Module 6: Nanotechnology and Nanoscience

MODULE 6
Nanotechnology and Nanoscience
Lecture: 33
Learning objective: Learners will be able to understand about the exciting & emerging field of
nanotechnology & 2 approaches of nanotechnology .

6.1 Motivation
• Nanotechnology sometimes known as nanotech refers to the field of applied science, the
theme of which is the control of matter on an atomic and molecular scale.
• Nanotechnology and Nanoscience deal with the structures that are hundred nanometres or
even smaller than that. It involves d enveloping the material or devices within that size.

6.2 Syllabus
Module Contents Duration Self Study
1. Introduction to Nanotechnology and 1 Lecture 2 hours
Nanoscience. Two main approaches in
Nanotechnology-Bottom up technique and top
down technique
2. Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM), Atomic 1 Lecture 2 hours
Force Microscope (AFM), Scanning Tunnelling
Microscope(STM)
3. Nanomaterials - Methods for production of 1 Lecture 2 hours
nanomaterials, Applications of nanomaterials
4. Fullerenes, Carbon Nanotubes their properties 1 Lecture 2 hours
and applications
6.3 Weightage: 8 to 10 Marks
6.4 Learning Objectives
• To understand the concepts of nanotechnology and nanoscience.
• To study various methods of preparation of nanomaterials.
• Study of nanomaterials such as Carbon nanoparticles, Carbon nanotubes.
• This module also deals with the study of electron microscopy tools such as TEM, Scanning
Electron Microscope (SEM), Scanning Tunneling Electron Microscope (STEM) and Atomic
force microscope(AFM)
6.5 Pre-Requisite-
• The techniques originally from physics have been found useful in nanotechnology.
• Electron microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Scanning Tunneling Electron
Microscope (STEM) and Atomic force microscope(AFM)
6.6 Key Notation
STEM-Scanning Tunnelling Electron Microscope
SEM – Scanning Electron Microscope
AFM - Atomic Force Microscope
CNT-Carbon Nanotubes
CVD-Chemical Vapour Deposition
SWCNT-Single walled Carbon Nanotubes
MWCNT-Multi walled Carbon Nanotubes
6.7 Key Definitions
1. Nanotechnology: “Nanotechnology” is the engineering of functional systems at the
molecular scale.

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2. Nanomaterial: “Nanomaterials” form a branch of materials science that deals with the
study of the materials and their morphological characteristics on the nanoscale.
6.8 Course Content
Introduction Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Surface to volume ratio, Top-Down &
Bottom-Up approach.
6.8.1 Introduction:-
• The prefix ‘Nano’ means 10-9 m i.e. one billionth of a unit.
• Materials ranging from 1 nanometer to 100 nanometer are known as nano-materials.
• If microscopic materials are reduced to nano scale they shows drastic change in their
physical as well as chemical properties.
• Nanotechnology is multidisciplinary subject which require study of all the sciences i.e.
biology, chemistry, physics etc.

6.8.2 Top-Down approach

A top-down approach can thus be viewed as an approach where the building blocks are
removed or disintegrated from the substrate to form the nanostructure

6.8.2.1 Mechanical method:- Ball Milling Method

In this method small hard steel balls are kept in a container (Cylindrical shell) filled
with the powder of bulk material & it is subjected to high energy collision.

A ball mill consists of a hollow cylindrical shell rotating about it’s axis. The axis of
the shell may be either horizontal or inclined at a small angle to the horizontal.

The inner surface of shell is made up of an abrasion resistant material. When
continuously operated, the shell rotates & lifts the balls up & drops them from the
top of the shell which causes the grinding of the particles.

Schematic representation of the principle of mechanical milling

6.8.2.2 RF(Radio Frequency) Plasma Technique:-

• In this technique the bulk material is kept in a pestle which is kept in an evacuated chamber
as shown in fig.

