Sizes, Shapes, and Types of Nanomaterials

Nanomaterials are tiny particles, made by breaking down bulk products or by grouping atoms, to form small things, called nanoparticles. Nanoparticles have a size of 1–100 nm, so a person can only see them with a powerful microscope, as they are smaller than the width of a single hair! Nanoparticles are the building blocks of nanotechnology, which is a science used to make many things in our daily lives, like our electronic gadgets, farming chemicals, and medicines. Nanomaterials can come in various shapes, like balls, wires, and rods. They can be flat or have many dimensions. Scientists can produce nanomaterials from carbon, metal, or plastic, giving the nanomaterial special powers, like conducting electricity, absorbing light, or even changing color. These unique powers make each type of nanomaterial useful for a different kind of job. The size, shape, and type of nanomaterial can be seen using many different laboratory methods.