Knowra Nanoscience Nanoscience Nanoscience studies structures and phenomena at roughly 1–100 nanometers, where size-dependent effects can give materials properties distinct from their bulk forms.
Quantum confinement : The restriction of charge carriers to nanoscale dimensions, which changes their allowed energy states. Confinement makes some nanocrystals emit size-tunable colors unlike the same material in bulk.
Nanometer : A unit of length equal to one billionth of a meter. Nanoscience commonly concerns structures measured in nanometers rather than bulk-scale units.
Nanoelectronics : The design and use of electronic components whose critical features are nanoscale. Shrinking devices brings quantum effects and atomic-scale variation into circuit design.
Richard Feynman : An American theoretical physicist known for contributions to quantum electrodynamics and influential lectures on physics. His 1959 talk proposed manipulating matter at small scales, anticipating themes of nanotechnology.
Nanotoxicology : The study of the potential harmful effects of nanoscale materials on organisms and ecosystems. Distinctive surface chemistry and particle behavior can change how nanomaterials interact with living systems.
Surface-to-volume ratio : The ratio of an object's surface area to its volume, which rises as the object's dimensions shrink. At nanoscale dimensions, a large fraction of atoms lie at surfaces and influence material behavior.
Atomic force microscopy : A microscopy technique that maps surfaces by sensing forces between a sharp probe and a sample. It images nanoscale topography in conductive and nonconductive materials.
Nanomedicine : The application of nanoscale materials and devices to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Engineered particles can alter how drugs circulate, reach tissues, and release their payloads.
There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom : A 1959 lecture by Richard Feynman exploring the possibilities of manipulating and storing information at very small scales. The lecture helped frame nanoscale manipulation as a scientific and engineering possibility.
Environmental fate of nanomaterials : The transformations, transport, and persistence of engineered nanomaterials in environmental systems. Materials released during production or use may change form and move through air, water, and soil.
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