MIT Art Design and Technology University

MIT School of Computing, Pune

Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities

First Year Engineering
23ASH1105-Engineering Physics

Class – F.Y. (SEM-I), <Division>

Unit - II Nanotechnology

AY 2024-2025 SEM-I
 Unit II - Syllabus
Quantum Mechanics
 Dual nature of light, de` Broglie waves
 Heisenberg uncertainty principle
 Wave function and Schrödinger equation (time independent and
dependent), particle in an infinite potential well

Nanotechnology
 Introduction to nanotechnology
 Properties of nanomaterials – Optical, Electrical, Mechanical,
Magnetic
 Methods for synthesis of nanomaterials- Ball milling, Wet
chemical
 Application in field of Automobile, Electronics, Medical, IT.
Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities, First Year Engineering
Nano Technology
For Pam Norris- July
2009
 Definition of Nanotechnology

 Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at

dimensions of roughly 1 to 100 nano meters, where unique
phenomena enable novel applications.

 Nanotechnology deals with the creation of useful materials,

devices and systems using the particles of nano meter length
scale and exploitation of NOVEL properties (physical, chemical,
biological) at that length scale
 Size dependence of properties

• Composites made from particles of nano-size ceramics or metals

smaller than 100 nanometers can suddenly become much stronger
than predicted by existing materials-science models.
• For example, metals with grain size of around 10 nanometers are
as much as seven times harder and tougher than their ordinary
counterparts with grain sizes in the micro meter range.
• Many properties the Nano particles differ from their ordinary
counterparts
Melting point, Boiling point, Band gap, Optical
properties
Electrical properties, Magnetic properties
• Even the structure of materials changes with respect to size
The properties of materials can be different at the Nanoscale for
two main reasons:
First, Nanomaterials have a relatively larger surface area when
compared to the same mass of material produced in a larger form.
Nano particles can make materials more chemically reactive and
affect their strength or electrical properties.

 e.g. consider a spherical particle of radius R,

 Surface area/Volume = (4 π R2) / (4/3 π R3)

= 3/R

 As R decreases the surface to volume ratio

increases.

Second, quantum effects can begin to dominate the behavior of

matter at the Nanoscale
 Classification of Nanomaterials

Depending on the number of directions in which we get classical and

nano (quantum) behaviour, we have

0D material: Nano in 3 dimensions

Ex. Buckyballs
1D material: Nano in 1 dimension
Ex. Carbon nanotubes, polymers
2D material: Nano in 2 dimensions
Ex. Graphene
3D material: classical in 3 dimensions, not nano, bulk material
Based on the size and shape, the Nano materials are classified as
follows

• Nanoparticles • Nanotubes
• Nanocapsules • Nanosprings
• Nanofibers • Nanobelts
• Nanowires • Quantum dots
• Fullerenes (carbon 60) • Nanofluidies
 Physical properties

 When particle size is reduced, more surface sites will be created

i.e surface to volume ratio increases.
 This changes the surface pressure and results in a change in the
interparticle spacing.
 This is due to competition between the long range electrostatic
forces and short range core-core repulsion.
 The change in interatomic distance and variation of surface free
energy combinedly changes chemical potential i.e thermodynamic
properties such as melting point.
Inter atomic distance
Melting Point
 Chemical properties

 The large surface to volume ratio and re-arrangement of electronic

levels have a strong effect on catalytic properties. (because of the
larger proportion of surface atoms. For example, catalytic
materials have a greater chemical activity per atom of exposed
surface as the catalyst is reduced in size at the nanoscale.
 Due to this hydrogen storage ability significantly enhanced in
metallic nanoclusters.
 The number of absorbed atoms decreases with increasing cluster
size.
 This shows that small particles may be very useful in hydrogen
storage devices in metals.
Nanoconfined lithium nitride as a rechargeable, high-performing
hydrogen-storage material

Hydrogenation forms a mixture of lithium amide and hydride

(light blue) as an outer shell around a lithium nitride particle
(dark blue) nanoconfined in carbon.
 Electrical Properties

 In general, the resistance of a conductor is due to the scattering of

conduction electrons with vibrating atoms and impurities.
 The mean distance travelled between two successive collisions is
called mean free path or scattering length.
 Electrical properties change by changing their energy levels when
the dimension of solid becomes comparable mean free path
 In semiconductors, separation between the energy levels increases
and become discrete. The density of states D(E) of conduction
electrons is strongly affected by the dimensionality of materials.
 In metals electrical conductivity decreases due to enhanced
interface area (grain boundaries).
 Optical properties

 Nanomaterials have novel optical properties. Depending on the

particle's size, different colours can exhibit when they suspend in a
host solution.
 As energy is related to wavelength (or colours), this means that
optical properties of the particles can be finely tuned depending on
their size.
 Thus we can tailor, the absorption or emission of specific
wavelengths (colours) of light, linear and nonlinear optical
properties by tunning their size and their surface morphology.
 Magnetic Properties

 When particles size reduced to nano level, the specific surface area
increases and number of atoms residing at the surface also
increases. Therefore, coordination number (nearest neighbour
atoms) decreases.

