Who Discovered Nanoparticles?
Nanoparticles (NPs) are tiny materials utilized
across multiple sectors, including
medicine, agriculture, environment, and electronics,
due to their unique physical,
biological, mechanical, optical, and electrical
properties. This article explores the
discovery and evolution of nanoparticles and the
broader field of nanotechnology.
Image Credit: Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock.com
Historical Applications of Nanoparticles
NPs are materials with nanoscale dimensions ranging
between 1 and 100 nm. They are
classified based on shape, size, and other properties.
NPs can be metallic, non-metallic,
polymeric, and ceramic. Their high surface-to-volume
ratio and small size contribute to their
unique properties.
The use of NPs has been traced back to the fourth
century AD. In 1990, the Lycurgus cup
from the British Museum collection was analyzed
using transmission electron microscopy
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Modern Techniques Used in the Advancements of Nanoparticle Research After their discovery, nanostructures were synthesized using top-down and bottom-up methods. NPs developed using these methods vary in quality, speed, and cost. The top-down method involves breaking down bulk materials to nanoscale sizes, utilizing modern techniques such as precision engineering and lithography. Precision engineering is commonly employed in the microelectronics industry to synthesize NPs. In industrial settings, cubic boron nitride and sensors control the size of NPs. Lithography is used to pattern a surface using ions, light, and electrons.
The categorization of nanomaterials based on dimensions has evolved to include one- dimensional, very thin surface coatings, two-dimensional nanotubes and nanowires, and three-dimensional quantum dots and nanoshells. In addition to technological breakthroughs, governments and policymakers have played a crucial role in shaping the nanotechnology discourse. The National Nanotechnology Initiative, funded by the US government in 2000, was the first and biggest nanotechnology research and development program. Considering the wide-ranging applications and the volume of ongoing research worldwide, nanoscience could help address many global issues.
By Dr. Priyom Bose, Ph.D. May 8 2024
Reviewed by Lexie Corner.
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Who Discovered Nanoparticles?
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(TEM). This cup is regarded as the oldest and most popular
renowned example of dichroic
glass, where the display of two colors was caused by
nanoparticles measuring 50–100 nm
in diameter. X-Ray analysis revealed the glass was crafted
using silver and gold in a 7:3 ratio, along with
10 % copper.During the late medieval period, church
windows displayed luminous red and yellow colors
due to the incorporation of gold and silver NPs
into the glass. The glittering and glazes
found in the ceramics of the 9th–17 centuries
were due to the use of silver and copper
NPs. From the 13 to the 18 centuries, cementite
nanowires and carbon nanotubes
provided strength and resilience in “Damascus”
saber blades.Inception and Evolution of Nanotechnology
The concept of nanotechnology was introduced
by American physicist and Nobel Prize
laureate Richard Feynman in 1959. In his lecture
“There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom,”
presented at the annual meeting of the
American Physical Society at the
California Institute of Technology (Caltech),
he highlighted the possibility of using machines
to construct smaller machines at the
molecular scale.Feynman is recognized as the
father of modern nanotechnology.
He envisioned significantadvancements
in science through nanotechnology, especially
in medicine and materials
science. He hypothesized that tiny machines
could be programmed to perform complex
tasks like repairing cells.
However, Feynman highlighted the potential
risks of nanotechnology, particularly the
challenges in controlling the nanosized
machines. If NPs are not handled cautiously, they
could cause potential harm to people and the
environment.In 1974, Norio Taniguchi, a Japanese
scientist, was the first to define the term
nanotechnology, describing it as the processes
of “separation, consolidation, and
deformation of materials by one atom or
one molecule.”
In 1986, K. Eric Drexler published the
pioneering book “Engines of Creation:
The Coming Era of Nanotechnology,” which
discussed general concepts and methods for
synthesizing NPs. This book is considered
foundational to the concept of molecular
engineering.In 1991, Drexler also co-authored
“Unbounding the Future: the Nanotechnology
Revolution,” introducing terms like “nanobots”
and “nanomedicine” for the first time,
highlighting their potential in medical
applications.
Discover More:
Emerging Electron Microscopy
Techniques for Quantum Research.
Modern Techniques Used in the Advancements of Nanoparticle Research After their discovery, nanostructures were synthesized using top-down and bottom-up methods. NPs developed using these methods vary in quality, speed, and cost. The top-down method involves breaking down bulk materials to nanoscale sizes, utilizing modern techniques such as precision engineering and lithography. Precision engineering is commonly employed in the microelectronics industry to synthesize NPs. In industrial settings, cubic boron nitride and sensors control the size of NPs. Lithography is used to pattern a surface using ions, light, and electrons.
In the case of bottom-up methods, nanostructures are created atom-by-atom or molecule- by-molecule using physical or chemical techniques. These strategies primarily focus on modifying and controlling the self-assembly of molecules or atoms. Positional assembly, another method, involves placing a molecule or atom at an exact location to optimally synthesize NPs with desirable characteristics. The field of nanoparticle research saw rapid acceleration following the invention of the Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) by physicists Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer at the IBM Zurich Research Laboratory. STM is used to image and manipulate surfaces at the atomic scale by applying a tunneling current that can break or induce chemical bonds. The invention of scanning probe microscopes (SPM) and the atomic force microscope (AFM) also played a significant role in the progression of nanotechnology research. TEM has been pivotal in studying hollow graphitic tubes or carbon nanotubes (CNT). Due to superior strength and properties, CNT has been exploited in many fields of science and research. Currently, CNTs are used as composite fibers in polymers to improve the thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties of the bulk product.
Carbon dots (C-dots) were accidentally
discovered in 2004 during the purification
of single-walled CNTs. C-dots exhibited
low toxicity and good biocompatibility
and have been applied.
in biosensors, bioimaging, and
drug delivery.
The rapid progress in nanoscience has
significantly benefitted computer science.
Nanotechnology has enabled a reduction in
the size of large, conventional computers to
small, portable laptops. Currently, machine
learning algorithms and models have helped.
Design more efficient nanostructures.
Shaping Nanotechnology Discourse
Since its inception, nanotechnology has rapidly
spread across various scientific and
technological fields. It is considered an
‘enabling technology’ and could start a new
industrial revolution. The broad-scale
applications of NPs have led to the creation
of many new subdisciplines, such as
nanotoxicology, nanomedicine, nanoelectronics,
and nano-ethics.
The categorization of nanomaterials based on dimensions has evolved to include one- dimensional, very thin surface coatings, two-dimensional nanotubes and nanowires, and three-dimensional quantum dots and nanoshells. In addition to technological breakthroughs, governments and policymakers have played a crucial role in shaping the nanotechnology discourse. The National Nanotechnology Initiative, funded by the US government in 2000, was the first and biggest nanotechnology research and development program. Considering the wide-ranging applications and the volume of ongoing research worldwide, nanoscience could help address many global issues.
Written by Dr. Priyom Bose
Priyom holds a Ph.D. in Plant Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Madras, India. She is an active researcher and an experienced science writer. Priyom has also co-authored several original research articles that have been published in reputed peer-reviewed journals. She is also an avid reader and an amateur photographer.
How do we integrate the Nano Technology in to
Technical Textiles in all branches of Technical Textiles.
