Unit 8 Nano Materials 1
Unit 8 Nano Materials 1
Unit 8 Nano Materials 1
1. Introduction
In recent years nanotechnology has become one of the most important and
exiting forefront fields in physics, chemistry, biology and engineering and technology.
Nano means 10 m. A nanometer (nm) is one thousand millionth of a meter. Atoms
are extremely small and the diameter of a single atom varies from 0.1 to 0.5 nm
depending on the type of the element. For example, one carbon atom is approximately
0.15nm in diameter and a water molecule is almost 0.3nm across. A red blood cell is
approximately 7,000 nm wide and human hair is 80,000 nm wide.
Nanoscience
Nano science deals with the study of properties of materials at nano scales where
properties differ significantly than those at larger scale.
Nanotechnology
3. Nano materials
All materials are composed of grains. The visibility of grains depends on their
size. Convectional materials have grains varying in size from hundreds of microns to
millimeters. The materials processing grains size ranging from 1 to 100 nm, known as
nano materials. Nano materials can be produced in different dimensionalities.
One dimensional nano material: Surface coatings and thin films
Two dimensional nano materials: nano tubes nano wires, biopolymers
Three dimensional nano materials: nano particles, precipitates, colloids, quantum dots,
nano crystalline materials, fullerenes or carbon nano-60.
Due to increase of surface of surface area, more number of atoms will appear at the
surface of compared to those inside. For example, a nano material of size 10nm has
20% of its atoms on its surface and 3nm has 50% of its atoms. This makes the
nanomaterials more chemically reactive and affects the properties of nano materials.
6. Properties of nanomaterials
Physical properties
0.26
Inter atomic distance:
inter atomic spacing
0.25
When the material size is 0.24
reduced to nanoscale, surface area to 0.23
volume ratio increases. Due to 0.22
increase of surface of surface area, 0.21
more number of atoms will appear at
0.2
the surface of compared to those
inside. So Interatomic spacing 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00
decreases with size. The variation of
Diameter nm
nearest neighboring distance in copper
with decrease of particle is shown in
figure.
Thermal properties
Thermal properties nano
1300 materials are different from that
of bulk materials. The Debye
1200 Temperature and ferroelectric
Melting point
100
Optical properties: 90
80
Different sized nano particles scatters
70
different of light incident on it and hence they Absorption
appear with different colours. For example nano 60
gold does not act as bulk gold. The nano 50
particles of gold appear as orange, purple, red or 40
greenish in colour depending on their grain size. 30
The bulk copper is opaque where as 20
nanoparticle copper is transparent. The optical 10 20 nm 60 nm
absorption spectrum of gold as a function of 0
particle size is shown in figure.
400 450 500 550 600 650 700
Wave length nm
Magnetic properties:
The magnetic properties of nano materials are different from that of bulk materials. In
explaining the magnetic behavior of nanomaterials, we use single domains unlike large
number of domains in bulk materials. The coercivity values of single domain is vary
large. The variation of remanet magnetization and coercivity as a function of grain size
is shown in figure.
0.95
Remanent magnetization
0.9
6
Coercivity
D 1/D 0.85
0.8
0.75
0.7
0 0 20 40 60 80 100
Grain Size nm
Grain size nm
For example, Fe,Co, and Ni are ferromagnetic in bulk but they exhibit super par
magnetism. Na, K, and Rh are paramagnetic in bulk but they exhibit ferro-magnetic.
Cr is anti ferromagnetic in bulk but they exhibit super paramagnetic.
Dr. P.Sreenivasula Reddy M.Sc, (PhD) Website: www.palleti.webnode.com Page 4
GLOBAL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY.
Unit –VIII Nano-materials Engineering Physics
Mechanical properties
Chemical properties
Nanocrystalline materials are strong, hard, erosion and corrosion resistant. They are
chemically active and have the following chemical properties.
1. In electrochemical reactions, the rate of increase in mass transport increases as
the particle size decreases.
2. The equilibrium vapour pressure, chemical potentials and solubilites of
nanoparticles are greater than that for the same bulk material.
3. Most of the metals do not absorb hydrogen. But the hydrogen absorption
increases with the decrease of cluster size in Ni, Pt and Pd metals.
7. Carbon nanotubes:
Carbon nanotubes were first observed b Sunmino Iijima in 1911. Carbon exists in a
large number of allotropic forms. These includes diamond, graphite and fullerenes
(such as C60 , C70 etc.,).
