What is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is the branch of science and engineering dedicated to designing, producing, and using structures, devices, and systems by manipulating atoms and molecules at nanoscale, i.e., having one or more dimensions of the order of 100 nanometers or less.
What is a Nanometer?
A
nanometer is one-billionth of a meter (10^-9 meters). To put it in perspective, a human hair is approximately 80,000 to 100,000 nanometers wide.
What are Nanoparticles?
Nanoparticles are particles between 1 and 100 nanometers in size. They exhibit unique physical and chemical properties due to their large surface area to volume ratio. Common applications include drug delivery, imaging, and catalysis.
What is Nanoscale?
The
nanoscale refers to structures with dimensions between 1 and 100 nanometers. At this scale, materials often exhibit different mechanical, optical, and electrical properties compared to their bulk counterparts.
What are Quantum Dots?
Quantum dots are semiconductor particles a few nanometers in size, having electronic properties that are closely related to their size and shape. They are used in displays, solar cells, and biological imaging.
What is Self-Assembly?
Self-assembly is a process by which molecules adopt a defined arrangement without guidance or management from an outside source. This concept is critical in nanotechnology for constructing nanoscale materials and devices.
What is a Carbon Nanotube?
A
carbon nanotube is a cylindrical nanostructure composed of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. They exhibit extraordinary strength, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity, making them useful in a variety of applications including materials science, electronics, and nanomedicine.
What are Fullerene and Graphene?
Fullerene is a molecule composed entirely of carbon, taking the form of a hollow sphere, ellipsoid, or tube.
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a 2D honeycomb lattice. Both materials have unique properties and are used in various advanced applications.
What is Nanomedicine?
Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology. It involves the use of nanoparticles for diagnosis, monitoring, control, prevention, and treatment of diseases. Examples include targeted drug delivery systems and nanoscale imaging techniques.
Conclusion
Understanding the jargon of nanotechnology is crucial for delving into its vast and intricate world. From nanoparticles to nanomedicine, each term encapsulates a specific aspect of this interdisciplinary field, highlighting the transformative potential of working at the nanoscale.
