Nanotechnology

Introduction
Nanotechnology is the creation of functional materials, devices, and systems through
control of matter on the nanometre length scale by exploiting novel phenomena and
properties (physical, chemical, biological) present only at that length scale.
Definition: “The branch of technology that deals with dimensions of less than 100
nanometres, especially the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules.” Or
"Nano-technology” mainly consists of the processing of separation, consolidation, and
deformation of materials by one atom or one molecule.

 Nano Science which deals with building up complex material and machine
using fine control on the matter at the Nano meter scale.
 Study of materials and their properties at the length scale of few nano meters
is called nano science.
History of nanotechnology:
 The first ever concept was presented in 1959 by the famous professor Dr.
Rechard Feynman in the lecture of There’s plenty of rooms at the bottom and
the Noble prize awarded in 1965.
 The term nanotechnology had been coined by Nario Taniguchi in 1974.
Some ancient Nano material
 ~ 2000 Years Ago – Sulfide nanocrystals used by Greeks and Romans to dye
hair
 ~ 1000 Years Ago (Middle Ages) – Gold nanoparticles of different sizes used
to produce different colors in stained glass windows

 The meaning of the word ‘nano’ is nanos, which indicates a person of very low
height or a very small object that is a dwarf.
 Consider that in an international system of units, the prefix nano is used to
indicate part of a unit.
 For instance, a nanometer is a billionth of ameter or amillionth of a millimeter;
a nano liter is a billionth of a liter or a millionth of a milliliter; and a nano is a
billionth of a Kelvin.
 The prefix “nano” has found in the last decade an ever-increasing application
to different fields of knowledge and is now a popular label for much of modern
science; therefore, it is becoming increasingly common in the scientific
literature.
 Size, which refers to the length scale from 1 to 100 nm, is the fundamental
defining attribute of all nanoparticles, in which materials have at least a
nanoscale dimension. Thus, according to literature nanomaterials are
substances that are between 1 and 100 nm in size, at least in one of the three
dimensions.
 Based on size, origin, structural configuration, pore diameters, and potential
toxicity, nanomaterials can be divided into five major categories.

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  Due to its unique properties, nanoparticle matter exhibits unique chemical,
physical, and biological properties at the nanoscale compared to their
respective particles at higher scales.
 Nano particulate matter is a distinct state of matter from the solid state, liquid
state, gaseous state, and plasma state. In this dimension, their nanomaterials
have distinctive optical, magnetic, and electrical properties.
Nano Scale

CLASSIFICATION OF NANO MATERIALS

SYNTHESIS METHODS OF NANO MATERIALS

In general, nanomaterials are synthesized using a variety of methods, which are
categorized into two main categories categories: bottom-up and top-down methods.

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Top-down method
It is a physical process, also known as a destructive method, decomposes bulk
materials into smaller materials, which then transform into nanomaterials.
In this approach a large scale object is progressively reduce in dimensions.
It consist of ultra-fine micro machining of materials.

In this method a material is in bulk in size, it is cut into smaller and smaller pieces till
get nano scale particles.

Lithography, mechanical milling or ball milling, laser ablation, sputtering, electron

explosion, arc discharge, and thermal decomposition are examples of the top-down
method.

Nanolithography method
It is the process of printing a required shape or structure on a light-sensitive material
and selectively removing a portion of the material to create the desired shape and
structure. Lithography is a practical method for creating nano architectures with a
concentrated electron or light beam. The main advantages of nanolithography are its
ability to produce a cluster with the desired shape and size from a single nanoparticle.
The disadvantages are the requirement for complex equipment and the associated
costs.
Laser ablation method
 Laser ablation synthesis generates nanoparticles by striking the target material
with a powerful laser beam. Metal atoms vaporize in a laser ablation experiment
and are immediately solvated by surfactant molecules to form nanoparticles in
the solution.
Sputtering method
Sputtering is the phenomenon of nanoparticle deposition using ejected particles
colliding with ions. Sputtering is typically defined as the deposition of a thin layer of
nanoparticles followed by annealing.
Thermal decomposition method
 The breakdown was caused by heat. This process is endothermic. The
chemical bonds are broken and divided into smaller ones by heat.
 The metal is broken down at particular temperatures to form the nanoparticles,
which are subsequently produced by a chemical reaction.

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The arc discharge method
 This technique can be used to create a variety of nanostructured materials.
 Fullerenes, carbon nano horns (CNHs), carbon nanotubes, few-layer graphene
(FLG), and amorphous spherical carbon nanoparticles are some of the carbon-
based materials produced. This method is extremely important in the production
of fullerene nanomaterials.

Bottom-up method
 The bottom-up method, also known as the constructive method, involves the
building of material from atoms to clusters to nanoparticles.
 In this approach, different materials and devices are constructed from
molecular components on their own which do not require any external agent
to assemble them.
 These molecular components (chemically) assembled themselves by
recognising the molecules of their own type.
 CVD, sol-gel, spinning, pyrolysis, and biological synthesis are all examples of
bottom-up methods.

