GiroScience | Shutterstock

While bulk materials have constant physical properties regardless of size, the size of
a nanoparticle dictates its physical and chemical properties. Thus, the properties of a
material change as its size approaches nanoscale proportions and as the
percentage of atoms at the surface of a material becomes significant.

Types of Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles are classified as 0-Dimensional (D), 1D, 2D, or 3D depending on their
overall shape.

1-D nanomaterials
1-D nanomaterials have thin films or surface coatings and are used in the circuitry of
computer chips and for anti-reflective properties and hard coatings on eyeglasses.
These have been used in electronics, chemistry, and engineering.

2-D nanomaterials
2-D nanomaterials have fixed and long nanostructures with thick membranes. They
are used to prepare nanopore filters used for small particle separation and filtration.
Asbestos fiber is an example of 2D nanoparticles.
3-D nanomaterials
3-D nanomaterials are fixed and small nanostructures where thin films are deposited
under conditions that generate atomic-scale porosity, colloids, and free nanoparticles
with various morphologies.

Unlike 1-D nanomaterials, 2-D and 3-D nanomaterials pose health risks due to their
free long aspect ratio nanowires and nanoparticles, respectively.

Hard nanoparticles
These nanoparticles impart their properties to polymers. Clay nanoparticles, when
incorporated into polymer matrices, increase reinforcement leading to stronger
plastics. Hard nanoparticles have also been used in textile fibers to create smart and
functional clothing.

Semisolid or soft nanoparticles

Related Stories

 Unlocking the Future of Medicine: The Incredible Potential of Lipid

Nanoparticles (LNPs)
 New type of nanoparticle can deliver messenger RNA encoding useful
proteins to the lungs
 Antibody levels from prime COVID-19 mRNA vaccine influences the
efficacy of booster doses

Of the many semi-solid and soft nanoparticles that have been manufactured,
liposomes are of particular significance. Various types of liposome nanoparticles are
used clinically such as delivery systems for anticancer drugs, antibiotics, antifungal
drugs, and vaccines.

Magnetic nanoparticles
Magnetic nanoparticles have varied applications ranging from data storage to
diagnostic applications such as clinical imaging. These nanoparticles are
manipulated by the use of magnetic field. For instance, ferrite nanoparticles with a
size smaller than 128nm become supraparamagnetic thereby preventing self-
agglomeration. The stability of ferrite nanoparticles in a solution can be increased by
modifying their surface using surfactants, or derivatives of phosphoric acid or silicon.

However, the magnetic property of nanoparticles can also be of disadvantage in

certain situations. For example, ferroelectric materials smaller than 10 nm can switch
their magnetization direction using room temperature thermal energy, thus making
them unsuitable for memory storage.

Physical properties of nanoparticles

Nanoparticles consist of three layers: the surface layer, the shell layer, and the core.
The surface layer usually consists of a variety of molecules such as metal ion,
surfactants, and polymers. Nanoparticles may contain a single material or maybe
consist of a combination of several materials. Nanoparticles can exist as
suspensions, colloids, or dispersed aerosols depending on their chemical and
electromagnetic properties.

The properties of nanoparticles are dependent their size. For instance, copper
nanoparticles than are smaller than 50 nm are super hard materials and do not
exhibit the properties of malleability or ductility of bulk copper. Other changes that
are dependent on the size of nanoparticles are superparamagnetism exhibited by
magnetic materials, quantum confinement by semiconductor Q-particles, and surface
plasmon resonance in some metal particles.

Research has also demonstrated that absorption of solar radiation in photovoltaic

cells is much higher in nanoparticles than it is in thin films of continuous sheets of
bulk material. This is because nanoparticles are smaller and can absorb greater
amount of solar radiation.

Nanoparticles exhibit enhanced diffusion at elevated temperatures due to their high

surface area to volume ratio. This property of nanoparticles allows sintering to take
place at lower temperatures than in the case of larger particles. While this diffusion
property exhibited by nanoparticles may not affect the density of the product, it can
lead to agglomeration.

Application of nanoparticles
Nanoparticles are widely used in bioimaging applications due to their ability to
produce varying intensity of colors in solutions by changing the thickness of the
nanoshell, the aspect ratio, and the percentage of gold. For instance, a 20-nm gold
produces a wine red color solution while a 20-nm platinum produces a yellowish-gray
solution.

Some nanoparticles such as gold nanoparticles also have the advantage of melting
at much lower temperatures (~300 °C for 2.5 nm size) than their bulkier counterparts
(gold slabs melt at ~ 1064 °C).

