Lecture 1

NANOMATERIALS AND
NANO-PROCESSING

Dr. Samrina Sahir

OUTLINE OF THE COURSE CONTENT
1. Introduction to Nanomaterials ✓ Magnetic Properties

2. Quantum Mechanics and Atomic Structures ✓ Optical Properties

5. Characterization of Nanomaterials
3. Bonding and Band structures in solids ✓ X-Ray Diffraction
✓ Electron Microscopy for Nanomaterials Characterization
4. Nano materials fabrication (SEM, TEM, SPM)
✓ Surface Analysis Methods (Auger Electron Microscope
✓ Bottom-up approaches AES, XPS, Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscope SIMS)
6. Applications of nanomaterials
✓ Top-down approaches
✓ Nanoelectronic materials
5. Properties of nanomaterials ✓ Nanobio materials

✓ Mechanical Properties ✓ Nanostructural materials

 WHAT IS NANOMATERIAL?

✓ The term nano derives from the Greek word for dwarf. Nanomaterials are commonly defined as materials with an average
grain size less than 100 nanometers (One billion nanometer equals one meter (10¯⁹ m = 1 nm))

✓ Nanomaterials have extremely small size which having at least one-dimension of 100 nm
✓ Nanotechnology exploits benefits of ultra small size, enabling the use of particles to deliver a range of important benefits
such as
✓ Small particles are ‘invisible’ → Transparent coatings/films are attainable
✓ Small particles are very weight efficient → Surfaces modification with minimal material
✓ The average width of a
human hair is on the
order of 100,000
nanometers

✓ A single particle of
smoke is in the order of
1,000 nanometers

✓ DNA : 2.5 nm

✓ Hb : 6.5 nm

✓ Viruses : 10-100 nm
 TYPES OF
NANOSTRUCTURES
• Nanomaterials can be nanoscale in
• One dimension (surface films)
• Two dimensions (strands or fibers)
• Three dimensions (particles)
• They can exist in single or fused
forms with spherical tubular, and
irregular shapes
 WHY NANOMATERIALS?

• Large spherical particles do not cover much surface

area. Nanoparticles equal mass of small platelet
particles provides thorough and uniform coverage
• By patterning matter on the nanoscale, it is possible
to vary fundamental properties of materials without
changing the chemical composition
• Applications of nanomaterials include
• Nanophase ceramics
• Nanostructured semiconductors
• Nanosized metallic powders
• Single nanosized magnetic particles
• Nanostructured metal-oxide thin films
 APPROACHES TO NANOMATERIAL SYNTHESIS

• Two approaches are used

• Top-down approach: Breaking down matter
into more basic building blocks. Frequently
uses chemical or thermal methods. The
example includes the production of
integrated circuits by etching or lithography
and mechanical grinding.
• Bottom-up approach: Building complex
systems by combining simple atomic level
components. The commonly used methods
include sol-gel, hydrothermal, physical and
chemical vapor deposition, epitaxial growth.
 THE ORIGINS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
1. The word “Nanotechnology” was first used by Norio Taniguchi in 1974 in a paper entitled “On the Basic
Concept of ‘Nano-Technology’ to refer to “the technology that engineers materials at the nanometer
level”
2. “ ‘Nano-technology’ is the production technology to get the extra high accuracy and ultra fine
dimensions, i.e., the preciseness and fineness of the order of 1 nm (nanometer), 10¯⁹ m in length. With
materials the smallest bit size of stock removal, flow, or design is one atom (generally about 1/5th of a
nanometer), so the limit of fineness of materials is on the order of one nanometer.” Taniguchi imagined
that ion sputtering would be the most promising process for the technology.
3. In 1981, Drexler described a new “bottom up” techniques instead of “top down” in 1987, K. Eric Drexler
published his book, Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology. Aimed at a non-technical
audience while also appealing to scientists, Drexler’s book was a highly original work describing a new
form of technology based on molecular “assemblers,” which would be able to “place atoms in almost any
reasonable arrangement” and thereby allow the formation of “almost anything the laws of nature allow.”
 THE ORIGINS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

