What Are the Key Scientific Principles in Nanotechnology?
Several scientific principles underpin the field of nanotechnology:
Quantum Mechanics At the nanoscale, the behavior of particles is governed by the principles of quantum mechanics. This includes phenomena such as quantum tunneling, quantization of energy levels, and wave-particle duality.
Surface Energy Nanoscale materials have a high surface energy due to the large fraction of atoms at the surface. This can lead to increased reactivity and the tendency to agglomerate.
Self-Assembly Self-assembly is a process where molecules spontaneously organize into structured arrangements. This principle is exploited to create complex nanostructures with desired properties.
Size-Dependent Properties Properties such as melting point, electrical conductivity, and optical absorption can change significantly with size at the nanoscale. For example, gold nanoparticles exhibit different colors depending on their size due to the phenomenon known as surface plasmon resonance.
