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M. Singh et al.
3.1.2 Inorganic Nanoparticles
A. Metal Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles made of metal and metal oxides except carbon are considered
as inorganic. A large number of metals have been used for the synthesis of
nanomaterials like aluminium (Al), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu),
gold (Au), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), silver (Ag) and zinc (Zn). The well-known
localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) characteristics provide these NPs
unique optical and electrical properties. Furthermore, surface characteristics like
high surface area-to-volume ratio, surface charge due to presence of metal ions,
crystalline or amorphous nature and reactivity to environmental factors such as
heat, light and moisture provides extensive usage of these materials in numerous
applications.
B. Ceramic Nanoparticles
Inorganic, non-metallic, heat-resistant nanoparticles are generally called as
ceramic nanoparticles because they possess properties just like macroscopic
ceramics materials. They are present in amorphous, dense, polycrystalline and
hollow forms and hence offer unique features like being dielectric, ferroelectric, superconductive, electro-optical and magnetoresistive to name a few. They
have high utilisation in applications like catalysis, photodegradation of dye and
photocatalysis.
C. Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a material which possesses properties of both metal and
non-metals as here metals of group 2–6 are doped in the carbon backbone. This
amalgam enhances the efficiency of semiconductor nanoparticles, and they show
significant alternation in their properties due to wide band gaps. These particles
find extensive usage in the microelectronics industry, photo-optics and electronic
devices.
3.1.3 Carbon
The nanoparticles made exclusively of carbon are considered as carbon-based
nanoparticles. All these are allotropes of carbon and can be divided into five categories
depending on the dimensions of these particles—3-D Fullerene, 2-D Graphene, 1-D
Carbon nanotubes, Carbon nanofiber and Carbon black. These particles have created
noteworthy commercial hold due to their electrical conductivity and high strength.
Due to their unique chemical characteristic and physical structure, they are used as
nanocomposites, efficient gas adsorbents for environmental remediation, and due to
their easy penetration to cell cytoplasm, they are used in drug delivery and peptide
delivery (Bhatia 2016; Ealias and Saravanakumar 2017; Khan et al. 2017).
M. Singh et al.
3.1.2 Inorganic Nanoparticles
A. Metal Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles made of metal and metal oxides except carbon are considered
as inorganic. A large number of metals have been used for the synthesis of
nanomaterials like aluminium (Al), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu),
gold (Au), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), silver (Ag) and zinc (Zn). The well-known
localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) characteristics provide these NPs
unique optical and electrical properties. Furthermore, surface characteristics like
high surface area-to-volume ratio, surface charge due to presence of metal ions,
crystalline or amorphous nature and reactivity to environmental factors such as
heat, light and moisture provides extensive usage of these materials in numerous
applications.
B. Ceramic Nanoparticles
Inorganic, non-metallic, heat-resistant nanoparticles are generally called as
ceramic nanoparticles because they possess properties just like macroscopic
ceramics materials. They are present in amorphous, dense, polycrystalline and
hollow forms and hence offer unique features like being dielectric, ferroelectric, superconductive, electro-optical and magnetoresistive to name a few. They
have high utilisation in applications like catalysis, photodegradation of dye and
photocatalysis.
C. Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a material which possesses properties of both metal and
non-metals as here metals of group 2–6 are doped in the carbon backbone. This
amalgam enhances the efficiency of semiconductor nanoparticles, and they show
significant alternation in their properties due to wide band gaps. These particles
find extensive usage in the microelectronics industry, photo-optics and electronic
devices.
3.1.3 Carbon
The nanoparticles made exclusively of carbon are considered as carbon-based
nanoparticles. All these are allotropes of carbon and can be divided into five categories
depending on the dimensions of these particles—3-D Fullerene, 2-D Graphene, 1-D
Carbon nanotubes, Carbon nanofiber and Carbon black. These particles have created
noteworthy commercial hold due to their electrical conductivity and high strength.
Due to their unique chemical characteristic and physical structure, they are used as
nanocomposites, efficient gas adsorbents for environmental remediation, and due to
their easy penetration to cell cytoplasm, they are used in drug delivery and peptide
delivery (Bhatia 2016; Ealias and Saravanakumar 2017; Khan et al. 2017).