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• When a high voltage is applied to the RF coils heat is generated & evaporation of metal
begins. Then cold He gas is allowed to enter the chamber. This results in high temperature
plasma in the region of the coils. Nanoparticles are formed from the metal vapor & are
collected by the collector.
6.8.2.3 Inert Gas Condensation:-

This is primitive technique of synthesizing nanomaterials.

In this technique a metallic or inorganic material is vaporized.

In the evaporation process ultrafine particles are formed.

These particles rapidly form clusters which in turn condense into crystallites.

Using a rotating cylinder maintained at liquid nitrogen temperature the nanoparticles are
removed from the gas. This method is very useful to produce composite materials.
6.8.2.5 Sputtering:-

Sputtering is a process whereby particles are ejected from a solid target material due to
bombarding of target by energetic particles. It is necessary to have kinetic energy of
incoming particles much greater than conventional thermal energies.

In this technology, the substrate is placed in a vacuum chamber with source material,
named target & an inert gas (such as Argon) is introduced at low pressure. A gas plasma is
struck using an RF power source, causing the gas to become ionized.

The ions are accelerated towards the surface of target, causing atoms of the source material
to break from the target in vapour form & condense on all surfaces.
6.8.3 Bottom up approach:
A bottom up synthesis method implies that the nanostructures are synthesized onto the
substrate by stacking atoms onto each other, which gives rise to crystal planes, crystal planes
further stack onto each other, resulting in the synthesis of the nanostructures.

Sol gel method is an example of bottom up approach

6.8.3.1 Sol-Gel process –

A Sol is a solution with particles suspended in it. When the particles in the Sol form long
polymers throughout the Sol it becomes a Gel.

Nano particles & nano-powder is obtained using this technique.

The bulk material is converted to a powder & mixed in a chemical solution to form the
Sol. The Sol is then partly converted to Gel. The Sol-Gel solution through cavitation effect
produces the nano-particles.

Sol-Gel synthesis is superior of all the available processes as it can produce large
quantities of nanomaterials at relatively low cost.

In this technique almost any material can be synthesized. It is very useful in producing
extremely homogeneous alloys & composites controlling the physical, chemical &
mechanical properties & microstructure of the developed nanostructure.

Schematic representation of sol-gel process of synthesis of nanomaterials

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Let’s check Take away from this Lecture

1. Nanoscience deals with structures size of
(a) >1000Ao (b) <100 nm (c) None of the above (d) Both a, b
2. Gold being chemically inert at normal scale, when it is at nanoscale
(a) Turns into liquid (b) Serve as a chemical catalyst (c) Both a & b (d) None of the above
3. Two main approaches in nanotechnology
(a) Bottom-up approach (b) Top-Down approach (c) None of the above (d) Both a & b
4. Sol gel process is a
(a) Solid state reaction (b) Formation of different stable solutions (c) Laser ablation technique
(d) Chemical Vapour deposition
Exercise:-
1. What are nanomaterials?
2. Explain the significance of ‘Surface to Volume ratio ‘ in nanotechnology .
3. Explain top-down & bottom-up approaches to prepare nanomaterials with one example
of each.
Questions/problems practice for a day
Explain ball milling technique & sputtering technique in details.

Learning from the topic – Learners are able to explain two approaches of nanotechnology
with examples.

Lecture: 34
Learning objective: Learner will be able to understand various tools used in nanotechnology.

Course Content: - Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Scanning Tunnelling

Electron Microscope (STEM), Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) .
6.9 Microscopy Tools:
Some of the tools required for biophysical study of structures are listed below.

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM)

Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)
6.9.1 SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope):
Principle:- It is based on the wave nature of electrons & the interaction of high energy
electrons with the sample surface .

Construction:-
• There is an electron gun comprising of a filament & a cathode which emit a beam of
thermionically emitted electrons.
• The electron beam passes through two pairs of condenser lenses C1 & C2 .
• The condensed electron beam then passes through a scanning coil S.
• Before being incident on the sample the electron beam passes through the objective lense.
• The detectors are used to detect the back scattered electrons, the secondary electrons & X-
Rays.
• Taking input from the detectors the image is produced on the monitor.