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 In this approach atoms will come together to form clusters and clusters will come
together to form the nanoparticles.

Sol-gel method
 It is the process by which a suitable chemical solution serves as a precursor.
Metal oxide and chloride are common sol-gel method precursors.
 Metal oxides and chlorides are the most common sol-gel precursors.

Spinning method
 The synthesis of nanoparticles by spinning is carried out by a spinning disc
reactor (SDR).
 It consists of a rotating disc contained within a chamber or reactor where
physical parameters such as temperature can be controlled.
 It is determined by several factors, including disc surface, liquid/precursor ratio,
disc rotation speed, liquid flow rate, and feed location.
 Magnetic nanoparticles were created using spinning disc processing.

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method

 CVD is the deposition of a thin film of gaseous reactants onto a substrate. When
a heated substrate comes into contact with a combined gas, a chemical
reaction occurs.
 This reaction forms a thin film of product on the substrate surface, which is
recovered and reused.
 The disadvantages of CVD are the requirement of special equipment and the
fact that the gaseous by-products are highly toxic.

Pyrolysis method
 Pyrolysis is the most commonly used process in industries for the large-scale
production of nanoparticles.
 The advantages of pyrolysis are that it is simple, efficient, cost-effective and a
continuous process with high yield.

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Solvo thermal and hydrothermal methods
 This method produces nanostructured materials through a heterogeneous
reaction carried out in an aqueous hydrothermal method.
 Hydrothermal and solvo thermal methods are typically used in closed systems.
 Hydrothermal and solvo thermal methods are useful for producing various nano
geometries of materials such as nanowires, nano rods, nano sheets, and nano
spheres.

Soft and hard templating methods

 Soft and hard template methods are extensively used to produce nano porous
materials.
 The soft template method is a simple conventional method for the generation
of nanostructured materials.
 In this method, nano porous materials are produced using plenty of soft
templates, such as block copolymers, flexible organic molecules, and anionic,
cationic, and non-ionic surfactants.
Reverse micelle method
The reverse micelle method is also useful for producing nano materials with the
desired shapes and sizes.
In nature, reverse micelles are formed in the case of a water-in-oil emulsion, with the
hydrophilic heads pointing towards a water-containing core.

So, both approaches (top-down approach and bottom

approach) can be used to produce the nano scale
materials.
Top down approach starts from the bulk level material and
reduce the dimensions by cutting the bulk level material into
smaller particles till will get nanoparticles and in bottom up
approach atoms or molecules to brought together to form
clusters and clusters come together to form the
nanoparticles.

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Biosynthesis/biological method/Green synthesis method (Plant and microbial
extract)
 Biosynthesis is an environmentally friendly and green approach to the
synthesis of non-toxic and biological nanoparticles.
 Green synthesis nanoparticles have distinct and enhanced properties that
make them suitable for biomedical applications.
 Microorganisms (bacteria, algae, and fungi), biological templates, and various
plant parts are used in biosynthesis.
Biosynthesis method using microorganisms
 Bacteria, fungi, and algae can be used to prepare various nanomaterials from
metal salt aqueous solutions.
 For example, at the bottom of the sea, magnetotactic bacteria prepare magnetic
particles under anaerobic conditions;
 photosynthetic bacteria such as Rhodopseudomonas capsulate prepare 10–20
nm-sized gold nanoparticles extracellularly;
 the Fusarium oxysporum fungus is used to prepare extracellular silver
nanoparticles; and extracellular gold nanoparticles are prepared using
Sargassum wightii algae.
 The disadvantage of this process is that some bacteria, fungi, and algae are
pathogenic, so care must be taken.

Biosynthesis method using biological templates

 Biological templates such as DNA and proteins create unique and sophisticated
nanostructures.
 These nanoparticles can be used to create biosensors, bioNEMS, and
bioelectronics systems.
 Proteins are the primary constituents of nanocomposite materials.
 For example, Ferritin, is the intracellular iron storage protein in prokaryotes and
eukaryotes. It stores it as iron oxide and releases it in a controlled manner. It
acts as a buffer in humans, regulating iron deficiency and overload.

Biosynthesis method using different plant parts

 Plants and plant extracts have also been used in the synthesis of nanoparticles.
The phytochemicals found in plants reduce the metal nanoparticles.
 Flavones, organic acids, and quinones are naturally good reducing agents for
nanoparticle preparation.
 Gold nanoparticles of various shapes are synthesized from the biomass of the
Medicago sativa (alfalfa) and Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) plants.
 The leaves of Azadirachta indica (neem) are used to make bimetallic Au, Ag,
and bimetallic Au core-Ag shell nanoparticles.
 Aloe vera leaf extract is used to create gold nano triangles.
 Silver, nickel, cobalt, zinc, and copper nanoparticles are also synthesized using
plants such as Brassica juncea, Helianthus annuus, and sunflower.

