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CY3151 Engineering Chemistry

Unit II – Nanochemistry

INTRODUCTION

The prefix (nano), in the word nanochemistry, means a billionth

( 1 x 10-9 m). Atoms are very small and the diameter of a single atom can
vary from 0.1 to 0.5 nm. It deals with various structures of matter having
dimensions of the order of a billionth of meter.

BASICS OF NANOCHEMISTRY

1. Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles are the particles, the size of which ranges from 1-50 nm.
Generally they are obtained as colloids. The colloidal particles have a
tendency to remain single crystal and hence are called as nanocrystals.
A large percentage of atoms in nanocrystals are present on the surface.
Nanocrystals possess electronic, magnetic and optical properties. Since
the nanoparticles exhibit an electronic behavior, governed by the
quantum physics, they are also called as quantum dots.

2. Nanomaterials
Nanomaterials are the materials having components with size less than
100 nm at least in one dimension.
 Nanomaterials, in one dimension, are layers such as a thin films or
surface coatings.
 Nanomaterials, in two dimensions, are tubes such as nanotubes and
nanowires.
 Nanomaterials, in three dimensions, are particles like precipitates,
colloids and quantum dots.
3. Nanochemistry (or) Nanoscience
Nanoscience is defined as the study of phenomena and manipulation of
materials at atomic, molecular and macromolecular scales.
4. Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is defined as the design, characterization, production
and applications of structures, systems and devices by controlling
size and shape at 10-9 m scale or the single-atomic level.
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DISTINCTION BETWEEN NANO PARTICLE, MOLECULE AND BULK

MATERIAL
1. The size of nano particles are less than 100 nm in diameter, molecules
are in the range of picometers, but bulk materials are larger in micron
size.
2. Molecule is a collection of atoms, nano particles are collection of few
molecules that is less than 100 nm but bulk materials contains
thousands of molecules.
3. Surface area of nano particles is more than the bulk materials.
4. Hardness of nano materials is 5 times more than the bulk materials.
5. Strength of nano materials is 3 - 10 times higher than the bulk
materials.
6. Nano particles possesses size dependent properties, but bulk materials
possess constant physical properties.
7. Corrosion resistance is more than the bulk materials, hence localised
corrosion in nano materials is stopped.
8. Behavior of bulk materials can be changed, but cannot enter inside
the nano particles.
9. Nano particles, due to its size, possess unexpected optical (visible)
properties.
Examples:
(i) Gold nano particles appear deep red to black colour in solution
compared to yellow colour with Gold.
(ii) ZnO nano particles possesses superior UV blocking property
compared to bulk material.
(iii) Absorption of solar radiation in photovoltaic cell containing nano
particles are higher than the film (bulk material).
10. Nano particles possesses lower melting point than the bulk materials.
Example:
Gold nanoparticles melt at lower temperature (3000C) for 2.5 nm, but
Gold slab melts at 10640C.
11. Sintering of nano particles takes place at lower temperature and in
short time than the bulk materials.
12. Electrical properties, resistivity of nano particles are increased by 3
times.
13. Suspension of nano particles is possible, because nano particles
possess high surface area, but bulk materials cannot.
14. The wear resistances of nano particles are 170 times higher than the
bulk materials.
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Comparison of atom/molecule, nanoparticles/cluster, bulk

materials

Nano particles/
S. Atom/ Molecule Nano cluster Bulk material
Properties
No.

1. Size of Few Angstroms Angstrom to Microns to

constituting (Å) (10-10 m) nanometer higher
particles. 10 m to 10 m
-10 -9

2. Number of 1 for atom, 2 to several Infinite

constituting many for thousands.
particles. molecules.
3. Electronic Confined. Confined. Continuous.
structure.
4. Geometric Well-defined Well-defined Crystal
structure. structure and structure and structure
predictable. predictable. decides.
Example NaCl, HCl (NaCl)n Gold bar &
Silver bar

SIZE DEPENDENT PROPERTIES

Nearly all the properties as shown in figure, like hardness, strength,
ductility, melting point and density, change for nanomaterials. These
behaviors vary so significantly by a mere reduction in grain size.
Nanomaterials are composed of grains and grain boundaries. Nanometre
sized grains contains only a few thousands of atoms within each grain.

