Nanotechnology is the science, engineering and technology of nanoparticles.

 

A nanoparticle is a microscopic particle that is between 1 nanometer and 100 nanometers in size.

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A nanometer is a unit of measurement just like centimeters, millimetres, meters and other units of measurements we use. Extremely tiny things such as atoms and molecules are measured using nanometers.

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Due to the extremely small size of nanoparticles, they have some very unique and useful physical and chemical properties such as being high in strength, light in weight and varying chemical reactivities. These physical and chemical properties depend on the shape, size, surface area, structure, and composition (what it is made up of).

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Although nanoscience is a new field, nanomaterials were being used by humans hundreds of years ago. The gold and silver colours in stained glass church windows hundreds of year ago in the medieval times were nanoparticles that were created unknowingly.

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Nanoparticles can also be found in nature as well in the form of volcanic ash, sea spray, in viruses and are naturally produced through combustion processes such as forest fires and engines. Recently after intense research, nanoparticles are now being cautiously engineered by humans. Researchers have been studying nanopartices for hundreds of years but progress has been slow as they did not have a method of seeing the nanoparticles and its structure. The recent development of high powered microscopes that allow scientists to see particles as tiny as atoms has made it possible for researchers to see the nanoparticles that they are studying and using.

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Due to the many useful physical and chemical properties of nanoparticles and the ability to manipulate the nanoparticles to suit a particular need, nanotechnology has many uses.

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