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Mechanical methods: High-Energy Ball Mill (HEBM)
 Mechanical milling is the most widely used top down method for producing
various nanoparticles. It is used in the manufacture of oxide- and carbide
strengthened aluminum alloys, wear-resistant spray coatings, aluminum
/nickel/magnesium/copper-based nano alloys, and a variety of other nano
composite materials.

 Ball milling is a method for the production of nano materials.

 This process is used in producing metallic and ceramic nanoparticles.
Types of Ball Mills:
Planetary Ball Mill:
 A common type where the milling container rotates around a central axis,
while the balls also rotate within the container, providing high-energy
collisions.
Vibratory Ball Mill:
 The milling container vibrates at high frequencies, generating high-energy
impacts.
High-Energy Ball Mill:
 It's a valuable method for science and engineering, offering unique properties
and applications.
 The high energy ball mills most commonly used in research laboratories
comprise one or more containers in which the powder and balls placed.
 High-energy ball milling (HEBM) is a powerful technique used to produce
nanostructured materials and synthesize composite structures by repeatedly
fracturing and welding powder particles through high-energy collisions.
 it works on the principle of impact
 It is a mechanical alloying process where powders are subjected to high-
energy collisions within a rotating container (ball mill).
Mechanism:
1. Mechanical energy used: All the structural and chemical changes are produced
by the mechanical energy in ball milling method.
2. Stainless steel container: It consists of balls and a mill chamber, this mill chamber
is nothing but stainless steel container.
3. Hardened steel or silicon carbide or tungsten carbide balls: In stainless steel
container large number of small Hardened steel or silicon carbide or tungsten carbide
balls are kept in drum and is closed with tight lids.
4. Mill (drum) rotation: This rotating container as called as mill and this container is
rotated the hardened balls also rotating inside this mill on its horizontal axis.
5. Powder of a material: The solid particles of the material for which the nano material
is to be formed is kept inside the steel container. This powder will be made into nano

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size using this ball milling technique. The solid particles in between the balls are
ground.
As mill is rotating this solid particles crushed into powder, will be crushed into smaller
and smaller in size continuously.
Hardened steel or silicon carbide or tungsten carbide balls will provide large amount
of energy to the material powder.
Approximately 100 -150 hours mill will be rotated continuously to get uniform fine
powder.
 Some of the materials like Co, Cr, Ni-Ti, Al-Fe and Ag-Fe are made nano
crystalline by using ball mill.
 Few milligrams to several kilograms of nanoparticles can be synthesised.
 The energy transferred to the powder form the balls depends on
o The rotational speed
o Size and number of the balls
o Ratio of the ball to powder mass
o The time of milling

Stages of High-energy ball milling:

High-energy ball milling, a mechano chemical technique, involves several

stages: initial fracturing and cold welding, followed by intermediate refinement and size
reduction, and finally, a completion stage with a homogeneous, fine-grained product.
Initial Stage:
 Powder particles are subjected to high energetic impact.
 The dominating processes at this stage are fracturing and cold welding.
 Dissolution may occur to a certain extent, but the alloyed powder does not
have a homogeneous chemical composition.
Intermediate Stage:
 This stage exhibits marked refinement and size reduction.
 Microstructurally, particles appear more homogeneous.

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Final Stage:
 The final stage exhibits a homogeneous, fine-grained product with controlled
microstructure and composition.

Completion Stage:
 This stage is characterized by the completion of the milling process and the
attainment of the desired properties of the final product.

Advantages of HEBM:
1. Using this ball milling method nanopowder of 2-20nm in size can be produced. The
size of the nano powder also depends upon the speed of the rotation of the balls inside
the container.
2. It is an inexpensive and easy process.
Disadvantages of HEBM:
1. It takes lot of time i.e. 100 – 150 hrs. we need to rotate mill in order to get uniform
fine powder.
2. This process is not so sophisticated, the shape of the nano material is irregular
(irregular nano material will obtained).
3. Contaminants inserted from balls and milling additives. (Balls are continuously
striking this nano material, some atoms of these balls may get attached to the nano
material). So, this method may produces the crystal defects.

Physical methods: Vapor deposition – Pulsed laser deposition

This deposition method used for thin film deposition as well as nano material
synthesis.
Pulsed laser deposition is a physical vapor deposition technique in which a high-
energy laser is focused on a target material in a vacuum chamber and converted to a
plasma plume, which is deposited on a substrate (Figure 1). The deposition can be
assisted by a flow of oxygen or other background gases, or occur under ultra-high
vacuum conditions.
The physical interaction between the laser beam and the target material and the
formation of the thin film is very complex. Absorption of laser pulse energy by the target
causes electron excitations, which can convert to thermal, chemical, and mechanical
energy and evaporation of the target material.

