Week 01-02: Introduction to Nanotechnology

Learning Outcomes:

During the past years, scientists have achieved significant successes in nanoscience and technology. Nanotechnology is a branch of sciences that deals with fine structures and materials with very small dimensions—less than 100 nm. The measurement unit of “nano” has been extracted from the nano- prefix, which is a Greek word meaning “extremely fine.” One nano (10–9 m) is the length equivalent to 5 silicon atoms or 10 hydrogen atoms aligned side by side. To introduce a perspective note the following examples: A hydrogen atom is about 0.1 nm; a virus is about 100 nm; the diameter of a red blood cell is 7000 nm, and the diameter of a human hair is 10000 nm. Nanotechnology is a field of applied sciences focused on design, production, detection, and employing nanosize materials, pieces, and equipment. Advances in nanotechnology lead to the improvement of tools and equipment as well as their application in human life. Nanoscience is the study of the phenomena emerged by atomic or molecular materials with the size of several nanometers to less than 100 nm. In chemistry, this size involves a range of colloids, micelles, polymer molecules, and structures such as very large molecules or dense accumulation of the molecules. In the physics of electrical engineering, nanoscience is strongly related to quantum behavior or electron behavior in structures with nano sizes. In biology and biochemistry, also, interesting cellular components and molecular structures such as DNA, RNA, and intercellular components are considered as nanostructures.

 

Lesson Plan:

Lecture 01: Introduction & History of Nanotechnology

Lecture 02: What Is a Nanomaterial?

Lecture 03: Properties of Nanostructured Materials

Lecture 04: Physical Properties - I

Lecture 05: Physical Properties - II

Lecture 06: Mechanical Properties

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chapter-1.pdf (1.38 MB )