EChem 1
Module 7
ENGINEERED NANOMATERIALS
Engineered Nanomaterials
are the product of nanotechnology engineering and
manipulation of materials of molecular level. This
nanotechnology deals with creation and engineering of new
materials from dimensions from 1 to 100 nanometers. These
nanoparticles have different physical and chemical properties
from their normal constituents which is why they bring forth
new applications but also new danger and hazard on us
humans.
Engineered Nanomaterials
”nano” is a prefix derived from the Greek word for dwarf.
Nanomaterials have properties that are often unique due to
their dimensions (in the range of 1-100 nanometers), these are
also intentionally manufactured. They are usually produced by
bottom-up processes such as physical and chemical vapor
deposition, liquid phase synthesis and self-assembly.
-Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 2011
Engineered Nanomaterials
Are chemical substances or materials that are engineered with particle sizes
between 1-100 nanometers in at least one dimension. It is well established that
engineered nanomaterials derive many functional advantages from their unique
physical and chemical properties. These properties, such as particle size, surface
area and surface reactivity influence their inherent hazard and potentially threaten
the health of workers, communities and the environment. In general, engineered
nanomaterials should not be considered a safer substitute to toxic chemicals.
- Toxic Use Reduction Institute 2019
Sources of Engineered Nanomaterials
• Legacy nanomaterials are those that were in
commercial production prior to the development
of nanotechnology as incremental advancements
over other colloidal or particulate materials. They
include carbon black and titanium dioxide
nanoparticles.
Sources of Engineered Nanomaterials
Sources of Engineered Nanomaterials
Sources of Engineered Nanomaterials
• Nanomaterials may be incidentally produced as a byproduct of mechanical or
industrial processes. Sources of incidental nanoparticles include vehicle engine
exhausts, welding fumes, combustion processes from domestic solid fuel heating
and cooking. For instance, the class of nanomaterials called fullerenes are generated
by burning gas, biomass, and candle.
• It can also be a byproduct of wear and corrosion products. Incidental atmospheric
nanoparticles are often referred to as ultrafine particles, which are unintentionally
produced during an intentional operation, and could contribute to air pollution.
Sources of Engineered Nanomaterials
• Natural inorganic nanomaterials occur through crystal
growth in the diverse chemical conditions of the Earth's
crust. For example, clays display complex nanostructures
due to anisotropy of their underlying crystal structure,
and volcanic activity can give rise to opals, which are an
instance of a naturally occurring photonic crystals due to
their nanoscale structure. Fires represent particularly
complex reactions and can produce pigments, cement,
fumed silica etc.
Sources of Engineered Nanomaterials
• Natural sources of nanoparticles include combustion products forest
fires, volcanic ash, ocean spray, and the radioactive decay of radon gas.
Natural nanomaterials can also be formed through weathering
processes of metal- or anion-containing rocks, as well as at acid mine
drainage sites.
Types of Engineered Nanomaterials
1. Metal-based
2. Semi-conductor
3. Silica-based
4. Carbon-based
5. Dendrimers
Metal-based (metal oxides)
• These are metal based materials that we commonly regarded as
quantum dots, nanogold, nanosilver and oxides with metal bases.
These are the focus of the biomedical and pharmaceutical
industries. The power here is the chemical binding or the
conjugated properties that metal-based nanoparticles offer. That
power if found in the ability of multi-bond materials to be joined
chemically with antibodies or pharmaceuticals.
• With biocompatibility often increased by incorporating a silica
coating shell (TiO for example).
2
Metal-based
Multifunctionalities of metal oxide
Semi-conductor
• Also metal-based and have silica shells to provide some degree
of biocompatibility.
• Is a material that has an electrical conductivity between a
conductor and an insulator. In semiconductors, the highest
occupied energy band, the valence band is completely filled
with electrons and the empty next one is the conduction band.
• Have attracted much attention in the past decade because of
their unique physical properties such as quantum size effects,
nonlinear optical properties and luminescence.
Semi-conductor
Silica-based
• Are composed entirely of silica and are considered highly
biologically compatible materials.
• Silicon-based nanomaterials have drawn significant interest in
the last few decades mainly due to their cost-efficient
production and unique properties. The fact that they are in
abundance is another merit of these nanomaterials.
Functionalization of silica-based nanomaterials
Development of mesoporous silica-based nanoparticles
Carbon-based
• Are composed entirely of carbon and come in various shapes
such as hollow spheres and tubes.
• Are simply the reconfiguration of carbon from a flat plane into
a rolled tube shape. Mostly hollow tubes, cylinders and
ellipsoids. They also include nanotubes and fullerenes.
• The benefit of carbon nanotubes is that they offer amazing
strength and structure to products and they conduct heat and
electricity, which is beneficial to technology developments
such as improved batteries.
Classification of carbon-based nanomaterials based on their
dimension
Dendrimers
• Three-dimensional polymer structures that can be used for
drug and gene delivery.
• Branched components that form polymers and whose surface
exhibit chain ends suited for chemical manipulation as tools.
Dendrimers are combinable to create hollow cavities or used
as part of a catalysis. Dendrimers represent a half step
between molecular chemistry and polymer chemistry.