The evaporated energetic particles, including atoms, molecules, ions, and electrons
can form a plasma plume that will be deposited on the substrate.

This method is very useful to deposit materials of complex stoichiometry like Y

Ba2Cu3O7. So, this material complex stoichiometry Yttrium, Barium, Copper and

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Oxygen are ratio 1:2:3:7 and multi element oxides, nitrites, metallic multilayer and
various superlattices are also formed by this method.
Basic set up of PLD chamber:

It consist of rotating disc on which the target material is set, this rotating disc attached
to cylindrical rod, which allows a rotational motion of target can be rotated and it can
be moved up and down or backward and forward along the axis so, the target material
can be moved.

In vacuum chamber the substrate substance has to be quoted, when the laser beam
falls on the target through the port.

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Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) Process:
The pulsed laser deposition process can be divided into four steps, each having a
significant impact on the crystallinity, uniformity, and stoichiometry of the created thin
1. The laser ablation of the target material and creation of plasma:
 The process ablation of the material from solid surface by irradiating i.e. laser
beam, falls on the target material, then this target material gets removed from
its surface, this process is called as laser ablation.
 If the transfer of the laser energy is low then the target material gets heated
because it absorbs the laser energy and evaporates.
 Whereas the transfer of the laser energy is high the material has converted into
plasma the target material gets removed as such.
2. The dynamics of the plasma:

 The ejected species expand into surrounding vacuum to form a plume i.e.
plasma plume or laser plume.
 Plume means some kind of vapor in the shape of feather.
 The creation of plasma plumes with energetic ions, electrons, atoms,
molecules, and charge-free particles, and the process of crystalline growth on
the substrate.
3. Deposition of the material separated from the target on the substrate:

 In third stage the high energy species in the plasma plume affect onto the
substrate surface.
 These energetic species sputter some of the atoms deposited on the substrate
surface and the region is established where the incident flow (flow of laser
beam) and sputtered atoms collide.
 Film growth happens and condensates the energetic particles, so they can be
deposited on the substrate.

4. Nucleation and growth of a thin film of the material on the substrate surface:

 The fourth stage nucleation and growth of the crystalline thin film depends on
many factors such as density, energy, degree of ionisation, the type of
condensing material, temperature and the properties of substrate.
 The nucleation process is influence by the interfacial energies between
substrate, condensing material and the vapor.
 Deposition rate and the substrate temperature greatly affect the critical size of
the nucleus.
 Defect free crystal growth can occur at high temperatures, whereas deposition
on a low temperature substrate may result in poor crystalline.

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Which Laser is used in PLD?
Wavelength of the lasers used in PLD studies ranges from the mid-infrared, like CO2
laser with a wavelength of 10.6 µm, through the near-infrared and visible, such as Nd-
YAG laser with output wavelengths at 1064 nm and 532 nm, down into the ultraviolet.
Most of the current PLD work employs excimer lasers operating at different UV
wavelengths, e.g. 308 nm (XeCl), 248 nm (KrF), 193 nm (ArF), and 157 nm (F2).
PLD Targets
Since the most prominent feature of PLD method is saving the stoichiometry, various
range of elemental and compound targets can be deposited through this technique.
Al, Co, Ni, Boron, Zinc are typical metal elements used as targets for PLD, as well as
compounds like YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO), Yttrium Iron Garnet (Y3Fe5O12, YIG), Zinc
Gallate (ZnGa2O4), Strontium Titanate SrTiO3, Barium Ferrite (BaFeO3), Bismuth
Vanadate (BiVO4), etc.

PLD: Advantages and Disadvantages

PLD technique has several advantages that make it straightforward for thin film
deposition, such as:

 Retaining the target stoichiometry in the deposited film.

 Need to control only a few parameters related to the laser during the
deposition, like laser energy density and pulse repetition rate.
 Small targets required compared to other sputtering techniques
 Ability to produce multi-layered films of different materials by sequential
ablation of various targets.
 Controlling film thickness down to atomic monolayer by manipulating the
number of pulses.
 Lower substrate temperature needed compared to other deposition
techniques.

Main Disadvantages of Pulsed Laser Deposition Technique

However, several limitations in producing large area uniform thin films by pulsed laser
deposition method have been identified that are listed below:

 Splashing or deposition of micrometre-sized particulates on the films because of

sub-surface boiling, expulsion of the liquid layer, and exfoliation of the target
 Narrow angular distribution of the ablated species by the laser.