Shows how different properties change in the nano-materials

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A large number of atoms reside at the grain boundaries. As the grain

size decreases, there is a significant increase in the volume fraction of
grain boundaries or interfaces.
The properties of the materials are bound to be governed to a large extent
by defect configurations. Hence the mechanical and chemical properties
of nanomaterials are significantly altered due to defect dynamics. The
elastic property of nanomaterials are different from that of bulk alloys due
to the presence of increased fraction of defects.
Examples:

1. Nanocrystalline ceramics are tougher and stronger than those with

coarse grains.
2. Nano-sized metals exhibit significant decrease in toughness and yield
strength increases.

Important Properties of Nanomaterials

1. Electrical Properties
(i) Electrical conductivity decreases with a reduced dimension due to
increased surface scattering. However, it can be increased, due to better
ordering in micro-structure.

Example: Polymeric fibres.

(ii) Nanocrystalline materials are used as very good separator plates in

batteries, because they can hold more energy than the bulk materials.
Example: Nickel-metal hydride batteries made of nanocrystalline nickel
and metal hydride, require far less frequent recharging and last much
longer.

2. Optical Properties
Reduction of material dimensions has pronounced effects on the optical
properties. Optical properties of nano-materials are different from bulk
forms.
The change in optical properties is caused by two factors
(i) The quantum confinement of electrons within the nano-particles
increases the energy level spacing.
Example: The optical absorption peak of a semiconductor nano-particles
shifts to a short wavelength, due to an increased band gap.
(ii) Surface plasma resonance, which is due to smaller size of nano-
particles than the wavelength of incident radiation.
Example: The colour of metallic nano-particles may change with their
sizes due to surface plasma resonance.
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3. Mechanical properties
The nano-materials have less defects compared to bulk materials, which
increases the mechanical strength.

(i) Mechanical properties of polymeric materials can be increased by the

addition of nano-fillers.
(ii) As nano-materials are stronger, harder and more wear resistant and
corrosion resistant, they are used in spark plugs.
Example: Nano-crystalline carbides are much stronger, harder and wear
resistant and are used in micro drills.

4. Magnetic properties
Magnetic properties of nano materials are different from that of bulk
materials. Ferro-magnetic behaviour of bulk materials disappear, when the
particle size is reduced and transfers to super-paramagnetics. This is due
to the huge surface area.

TYPES OF NANO MATERIALS

Based on dimensions, nano materials are classified into five types.

1. Nanoparticles S.No Co-ordinates Examples

2. Nanoclusters
1. 0 - dimension Nanoclusters
2. 1 - dimension Thin Films, surface
3. Nanowire
coatings
4. Nanorods 3. 2 - dimension Nanotubes, nanowires
5. Nanotubes 4. 3 - dimension Precipitates, colloids

Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles are the particles, the size of which ranges from 1 to 100 nm.
These are tiny aggregates of atoms but smaller than their crystals but
bigger than molecules. They have three dimensional structures.

Examples: TiO2, gold, silver, ZnO, etc.,

Applications of Nanoparticles
1. TiO2 is used in cosmetics as they are very good UV - absorber.
2. Nano silver particles are used as a catalyst in industries.
3. Nanoparticles are used in medicine.
4. Nano silver particles are used in making bone cement, surgical
instruments, etc.,
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Nanoclusters
Nanoclusters are fine aggregates of atoms or molecules. The size of which
ranges from 0.1 to 10 nm. Of all the nano materials, nanoclusters are the
smallest sized nano materials because of their close packing
arrangement of atoms.
Examples: CdS, ZnO, etc.,

All the atoms, in nanocluster, are bound by forces like metallic, covalent,
ionic, hydrogen bond or Vander Waals forces of attraction. Clusters of
certain critical size are more stable than others. Nanoclusters consisting
of up to a couple of hundred atoms, but larger aggregates, containing
103 or more atoms, are called nanoparticles.
Magic number
Magic number is the number of atoms present in the clusters of
critical sizes with higher stability.
Different types of nanoclusters can be distinguished from the nature of
forces present between atoms. Generally clusters containing transition
metal atom have unique chemical, electronic and magnetic properties.
These properties vary with the number of constituent atoms, the type of
element and the net charge on the cluster.