Carbon nanotubes are obtained by rolling the graphite sheet into tubes with the bonds at
the ends of the sheet. These bonds are used to close the tube. Generally, the length of
carbon nanotubes varies from several micrometers to millimeter and the diameter will
vary from 1 to 20 nm.
A tube may contain one cylindrical wall of graphite or a number of concentric cylindrical
walls. A carbon nanotube consisting of one cylindrical graphite is called single walled
nanotube. Otherwise they are known as multi walled nanotubes.
Depending on how sheet is rolled, they are classified into three types. The three types
of carbon nanotubes are
1) Zigzag
2) Chiral
3) Armchair
Electrical conductivity
Magnetic property
0.2 0.35 K
The observed magneto- resistance effect is
negative. This is due to the decrease in 0.25
resistance with increase in magnetic field. 0.3
Highly absorbent 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
The carbon nanotubes have large surface area and high absorbance. So the carbon
nanotubes are used in the air, gas and water filtration.
Mechanical properties
The strength of the sp2 carbon-carbon bonds gives carbon nanotubes amazing
mechanical properties. The stiffness of the material is measured in terms of its Young’s
modulus. The Young’s modulus value of single walled nanotube is about 1Tera Pascal,
which is approximately 5 times greater than steel. The tensile strength or breaking
strain of nanotube is about 150GPa, which is approximately 150 times greater than
steel.
Vibration properties
Similar to carbon dioxide molecule, Carbon nanotubes have two normal modes of
vibration (a set of vibrational motions known as normal mode of vibrations). The
different modes of vibrational motion are determined from the symmetry of the molecule.
In the first mode the diameter of the carbon nanotube moves in and out at the frequency
of 165 cm-1. In the second mode the carbon nanotube crushing in one direction and
expansion takes place in the perpendicular direction. Thus, it oscillates between sphere
and ellipse at a frequency of 17 cm-1. The frequency of the vibration modes depends on
the diameter of the nanotube.
When a small electric field is applied parallel to the axis of a nanotube, electrons are
emitted at a very high rate from the ends of the tube. This is called field emission. The
electron emission of carbon nanotubes is used in electronic industries like flat panel
displays.
Electronics
The single walled carbon nanotube can be act as a transistor. Pairs of carbon
nanotubes show as logic structures. A single nanotube with natural junction acts as a
rectifying diode.
Hydrogen storage
Carbon nanotubes can store hydrogen and also helium, oxides and metals like copper.
Mechanical machines
Space elevators
Like graphite, carbon nanotubes with stand high temperature, so they are used for
thermal protection of spacecraft during re-entry of into the atmosphere. Carbon
nanotubes have high Young’s modulus, so they with stands aeronautical strains.
Hospitals
Carbon nanotubes are thin, so they can penetrate the skin with out pain. Blood can be
drawn from the patients through nanostraws to know glucose levels and to inject insulin
whenever required.
Nano materials posses unique and beneficial, physical, chemical and mechanical
properties, they can be used for a wide verity of applications.
Material technology
¾ Nanocrystalline aerogel are light weight and porous, so they are used for
insulation in offices homes, etc,.
¾ Cutting tools made of nanocrystalline materials are much harder, much more
wear- resistance, and last stranger.
¾ Nanocrystalline material sensors are used for smoke detectors, ice detectors
on air crfr wings, etc,.
¾ Nanocrystalline materials are used for high energy density storage batteries.
¾ Nanosized titanium dioxide and zinc dioxide are used in sunscreens to absorb
and reflect ultraviolet rays.
¾ Nan coating of highly activated titanium dioxide acts as water repellent and
antibacterial.
¾ The hardness of metals can be predominately enhanced by using
nanoparticles.
¾ Nanoparticles in paints change colour in response to change in temperature
or chemical environment, and reduce the infrared absorption and heat loss.
¾ Nanocrystalline ceramics are used in automotive industry as high strength
springs, ball bearings and valve lifters.
Information technology
Biomedicals
¾ Biosensitive nanomaterials are used for ragging of DNA and DNA chips.
¾ In the medical field, nanomaterials are used for disease diagnosis, drug
deliveryaand molecular imaging.
¾ Nanocrystalline silicon carbide is used for artificial heart valves due to its low
weight and high strength.
Energy storage