solutions were indeed composed of colloidal gold particles (gold nanoparticles) with average diameters of around 6 nm.
Over the last few decades, nanotechnology has focused largely on the use
of colloidal systems, polymers, and nanometer-sized particles (nanoparticles) in coatings and materials. For example, silver nanoparticles have
found use in hundreds of products because of their antimicrobial properties. More recently, nanotechnology has been used to explore biologically active materials as novel biosensors and targeted drug delivery
vehicles for the treatment of diseases. The field is also impacting electronics, including development of new transistors, amplifiers, and adaptive structures. The smallest features in the integrated circuits in computer
central processing units, which were over a micron in 1985, are now
on the order of 14 nm, with devices on scales of 10 nm or smaller at
the prototype stage. The next few decades will inevitably move nanotechnology to the point where we will be able to fabricate complex
nanosystems and molecular devices by design on an industrial scale.
Feynman’s speech continued to discuss the transformative potential of
nanotechnology:
I want to build a billion tiny factories, models of each other, which are
manufacturing simultaneously. … The principles of physics, as far as I
can see, do not speak against the possibility of maneuvering things
atom by atom. It is not an attempt to violate any laws; it is something,
in principle, that can be done; but in practice, it has not been done
because we are too big.
One example of how nanotechnology is impacting our lives involves silver
nanoparticles. Each of these spherical particles is made up of hundreds
or thousands of Ag atoms. The precise method of how these particles are
prepared will be discussed later. These particles range in size from 1 nm
to 100 nm, and their outer surface is usually comprised of silver oxide.
Figure 1.1 shows some electron microscope images of silver nanoparticle
samples of various sizes.
Among many applications, silver nanoparticles show a remarkable ability
to kill bacteria. Thus, they are currently being used as antibacterial and
antifungal agents in a host of industries including biotechnology, textile
engineering, and water treatment. Some companies are even developing
coatings containing silver nanoparticles for household products and
medical equipment. While use of silver nanoparticles in consumer
products has clear benefits, there are also associated health concerns.
CHAPTER 1: A Brief Introduction to Nanoscience
2
Over the last few decades, nanotechnology has focused largely on the use
of colloidal systems, polymers, and nanometer-sized particles (nanoparticles) in coatings and materials. For example, silver nanoparticles have
found use in hundreds of products because of their antimicrobial properties. More recently, nanotechnology has been used to explore biologically active materials as novel biosensors and targeted drug delivery
vehicles for the treatment of diseases. The field is also impacting electronics, including development of new transistors, amplifiers, and adaptive structures. The smallest features in the integrated circuits in computer
central processing units, which were over a micron in 1985, are now
on the order of 14 nm, with devices on scales of 10 nm or smaller at
the prototype stage. The next few decades will inevitably move nanotechnology to the point where we will be able to fabricate complex
nanosystems and molecular devices by design on an industrial scale.
Feynman’s speech continued to discuss the transformative potential of
nanotechnology:
I want to build a billion tiny factories, models of each other, which are
manufacturing simultaneously. … The principles of physics, as far as I
can see, do not speak against the possibility of maneuvering things
atom by atom. It is not an attempt to violate any laws; it is something,
in principle, that can be done; but in practice, it has not been done
because we are too big.
One example of how nanotechnology is impacting our lives involves silver
nanoparticles. Each of these spherical particles is made up of hundreds
or thousands of Ag atoms. The precise method of how these particles are
prepared will be discussed later. These particles range in size from 1 nm
to 100 nm, and their outer surface is usually comprised of silver oxide.
Figure 1.1 shows some electron microscope images of silver nanoparticle
samples of various sizes.
Among many applications, silver nanoparticles show a remarkable ability
to kill bacteria. Thus, they are currently being used as antibacterial and
antifungal agents in a host of industries including biotechnology, textile
engineering, and water treatment. Some companies are even developing
coatings containing silver nanoparticles for household products and
medical equipment. While use of silver nanoparticles in consumer
products has clear benefits, there are also associated health concerns.
CHAPTER 1: A Brief Introduction to Nanoscience
2