Properties of nanoclusters
1. Atomic clusters or molecular clusters are formed by the nucleation of
atoms or molecules respectively.
2. The reactivity of nanoclusters is decreased due to their decrease in
size.
3. The melting points of nanoclusters are lower than the bulk materials
due to high surface to volume ratio.
4. The electronic structure of the nanocluster is more confined than the
bulk materials.
Applications of nanocluster
1. Nanoclusters are used as catalysts in many reactions.
2. It is used in nano based chemical sensors.
3. It is also used as a light emitting diode in quantum computers.

Nanorods
Nanorod is two dimensional cylindrical solid material having an aspect
ratio i.e., length to width ratio less than 20.
Examples: Zinc oxide, Cadmium sulphide, Gallium nitride nano rods.
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Synthesis of nanorods
Nano-rods are produced by direct chemical synthesis. A combination of
ligands acts as shape control agents and bond to different facets of the
nano-rods with different strength.

This allows different nanorods to grow at different rates producing an

elongated objects. Many of the above nanorods are not manufactured
due to lack of commercial demand.

Properties of nanorods
1. Nanorods are two-dimensional materials.
2. It exhibits optical and electrical properties.

Applications of nanorods
1. Nanorods find application in display technologies.
2. It is also used in the manufacturing of micro mechanical switches.
3. Nanorods are used in an applied electric field, micro electro
mechanical systems, etc.,
4. Nanorods along with noble metal nanoparticles function as
theragnostic agents.
5. They are used in energy harvesting and light emitting devices.
6. Nanorods have used as cancer therapeutics.

Nanowires

Nanowire is two dimensional cylindrical solid material having an aspect

ratio ie., length to width ratio greater than
20. Diameter of the nanowire ranges from 10 - 100 nm.

Examples: Different types of nanowires

S.No Types of nanowires Examples

1. Metallic nanowires Au, Ni, Pt
2. Nanowires of semiconductors InP, Si, GaN
3. Nanowires of insulators SiO2, TiO2
4. Molecular nanowires DNA
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Synthesis of nanowires

1. Template-assisted synthesis
Template assisted synthesis of nanowires is a simple way to fabricate
nanostructures. These templates contain very small cylindrical pores or
voids within the host material and the empty spaces are filled with the
chosen material to form nanowires.

2. VLS (Vapour - Liquid - Solid) method

It involves the absorption of the source material from the gas phase into
a liquid phase of catalyst. Upon supersaturation of the liquid alloy, a
nucleation event generates a solid precipitate of the source material.
This seed serves as a preferred site for further deposition of material at
the interface of the liquid droplet, promoting the elongation of the seed
into a nanowire.

Properties of nanowires
1. Nanowires are two-dimensional material.
2. Conductivity of a nanowire is less than that of the corresponding
bulk materials.
3. It exhibits distinct optical, chemical, thermal and electrical properties
due to this large surface area.
4. Silicon nanowires show strong photoluminescence characteristics.

Uses of nanowires
1. Nanowires are used for enhancing mechanical properties of
composites.
2. It is also used to prepare active electronic components such as p n
junction and logic gates.
3. Semiconductor nanowire crossings are expected to play a important
role in future of digital computing.
4. Nanowires find applications in high-density data storage either as
magnetic read heads or as patterned storage media.
5. Nanowires replace conventional copper wires used in computers,
televisions.
6. It is also used to link tiny components into very small circuits.
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Nanotubes
Nanotubes are tube like structures with diameter of 1-100 nm and a
length of few nm to microns. Nanotubes consist of tiny cylinders of
carbon and other materials like boron nitride. Nanotubes may be
organic (or) inorganic.
Examples
1. Carbon nanotube

2. Silicon nanotube

3. DNA nanotube

4. Boron nitride nanotube

1. Carbon nanotube (CNT)

Carbon nanotube is a tubular form of carbon with 1-3 nm diameter
and a length of few nm to microns.

