Nanomaterials are a class of materials where the individual units have at least one dimension below 100 nanometers (nm)
. They can be made of any element and are commonly classified into organic (carbon-based), inorganic (non-carbon-based), and hybrid (combining both) materials
. Nanomaterials can be found in nature, such as in butterfly wings and gecko footpads, and have unique optical, electronic, thermo-physical, or mechanical properties
. Nanomaterials can be discrete structures, like nanoparticles or nanotubes, or they can be part of larger materials with internal or surface structures on the nanoscale
. They can be synthesized purposefully through engineering or occur naturally as by-products of combustion reactions
. Due to their unique properties, nanomaterials have a wide range of applications, including healthcare, electronics, cosmetics, textiles, information technology, and environmental protection
. Some key aspects of nanomaterials include:
- Size : Nanomaterials are characterized by their tiny size, measured in nanometers, with at least one external dimension measuring 1-100 nm
- Composition : Nanomaterials can be made from various elements and can be organic, inorganic, or hybrid materials
- Applications : Nanomaterials have a broad range of applications, such as targeted drug delivery, regenerative medicine, diagnostics, electronics, cosmetics, textiles, information technology, and environmental protection
- Limitations : Nanomaterials science is a relatively new discipline, and there are still challenges to overcome, such as consistent synthesis of all nanomaterials and understanding their potential impact on human health and the environment
