
order to satisfy these requirements, a nanocrystalline composite material made of tungsten,
copper, and titanium diboride is being evaluated as a potential candidate. This nanocomposite
possesses the requisite electrical conductivity, adequate thermal conductivity, excellent high
strength, high rigidity, hardness, and wear/erosion resistance. This results in longer-lasting,
wear-resistant, and erosion-resistant railguns, which can be fired more frequently and often
than their conventional counterparts.
Applications in Sensors:
Sensors employ their sensitivity to the changes in various parameters they are
designed to measure. The measured parameters include electrical resistivity, chemical
activity, magnetic permeability, thermal conductivity, and capacitance. All of these
parameters depend greatly on the microstructure (grain size) of the materials employed in the
sensors. A change in the sensor’s environment is manifested by the sensor material’s
chemical, physical, or mechanical characteristics, which is exploited for detection. For
instance, a carbon monoxide sensor made of zirconium oxide (zirconia) uses its chemical
stability to detect the presence of carbon monoxide. In the event of carbon monoxide’s
presence, the oxygen atoms in zirconium oxide react with the carbon in carbon monoxide to
partially reduce zirconium oxide. This reaction triggers a change in the sensor’s
characteristics, such as conductivity (or resistivity) and capacitance. The rate and the extent
of this reaction are greatly increased by a decrease in the grain size. Hence, sensors made
nanocrystalline materials are extremely sensitive to the change in their environment. Typical
applications for sensors made out of nanocrystalline materials are smoke detectors, ice
detectors on aircraft wings, automobile engine performance sensor, etc.

Applications in Space:
Due to the risks involved in flying, aircraft manufacturers strive to make the
aerospace components stronger, tougher, and last longer. One of the key properties required
of the aircraft components is the fatigue strength, which decreases with the component’s age.
By making the components out of stronger materials, the life of the aircraft is greatly
increased. The fatigue strength increases with a reduction in the grain size of the material.

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 Unit – V: Superconductor, Semiconductor, Magnetic Material, 2021
Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology
Nanomaterials provide such a significant reduction in the grain size over conventional
materials that the fatigue life is increased by an average of 200-300%. Furthermore,
components made of nanomaterials are stronger and can operate at higher temperatures,
aircrafts can fly faster and more efficiently (for the same amount of aviation fuel). In
spacecrafts, elevated-temperature strength of the material is crucial because the components
(such as rocket engines, thrusters, and vectoring nozzles) operate at much higher
temperatures than aircrafts and higher speeds. Nanomaterials are perfect candidates for
spacecraft applications, as well.
Aerospace Components with Enhanced Performance Characteristics can be
developed with nanomaterials. Longer-Lasting Satellites can be developed with
nanomaterials.
Satellites are being used for both defense and civilian applications. These satellites
utilize thruster rockets to remain in or change their orbits due to a variety of factors including
the influence of gravitational forces exerted by the earth. Hence, these satellites are
repositioned using these thrusters. The life of these satellites, to a large extent, is determined
by the amount of fuel they can carry on board. In fact, more than 1/3 of the fuel carried
aboard by the satellites is wasted by these repositioning thrusters due to incomplete and
inefficient combustion of the fuel, such as hydrazine. The reason for the incomplete and
inefficient combustion is that the onboard ignitors wear out quickly and cease to perform
effectively. Nanomaterials, such as nanocrsytalline tungsten-titanium diboride-copper
composite, are potential candidates for enhancing these ignitors’ life and performance
characteristics.

Cosmetics: Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide become transparent to visible light when formed
at the nano-scale, however are able to absorb and reflect UV light, being currently used in
sunscreens and in the cosmetic industry.

Coatings: Nano-materials have been used for very thin coatings for decades, if not centuries.
Today thin coatings are used in a vast range of applications, including architectural glass,
microelectronics, anti counterfeit devices, optoelectronic devices, and catalytically active
surfaces. Structured coatings with nanometer-scale features in more than one dimension
promise to be an important foundational technology for the future.

Self-cleaning windows: Self-cleaning windows have been demonstrated that are coated in
highly hydrophobic titanium dioxide. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles speed up, in the
presence of water and sunlight, the breakdown of dirt and bacteria that can then be washed
off the glass more easily.

Scratch resistant materials: Nano-scale intermediate layers between the hard outer layer
and the substrate material significantly improve wear and scratch resistant coatings. The
intermediate layers are designed to give a good bonding and graded matching of mechanical
and thermal properties, leading to improved adhesion.

Textiles: Nanoparticles have already been used in coating textiles such as nylon, to provide
antimicrobial characteristics. Also the control of porosity at the nano-scale and surface
roughness in a variety of polymers and inorganic materials led to ultra- hydrophobic -
waterproof and stain resistant fabrics.

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