Generally carbon in the solid phase exits in different allotropic forms like
graphite, diamond, fullerene and nano tubes.

Single walled carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes are tubular forms of carbon. When graphite sheets are
rolled into a cylinder, their edges join to each other form carbon
nanotubes. Each carbon atom in the carbon nanotubes is linked by
covalent bonds. But the number of nanotubes aligns into ropes and is
held together by weak Vander Walls forces.

Structures (or) Types of carbon nanotubes

Depending upon the way in which graphite sheets are rolled, two types of
CNTs are formed.

1. Single - walled nanotubes (SWNTs).

2. Multi - walled nanotubes (MWNTs).

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1. Single - walled nanotubes (SWNTs)

SWNTs consist of one tube of graphite. It is one-atom thick having a
diameter of 2 nm and a length of 100 μm. SWNTs are very important,
because they exhibit important electrical properties. It is an excellent
conductor.

Types of single walled carbon nanotubes

Three kinds of nanotubes are resulted, based on the orientation of the

hexagon lattice.
(a) Arm-chair structures: The lines of hexagons are parallel to the axis
of the nanotube.
(b) Zig-zag structures: The lines of carbon bonds are down the centre.

(c) Chiral nanotubes: It exhibits twist or spiral around the nanotubes.

It has been confirmed that arm-chair carbon nanotubes are metallic

while zig-zag and chiral nanotubes are semiconducting.

2. Multi - walled nanotubes (MWNTs)

MWNTs (nested nanotubes) consist of multiple layers of graphite rolled in
on themselves to form a tube shape. It exhibits both metallic and
semiconducting properties. It is used for storing fuels such as hydrogen
and methane.
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Multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Synthesis of Carbon nanotubes
Carbon nanotubes can be synthesized by the following methods.

1. Pyrolysis of hydrocarbons.

2. Laser evaporation.

1. Pyrolysis
Carbon nanotubes are synthesized by the pyrolysis of hydrocarbons such
as acetylene at about 7000C in the presence of Fe-silica or Fe-graphite
catalyst under inert conditions.

2. Laser evaporation
It involves vapourization of graphite target, containing small amount of
cobalt and nickel, by exposing it to an intense pulsed laser beam at higher
temperature (12000C) in a quartz tube reactor. An inert gas such as argon
(or) helium is simultaneously allowed to pass into the reactor to sweep the
evaporated carbon atoms from the furnace to the colder copper collector,
on which they condense as carbon nanotubes.

Laser evaporation technique

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Properties of CNTs
1. CNTs are very strong, withstand extreme strain in tension and
posses elastic flexibility.
2. The atoms in a nano-tube are continuously vibrating back and forth.
3. It is highly conducting and behaves like metallic or semiconducting
materials.
4. It has very high thermal conductivity and kinetic properties.

Uses of CNTs
1. It is used in battery technology and in industries as catalyst.
2. It is also used as light weight shielding materials for protecting
electronic equipments.
3. CNTs are used effectively inside the body for drug delivery.
4. It is used in composites, ICs.
5. It also acts as an efficient catalysts for some chemical reactions.
6. It acts as a very good biosensor. Due to its chemical inertness carbon
nanotubes are used to detect many molecules present in the blood.
7. It is also used in water softening process as a filter.

PREPARATION OF NANOMATERIALS
The following two approaches are used for the synthesis of
nanomaterials.
1. Top-down process (or) Physical (or) Hard methods.
2. Bottom-up process (or) Chemical (or) Soft methods.

Top-down process
Top-down process involves the conversion of bulk materials into smaller
particles of nano-scale structure.

Top-down process
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Bottom-up process
Bottom-up process involves building-up of materials from the bottom by
atom by atoms, molecule by molecule or cluster to the nanomaterials.