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 Chemical methods: Sol – gel process
The sol-gel method is a wet-chemical process used to synthesize materials,
particularly metal oxides, by starting with a solution (sol) that undergoes hydrolysis
and condensation reactions to form a gel, which can then be dried and calcined to
produce the final material.
There are following steps are given to synthesise nanostructured materials through
the Sol – gel process.
1. Precursor compound selection:
The first step involves selecting appropriate precursor compounds, usually metal
alkoxides (M-OR) or inorganic salts that will form the desired material upon hydrolysis
and condensation. These precursors should be soluble in a solvent i.e. metal salt in
water.
2. Hydrolysis of precursor (Formation of gel):
It involves the conversion of a homogenous solution of the precursor into a colloidal
solution (i.e. the colloidal particles of precursor stable disperse in solvent is called Sol
or colloidal solution). Precursor compound subject into hydrolysis, kept on stirring for
some time. This results in the breaking of metal – oxygen bonds in the precursor,
generating metal hydroxide or oxide species.
Precursor is M - OR (Metal alkoxide)
M = Metal (Si, Ti, Zn, Al, etc.)
O = Oxygen
R = Alkyl group
M - OR + H2O → M-OH + R-OH (M-OH = metal hydroxide, R-OH = Alcohol)
Metal alkoxide reacts with the surrounding water and forms the colloidal suspension
(Sol) of the metal hydroxide in the presence of catalyst called Tetra Ethyl Ortho
Silicate.
2. Condensation (Formation of Gel):
This condensation process continues till finally in a gel interconnected, rigid and
porous inorganic networks covered completely with the liquid phase. This
transformation is known as a Sol – gel transition.
The various condensation chemical reactions between metal hydroxide (M - OH) and
unhydrolised metal alkoxide (M-OR) then metal oxide (M2O) is formed along with the
formation of alcohol (R - OH).
M-OH + M - OR → M 2O + R-OH
Metal hydroxide (M - OH) can reacts with the another molecule of the metal hydroxide
(M - OH) leading to metal oxide (M2O) with the formation of water.
M-OH + M - OH → M 2O + H2O

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Because of these reactions occurs in hydrolysis and condensation reactions sol is
getting converted into gel.
3. Gelation:
Condensation process is continue in gelation, it results in a formation of the gel is a
rigid 3 – Dimensional network of polymeric molecules surrounded with the solvent.
This semi – solid network is known as gel. This gelation process can be controlled by
adjusting factors like precursor concentration, solvent concentration, pH and
temperature.
4. Aging process:
During the aging process the condensation reactions continue. The gel structured is
reinforced with additional cross – links which cause contraction of gel matrix and
expulsion of the solution from the shrinking of the gel.
5. Drying:
Once the gel has formed the excess solvent is removes through drying process. The
water and other liquids entrapped within the pores of gel structure are removed during
this process.
Drying is performed at a temperature of about 400ºF (~200ºC). Careful dying is
essential to prevent cracking or collapse of the gel structure.
The drying can be done by various techniques such as evaporation drying and
supercritical drying or freeze drying.
Evaporation drying: It is a random drying, solvent is allowed to get evaporated. After
drying, the gel converts into a high density micro porous structure called Xerogel.
Supercritical drying or Freeze drying: it is precise and controlled way of drying,
prevents collapsing of the gel network results in the formation of low density macro
porous structure called Aerogel.
6. Calcination:
The dried gel must undergo a thermal treatment is called calcination. This involves
heating the gel at elevated temperatures to remove any remaining components and
induce further crystallization and growth of the desired material. The final crystalline
structure and properties of the nanostructured material are developed during this step.

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 Advantages of the Sol-Gel Method:

 Low-Temperature Reaction: Compared to traditional ceramic processing, the sol-

gel method operates at lower temperatures.
 Good Composition Control: The method allows for precise control over the
composition of the resulting metal oxide material.
 High Purity: The sol-gel process can produce materials with a high level of purity.
 Versatile Application: It can be used to synthesize a wide range of metal oxide
structures and thin films.
 Scalability: The method can be scaled up for large-area applications.

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 Combustion route (Chemical method)
Combustion synthesis method consists of bringing a saturated aqueous solution of the
desired metal salts and suitable organic fuel to boil, until mixture ignites and rather
faster combustion reaction takes off, resulting in a dry, usually crystalline and fine
particle oxide powder.
Ex: Biofuel include ethanol which is made from corn or Sugarcane, biodiesel from the
vegetable oil and liquid animal fat, green diesel derived from algae and other plant
sources and biogas derived from methane from animal manure and other organic
digestive material.
Combustion synthesis is characterised by highly exothermic reactions (an exothermic
reaction is a reaction that releases lot of heat) with the temperature ranging typically
from 500 – 3000º C.
These kind of high temperature reaction can combine metals and non-metals to
produce wide variety of advanced materials like ceramics, inter-metallics, solid
solutions and metal – matrix composites, oxides, alloys and sulfides.
Combustion method of synthesis is effective method for synthesis of Nano sized
materials and it has been used for the production of a more than 1000 variety of Nano
materials.
Ex: Zn O, Cu O Nano particles can be synthesised by this method.

