Why nano

Over the past twenty years, the synthesis of these materials has made tremendous progress, allowing us to use a wide range of metal, metal-oxide and semiconductors to fabricate nanostructures with varying size and shape. This is not only interesting from a chemistry point of view how do you create this range of structures? Such applications range from photodetection solar cells, IR cameras,.. A key element is the combination of the different nanocrystals into a 'nanocrystal solid' , much alike building a Lego structure out of small plastic blocks!

These solids posses new collective properties e. Research in colloidal nanocrystals is chemistry. But it's also Applied Physics. And once in a while it's more biochemistry. Nanomaterials are up to 10 times smaller than the width of a human hair. And this tiny size makes them very valuable for all kinds of practical uses. Nanomaterials have been used for many different things for many years, but they are also found in nature.

In ash clouds from volcanoes, sea breeze and in the smoke from a fire, for example. Nanomaterials are, in other words, not just something made in a laboratory. But nano technology has made it possible for humans to create materials that include nanoforms. And we do that more and more because they have some advantages that substances in bigger sizes do not have.

If we for example use nano titanium dioxide to coat the plastic chairs we have in the garden, it will make the surface self-cleaning. On this kind of coating, water does not form drops but instead a sealed water film.

Dirt will dissolve in the water film and the next heavy shower will simply remove the dirt and clean the seats. That is also one of the reasons why it has been so difficult to agree on a definition for nanomaterials. The European Commission has defined nanomaterials as something containing particles which are 1 to nanometres long. In comparison, the virus that hides on your door handle and might give you flu is nanometres long.

Specifically, how is the Superfund Research Program involved in nanotechnology-related issues? The Superfund Research Program is supporting grantees that are developing new or improved technologies and methods, including the promising field of nanotechnology, to help monitor and remediate, or clean up, around Superfund sites.

Nanomaterials offer some distinct advantages to remediation technologies such as large surface-area-to-volume ratio and high chemical reactivity. Superfund researchers are also looking at how nanomaterials behave in the environment as they are used for remediation.

The research conducted by the SRP is a coordinated effort with the Environmental Protection Agency, which is the federal entity charged with cleaning up the worst hazardous waste sites in the country. The SRP also collaborates with other agencies to conduct interactive web-based "Risk e Learning" seminars that provide information about innovative treatment and website characterization technologies to the hazardous waste remediation community. Visit the Nanotechnology - Applications and Implications for Superfund webpage for a list of some of the seminars related to nanotechnology.

The National Toxicology Program is engaged in a broad-based research program to address the potential human health hazards associated with the manufacture and use of nanomaterials. Key parameters of greatest concern relative to their potential toxicity are size, shape, surface chemistry and composition. Researchers are using studies in laboratory animals and cells, as well as mathematical models to evaluate and predict where these materials go in the body, and what potential health effects they may cause.

NIEHS is not a regulatory agency and, therefore, does not enforce statutes associated with nanomaterials or other hazardous substances. For regulatory questions, or information on what other federal agencies are doing regarding nanotechnology, please visit the appropriate agency.

An abbreviated listing is provided below. Use the browser controls to adjust the font size, or print this page. Further Reading. Resources Scientists working in teams developed and used standardized methods to assess the health effects of commonly used engineered nanomaterials ENMs. Nanomaterials What are nanomaterials? For example, Nanotechnology can be used to design pharmaceuticals that can target specific organs or cells in the body such as cancer cells, and enhance the effectiveness of therapy.

Nanomaterials can also be added to cement, cloth and other materials to make them stronger and yet lighter.