Bottom up process

Important Preparations
1. Sol-gel process
The sol-gel process is a wet chemical technique also known as chemical
solution deposition. It is the method for producing solid materials from
small molecules. This method is used for the fabrication of metal oxides.
It involves conversion of monomers into a colloidal solution (sol), that
acts as the precursor. This colloidal solution gradually evolves towards
the formation of a gel-like system.
It involves the following steps.
1. Hydrolysis and polycondensation
2. Gelation
3. Aging
4. Drying
5. Densification
6. Crystallization

The volume fraction of particles (particle density) may be slow that a

significant amount of fluid need to be removed for the gel-like properties
to be recognized. It is done by two ways.
(i) Sedimentation
The solution is allowed to keep for some time for sedimentation to occur
and then pour off the remaining liquid.
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(ii) Centrifugation
Centrifugation can also be used to accelerate the process of phase
separation.
Drying and densification
Removal of the remaining liquid (solvent) is done by drying process, which
accompanied by shrinkage and densification.
Firing (or) crystallization
A thermal treatment (firing) is necessary to enhance mechanical properties
and structural stability via sintering, densification.

Various steps of Sol-Gel process

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2. Solvothermal synthesis
Solvothermal synthesis involves the use of solvent under high temperature
(between 1000C to 10000C) and moderate to high pressure (1 atm to
10,000 atm) that facilitate the interaction of precursors during
synthesis.
Method
A solvent like ethanol, methanol, 2-propanol is mixed with certain metal
precursors and the solution mixture is placed in an autoclave kept at
relatively high temperature and pressure in an oven to carry out the
crystal growth. The pressure generated in the vessel, due to the solvent
vapour, elevates the boiling point of the solvent.
Example:
Solvothermal synthesis of zinc oxide

Solvothermal synthesis of zinc oxide

Zinc acetate dihydrate is dissolved in 2-propanol at 500C. Subsequently,
the solution is cooled to 00C and NaOH is added to precipitate ZnO. The
solution is then heated to 650C to allow ZnO growth for some period of
time. Then a capping agent (1-dodecanethiol) is injected into the
suspension to arrest the growth. The rod shaped ZnO nano-crystal is
obtained.

Solvothermal synthesis
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3. Laser ablation
In laser ablation technique, high-power laser pulse is used to evaporate
the material from the target. The stoichiometry of the material is
protected in the interaction.
The total mass ablated from the target per laser pulse is referred to as
the ablation rate.

Laser ablation chamber

This method involves vapourisation of target material containing small

amount of catalyst (nickel or cobalt) by passing an intense pulsed laser
beam at a higher temperature to about 1200C in a quartz tube reactor.
Simultaneously, an inert gas such as argon, helium is allowed to pass
into the reactor to sweep the evaporated particles from the furnace to
the colder collector.

Uses
1. Nanotubes having a diameter of 10 to 20 nm and 100 μm can be
produced by this method.
2. Ceramic particles and coating can be produced.
3. Other materials like silicon, carbon can also be converted into
nanoparticles by this method.

Advantages of laser ablation.

1. It is very easy to operate.
2. The amount of heat required is less.
3. It is eco-friendly method because no solvent is used.
4. The product, obtained by this method, is stable.
5. This process is economical.
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4. Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD)

This process involves conversion of gaseous molecules into solid
nanomaterials in the form of tubes, wires or thin films. First the solid
materials are converted into gaseous molecules and then deposited as
nanomaterials.
Example:
CNT preparation.
The CVD reactor consists of a higher temperature vacuum furnace
maintained at inert atmosphere. The solid substrate containing catalyst
like nickel, cobalt, iron supported on a substrate material like, silica,
quarts is kept inside the furnace. The hydrocarbons such as ethylene,
acetylene and nitrogen cylinders are connected to the furnace. Carbon
atoms, produced by the decomposition at 10000C, condense on the
cooler surface of the catalyst.
As this process is continuous, CNT is produced continuously

Chemical vapour deposition

Types of CVD Reactor

Generally the CVD reactors are of two types

Types of CVD Reactors

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1. Hot-wall CVD
Hot wall CVD reactors are usually tubular in form. Heating is done by
surrounding the reactor with resistance elements.

