Science Feature - Nanotechnology

INTRODUCTION

Nanotechnology is "the design, characterisation, production and application of structures, devices and systems by controlling shape and size at nanometre scale."¹ One nanometre (nm) is one billionth of a metre. By controlling matter at such a scale, materials with new properties and uses can be created. These nanomaterials have a relatively large surface area to volume ratio when compared to the same mass of material produced in bulk form, which can make the nanomaterial more chemically reactive and affect its physical and chemical properties. At such a scale the electrons in the material are subjected to quantum mechanical effects, rather than the classical physics effects seen in materials at larger scale, affecting the optical, electrical and magnetic properties of nanomaterials.