Nanoparticles have also been used in cosmetic technology. For instance, zinc oxide
particles have been found to have superior UV blocking properties compared to its
bulk substitute. Therefore, it is used in the preparation of sunscreen lotions.

Also known as the zero-dimensional nanomaterials, nanoparticles are

particles whose dimensions are below 100nm. These microscopic particles
have unique properties that make them suitable for immense chemical
reactivity, bio mobility, and energy absorption. Nanoparticles naturally
occur in the environment but also are artificially synthesized. They are
applied extensively in the development of modern medicine. It includes
sophisticated processes like contrast agents in medical imaging and gene
transfer into a cell. Engineering, catalysis, and environmental remediation
are also areas where nanotechnology gets used widely. One of the biggest
challenges is the toxicity which the nanoparticles pose to society and the
environment. Nevertheless, nanoparticles are a boon to the modern
world.

Size of the Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles are invisible to the human eye. They exhibit significant

chemical and physical changes in the larger materials. As their size
approaches that of the atomic particles, their properties get modified even
more. Each nanoparticle has a few thousand atoms. As the particles
reduce in size more and more, their surface area to volume ratio
increases, resulting in the surface atoms dominating the material.
Moreover, these nanoparticles are enormously small and are able to
confine the electrons present in them and produce quantum effects. The
surface area of the nanoparticles is even larger than that of powders,
plates, or sheets.

Physicochemical Properties of Nanoparticles

Mechanical strength, large surface area, optical and chemical reactivity are
properties that make the nanoparticles unique. However, there are
several other physicochemical properties:

1. Noble metal nanoparticles are size-dependent in their optical

properties. They have a UV-visible spectrum band that is not present
in bulk metals. It appears when excited by the Localized Surface
Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) and results in wavelength selection
absorption and molar excitation. Ray light scatters along with
enhancing electromagnetic fields. Hence the optical and electronic
properties are interdependent.

2. The nanoparticles work best when their diameter is less than the
critical value. The magnetic properties of the particles are very
effective below 10-20 nm. It makes them useful for several
applications.

3. When compared to microparticles, nanoparticles show dissimilar

mechanical properties. The mechanical parameters such as
hardness, elastic modulus, stress and strain, adhesion, and friction
are determined. They are used to analyze if the nanoparticles have a
usage in nanomanufacturing and nanofabrication.

4. The nanofluids are used in specialized heat transfer phenomenon's.

The thermal conductivity of these fluids is more enhanced than that
of conventional fluids. The metal nanoparticles have conductivities
1000 times greater than the fluids.

Uses and Applications of Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles are produced by engineering methods or through

combustion techniques. Healthcare, cosmetics, environmental
preservation, and air purification are processes that involve nanoparticle
technology. These particles transport chemotherapeutic drugs across the
human body for the treatment of cancer. They can transfer even to the
regions where the arteries are damaged. Aerospace engineers use carbon
nanotubes for the morphing of aircraft wings. Zinc oxide nanowires
applied in the solar cells help in environmental preservation. The
nanoparticles hence have several other applications.

Questions and Answers

1. Compare the Size of the Nanoparticles with Other Particle Types.

Answer - The following table shows the comparison:

Type of Particle Size Range (Diameter)

Small molecules and

0.1nm
atoms

Nanoparticles 1-100nm

Particulate Matter (PM2.5) 100-2500nm

2500-
Coarse particles (PM10)
10,000nm

Thickness of Paper 100,000nm

2. Give Some Nanoparticles Examples.

Answer- There are several kinds of nanoparticles based on their

morphology. For example, some nanoparticles get prepared from the
precursors of metals. These metal nanoparticles get synthesized by
chemical, electrochemical, or photochemical methods. They have high
surface energy and hence can absorb small molecules. In scanning
electron microscopes, gold nanoparticles are used for analyzing a sample.
Carbon nanoparticles are other types that have fullerenes and graphene
sheets rolled into carbon nanotubes. These nanoparticles are famous for
their high strength and electrical conductivity. Semiconductor
nanoparticles have properties between metals and nonmetals. Polymeric
nanoparticles are organic-based. These structures are either Nano
capsules or Nano spheres. Their release can be controlled and hence
used in the protection of drug molecules. The ceramic nanoparticles arise
from the oxides, carbonates, carbides, and phosphates which are
inorganic in nature. They are mainly used as drug delivery agents.
Is this page helpful?