Working:-
1. The electron gun produces a high energetic electron beam.
2. Condensing lenses focus the diverging electron beam into a fine beam of a spot diameter
of few nanometers.
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3. The scan coil deflects the electron beam in various directions to scan across the surface of
sample.
4. The objective lens is used to focus the beam at a particular point on the sample surface.
5. The back scattered electrons are reflected from the surface of the sample & are collected
by the detector B.
6. Some electrons of the incident electron beam go deep into the atoms of the sample &
knock off inner shell electrons resulting in X-rays, these X-rays are collected by detector X.
7. Hence the detector collects all the information about the sample. The monitor produces
the final 2 dimensional image with these information.

Applications:-
SEM provides information about
(i) The characteristics of the sample surface.
(ii) The crystallographic structure of the specimen
(iii) The physical features of the sample.
Hence SEM used in various fields of science & technology e.g. material science , metallurgy,
biology, medical science etc.
Advantages:-
SEM can produce a two dimensional image of resolution between 10A0 and 100A0 .
SEM has a very high magnifying power.
Disadvantages:-

A SEM can produce an image of surface of the sample not of it’s interior
The sample to be studied with SEM is required to be conducting as we are colliding electrons
on it. If sample is not conducting a thin conducting coating on the top surface is used.

Fig.: Schematic diagram of SEM

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6.9.2 Scanning Tunnelling Electron Microscope (STEM):

Principle:-
STM works on the principle of Quantum Mechanical Tunnelling Effect which means that the
de-Broglie electron waves tunnel through a thin insulating layer between two conducting
materials.
Construction:-
• The STM consists of a probe with a very fine tip made up of tungsten or gold.
• The probe is fitted to a cantilever so that it can move over the surface of the sample.
• The distance between the tip of the probe & the sample surface is maintained around 1nm.
• The tip of the probe is so fine that it is possible to scan the sample surface atom by atom.
Working:-
When the biasing is done electron waves from the tip of the probe tunnel through the air gap
& reach the sample surface, giving rise to the probe current.
STM works on two different modes:
(i) Constant height mode:- In this mode the tip is moved on the sample surface at constant
height around 4A0 to 7A0. Due to the irregularities of the sample surface the probe current
changes. The probe current is inversely proportional to the thickness of the air gap. The
probe current gives rise the information about each atom of the sample surface with the
help of which the image of the surface is produced.
(ii) Constant Current Mode:- In this mode, to maintain the probe current constant the height
of the probe is varied according to the irregularities of the sample surface. From this height
variation of the tip the image of the surface topography is produced.
Applications:- Due to it’s ability to form three dimensional image of the sample surface at
atomic scale STM has wide applications in the study of characteristic of surface, size of
molecule. STM is also used to image DNA.
6.9.3 Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) (Based on 1, Chapter5 1st edition page 218,219,220)

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Principle:- The various types of forces experienced by the probe while scanning the sample
surface scatters a LASER signal which in turn produces a 3d image of the sample.

Construction:-
• The AFM consists of a probe with a sharp tip fitted to cantilever. The radius of the tip is
around 1nm & the length of the cantilever is around 10nm as shown in fig.
• The cantilever surface is highly reflective. From a LASER source a laser beam is made to
incident on the cantilever through an optical fibre. The reflected LASER beam is collected by
a series of photo detectors.
Working:-
• As the probe is moved over the sample surface the tip experiences a force due to which the
cantilever undergoes a deflection.
• According to the type of the sample the force can be of electrostatics, magnetic, mechanical
& even van Der wall force.
• The interactive force is detected by a series of photo detectors which collect the LASER beam
scattered at different direction due to the deflection of probe.
• The 3d image carrying the information of the topography of the surface is then formed.
Advantages:-
• The resolution of the image is in nanometer range.
• Both the conducting & non-conducting surfaces can be scanned by an AFM.
Applications:-
AFM can be used to study various types of samples e.g. conductors, semiconductors,
insulators, biological tissues etc. AFM is also used to form nanoparticles with it’s fine probe.