Principle of solution combustion method:

 Solution combustion is an exciting phenomenon, which involves propagation of
self – sustained exothermic reactions along an aqueous media.
 In this technique, make solution with solute and solvents. Sometimes making
solution may require stirring provision.
 Then the solution heated and once the solution reached to auto – ignition
temperature, it will starts to burn by indication of flames with evaporation of
some gasses.
 After completion of burning process, the remaining ash will give us the required
Nano materials.
 After burning remaining powder product is Nano particles.
 Finally mesoporous metal oxide Nano particles can be obtained. So, that is
outstanding Nano particles with the fine structures.

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Combustion reaction:

 Combustion reactions always involve molecular Oxygen. Combustion reactions

are almost always exothermic (i.e. they give off heat).
 In a combustion reactions the atoms and molecules combine to form new
product.

Advantages:
 20-50 nm sized Nano particles can synthesis
 Less time is required and less cost
 No inert gas is required and No need of vacuum

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Applications:
 Zn O Nano particles are used in food packaging.
 The antibacterial property of Zn O Nano particles is also influenced by their
concentration and particle size.
 In many studies, it has been seen that the anti-bacterial activity increased with
an increase in surface area and concentration.
 Metal oxide Nano particles have higher surface area due to their smaller size,
which makes them useful in various applications such as biosensors, bio –
nanotechnology and Nano medicine.
 These Nano particles are attributed to their size and shape they can easily enter
inner of cells.

Applications of Nano technology

1. Cosmetics and Personal Care: To provide benefits like UV protection, skin
hydration, and antibacterial qualities, green-synthesised nanoparticles, including zinc
oxide or lipid nanoparticles, are added to cosmetics and personal care products.
These nanoparticles ensure customer safety and sustainability while improving
product performance.
2. Textiles: To give textiles features like stain resistance, antibacterial qualities, and
increased durability, nanoparticles made using environmentally friendly processes are
added. By enhancing the longevity and functionality of textile goods and lowering the
need for regular washing and chemical treatments, these nanoparticles help the textile
industry become more sustainable.

Nanotechnology makes it possible to develop smart fabrics that don't stain nor wrinkle,
as well as stronger, lighter and more durable materials to make motorcycle helmets or
sports equipment.

3. Food Packaging: To enhance barrier qualities, prolong shelf life, and avoid
microbiological contamination, green-synthesised nanoparticles, like nanocellulose or
silver nanoparticles, are added to food packaging materials. These nanoparticles
lessen food waste and their negative effects on the environment while improving the
safety and quality of packaged food goods.

In this field, Nano biosensors could be used to detect the presence of pathogens in
food or nanocomposites to improve food production by increasing mechanical and
thermal resistance and decreasing oxygen transfer in packaged products.

4. Paints: Nanotechnology paints offer various applications beyond traditional

beautification, including anticorrosive, antibacterial, fire-resistant, biofouling, scratch-
resistant, and self-cleaning properties, enhancing durability and functionality in diverse
industries.

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Nanoparticles in paints can create a more durable and resistance in Scratch and
Wear (especially useful for vehicles and other surfaces prone to wear) Abrasion
Resistance (Paints with nano-silica dioxide can improve abrasion resistance)
Corrosion Resistance (Nano coatings can improve the resistance of surfaces to
corrosion, especially in harsh environments) Chemical Resistance
(Nanotechnology can enhance the resistance of paints to various chemicals, making
them suitable for industrial applications) Weather Resistance (Nanoparticles can
improve the weather resistance of paints, ensuring their longevity in outdoor
environments) Water and Dirt Repellency (Nanocoatings can create hydrophobic
surfaces that repel water and dirt, making them easier to clean and maintain) UV
Resistance (Nanoparticles can help protect surfaces from the damaging effects of
UV radiation) Antimicrobial Coatings (Nanoparticles can be incorporated into
paints to create surfaces that are resistant to bacteria and other microorganisms)
Fire-Resistant Coatings (Nanomaterials can be used to create paints that are
resistant to fire and heat, providing added safety)
5. Catalysis: Nanotechnology catalysis, using nanoscale materials as catalysts, has
diverse applications spanning energy, environment, and chemical industries, enabling
efficient reactions, reducing pollutants, and promoting sustainable practices.
Nanoparticle catalysts are highly active since most of the particle surfaces can be
available to catalysis. Many of the Nano catalysts have found applications in ammonia
synthesis, environmental protection, photo catalysis, waste removal, fibre and
mechanical industries.
6. Drug delivery and its applications: Nanotechnology enables targeted and
efficient drug delivery by using nanoscale materials to encapsulate and deliver drugs
to specific cells or tissues, reducing side effects and improving treatment outcomes.
Targeted Drug Delivery:
Nanoparticles can be engineered to selectively target diseased cells or tissues,
minimizing the exposure of healthy tissues to the drug and reducing side effects.
Controlled Release:
Nanoparticles can be designed to release their drug cargo in a controlled manner,
allowing for sustained drug delivery and reducing the need for frequent dosing.
Enhanced Drug Stability:
Nanoparticles can protect drugs from degradation in the body, improving their
stability and efficacy.
Improved Drug Absorption:
Nanoparticles can enhance the absorption of drugs across biological barriers, such
as the blood-brain barrier, improving drug bioavailability.