4. Tools developed to handle individual atoms, such as the Scanning Probe Microscope at IBM, enabled
researchers to study and manipulate individual atoms and molecules with a degree never before
possible.
5. The discovery of novel materials on the nanoscale notably began with the Buckminsterfullerene (also
called the buckyball). The buckyball was so named because of the resemblance to the geodesic domes
that the architect Richard Buckminster Fuller popularized. Discovered in 1985 at Rice University, it
consists of an arrangement of 60 carbon atoms.
6. In 1991, Nanoscale materials became the focus of intense research with the discovery of the carbon
nanotubes by Sumio Iijima of NEC.
7. In 2000, the US government developed the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) to administer
funding and develop nanotechnology as the major research thrust of the twenty first century.
 THE CURRENT STATE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

• Current direction of nanotechnology research

1. Nanoscale science (the science of interaction and behaviors at nanoscale)
2. Nanomaterials development (the actual experimental development of nanoscale materials, including their use in
device applications)
3. Modeling (computer modeling of interactions and properties of nanoscale materials)
• Nanotechnology today focuses on the development, understanding, and use of materials at the nanoscale,
or nanomaterials. Materials are made up by an arrangement of atoms – typically in a specific way – which
helps define the property of the material.
 1. NANOSCALE SCIENCE

• The laws of physics that operate on objects at the nanoscale combine classical (or Newtonian) mechanics,
which governs operations of everyday objects, and quantum mechanics, which governs the interactions of
very small things.
• Quantum mechanics works at this scale, but the interplay between the high number – that is, greater than
two – of atoms in nanoscale materials can make it difficult to predict the actual outcome of these
interactions.
• Classical mechanics works on this scale, but the small size of the materials and the close scale of the
interactions can make forces that are well understood at large scales (e.g., friction) and/or powerful at
those scales (e.g., gravity) mysterious and/or less powerful at the nanoscale.
 2. FORMATION OF NANOSCALE MATERIALS AND DEVICES

• In looking at the nanoscale, traditional (non-nano) materials, structures, and devices are often referred to
as “bulk technology.” With nanotechnology, we start on the atomic scale and, controlling atomic/molecular
placement and arrangement, we build up the technology into unique devices, materials, and structures
(bottom-up approach).
• This new type of formation requires new types of synthesis, requiring a new understanding of the
formation of materials on the nanoscale.
• Materials exhibiting different properties at nanoscale: Many materials have extremely unique properties
when they are developed at a nanoscale. Many materials configure themselves in different atomic
arrangements not seen in the bulk form of the same materials. Understanding the changes that these
materials undergo as they are formed on a smaller scale is vital to developing the use of these materials in
devices
 Examples Of Nanomaterials In Conjunction With Other Materials

• Nano-sized carbon black particles have been used to reinforce tires for nearly 100 years.
• Precipitation hardening of materials. Precipitation hardening is a heat treatment technique that is used to strengthen
materials, particularly some metals. It relies on producing fine, impure nanoscale particles, which then impede the moving
of defects within the material. Since these defects are the dominant cause of plasticity in materials, the treatment hardens
the material.
Examples Of Nanomaterials In
Conjunction With Other Materials

• Bulk materials interact with their environment in a certain way

because most of their atoms are inside the volume of the material
rather than on the surface; this makes the surface-to-volume ratio
very small.
• With nanoscale materials, many of the atoms reside on the surface
of the material and therefore the surface-to-volume ratio is much
larger.
3. MODELING OF NANOSCALE DEVICES, MATERIALS, AND INTERACTIONS
• Initially scientists would build actual physical models of molecules and structures in their offices.
• With these models they would perform the calculations for each atom, move them around on their model,
and then start the process all over again – iteration after iteration
• Molecular Dynamics (MD): Molecular dynamics simulations involve modeling the motion and interactions of
individual atoms or molecules in a nanomaterial over time. It's useful for studying dynamic properties, such as
diffusion and mechanical behavior.
• Density Functional Theory (DFT): DFT is a quantum mechanical method used to calculate the electronic structure
and energy of a nanomaterial. It's commonly used to study the electronic properties of nanomaterials, including
their band structures and electron densities.
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA): FEA is a numerical technique used to analyze the mechanical behavior of
nanomaterials under various loads and boundary conditions, making it valuable for studying their structural
properties.
• Other modeling techniques: Monte Carlo Simulations, Tight-Binding Methods, Continuum Mechanics, Quantum
Monte Carlo (QMC), Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD), Kinetic
Monte Carlo (KMC), Ab Initio Calculations, Lattice Models.
THE FUTURE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