SEM AFM

1 The sample needs to be conducting. The sample can be conducting or non-

conducting

2 The operation requires vacuum The operation is possible in open atmosphere

3 Resolution of the image is more Resolution of the image is less

4 It produces a two dimensional It produces a three dimensional image

image

Let’s check Take away from this Lecture

1. STM stands for
(a) Scanning microscope Single-walled (b) Scanning Tunnelling Microscope
(c) None of the above (d) Both a & b

Exercise:-
1. Compare SEM & AFM
2. With schematic diagram explain the principle, construction & working of scanning
tunnelling microscope.
3. With schematic diagram explain the principle, construction & working of atomic force
microscope.

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Question for the day:-

With schematic diagram explain the principle, construction & working of scanning electron
microscope.
Learning from the topic – Learners are able to explain various tools used in
nanotechnology.

Lecture 35
Learning objective – Learner will be able to explain properties & applications of nano-
materials.
Course content :- Properties of Nanomaterials & APPLICATIONS OF
NANOMATERIALS
6.10 Properties of Nanomaterials:
Nano materials are materials possessing grain size of the order of a billionth of the meter. Few of
the properties are :-
1. Because of very small size, nano-particles can’t be further divided into smaller ones & it
can’t have any dislocations. Therefore we can describe them with (a) hard and (b) wear
resistant.
2. They are ductile at high temperature.
3. Exhibit very low wear & tare
4. Active for chemical reactions.
5. Less corrosion.
6.11 APPLICATIONS OF NANOMATERIALS:-
1. Insulation Materials
2. Ductile , Machinable ceramics
3. Low-cost flat-panel electrocromic displays
4. Elimination of pollutants
5. High sensitivity sensors
6. High Power Magnets
7. High energy density batteries

APPLICATIONS OF NANOMATERIALS IN VARIOUS FIELDS:-

1) Mechanical Engineering:-
• Since they are stronger , lighter etc, they are used to make hard metals.
• Smart magnetic fluids are used in vacuum seals, magnetic separators.
• They are also used in Giant Magneto Resistance (GMR) spin valves.
• Nano MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) are used in optimal switches, pressure
sensors, mass sensors.
2) Electrical, Electronic & communication Engineering:-
• Orderly assembled nano materials are used as quantum electronic devices & used in
photonic crystals.
• Some of the nano materials are used as sensing elements. Especially the molecular nano
materials are used to design robots, assembler etc.
3) Computer Science & IT –
• To make CDs, and semiconductor LASER.
• To make smaller chips few information storage
4) Bio-Medical & Chemical Energy
• Consolidated state nano particles are used as catalysts, electrodes in solar & fuel cells.
• Bio-sensitive nano particles are used in the production of DNA chips, bio sensors etc.

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Let’s check Take away from this Lecture

1. Gold being chemically inert at normal scale, when it is at nanoscale
(a) Turns into liquid
(b) Serve as a chemical catalyst
(c) Both a & b
(d) None of the above

Exercise:-
Q 1. Give few properties of nanomaterials which make them exceptional?
Q 2. Write any 4 applications of nano-materials .
Q 3. Explain the applications of nano in computer & mechanical fields.
Question practice for a day :-
Explain the applications of nano materials in various fields.

Learning from the topic – The students will understand various properties of nanoparticles,
which will explain the basis of vast applications of nanoparticles in various fields

Lecture: 36
Learning objective: Learner will be able to understand Carbon Nano Materials, their
properties & applications in various fields.

