CHE-C4E | LECTURE 8

Engineering
Materials

NANOMATERI
ALS
Engr. Sherald “Shed”
G. Agustin
Instructor III, College of
Engineering
 Introduction
Nanomaterials are materials
wherein the sizes of the
individual building blocks are
less than 100 nm, at least in one
dimension. Usually
nanomaterials are developed to
show innovative characteristics
compared to the same material
without the nanoscale features
which includes, increased https://youtu.be/IkYimZBzguw
 Introduction
Nanomaterials has attractive properties and amazing
technological possibilities, which can be any one of the
four basic types - metals, ceramics, polymers or
composites. But difficulties with nanomaterials arise
from the fact that a profound knowledge of materials
science is not sufficient. Nanomaterials lie at the
intersection of materials science, physics, chemistry,
and for many of the most interesting applications – also
of biology and medicine.
 Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is engineering,
science, and technology conducted
at the nanoscale, which is about 1
to 100 nanometers.
Nanoscience and
nanotechnology are the study and Richard Feynman,
application of extremely small the father of
nanotechnology.
things and can be used across all
the other science fields, such as
engineering, chemistry, biology,
materials science, and physics. https://youtu.be/xW8Oocswn9s
 Conventional Technology vs.
Nanotechnology
Conventional Technology
uses “top-down” approach
while Nanotechnology uses
“bottom-up” approach.
“Top-down” means
starting from large pieces of
material and producing the
expected structure by
mechanical or chemical
methods.
 Nanotechnology VS Conventional
Technology
“Bottom-up” processes are where atoms or molecules
are used as the building blocks to produce nanotubes,
nanoparticles, or nanorods, or thin films or layered
structures.
Nanoparticles Synthesis
Nanomaterials Classification
 Formation of Rods and Plates
In the formation of nanorods and nanoplates, the
influence of surface energy is to be considered. For
non-spherical nanostructures, this is especially
important in the case of anisotropic (noncubic)
structures. But for surface-active molecules it is
possible to grow rods or plates even from isotropic
materials. Even from gold, the existence of cubic
material, nanorods, and nanoplates is well-known.
Formation of Rods and Plates