2. Cold-wall CVD
In cold-wall CVD reactors, substrates are directly heated inductively while
chamber walls are air (or) water cooled.

Advantages of CVD
1. Nanomaterials, produced by this method, are highly pure.
2. It is economical.
3. Nanomaterials, produced by this method, are defect free.
4. As it is simple experiment, mass production in industry can be done
without major difficulties.

5. Electro-deposition (or) Electrochemical deposition

Electro-deposition is an electrochemical method in which ions from the
solution are deposited at the surface of cathode. Template assisted
electro-deposition is an important technique for synthesizing metallic
nanomaterials with controlled shape and size. Array of nano-structured
materials with specific arrangements can be prepared by this method
using an active template as a cathode.

Process of electro-deposition

Electrodeposition method
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The cell consists of a reference electrode, specially designed cathode and

anode. All these electrodes are connected with the battery through an
voltmeter and dipped in an electrolytic solution of a soluble metal as
shown in figure. When the current is passed through the electrodes of
template, the metal ions from the solution enter into the pores and gets
reduced at the cathode, resulting in the growth of nanowire inside the
pores of the template.

Example: Electrodeposition of Gold on Silver

Nanostructured gold can be prepared by the electrodeposition technique

using gold sheets as an anode and silver plate as a cathode. An array of
alumina template is kept over the cathode as shown in the figure and
AuCl3 is used as an electrolyte.
When the current of required strength is applied through the electrodes,
Au+ ions diffuse into the pores of alumina templates and gets reduced at
the cathode resulting in the growth of nanowires (or) nanorods inside the
pores of the alumina templates.

Advantages of Electro-deposition
1. This method is relatively cheap and fast.
2. Complex shaped objects can be coated.
3. The film or wire obtained is uniform.
4. Metal nanowires including Ni, Co, Cu and Au can be fabricated by this
method.

6. Electrospinning
Definition
Electrospinning is a method of producing ultrafine (in nanometers) fibres
by charging and ejecting a polymer solution through a spinneret under a
high-voltage electric field and to solidify (or) coagulate it to form a
filament.

Components
1. A high voltage power supply.
2. A polymer reservoir that can maintain a constant flow rate of
solution.
3. A conductive needle, as polymer source, connected to the high
voltage power supply.
4. A conductive collector (plate, drum, etc.)
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Electrospinning
Process
A polymer is dissolved in a suitable solvent and is filled in the capillary
reservoir. When sufficiently high voltage is applied to create an electric
field between the needle tip and the collector, a charge accumulates at
the liquid surface. When the electrostatic repulsion is higher than the
surface tension the liquid meniscus is deformed into conically shaped
structure known as a Taylor cone.
Once the Taylor cone is formed, the charged liquid jet is ejected
towards the collector. Depending upon the viscosity of the solution, solid
fibre will be formed as the solvent evaporates.

Applications
1. Electrospinning is used in diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.
2. Electrospun fibres are used in energy storage devices such as, solar
cell, fuel cell, super capacitors.
3. It is also used in textiles for smart clothing, protecting clothing and
fire retardant fibres.
4. It is used in sensors like gas sensors, chemical sensors and
fluorescence sensors.
5. In biomedical, it is used in drug delivery, artificial blood vessel and
wound dressing.
6. e-spun fibres employed in a variety of applications such as filtration
and thermal insulation.
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APPLICATIONS OF NANOMATERIALS
Nano-technology finds significant impact on all most all the industries and
all areas of society. Since nano-materials possess unique beneficial
chemical, physical and mechanical properties, they can be used for a
wide variety of applications.
I. Medicine
1. Nano drugs
Nano materials are used as nano drugs for the cancer and TB therapy,
2. Laboratories on a chip
Nano technology is used in the production of laboratories on a chip.
3. Nano-medibots
Nano particles function as nano-medibots that release anti-cancer drug
and treat cancer.
4. Gold-coated nanoshells
It converts light into heat, enabling the destruction of tumours.
5. Gold nano particles as sensors
Gold nano particles undergo colour change during the transition of nano
particles.
6. Protein analysis
Protein analysis can also be done using nanomaterials.
7. Gold nanoshells for blood immuno assay
Gold nano shells are used for blood immuno assay.
8. Gold nano shells in imaging
Optical properties of the gold nano shells are utilized for both imaging
and therapy.
9. Targeted drug delivery using gold nano particles
It involves slow and selective release of drugs to the targeted organs.
10.Repairing work
Nano technology is used to partially repair neurological damage.
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II. In Agriculture

1. Nanomaterials prepared by eco-friendly and green method with plant

extracts (Nano formulations) could increase agriculture potential for
improving fertilization process, plant growth regulators.

