Institute of Physics & electronics , Gomal

University Dera Ismail Khan

Introduction to Nanoscience & Technology

Lecture 4
Zero dimension nanostructure material

Dr. Hafeez Ullah

October 25, 2024 1

Introduction:
 The structures that exhibit remarkable properties at nano
scale (10-9)are termed as Nanostructures.
 The properties of nanostructures can be controlled by
engineering the size, shape, and composition of the particles.
Engineers can incorporate them into other materials to create
new nano composite materials with enhanced or entirely
different properties from their parent materials.

 Zero Dimensional nanostructures are confined in three

spatial directions.
Zero Dimensional nanostructures are
classified as:
1. Nanoparticles.
2. Quantum Dots.
1. Nanoparticles:
o Spherical particles having diameter less
then 100nm or particles < 0.1micron are
termed as Nanoparticles.
o It is further classified according to size &
diameter:
 Fine particles cover a range between
100-2500nm.
 Ultra fine particles are sized between
1-100 nm.
Similarly; Nanoparticles are sized
between 1-100 nm.
o Nanoparticles have greater surface area
per weight than larger particles; this
causes them to be more reactive to
certain other molecules. The physics of
nanoparticles mean that their properties
are different from the properties of the
bulk material.
Types of Nanoparticles:
There are several types of nanoparticles some of them
are discussed here:
I. Gold Nanoparticles.
II. Iron Oxide Nanoparticles.
III. Polymeric Nanoparticles.

I. Gold Nanoparticles
 The Nanoparticles that are formed from Gold are known as Gold
Nanoparticles(Au). They are also called “Colloidal gold” or
“Nano-gold.”
 Tiny molecular particles of gold are suspended in a fluid (usually
water) and if the gold particles are extremely small, the liquid
appears to be an intense shade of red. If the particles are on the
larger size, the liquid will be a dirty yellow color.
 Gold nanoparticles are highly useful for a wide range of
processes including general nanotechnology, electronics
manufacturing, and the synthesizing of rare materials.
 Gold nanoparticles melt at much lower temperature(3000C) for
2.5nm than that of Gold slab(10640C).
 Au can be used as a catalyst.
Colloids:
 The particles of vast range of chemical composition formed in a
condensed phase (solution/solid state) & size range from 1-1000nm
are termed as colloids.
 A colloidal system consist of two separate phases,
1. Dispersed phase
 A colloid is a homogeneous dispersion of particles in a solution.
2. Continues phase
◦ Collides are considered as small pieces of material, where
continues properties of matter are exhibited.
◦ The particles experience the constant buffeting of Brownian
motion which also helps to keep them in suspension. The colloid
is stabilized by electric charges on its surface due to adsorbed
ions. The charge causes the particles to repel each other.
A colloidal system may be solid, liquid or gaseous
Solid(JELLY, Silica Gel) Liquid(Ink, Blood) Gas(All Gases, Fog,
Smoke , Cloud)
II. IRON OXIDE NANOPARTICLES:

 Iron oxide nanoparticles have attracted

extensive interest due to their super
paramagnetic properties and their
potential applications in many fields.
 There are two main forms of iron oxide
nanoparticles.
 Magnetite (Fe3 O4).
 Maghemite (Fe2 O3) (Its oxidized form).
 Applications of iron oxide nanoparticles
include multi-tera bit storage device,
catalysis, sensors, and a platform for
high-sensitivity bio-molecular magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) for medical
diagnosis.
Magnetic Properties of Iron Oxides Nanoparticles:
 In Paramagnetic materials, the individual atomic magnetic moments
are randomly aligned with respect to each other, and the substance
has a zero net magnetic moment.
 In Ferromagnetic material, all the individual moments of same
magnitude are aligned even without an external field.
 In Ferrimagnetic material, The material will have a net magnetic
moment because the two magnetic moments of different strengths
are arranged in an antiparallel fashion.
 In Antiferromagnetic ,the material have opposite magnetic moments
of same magnitude and possesses no net magnetic moment.
 A Single Domain magnetic material that has no hysteresis loop is
said to be Super paramagnetic.
 Temperature effect magnetic moments of materials. Ferromagnetic
and ferrimagnetic materials become disordered and lose their
magnetization beyond the Curie Temperature TC and
antiferromagnetic materials lose their magnetization beyond the
Neel Temperature TN.
III. Polymeric Nanoparticles:
 Polymeric nanoparticles are nanoparticles which
are prepared from polymers.
 Polymeric nanoparticles may interact with solute,
catalyst, or solvent and affect reaction.
 The drug is dissolved, entrapped or attached to a
nanoparticles and depending upon the method of
preparation, nanoparticles, nanospheres or
nanocapsules can be obtained.
 Nanocapsules are vesicular systems in which the
drug is confined to a cavity surrounded by a
polymer membrane, while nanospheres are matrix
systems in which the drug is physically and
uniformly dispersed.
 Polymeric nanoparticles can be used as potential
drug delivery devices in particular organs/tissues,&
as carriers of DNA in gene therapy.
Applications of Nanoparticles :
Nanoparticles have potential applications in many fields:

 Iron Oxides nanoparticles enhances MRI images of cancer tumors

 Gold nanoparticles used as catalyst to breakdown organic
compounds in air.
 Crystalline nanoparticles identify the location of cancer cells in the
body.
 Combination of Gold nanoparticles with Organic molecules form a
transistor known as a NOMFET (Nanoparticle Organic Memory
Field-Effect Transistor).
 Iron nanoparticles are used to clean water pollution.
 Silicon nanoparticles are used to increase battery power and
reduce recharge time.
 Gold nanoparticles that allow heat from infrared lasers to be
targeted on cancer tumors.
 Silicate nanoparticles used to provide a barrier to gasses.
e.g. oxygen.
 Applications of Nanoparticles :
 Zinc oxide nanoparticles can protect wood, plastic and textiles from exposure to
UV rays.
 Silicon dioxide crystalline nanoparticles are used for filling gaps between
carbon fibers strengthen tennis racquets.
 Iron oxide nanoparticles used to clean arsenic from water wells.
 Semiconductor nanoparticles applied in a low temperature printing process that
results in low cost solar cells.
 Silver nanoparticles can be used in radiation therapy with much less damage to
healthy tissue.
2. Quantum
Dots:
 A quantum dot is a semiconductor nanocrystal that is about
1-6 nanometers in diameter. The quantum dot is also called
the artificial atom.
 Three dimensions of a quantum dot are confined below
100nm and the electrons inside it are confined in all
directions, so the quantum confinement effect is apparent.
As the electrons occupy discrete energy states just as they
would do in an atom.
 It has a spherical or cubic-like shape consisting of
thousands of atoms.
 A quantum dot is semiconductor microstructure of different
material; which is made of cadmium selenide (CdSe),
cadmium sulfide (CdS), or cadmium telluride (CdTe) and
then coated with a polymer. The coating is used to prevent
these toxic chemicals from leaking.
Quantum Dots:
The larger the dot, the redder(lower
energy) its fluorescence spectrum.
Smaller dots emit bluer (higher energy)
light. The coloration is directly related to
the energy levels of the quantum dot.
Band gap energy determines the
energy (and hence color) of the
fluorescent light is inversely proportional
to the size of the quantum dot. Larger
quantum dots have more energy levels
which are also more closely
spaced. The lifetime of fluorescence is
determined by the size of the quantum
dot. The electron-hole pairs in larger dots
show a longer lifetime.
Quantum Dots:
The matter wave characteristic of an
electron depends on its Fermi
Wavelength:
λf = 2π /kf
Quantum dot has both a quantized
energy spectrum and a quantized
density of electronic states near the
edge of the band gap.
In some quantum dots even if one
electron leaves the structure there is a
significant change in the properties.
The atomic structure might behave
as a lead one minute and gold next
[Density of Electronic States]
minute.
Fabrication of Quantum Dots:
Chemical Colloidal Method:
 This method can fabricate multilayered quantum dots. This
process is simple and can produce quantum dots in large
quantities.
Self-Assembly Method:
 By using the process of molecular-beam epitaxy or chemical
vapor deposition quantum dots can grow on the surface of
given base materials.
Lithography and Etching Method:
 This method uses beam of light or
Electrons to etch patterns designed,
but it cannot produce dots in large
quantities because of spending too
much time.
 Applications:
There are many possible applications of quantum
dots in many areas of science & industry:
 Electronics:
In electronic applications they have been proven to
operate like a single-electron transistor. Due to superior
transport and optical properties they can be used in diode
lasers, amplifiers, and biological sensors.
 Computing:
Quantum dot technology can be use in solid-state
quantum computation.
 Photovoltaic devices:
Quantum dots may be able to increase the efficiency
and reduce the cost of today's typical silicon photovoltaic
cells.
Applications:
 Light emitting devices:
There are several inquiries into using quantum dots as
light-emitting diodes to make displays and other light sources,
such as "QD-LED" displays, and "QD-WLED" (White LED).
 Biology:
 Quantum Dots identifies the location of cancer
cells in the body . It has been estimated that quantum
dots are 20 times brighter and 100 times more stable
than traditional fluorescent reporters.
 Semiconductor quantum dots have also been employed
for in vitro imaging of pre-labeled cells.
 Scientists have proven that quantum dots are
dramatically better than existing methods for
delivering a gene-silencing tool, known as siRNA, into
cells.
 Nanoparticle Company Directory

CytImmune
Gold nanoparticles for targeted delivery of drugs to tumors.
Invitrogen
Quantum Dots for medical imaging.
American Elements
Nanoparticles and Quantum Dots.
Antaria
Zinc oxide nanoparticles used in coatings to reduce UV
exposure.
Nanocs
Gold and silver nanopartics.
BASF
Fabric enhanced with nanoparticles.
Nanophase
Metal oxide nanoparticles. les.
Nanosolar
Solar cells manufactured in a low temperature process using
semiconductor nanoparticles.
SiREM
Thank
you !!
Questions??