 The local magnetic moment primarily depend on the local

coordination number (nearest neighbour atoms). Therefore, the
magnetic moment increases towards atomic value. Due to this only,
nanoparticles of even nonmagnetic solids are found to be magnetic.
 Mechanical properties

 When the size is reduced, the interface area( grain boundary)

within the material greatly increases, which enhances its
mechanical strength.
 For example, nanocrystalline nickel is as strong as hardened steel.
Because of the nano size, many of their mechanical properties
such as hardness and elastic modulus, fracture toughness, scratch
resistance, fatigue strength, and hardness are modified.
 The adhesion, ductility (Large deformation without fracture)
properties are found to increase in nanomaterials when compared
to bulk materials.
Synthesis of Nano materials
Methods of synthesis of Nanoparticles

Physical
Chemical
Physical method of synthesis of nanomaterials

Mechanical : High energy ball milling

Physical vapour deposition
 HIGH ENERGY BALL MILLING

 This method is a typical example of top down method

 very popular, simple, inexpensive and extremely scalable
method
 This method is used to produce nanocrystalline or
amorphous materials.
 Basic Principle: Small hard balls are allowed to rotate inside
a container and then it is made to fall on a solid with high
force to crush the solid into nano crystal.
 Consists of a container filled with hardened steel or tungsten
carbide balls
 Material of interest is fed as flakes
 2:1 mass ratio of balls to materials
 Container may be filled with air or inert gas
 Containers are rotated at high speed around a central axis
 Material is forced to the walls and pressed against the walls
 Control the speed of rotation and duration of milling- grind
material to fine powder (few nm to few tens of nm)
 Some materials like Co, Cr, W, Al-Fe, Ag-Fe etc are made
nanocrystalline using ball mill.
 Advantages
 Few mg to several kgs of nanoparticle can be synthesized in a short
time.
 This technique can be operated at large scale.

Disadvantages
 Contamination of milling media.

Applications
 Ball milling method is useful in preparation of elemental and metal
oxide nano crystals like Co, Cr, Al-Fe, Ag-Fe and Fe.
 Variety of intermetallic compounds of Ni and Al can be formed.
 Ball milling method is useful in producing new type building
materials, fire – proof materials, glass, ceramics, etc.
 Wet Chemical method
 Simple and cost effective.
 This is an example of bottom up appraoch.
 In this method chemical reaction is carried out in a flask.
 This flask has provisions to reducing agent and gasses and to
measure temprature and PH.
 The reaction can be carried out in inert or normal atmosphere.
 There is also provision to stir the reactants during the reaction.
 Example : Synthesis of gold nanoparticle.
 Synthesis of gold nanoparticle is based on the reduction of
gold derivatives in aqueous solution.
 Gold atoms are formed after reduction then they start to form
nano size clusters. Further these clusters can stick togather
due to Vander Waals attraction.
 The growth process if continued can lead to aggregation of
nano particles. Therefore a stabilizing or capping agent is
usually added to the solution to prevent this aggregation.
 The example of reducing agents are Tri sodium citrate,
Sodium borohydride, Ascorbic acid
 The reaction can be written as
 HAuCl4 + Na3C6H5O7 Au + C6H5O7 + Hcl + 3 NaCl
 Growth mechanism
 Initially the size of the particle is very small therefore they
have large surface energy. Due to this particle get attracted
towards each other hence aggregation of particle takes place
which is called Oswald’s ripening.
 Because of aggregation the surface energy of the particles
decreases hence larger particle are formed. This process is
called nucleation.
 Once the size of the particle increases they become more
stable and show surface change. Then it is capped by capping
agent which stops further growth of the particle.
Applications of Nanotechnology

Electronics/Information Technology
Automobiles
Space and defense
Medical
 Electronics/ Information Technology

 Nanoscale-fabricated magnetic materials have applications

in high density data storage.

 Nano dimensional photonic crystals are used in optical

computers.

 Biosensitive nanoparticles are used for tagging of DNA and

DNA chips.
 Controlled drug delivery is possible using nanotechnology.
Diffusion of medicine through nanoporous polymer reservoir
as per the requirement is very useful in controlling the
disease.

 Nanocrystalline zinc selenide, zinc sulphide, cadmium

sulphide and lead telluride synthesized by sol-gel techniques
are candidates for the next generation of light-emitting
phosphors. they will have huge market for large area, high
brightness, flat-panel displays
 Automobiles
 Better mechanical strength of nanoparticles compared to steel, but
they are costly

 Efforts are being made to make these material cheaper.

 Nanocatalyst are being studied to convert the harmful emission

 from the automobile to less harmful gases.
 Space and Defense
 For light weight suits and jackets, aerosols can be used.

Polymer composites with silica fiber and nanoparticles have larger

mechanical strength and low temperature coefficient of expansion.

 They can be used in spacecrafts which have to withstand high

temperature and stress conditions during launching and reentry into
the atmosphere.
 Medical

Nanoparticles can be used for detection and treatment of cancers

and tumors

Nanotechnology based tests are being developed for fast

detection of viruses and antibodies.

Environment
Nanoparticle based sensors are capable of detecting water and air
pollution due to toxic ions and pesticides with very high sensitivity.

 Nanomaterial catalysts can be used as catalysts to convert the

harmful emissions from industries and Automobiles to less harmful
gases.
 Questions

1. Explain a physical method of synthesis of nanoparticles.

2. Explain any 3 properties of nanostructures.
3. Explain a chemical method of synthesis of nanoparticles.

4. Explain any three applications of Nano-technology in detail.

5. Why nanoparticles show different properties than their bulk counter parts?
6. Explain optical properties of nanoparticles.
7. What are the applications of nanotechnology in the field of automobile industry?
8. What are the applications of nanotechnology in the field of electronics industry?
9. What are the applications of nanotechnology in the medical field?