Nanomaterials
Materials at the nanometre scale have new properties.
About this topic
Nanomaterials have structures with at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nanometres (a nanometre is one billionth of a metre). At this scale, materials can have different properties from the bulk: they have a huge surface area to volume ratio, and quantum effects become important. Examples include nanoparticles, nanotubes, quantum dots and graphene.
A cube of side 1 cm has a surface area of 6 cm squared; cut it into cubes of 1 nm and the total surface area is millions of times larger, so more atoms are exposed and can react, which makes nanocatalysts efficient. Gold nanoparticles look red rather than gold, and their colour changes with size. Quantum dots emit specific colours of light depending on their size and are used in displays. Silver nanoparticles kill bacteria, and titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreen block UV while staying transparent. Carbon nanotubes are very strong and conductive.
Uses include drug delivery that targets cancer cells, stain-resistant fabrics, stronger and lighter sports equipment, water filters, solar cells and smaller electronics.
Concerns include health and environmental risks, because particles small enough can enter cells or accumulate in organisms, and long-term effects are still being studied. A misconception is that nanotechnology is brand new; Roman glassmakers and medieval stained glass used gold nanoparticles without knowing it. Another is that nano simply means small; it refers to new properties that emerge at this scale.
Key ideas
- 1 nm = 10⁻⁹ m
- Large surface area
- Used in medicine and electronics
Quick check
Use cases: where Nanomaterials helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Nanomaterials before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Nanomaterials without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Nanomaterials changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Nanomaterials in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Chemistry explains medicine, food, cleaning products, fuels and building materials.
Frequently asked questions
What is Nanomaterials?
Materials at the nanometre scale have new properties.
What will I learn in Nanomaterials?
1 nm = 10⁻⁹ m. Large surface area. Used in medicine and electronics.
Is Nanomaterials part of Chemistry?
Yes. It is one of 150 Chemistry topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Nanomaterials lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Nanomaterials?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.