Nanochemistry

(chemistry) The study of the synthesis and analysis of materials in the nanoscale range (1 - 10 nanometers), including large organic molecules, inorganic cluster compounds, and metallic or semiconductor particles.

The study of the synthesis and characterization of materials in the nanoscale size range (1 to 10 nanometers). These materials include large organic molecules, inorganic cluster compounds, and metallic or semiconductor particles. The synthesis of nanoscale inorganic materials is important because the small size endows these particles with unusual structural and optical properties that may find application in catalysis and electrooptical devices. Approaches to the synthesis of these materials have focused on constraining the reaction environment through the use of surface-bound organic additives, porous glasses, zeolites, clays, or polymers. The use of synthetic approaches that are inspired by the biological processes result in the deposition of inorganic materials such as bones, shells, and teeth (biomineralization). This biomimetic approach involves the use of assemblies of biological molecules that provide nanoscale reaction environments in which inorganic materials can be prepared in an organized and controlled manner. Examples of biological assemblies include phospholipid vesicles and the polypeptide micelle of the iron storage protein, ferritin. See also Micelle.

Vesicles are bounded by an organic membrane that provides a spatial limit on the size of the reaction volume. If a chemical reaction is undertaken in this confined space that leads to the formation of an inorganic material, the size of the product will also be constrained to the dimensions of the organic host structure. Provided that the chemical and physical conditions are not too severe to disrupt the organic membrane, these supramolecular assemblies may have advantages over inorganic hosts such as clays and zeolites because the chemical nature of the organic surface can be systematically modified so that controlled reactions can be accomplished. See also Supramolecular chemistry.

One problem encountered with the use of phospholipid vesicles is their sensitivity to changes in temperature and ionic strength. Procedures have been developed in which the biomolecular cage of the iron storage protein, ferritin, has been used as a nanoscale reaction environment for the synthesis of inorganic materials. In the simplest approach the native iron oxide core is transformed into another material by chemical reaction within the protein shell.

Part of a series of articles on Molecular Nanotechnology Mechanosynthesis Molecular assembler Molecular machine Productive nanosystems Nanorobotics K. Eric Drexler Engines of Creation See also Nanotechnology  v • d • e

Nanochemistry is a new discipline concerned with the unique properties associated with assemblies of atoms or molecules on a scale between that of the individual building blocks and the bulk material. At this level, quantum effects can be significant, and also innovative ways of carrying out chemical reactions become possible.

It is the science of tools, technologies, and methodologies for chemical synthesis, analysis, and biochemical diagnostics, performed in nanolitre to femtolitre domains.

Nanochemistry is the use of synthetic chemistry to make nanoscale building blocks of desired shape, size, composition and surface structure, charge and functionality with an optional target to control self-assembly of these building blocks at various scale-lengths.

Nanochemistry use semi-conductors that only conduct electricity in specific conductions. As the semi-conductors are much smaller than normal conductors the product can be much smaller.

This chemistry article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e

This technology-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)