Course Content:- Fullerenes & Carbon nano tubes

6.12 Different forms of Carbon nanomaterials

6.12.1 Fullerenes:-
• Fullerenes are popularly known as Bucky balls.
• Fullerene C60 is a molecule of 60 carbon atoms.
• This is spherical molecule of diameter about 1nm.
• Each carbon atom in fullerene is trigonally bonded to other carbon atoms like graphite.
• The fullerene has football like structure with 20 hexagonal faces & 12 pentagonal faces in
each C60 molecule with a molecular diameter of 7.10A0.
• Fullerenes are actually metals & exhibit superconductivity at some low temperature.
6.12.2 Carbon Nanotubes

Graphite consists of graphene sheets i.e. as individual graphite layer. A graphene is a
single layer of graphite atoms arranged in a hexagonal pattern.

A carbon nanotube is a graphene sheet wrapped into itself to make a seamless cylinder
with each other end capped with half a fullerene molecule.

Each nanotube is a single molecule composed of millions of atoms.

A carbon nanotube has a length 100nm & diameter 2 nm.

A graphene sheet can be rolled in three different ways producing three different types of
nanotubes (i) Armchair (ii) Zigzag & (iii) Chiral .
Carbon nanotubes are of two types :-
(i) Single walled nanotubes (SWNT) consists of a single graphene sheet rolled into a single
cylinder.
(ii) Multi walled nanotubes (MWNT) is an arrangement of several coaxial tube of graphene
sheets. Each MWNT has from 2 to 50 such tubes.

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Single-walled Multi walled

Properties of CNT:-
1. Tensile Strength:- The tensile strength or the breaking strain of a carbon nanotube is 50
times that of a steel but at the same time these are very elastic. Hence CNT can be bent like
rubber tube.
2. Thermal Conductivity:- The thermal conductivity of a CNT is 10 times that of silver.
3. Electrical Conductivity:- According to the graphene sheet structure the carbon nanotube
conducts like metals or semiconductors.
4. Chemical Reactivity:- The chemical reactivity of a CNT is inversely proportional to it’s
diameter.
Applications of CNT:-
1. Energy Storage:- Due to their small dimensions, smooth surface topology & perfect
specificity CNTs are very useful for energy storage. Since the electron transfer rate of CNT
electrodes is highest ,CNT has very high efficiency.
2. Hydrogen Storage:- CNTs are used to store hydrogen gas in their inner core by capillary
effect.
3. Electrochemical Super-capacitors:- Because of the large surface area & narrow diameter
the CNTs have very large capacities.
4. Nano probes & sensors:- Since the CNTs are flexible they can be used as probe in scanning
probe instruments. The MWNT are conducting so they are used in STMs & AFMs.

5. Let’s check Take away from this Lecture

1. CNT stands for
(a) Carbon nanotube (b) Course nanotube (c) None of the above d) all of them
Exercise:-
Q 1. What are types of CNTs?
Q 2 What is fullerene? Explain it’s structure.
Q 3. What are carbon nanotubes?
Question practice for a day:-
Explain the structure & various properties of CNT

Learning Outcome – The students will be aware of the classification of Carbon Nanotubes
on the basis of no. Of concentric layers of Graphene used for the production of CNTs.
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Latest Applications of CNT

Actuators - The exceptional electrical and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes have made
them alternatives to the traditional electrical actuators for both microscopic and macroscopic
applications..

Paper Battery - A paper battery is a battery engineered to use a paper-thin sheet

of cellulose (which is the major constituent of regular paper, among other things) infused with
aligned carbon nanotubes.

Solar Cells- One of the promising applications of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is their
use in solar panels, due to their strong UV/Vis-NIR absorption characteristics.
Know:
1. Learner should be able to explain basics of nanotechnology, significance of surface to
volume ratio in nanotechnology.
2. Able to explain Bottom Up & Top Down approaches of nanotechnology.
Comprehend:
3. Learner should be able to describe various tools used in nanotechnology such as SEM, STM,
AFM
Apply, Analyze and synthesize:
4.Learner should be able explain applications of nanotechnology in various fields.

