What is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is the creation of structures, devices and systems using nanoparticles.
Nanoparticles are tiny materials, with size ranging 1 – 100 nm. They possess unique physical and chemical properties due to their high surface area and nanoscale size. Their optical properties are reported to be dependent on their size, which imparts different colors due to absorption in the visible region1. For example, the iridescent colour of a butterfly’s wings is caused by the nanostructure of the wing reflecting light.
Titanium Oxide Nanospheres.
Structure of nanoparticles is important.
Titanium Oxide (TiO2) is a semiconductor, which are widely used photoelectrodes, which are utilized in Solar energy collection and storage cells. The synthesis of TiO2 as a nanosphere structure displayed better performance than it’s sheet structures, this is due to the structure allowing better conduction due to a smaller band gap3.
In situ-growth at 2D structure of MXENE.
In situ-growth is where nanoparticles are chemically formed on/inside the target substrate.
MXene (Ti3C2) is a highly conductive material formed of 2D sheets, the space between the sheets allows rapid movement of electrons. In Situ-growth of nanostructures at MXene allows for the integration of desirable properties of the nanostructure & MXene. For example, the capacity of the nanocube, sodium titanium phosphate (NTP), has improved capacity when grown at MXene4.
Read research article about the promising use of NTP@MXene in waste water desalination.
Toxicity of silver nanoparticles.
Silver is more toxic in nanoscale form.
Silver nanoparticles have been used in wound dressings, catheters, and various household products due to their antimicrobial activity. However, a study undergone by the National University of Singapore published in 2008 concluded that silver nanoparticles are genotoxic; damaging DNA and causing the formation of mutagenic structures6. TEM (transmission electron microscope) data displayed large endosomes on cell membrane treated with silver nanoparticles, where as, untreated cells appeared to have no mutations.