Chapter 6 – Nanomaterials: Classes and Fundamentals

Publisher Summary The most typical way of classifying nanomaterials is to identify them according to their dimensions. Zero-dimensional nanomaterials are materials wherein all the dimensions are measured within the nanoscale (no dimensions, or 0-D, are larger than 100 nm). The most common representation of zero-dimensional nanomaterials is nanoparticles. On the other hand, 1-D nanomaterials differ from 0-D nanomaterials in that the former have one dimension that is outside the nanoscale. This difference in material dimensions leads to needle-like shaped nanomaterials. One-dimensional nanomaterials include nanotubes, nanorods, and nanowires. Two-dimensional nanomaterials are somewhat more difficult to classify. However, assuming for the time being the aforementioned definitions for 0-D and 1-D nanomaterials, 2-D nanomaterials are materials in which two of the dimensions are not confined to the nanoscale. As a result, 2-D nanomaterials exhibit plate-like shapes. Three-dimensional nanomaterials, also known as bulk nanomaterials, are relatively difficult to classify. However, in keeping with the dimensional parameters, it is true to say that bulk nanomaterials are materials that are not confined to the nanoscale in any dimension.