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Combination of Therapy and Diagnostics:
Nanotechnology allows for the development of theranostic agents, which can both
diagnose and treat diseases, such as cancer.
Types of Nanomaterials Used in Drug Delivery:
Liposomes:
Spherical vesicles composed of lipid bilayers that can encapsulate drugs and target
specific cells or tissues.
Polymeric Nanoparticles:
Nanoparticles made of polymers that can be designed to have specific properties,
such as targeting and controlled release.
Dendrimers:
Highly branched, three-dimensional structures that can be used to encapsulate
drugs and target specific cells or tissues.
Inorganic Nanoparticles:
Nanoparticles made of inorganic materials, such as gold or silver, that can be used
for drug delivery and imaging.

7. Biochips - analytical devices

Nanotechnology enhances biochip-based analytical devices by enabling
miniaturization, improved sensitivity, and novel functionalities, leading to applications
in diagnostics, drug delivery, and environmental monitoring
1. Enhanced Biosensor Performance:
Miniaturization:
Nanomaterials allow for the creation of smaller, more portable biosensors, facilitating
point-of-care testing and in-vivo monitoring.
Increased Sensitivity:
Nanostructures, like nanowires and nanoparticles, offer a larger surface area for
biomolecule interactions, leading to enhanced sensitivity and faster detection times.
Specificity:
Nanomaterials can be engineered to target specific biomolecules or pathogens,
improving the specificity and accuracy of biosensors.
Novel Signal Transduction:
Nanotechnology enables the development of new signal transduction methods, such
as surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) and electrochemical detection, for more
efficient and reliable biosensor operation.

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 2. Applications in Diagnostics:
Disease Detection:
Nano biosensors can be used to detect biomarkers, pathogens, and other analytes
associated with various diseases at early stages, enabling timely diagnosis and
treatment.
Infectious Disease Diagnostics:
Nanomaterials can be used to develop rapid and accurate diagnostic tools for
infectious diseases, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
Cancer Detection:
Nano biosensors can be used to detect cancer biomarkers, monitor treatment
response, and guide personalized cancer therapies.
3. Applications in Drug Delivery:
Targeted Drug Delivery:
Nanoparticles can be engineered to deliver drugs directly to specific tissues or cells,
minimizing side effects and improving treatment efficacy.
Controlled Drug Release:
Nanomaterials can be used to create drug delivery systems that release drugs at a
controlled rate, ensuring optimal drug concentrations and reducing the need for
frequent dosing.

4. Applications in Environmental Monitoring:

Detection of Pollutants:
Nano biosensors can be used to detect environmental pollutants, such as heavy
metals, pesticides, and pathogens, in water, soil, and air.
Monitoring of Water Quality:
Nanotechnology-based sensors can be used to monitor water quality parameters,
such as pH, temperature, and the presence of contaminants.
5. Other Applications:
Tissue Engineering:
Nanomaterials can be used to create scaffolds and other materials for tissue
regeneration and repair.
Food Safety:
Nano biosensors can be used to detect foodborne pathogens and contaminants,
ensuring the safety of the food supply.
Industrial Process Monitoring:
Nanotechnology can be used to develop sensors for monitoring industrial processes,
such as chemical reactions and fermentation.

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 8. Nanomaterials in bone substitutes and density
In recent years, nanoparticles have been found to be effective drug carriers for the
treatment of skeletal-related diseases (osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, osteosarcoma,
and bone defect/repair) and have been applied in bone tissue engineering (drug/gene
delivery and cell labelling/MRI)
Nanotechnology offers promising applications in bone substitutes, enhancing bone
regeneration and mimicking natural bone structure through nanomaterials like
nanoparticles and nanostructured surfaces, improving cell adhesion and drug delivery.
Bone Grafts:
Nanomaterials can be incorporated into bone grafts to enhance their biocompatibility,
osteoconductivity, and osteoinductivity.
Implant Coatings:
Nanostructured coatings can be applied to implants to improve their Osseo
integration and prevent infection.
Drug Delivery Systems:
Nanoparticles can be used to deliver drugs to treat bone diseases, such as
osteoporosis and osteomyelitis.
Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds:
Nanomaterials can be used to create 3D scaffolds for bone tissue engineering,
providing a platform for cell growth and bone regeneration.

