Nanoscience is the study of extremely small structures and systems between 1 and 100 nanometers. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter. The nanoscale deals with clusters of atoms and molecules that assemble into nanomaterials which have at least one dimension measured in nanometers. Examples of nanomaterials found in nature include the nanostructures that give some butterflies and moths their color, as well as the nano-spatulae that cover gecko feet and allow them to walk upside down.

1. The Nanoscale
Nanoscience is the science of the very small. Nano is the prefix for units
that are 10-9 in dimension. A nanometre is a billionth of a metre (a
9
millionth of a millimetre). The nanoscale is normally defined as lying
between 1 nm and 100 nm.
DNA Blood cells Hair Flea Dog
~2.5nm ~ 6 μm ~ 80 μm ~ 3 mm ~1m
diameter diameter width length length
1 nanometre 1 micrometre 1 millimetre 1 metre
10-9 10-6 10-3 100
Image: M. Zhang,
University of Dallas, Texas
10-9 m Macromolecules:
Carbon buckyball Carbon nanotubes Virus 10-8 m Nanowire 10-7 m Visible spectrum
(diameter~1nm) (diameter 10 nm) (diameter 50 nm) (diameter 50 - 100nm) (wavelength 380-740nm)
1 nm 10 nm 100 nm 1000 nm
Nanoscience deals with clusters of atoms and molecules.
These assemble into nanomaterials which have at least
nanomaterials,
one dimension in the nanoscale.
Nano in Nature
Did you know? The unique p p
y q properties many animals and p
y plants
possess are due to nanostructures that exist within them!
The beautiful colours of some
~2nm ~5nm
butterflies and moths arise from
nanostructures on their wings.
Image credit: S. Yoshioka, Osaka University, Japan
Geckos can walk upside down, even on
wet and dirty surface. Their feet aren’t
covered with adhesive. They are covered
Image credit:
A.Dhinojwala,
Image credit: C.
Mathisen, FEI
Image credit: C.
Mathisen, FEI
Image credit: A.Kellar,
Lewis & Clark
in millions of nano-spatulae that greatly
University of Akron Company Company College
increase their surface area!
www.nanoyou.eu