Nanoscale Science and Technology
Chapter One
Generic methodologies for
nanotechnology: classification and
fabrication
1.1 INTRODUCTION AND CLASSIFICATION
1.1.1 What is nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is the term used to cover the design, construction and utilization of
functional structures with at least one characteristic dimension measured in nanometres.
Such materials and systems can be designed to exhibit novel and significantly improved
physical, chemical and biological properties, phenomena and processes as a result of the
limited size of their constituent particles or molecules. The reason for such interesting
and very useful behaviour is that when characteristic structural features are intermediate
in extent between isolated atoms and bulk macroscopic materials; i.e., in the range of
about [10.sup.-9] m to [10.sup.-7] m (1 to 100 nm), the objects may display physical attributes
substantially different from those displayed by either atoms or bulk materials. Ultimately
this can lead to new technological opportunities as well as new challenges.
1.1.2 Classification ... read full excerpt from Nanoscale Science and Technology ebook