Properties
• Nanoparticles often have unique physical and chemical properties. At
the nanoscale, materials behave very differently compared to larger scales and it
is still very difficult to predict the physical and chemical properties of particles of
such a very small size. The principal parameters of nanoparticles are their shape,
size, surface characteristics and inner structure. Nanoparticles can be
encountered as aerosols (solids or liquids in air), suspensions (solids in liquids)
or as emulsions(liquids in liquids). In the presence of certain chemicals,
properties of nanoparticles may be modified.
Properties
• Both physical and chemical properties are derived
from atomic and molecular origin in a complex way. For example
the electronic and optical properties and the chemical reactivity of
small clusters are completely different from the better known
property of each component in the bulk or at extended surfaces.
Complex quantum mechanical models are required to predict the
evolution of such properties with particle size, and typically very
well defined conditions are needed to compare experiments and
theoretical predictions.
Toxicity
• Humans have always been exposed to tiny particles via
dust storms, volcanic ash, and other natural processes,
and that our bodily systems are well adapted to protect us
from these potentially harmful intruders.
Toxicity
• Particles originating from human activities have existed for millennia, e.g.,
smoke from combustion and lint from garments, but the recent
development of industry and combustion-based engine transportation has
profoundly increased anthropogenic particulate pollution. Significantly,
technological advancement has also changed the character of particulate
pollution, increasing the proportion of nanometer-sized particles-
“nanoparticles”-and expanding the variety of chemical
compositions. Recent epidemiological studies have shown a strong
correlation between particulate air pollution levels, respiratory and
cardiovascular diseases, various cancers, and mortality. Adverse effects of
nanoparticles on human health depend on individual factors such as
genetics and existing disease, as well as exposure, and nanoparticle
chemistry, size, shape, agglomeration state, and electromagnetic
properties.
Applications
• After many years of researches of scientist's and researcher's the progress in
field of nanotechnology has already reached unexpected heights.
Nanotechnology is now being used in various field's and is still advancing
even more.
• The following are some list of benefits and applications:
• 1. Electronics and IT Applications
• - the progress in nanotechnology has caused major advancements in
computing and electronics. These enables smaller but faster systems with
larger storage of data and information.
• Examples
• -companies have already developed very small transistors that could reach up
to seven nanometer but have higher capacity.
• - Ultra high definition displays and televisions with efficient enegy
consumption have also been made possible by the use of Quantum Dots.
• - Flexible, bendable, foldable, rollable, and stretchable electronics are reaching
into various sectors and are being integrated into a variety of products.
• - Nanoparticle copper suspension is also being developed to replace lead
based solder that could be safer, cheaper and more reliable.
• 2. Everyday Materials and Processes
• - Using nanotechnology one can create materials with specific properties
this includes making a material stronger, lighter, more durable, more
reactive, more sieve-like, or better electrical conductors depending on what
you needed.
• Examples
• - the use of nanomaterial could greatly help in making a better bullet proof
armors. Its because nanoparticles can make lightweight fabrics that can
deflect bullets and even lessen wrinkling, staining, bacterial growth.
• - If cars, trucks, planes and other mode of transportation can be made
lighter it would cause significant saving of fuel and resources.
• - Nanoparticles can be used as catalyst to boost reaction of chemicals. This
reduces the amount of chemicals needed for the reaction thus saving money
and reducing pollutants.
• 3. Medical and Healthcare
• - with the advancement of nanotechnology the tools and methods in medical
field have also advanced in leaps and bounds.
• Examples
• - Better imaging diagnostic tools enabled by nanotechnology can cause
earlier diagnostic and more specific treatments could be applied.
• Examples
• - the development of imaging at nanoscale would also help in proving detailed image
and help easily identifying the disease or defect in ones body.
• - researchers are also working on methods of using nanoparticles to help deliver
medication directly on the cancer cells without damaging the healthy tissues.
• - commercial applications have used gold nanoparticles as probes for the detection
of targeted sequences of nucleic acids. Gold nanoparticles are also being clinically
investigated as potential treatments for cancer and other diseases.
• 4 Energy Application
• - the emergence if nanotechnology gives many alternatives aside from traditional
energy resources. Many scientists are looking into ways of using to develop clean,
affordable, and renewable energy sources, along with means to reduce energy
consumption and lessen toxicity burdens on the environment.
• Examples
• - nanoparticle increases production of fuels from raw materials by using better
catalyst. It is also enabling reduced fuel consumption in vehicles and power
plants through higher-efficiency combustion and decreased friction.
• -Researchers are developing wires containing carbon nanotubes that will have
much lower resistance than the high-tension wires currently used in the
electric grid, thus reducing transmission power loss.
• -Nanotechnology can be incorporated into solar panels to convert sunlight to
electricity more efficiently. Nanostructured solar cells could be cheaper to
manufacture and easier to install, since they can use print-like manufacturing
processes and can be made in flexible rolls rather than discrete panels.
• - Nanotechnology is already being used to develop many new kinds of batteries
that are quicker-charging, more efficient, lighter weight, have a higher power
density, and hold electrical charge longer.
