Real-Life Applications of Nanoparticles Explained
Nanoparticles Definition
Do you know ‘what is the definition of nanoparticles’? The nanoparticles are small particles which have a range between 1 to 100 nanometers in size.
We can’t see anything with our eyes in the range of nanoparticles. They can have different types of significant physical and chemical properties. All of them are associated with their larger material counterparts. Scientists use some methods to define nanoparticles.
European Commission states have generated a definition of nanoparticles. They say that the particle size of nanoparticles is in the range of 100nm or below. Most of the nanoparticles are composed of a few hundred atoms.
What Size Range Do Nanoparticles Have?
1 to 100 nm is the average nanotechnology particle size.
A tabular arrangement that has the information regarding the diameter size (range) with the particle type.
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The change in the material properties exists because of their size. Here, the size of the nanoparticles is almost close to the size of the atomic scale. The fact behind all this is the increment of surface area to volume ratio.
The increasing of that ratio promotes the surface atoms of the material to dominate over its material performance.
We know that nanoparticles are very small. They already possess a very large surface area to volume ratio. If we compare the result of the ratio with the bulk material, such as powders, plate, and sheet, it will fall much shorter than you expect.
Nanoparticles have some amazing features, such as they can possess unexpected optical, physical, and chemical properties. These particles are very tiny, and so they can confine with electrons and produce quantum effects.
Nanoparticles Examples and Applications
Nanomaterials are naturally occurring substances. These materials can be fashioned as the by-products of combustion reactions.
Also, scientists are producing them decisively through engineering. They are ready to perform different types of specialized functions. Some of the best nanoparticles examples and applications are given hereunder:
Nanoparticles are used in different types of industries, starting from healthcare and cosmetics to environmental preservation and air purification. Transportation of chemotherapy drugs is the best example that comes under nanoparticles usage.
Nanoparticles are used in aerospace. The use of carbon nanotubes in the morphing of aircraft wings yield several benefits. These types of nanotubes are functional in a composite form. They are useful to turn in the reaction of an electric voltage.
Nanoparticles are also used among different types of environmental preservation processes. These particles make good sense over here. In these circumstances, they are called nanowires.
An application that comes under the category nanowires is zinc oxide nanowires. These nanowires are very flexible solar cells and perfect for the treatment of polluted water.
They are widely used in cosmetic industries. They call them mineral nanoparticles. Some of the examples of mineral nanoparticles are titanium oxide (they are used for making sunscreen as they have poor stability). This nanoparticle gives conservative chemical UV protection for the long-term.
Another name called titanium oxide also falls under the category of nanoparticles. They can deliver better UV protection following the benefit of removing the unnecessary unattractive whitening. All of the processes are possible due to nanoparticles.
The use of nanoparticles among sports industries is quite important. They are helpful in the production of baseball bats, and also manufacturers use carbon nanotubes for making these bats. These nanoparticles are lighter and helpful for improving the players’ performance.
The use of nanomaterials among other industries for the manufacturing of the towels and mats used by sportspeople. All of these products use antimicrobial nanotechnology. They are useful to prevent diseases instigated by bacteria.
Photovoltaics (PV) are the types of nanoparticles that can control the size, shape, and material of the nanoparticle. These nanoparticles allow engineers to design different types of solar thermal products. All solar products are custom-made with solar absorption rates.
The use of these nanoparticles has increased the absorption rate of solar radiation to a certain higher rate.
A method called the Sol-Gel process is helpful for the production of solid material from nanoparticles.
A nanoparticle called Whilst has some relative usage in new industrial technology. This nanoparticle is extensively useful in numerous factories for the manufacturing of abrasive powder, coatings production, and optical fibres.
Developers use Nano-titanium dioxide for promoting the self-cleaning process of the surfaces of plastic garden chairs.
In this process, the coating is helpful to produce a sealed film of water upon it. After that, all types of dirt dissolve in that particular film. During the next shower, the film will erase every dirt and other stuff and will clean the chairs.
FAQs on What Are Nanoparticles in Physics?
1. What is the precise definition of a nanoparticle, and what is its typical size range?
A nanoparticle is a particle of matter that is between 1 and 100 nanometres (nm) in diameter. At this scale, the material's properties can be vastly different from those of its larger, bulk form. This size range is significant because it is the bridge between bulk materials and atomic or molecular structures, leading to unique quantum mechanical and surface-level effects.
2. What are the main types of nanoparticles based on their composition?
Nanoparticles are generally classified based on their chemical composition and properties. The primary types include:
- Carbon-based nanoparticles: These include fullerenes and carbon nanotubes, known for their strength and unique electrical properties.
- Metal nanoparticles: Made from metals like gold, silver, and platinum, they are often used in biomedical imaging and as catalysts.
- Ceramic nanoparticles: These are inorganic non-metallic solids, such as silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide, commonly used in sunscreens, cosmetics, and coatings.
- Polymeric nanoparticles: These are organic-based nanoparticles used extensively in drug delivery systems due to their biocompatibility.
- Semiconductor nanoparticles: Also known as quantum dots, their electronic and optical properties change with size, making them useful in displays and solar cells.
3. What are some key real-world examples and applications of nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is already integrated into many commercial products and advanced scientific fields. Key applications include:
- Medicine: For targeted drug delivery to cancer cells, minimising damage to healthy tissue.
- Electronics: In creating smaller, more efficient computer chips and brighter, energy-saving displays (like QLED TVs).
- Consumer Goods: Silver nanoparticles are used for their antibacterial properties in clothing and appliances, while titanium dioxide nanoparticles are used in sunscreens for UV protection without leaving a white residue.
- Energy Sector: In developing more efficient solar panels and powerful, lightweight batteries.
4. Why do nanoparticles exhibit properties different from their bulk material?
The unique behaviour of nanoparticles stems from two primary principles. Firstly, they have an extremely high surface-area-to-volume ratio. This means a larger proportion of their atoms are on the surface compared to the inside, making them more chemically reactive. Secondly, at the nanoscale, quantum confinement effects become significant. The particle's size restricts the movement of electrons, leading to discrete energy levels which alter the material's optical, electronic, and magnetic properties.
5. How does the concept of quantum confinement apply to semiconductor nanoparticles like quantum dots?
In semiconductor nanoparticles, or quantum dots, the physical size of the particle is smaller than the natural separation distance of an electron-hole pair (Exciton Bohr radius). This confinement forces the electrons into discrete, quantised energy levels, similar to an 'artificial atom'. The energy gap between these levels is size-dependent: smaller dots have larger energy gaps and emit higher-energy (bluer) light, while larger dots emit lower-energy (redder) light. This allows engineers to tune the colour of a material simply by changing its particle size.
6. What are the most significant challenges or risks associated with the use of nanoparticles?
While nanoparticles offer immense benefits, they also present potential risks. The primary concern is nanotoxicity. Due to their small size, nanoparticles can potentially cross biological barriers in the body, such as the blood-brain barrier, and accumulate in organs, with unknown long-term health effects. There are also environmental concerns about their accumulation in ecosystems. A major challenge is the lack of standardised regulations and long-term safety data for the wide variety of nanoparticles being developed.
7. How does a nanoparticle of gold differ in its properties from a piece of bulk gold?
The difference is a classic example of nanoscale effects. Bulk gold is a yellow, inert, and highly conductive metal. However, gold nanoparticles are chemically reactive and can act as catalysts. Their most striking difference is their colour; depending on their size, gold nanoparticles can appear red, purple, or blue in a solution. This is because they interact with light differently due to a phenomenon called surface plasmon resonance, which does not occur in bulk gold.
