Imagine a material 200 times stronger than steel yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. Picture a cancer drug that seeks out and destroys only malignant cells, leaving healthy tissue untouched. This isn't science fiction—it's the tangible promise of nanotechnology 4 6 .
Targeted drug delivery systems that minimize side effects while maximizing treatment efficacy.
Nanomaterials enhancing solar cell efficiency and creating more powerful energy storage.
As particles shrink, their surface area to volume ratio increases dramatically, making nanomaterials incredibly efficient as catalysts and sensors 4 .
Quantum mechanical effects become significant at nanoscale, changing optical, electrical, and magnetic properties 4 .
Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov used simple Scotch tape to repeatedly peel layers from graphite until they isolated single-layer graphene flakes.
Using optical microscopy with precisely adjusted lighting, they identified the world's first 2D material on a silicon wafer substrate.
Graphene demonstrated a combination of strength, flexibility, and conductivity never before seen together in one material 4 .
| Property | Graphene | Steel | Copper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | ~130 GPa | ~0.2-0.6 GPa | N/A |
| Electrical Conductivity | Excellent | Poor | Excellent |
| Thermal Conductivity | ~5000 W/mK | ~50 W/mK | ~400 W/mK |
| Flexibility | Highly Flexible | Stiff | Malleable |
| Material | Function | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon Nanotubes | Rolled-up graphene sheets with incredible strength and conductivity | Molecular-scale wires, electronics, drug delivery 4 9 |
| Quantum Dots | Nanoscale semiconductor crystals with size-dependent fluorescence | Biological imaging, displays, solar cells 4 9 |
| Gold Nanoparticles | Tiny gold spheres with unique light interaction properties | Targeted drug delivery, sensors, diagnostics 6 9 |
| Graphene | Single carbon atom layer with exceptional properties | Electronics, energy storage, composites 4 9 |
| Lipid Nanoparticles | Biocompatible nanoparticles made from lipids | mRNA vaccine delivery, drug delivery systems 9 |
Deep learning for nanocarrier monitoring and machine learning for material optimization 5 .
Eco-friendly nanomaterials from cellulose and biopolymers for reduced environmental impact 2 .
"The journey into the nanoscale is more than just a quest for miniaturization—it represents a fundamental shift in how we interact with matter. By understanding and engineering the world at the atomic level, we are gaining unprecedented control over the properties of the materials we use."