Gold nanorods of various size and shapes

 Formation of Rods and Plates
The second possibility of obtaining
nanorods and nanotubes is related to
layered structures, where the crystal
structure is built from layers held
together with van der Waals forces
rather than by electrostatic
attraction. The general arrangement
of a particle crystallized in such a
layered structure is shown where the
 Formation of Rods and Plates
At the circumference of each layer,
the bonds are not saturated (these
“dangling bonds” are seen in the
figure). Based on this explanation, it
is clear that all compounds that
crystallize in layered structures
show a tendency to form nanotubes.
Typical examples are boron nitride
(BN), WS2, MoS2, WSe2, MoSe2, and,
Formation of Carbon Nanotubes
Discussions about graphite and
fullerenes as special modification of
carbon is essential in order to
understand carbon nanotubes. For
example, graphite crystallizes in a
layered hexagonal structure in which
each carbon atom is bound covalently
to its three neighbors.
Formation of Carbon Nanotubes
Only three of the four valences of the carbon atom
are saturated. The fourth electron of the atoms
remains unbound and becomes delocalized across the
hexagonal atomic sheets of carbon. Electrons in
graphite are mobile which shows electrical
conductivity within the layers; perpendicularly to the
layers, graphite is an insulator. Within the layers are
strong covalent bonds, whereas in between the layers
are weak van der Waals bonds and, accordingly, it is
possible to cleave pieces of monocrystalline graphite.
Formation of Carbon Nanotubes
Formation of Carbon Nanotubes
These single layers of
graphite are known as
graphene, and because of
its structure and bonding
graphene is denominated as
an infinitely extended, two-
dimensional aromatic
compound.
Formation of Carbon Nanotubes
There are alternative possibilities
for these planes to form coils and this
determines the properties of the
carbon nanotubes.
Nanotubes are formed by wrapping
graphene layers to form a tube. After
rolling the graphene sheet to form a
tube, a nanotube with a diameter of
1.35 nm has the appearance of
armchair type.
Formation of Carbon Nanotubes
Meanwhile fullerenes are three-
dimensional aromatics. Fullerenes consist
of a combination of hexagons and
pentagons. The arrangement leaves gaps
between the hexagons, the closure of
these leads to the formation of a three-
dimensional structure.
This is the basic structural element of
fullerenes. Spherical shapes are formed
by combining a larger number of these
structures.
Formation of Carbon Nanotubes
Formation of Carbon Nanotubes
The formation of nanotubes is
not limited to single graphene
layers. As for fullerenes, both
multiwall and single-wall
nanotubes may be observed. The
multiwall nanotubes consist of a
series of coiled graphene layers
and can be described perfectly
using electron microscopy
 Properties & Application of
Nanomaterials
NANOCARBONS
Nanocarbons have innovative and exceptional properties
and are currently being used in some cutting-edge
technologies and will certainly play an important role in
future high-tech applications. Three nanocarbons that
belong to this class are fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and
graphene.
 Properties & Application of
Nanomaterials
FULLERENES
The material composed of C60
molecules is known as
buckminsterfullerene, (or buckyball for
short), named in honor of R.
Buckminster Fuller, who invented
the geodesic dome; each C60 is a
molecular replica of such a dome. The
term fullerene is used to denote the
 Properties & Application of
Nanomaterials
FULLERENES
In the solid state, the C60 units form a crystalline
structure and pack together in a face- centered cubic
array. This material is called fullerite.
 Properties & Application of
Nanomaterials
FULLERENES
Endohedral fullerenes are
fullerenes that have additional
atoms, ions, or clusters enclosed
within their inner spheres.
Endohedral fullerenes are novel
nanomaterials with applications in
organic photovoltaic cells, cancer
treatment, nanoelectronics, and
other cutting edge technologies.
 Properties & Application of
Nanomaterials
FULLERENES
Exohedral fullerenes are
fullerenes that have additional
atoms, ions, or clusters
attached their outer spheres.
 Properties & Application of
Nanomaterials
FULLERENES
Uses and potential applications of fullerenes
include antioxidants in personal care products,
biopharmaceuticals, catalysts, organic solar cells,
long-life batteries, high- temperature
superconductors, and molecular magnets.
 Properties & Application of
Nanomaterials
CARBON NANOTUBES
Carbon nanotubes also have unique and structure-
sensitive electrical characteristics. Depending on the
orientation of the hexagonal units in the graphene
plane with the tube axis, the nanotube may behave
electrically as either a metal or a semiconductor.
As a metal, they have the potential for use as
wiring for small-scale circuits. In the semiconducting
state they may be used for transistors and diodes.
 Properties & Application of
Nanomaterials
CARBON NANOTUBES

Nanotubes are excellent electric field emitters. As

such, they can be used for flat-screen displays (e.g.,
television screens and computer monitors).
Properties & Application of
Nanomaterials
 Properties & Application of
Nanomaterials
CARBON NANOTUBES
 Properties & Application of
Nanomaterials
GRAPHENE
Graphene as the newest member of the
nanocarbons, is a single-atomic-layer of graphite,
composed of hexagonally sp2 bonded carbon atoms.
These bonds are extremely strong, yet flexible, which
allows the sheets to bend.
 Properties & Application of
Nanomaterials
GRAPHENE
Two characteristics of graphene make it an
exceptional material. First is the perfect order found in
its sheets where no atomic defects such as vacancies
exist; also these sheets are extremely pure and only
carbon atoms are present.
The second characteristic relates to the nature of
the unbonded electrons. At room temperature, they
move much faster than conducting electrons in
ordinary metals and semiconducting materials.
 Properties & Application of
Nanomaterials
GRAPHENE
In terms of its properties, graphene could be
labeled the ultimate material. Furthermore, it is
transparent, chemically inert, and has a modulus of
elasticity comparable to the other nanocarbons. It is
expected to modernize many industries to include
electronics, energy, transportation,
medicine/biotechnology, and aeronautics. However,
before this, economical and reliable methods for the
mass production of graphene must be developed.
 Properties & Application of
Nanomaterials
GRAPHENE
Potential applications for graphene:
 Properties & Application of
Nanomaterials
Issues on Nanoparticles