2. They also minimize the amount of harmful chemicals that pollute the
environment.

3. Nanosensors are used in crop protection for the identification of

diseases and residues of agrochemicals.

4. Nanodevices are used for the genetic engineering of plants.

5. Nanomaterials are used in plant disease diagnostics.

6. It is also used in postharvest management.

7. Precision farming techniques might be used to further improve the

crop yields but not damage soil and water.

8. Some nanomaterials are used as antimicrobial agents in food packing

especially silver nanoparticles are in great interest.

9. Nano particle - based pesticides and herbicides are being explored for
the application of antimicrobial agents to protect crops from various
diseases.
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III. In Energy
Nanomaterials are used in several applications to improve the efficiency of
energy generation (or) develop new methods to generate energy.
1. Power generation
Sun light, concentrated on nanoparticles, can produce steam with high
energy efficiency, which can even be used in running power plants.
2. Generating hydrogen from sea water
The use of a nanostructured thin film of nickel selenide as a catalyst
for the electrolysis of hydrogen from sea water.
3. Producing high efficiency light bulbs
Nano-engineered polymer matrix is used for the production of high
efficiency light bulbs.
4. Increasing the electricity generated by wind mills
Stronger and lower weight blades, made from nanotubes-filled epoxy, in
wind mills increases the amount of electricity.
5. Generating electricity from waste heat
Sheets of nanotubes have been used to build thermocells that generates
electricity, when the sides of the cell are at different temperature
6. Storing hydrogen for fuel cell powered cars
Graphene layers are used in fuel tank, resulting in a higher amount of
hydrogen storage and therefore lighter weight fuel tank.
7. Reducing power loss in electric transmission wires
The wires containing carbon nanotubes lowers resistance than the wires
currently used in the electric transmission grid.
8. Reducing the cost of solar cell
Nanotech solar cells are manufactured at significantly lower cost than
the conventional solar cells.
9. Nano battery and fuel cell
Nanomaterials, used in batteries and fuel cell, increases their efficiency.

IV. Electronics
1. Quantum wires are found to have high electrical conductivity.
2. The integrated memory circuits have been found to be effective devices.
3. A transistor, called NOMFET, (Nanoparticle Organic Memory Field
Effect Transistor) is created by combining gold nanoparticles with organic
molecules.
4. Nano wires are used to build transistors without p - n junctions.
5. Nano radios are the other important devices, using carbon nanotubes.
6. MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semi conductor Field Effect Transistor),
performs both as switches and as amplifiers.
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V. In Catalysis
Nanoparticle catalysts are highly effective because of the following two
reasons
(i) huge surface area
(ii) enhanced reactivity

1. Water purification
Nanosilver catalyst is highly efficient in controlling microbes in water.
2. Bio-diesel production
Solid base nanocatalyst KF/CaO can be used for biodiesel production
with yield more than 96%.
3. Fuel cell application
Carbon supported electro-catalysts play an important role in fuel cell.
4. In drug delivery
Carbon nanomaterials find more applications in biological fields.
CNTs may be suitable for bio-applications in bio recognition and drug
delivery systems.
5. Gold nanoparticles
It is an important catalyst in co-oxidation, epoxidation of propylene,
hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons.
6. Nanopowder silica catalyst (or) platinum nanoparticles exhibit very
strong catalytic activity for hydrolysation reactions.
7. Titania-based nanocatalysts are being increasingly used in
photocatalysis.
8. Nanocrystalline MgO particles act as an effective catalyst for
dehydrogeneration.