This document discusses top-down and bottom-up approaches for synthesizing nanoparticles. The top-down approach involves taking bulk material and using lithography techniques like etching to pattern the material into nanostructures. The bottom-up approach involves selectively adding atoms to bulk material using techniques like seeding to grow nanostructures. Both approaches can produce 0D, 1D, 2D, and 3D nanostructures but the bottom-up approach allows for more complex self-assembled structures. Specific examples of top-down fabrication of 1D devices and bottom-up growth of nanowire arrays are also discussed.