▪ The development of much smaller devices with much better

properties of the computing circuits. This evolution of computing
allows for higher density of circuitry and newer architectures, giving
greater and greater computing power.
▪ Moore's Law states that the number of transistors on a microchip
doubles every two years though the cost of computers is halved. In
1965, Gordon E. Moore, the co-founder of Intel, made this
observation that became known as Moore's Law.
 THE FUTURE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

• Smaller and more powerful computing allows for the development of

nanoscale machines (sometimes called “nanobots”). The small nature of
these machines would provide for significant advantages over larger robots.
For example,
• Nanobots could venture to places previously unthinkable for machines,
such as into the bloodstream or into cells.
• They could be used on rescue missions, searching in places that are
too dangerous or too small for larger robotics or humans to venture.
• They could serve as a laboratory on a chip and be sent to study
environments that are harmful for humans, such as the inside of
volcanoes, tornadoes, and hurricanes or even outside the Earth’s
atmosphere. E.g. Mars Rovers
• Smaller-scale (nanoscale) robotics could be made with less material,
which would ultimately make them cheaper and require less energy.
 THE FUTURE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

• Nanoscale robots could also assist with medical treatments. A

nanoscale machine could be programmed to flow through the
bloodstream and seek out diseased cells. These cells could then
be destroyed specifically.
• New medicines that target only very specific cells or parts of the
body (highly selective medicines) could be developed to
eliminate many of the adverse side effects of treatments. E.g.
dendrimers.
• Chemotherapy is one treatment that could greatly benefit from
this. Traditionally chemotherapy essentially involves a race to kill
the diseased cancerous cells before the healthy cells are killed as
well. Being able to target only tumor cells with treatments would
be a great boon to fighting cancer.
THE FUTURE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

• Nanorobots for safer and precise surgeries: Using nanoscale

and nano-enabled robots to assist in surgery could allow for
more precise and safer surgery. Nanoscale robots could
enter the body and perform controlled surgery on individual
cells, tissues, or organs without requiring an external
incision.
• Human enhancement using tools and technology to
enhance and augment the natural ability of humans,
NANOTECHNOLOGY IN NATURE AND APPLICATIONS

• Biomimetics (the research field that deals with recreating and

mimicking nature’s mechanisms in technology) attempts to take
advantage of nature’s billions of years of evolutionary experience
to make more effective materials and technology.
• Leonardo da Vinci, studied in extensive detail the flight of birds to
help him design his plans for a helicopter and a hang glider. The
wings of many of his hang gliders were based upon those of bats.
• Velcro was developed in 1941 by Georges de Mestral after he
noticed burdock seeds sticking to his clothes and his dog’s fur. On
examining the ball-like seeds, he noticed the hook-ended nature of
their fibers that allowed them to stick to other materials.
NANOTECHNOLOGY IN NATURE AND APPLICATIONS

• Gecko foot hair, nanoscale in size, has been shown to be

central in the gecko’s exceptional ability to climb rapidly
up smooth vertical surfaces. Geckos can hang out on a
wall and effortlessly cling to just about anything dry
adhesion mechanism. The mechanism relies on a force
known as the van der Waals force.
• It implies that the gecko’s adhesive properties are not
the result of surface chemistry or an epoxy. Instead, they
are the result of the size and shape of seta tips. Greater
adhesive strength is achieved simply by having a greater
surface area (that is, by subdividing the setae).
NANOTECHNOLOGY IN NATURE AND APPLICATIONS

• Magnetotactic bacteria
• “Magnetotactic” is the name of a class of
bacteria that orient themselves along the
magnetic field lines of the Earth’s magnetic field,
in much the same way that a compass does. This
ability to orient themselves arises from the
presence of chains of magnetic materials inside
their cells. This magnetic material is typically
either magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4).
That nature uses such a chain of materials that
look much like nanowires implies that such
magnetic nanoscale wires could be used in
technological applications as well
HISTORICAL NANOTECHNOLOGY

• Nanoscale carbon black particles, basically high-tech soot, have been used as a reinforcing additive in tires for nearly 100
years.
• The red paint used on Chinese vases as far back as the Ming dynasty is the result of Chinese artisans grinding up gold
particles until they are on the order of 25 nm in size.
• Separately, medieval artisans in Europe discovered that by mixing gold chloride into molten glass they could create a rich
ruby color. By varying the amount of gold put in the mixture, different colors are produced.
• Nanomaterials have been used unknowingly to make stained glass by grinding up gold and silver nanoparticles to small sizes.

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