9. Biosensors:
A biosensor is a measurement system for the detection of an analyte that combines
a biological component with a physicochemical detector, and a Nano biosensor is a
biosensor that on the Nano-scale size.
Nanotechnology offers significant advancements in biosensor applications, enhancing
sensitivity, signal amplification, and overall performance, with diverse uses in
healthcare, environmental monitoring, and food safety.

Here's a breakdown of how nanotechnology impacts biosensors:

1. Enhanced Sensitivity and Signal Amplification:

Nanomaterials as Building Blocks:
Nanomaterials like nanoparticles, nanowires, and quantum dots are used to create
biosensors with increased surface area, leading to higher sensitivity and faster
response times.

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Signal Amplification:
Nanomaterials can act as signal amplifiers, enhancing the detection of analytes at
very low concentrations.
Examples:
Electrochemical biosensors: Nanomaterials improve electron transfer and catalytic
activity, enabling faster and more sensitive detection.
Optical biosensors: Nanomaterials, like quantum dots, can be used for highly
sensitive fluorescence detection.
2. Diverse Applications:

 Healthcare:
Disease Diagnosis: Nano biosensors can detect biomarkers for early disease detection
and personalized medicine.
Drug Delivery: Nanoparticles can be used to target specific cells or tissues for drug
delivery, improving treatment efficacy and reducing side effects.
Monitoring: Nano biosensors can be used for continuous monitoring of vital signs and
blood glucose levels.
 Environmental Monitoring:
Pesticide Detection: Nano biosensors can detect pesticides in water and soil, helping
to ensure food safety and environmental protection.
Pollution Monitoring: Nano biosensors can be used to detect pollutants in air and
water, aiding in environmental remediation efforts.
 Food Safety:
Pathogen Detection: Nano biosensors can rapidly detect pathogens in food, ensuring
food safety and preventing outbreaks.
Quality Control: Nano biosensors can monitor food quality parameters, such as
freshness and nutrient content.
 Agriculture:
Precision Farming: Nano biosensors can provide real-time data on soil conditions,
nutrient levels, and crop health, enabling more efficient resource management.
Pest and Disease Detection: Nano biosensors can detect pests and diseases in crops,
allowing for timely intervention and reduced pesticide use.

10. Bioremediation:
The field of study that focuses on investigating the clean up or removal of
contaminants from the environment is called “environmental remediation”
Environmental remediation techniques use various methods to remove and/or break-
down (degrade) environmental contaminants in polluted soil, surface water, ground
water as well as in sediments

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 Bioremediation is the use of biological systems for the reduction of pollution from air,
aquatic or terrestrial systems.  The process involves aerobic or anaerobic
microorganisms that results in degraded products.  Bioremediation is used to reduce
or remove hazardous waste which has already polluted the environment.
Nanotechnology offers promising solutions for bioremediation, utilizing nanomaterials
like nanoparticles to enhance contaminant degradation and removal in soil, water, and
air, improving microbial activity and reducing remediation time and costs.
NANOBIOREMEDIATION  Nano + Bio + Remediation The use of nanoparticles
and nanotechnology to enhance the microbial activity to remove pollutants, they also
enhance bioremediation. Nano bioremediation has the potential not only to reduce
the overall costs of cleaning up large-scale contaminated sites, but it can also reduce
clean up time. Reduce the overall costs of cleaning up large-scale contaminated sites
Reduce Sites clean- up time Eliminate the need for treatment Disposal of
contaminated soil Reduce some contaminant concentration near to zero.

Heavy Metal Remediation:

Using ZVI nanoparticles to remove heavy metals from contaminated soil and wate
Zero-Valent Iron (ZVI) Nanoparticles: Effective for removing heavy metals, such as
arsenic and chromium, by redox reactions.
Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs): Used for adsorption of organic pollutants and heavy
metals from water and soil.
Metal Oxide Nanoparticles (e.g., TiO2, Fe2O3): Act as catalysts for photocatalytic
degradation of organic pollutants.
Magnetic Nanoparticles: Used for targeted removal of pollutants from contaminated
sites, such as heavy metals in water and soil.
Silver Nanoparticles: Effective for disinfection and removal of pathogens from water
and air.
Nanobiosorbents and Nanobiosurfactants: Used for soil remediation to enhance
the uptake and degradation of pollutants by microorganisms.
Microbial Enhancement:
Nanomaterials can improve microbial activity, facilitating the breakdown of pollutants
by providing nutrients or acting as catalysts.
Organic Pollutant Degradation:
Employing carbon nanotubes and metal oxide nanoparticles to degrade organic
pollutants in water and soil.
Radioactive Waste Management:
Using nanomaterials to immobilize and remove radioactive isotopes from
contaminated sites.

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Wastewater Treatment:
Utilizing nanomaterials for adsorption, filtration, and photocatalytic degradation of
pollutants in wastewater.
Soil Remediation:
Employing nanobiosorbents and nanobiosurfactants to enhance the uptake and
degradation of pollutants by microorganisms in contaminated soil.

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