Self –Assessment

Q 1. What is the range of nanomaterials? [Level 1]

Q 2. Differentiate between AFM & SEM. [Level 2]
Q 3. Explain few applications of nanomaterials. [Level 3]
Q 4. Explain the two approaches of nanotechnology with one example. [Level 4]
Q 5. Explain the construction, working of SEM with neat diagram. [Level 5]

Short Answer Questions

Q.1 What do you mean by nano?
Ans: The prefix word nano means dwarf in Greek language.
Q.2 Define nanotechnology
Ans: Nanotechnology is an advance field of technology which deals with small structure or
nanomaterials.
Q.3 Define nanoscience
Ans: Nanoscience & nanotechnology are interdisciplinary field of research & development activity.
Q.4 Define nanostructured materials
Ans: Nanomaterials are materials possessing grain size of the order of a billionth of a meter.
Q.5 Give classification of nanomaterials.
Ans: Nanomaterials are classified as zero dimensional, one dimensional, two dimensional, three
dimensional nanostructures.
Q.6 What are the types of carbon nanotube?
Ans: There are two types of carbon nanotubes single walled and multiwalled.

Long answer questions

Q.1 Define nanomaterials. Give classification of nanomaterials
Q.2 Explain two approaches of synthesis of nanoparticle with sketch.
Q.3 Define carbon nanotube. What are the types of carbon nanotube.
Q.4 Explain construction and working of scanning tunneling microscope (STM).
Q.5 Explain construction and working of scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Q.6 Explain construction and working of Atomic force microscope (AFM)
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University questions
November 2013
(a) Explain the working of SEM with neat diagram. [5]
(b) What are different types of Carbon nanotubes and their properties and applications? [5]
November 2014
(a) Explain the working of SEM with neat diagram [5]
(b) Explain Physical methods for synthesis of nanoparticles. [5]
June 2015
(a) Explain the construction and working of AFM. [5]
(b) Explain Top down and Bottom up Approach to prepare nanoparticle. [5]

Dec 2015
(a) The core diameter of multimode step index fibre is 50 µm. The Numerical Aperture is 0.25.
Calculate the number of guided modes at an operating wavelength 0.75 µm. [3]
(b) What are Carbon Nanotubes? Explain its properties. [5]
(c) Explain the Top down and Bottom up approaches to prepare nanomaterials. [5]

June 2016
With neat diagram, explain construction & working of atomic force microscope.

Dec 2016
With neat diagram explain the construction & working of AFM.
What are nanomaterials? Explain any two methods for synthesis of nano-particles.

(a) Practice for chapter No.6 Nanotechnology

(b) Attempt any FIVE (15 Marks)
1.
(a) What is range of nanomaterials?
(b) What is meant by carbon nanotubes?
(c) Define laser ablation
(d) What do you mean by nanomaterials?
(e) Name a few nanomaterials.
(f) What are the main approaches of nanotechnology?

2. (a) Give few properties of nanomaterials which make them exceptional? [7]
(b) Explain the construction and working of Scanning Tunnelling Microscope (STM). [8]
3. (a) Describe principle and construction of TEM [8]
(b) What are the four applications of nanomaterials? [7]
4. (a) Explain the different structures of carbon nanotubes. [8]
(b)Write an essay on nanomaterials. [7]
5. (a) Write a note on AFM. [8]
(b)Explain the two approaches of nanotechnology. [7]
References
1. Applied Physics –II by Manasi Karkare and Rajni Bahuguna, I.K. International
2. Engineering Physics by Dattu R Joshi
3. Applied Physics –II by Patwardhan
4. Engineering Physics by Umamukerji, 1st edition
5. Engineering Physics by Avadhanalu and Kshirsagar

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Self-Evaluation
1. Do you understand the wide range of applications of the nanomaterials?
(a) Yes (b) No
2. Do you understand the approaches of synthesizing the nanomaterials?
(a) Yes (b) No
3. Are you able to explain SEM, TEM and AFM with neat diagram?
(a) Yes (b) No
4. Will you able to state the different applications of Carbon Nanotubes?
(a) Yes (b) No
5. Do you understand the module ?
((a) Yes, Completely (b) Partialy (c) No, Not at all

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