NANOCHEMISTRY(2)

NANOCHEMISTRY
Nanochemistry is a branch of nanoscience that deals with the chemical applications

of nanomaterials in nanotechnology.
Nanochemistry involves the study of the synthesis and characterisation of materials of
nanoscale size.
Nanochemistry is a relatively new branch of chemistry concerned with the unique
properties associated with assemblies of atoms or molecules of
nanoscale (~1-100 nm) length (one nanometre being the equivalent of one
billionth of a meter), so the size of nanoparticles lies somewhere between
individual atoms or molecules (the 'building blocks') and larger assemblies of bulk
material.
There are physical and chemical techniques in manipulating atoms to form molecules
and nanoscale assemblies.
• Physical techniques allow atoms to be manipulated and positioned to specific
requirements for a prescribed use.
• Traditional chemical techniques arrange atoms in molecules using well
characterised chemical reactions.
Nanochemistry
• Nanochemistry is the science of tools, technologies, and methodologies for

novel chemical synthesis e.g. employing synthetic chemistry to make
nanoscale building blocks of desired (prescribed) shape, size, composition and
surface structure and possibly the potential to control the actual self-assembly
of these building blocks to various desirable sizes.
• The small size of nanoparticles gives these particles 'unusual' structural and
optical properties with applications in catalysis, electrooptical devices, etc.
• Nanoparticles are VERY tiny aggregations of atoms.
• Nanochemistry works with materials at atomic level. The individual
molecules or nanotubes have different properties from the bulk material.
• If you compare the size of nanoparticles to that of conventional industrially produced materials,
you find they have novel uses such as sunscreens and many present and future applications e.g.
• Nanoparticles have a high surface to volume ratio which has a dramatic effect on their
properties compared to non-nanoscale more bulky forms of the same material.
• Nanoparticles have a very high surface to volume ratio and this gives them special properties
different from the bulk material e.g.
• This difference in surface area / volume ratio for the particles of the material give nanoparticles extra chemical
reactivity compared to the bulk material,
• less of a material like a catalyst is needed in a chemical process, so catalysts based on nanoparticles are more
efficient than those based on bulk material catalysts.
• Pieces of gold are, fairly obviously, gold-coloured, but gold nanoparticles are deep red or even
black when mixed with water.
• Titanium dioxide is a white solid used in house paint where plainly it reflects visible light.
However, titanium dioxide nanoparticles are so small that they do not reflect visible light, so
they cannot be seen and are used in sunblock creams because they block harmful ultraviolet
light from the Sun without appearing white on the skin (as in TiO in paint). 2
• Silver foil shows virtually no reaction with dilute hydrochloric acid but nanoparticles of silver
rapidly react with hydrochloric acid because of the very large surface are to volume ration
(think of limestone lumps and very fine powder illustrates this effect at the much larger non-
nanoparticle level.
Applications of nanoparticle materials
•
Nanoparticles have many applications in medicine for controlled drug delivery via
fullerenes - an example of nanomedicine application.
•
Nanotechnology is being applied to the production of synthetic skin and implant surgery.
•
Nanomaterials that conduct electricity are being used in electronics as minute
conductors to produce circuits for microchips.
•
Materials in cosmetics, deodorants and sun screens may be of nanoparticle size and they
are used to improve moisturisers without making them too oily.
•
Nanoscale materials are being developed as new catalysts for fuel cells.
•
Nanoparticle substances are incorporated in fabrics to prevent the growth
of bacteria.
Nanomaterials use in Medicine
The use of nanotechnology in medicine offers some exciting possibilities. Some
techniques are only imagined, while others are at various stages of testing, or
actually being used today.
• One application of nanotechnology in medicine currently being developed involves
employing nanoparticles to deliver drugs, heat, light or other substances to
specific types of cells (such as cancer cells). Particles are engineered so that they
are attracted to diseased cells, which allows direct treatment of those cells. This
technique reduces damage to healthy cells in the body and allows for earlier
detection of disease. For example, nanoparticles that deliver chemotherapy drugs
directly to cancer cells are under development.
• There are nanoparticles that release drugs when subjected to sheer force, such as
occurs when passing through a section of artery that is mostly blocked by a clot.
Lab tests on animals have shown that this method is effective in delivering drugs
used to dissolve clots.
Nanomaterials use in Medicine
• Gelatine nanoparticles an be used to deliver drugs to damaged brain tissue more efficiently
than standard methods.
• Nanosponges have been developed that absorb toxins and remove them from the bloodstream.
The nanosponges are polymer nanoparticles coated with a red blood cell membrane. The red
blood cell membrane allows the nanosponges to travel freely in the bloodstream and attract the
toxins.
• use of bismuth nanoparticles to concentrate radiation used in radiation therapy to treat cancer
tumours. Initial results indicate that the bismuth nanoparticles would increase the radiation
dose to the tumour by 90 percent.
• A sensor that uses carbon nanotubes embedded in a gel was developed. It can be injected
under the skin to monitor the level of nitric oxide in the bloodstream. The level of nitric oxide is
important because it indicates inflammation, allowing easy monitoring of inflammatory
diseases.
• Nanorobots could actually be programmed to repair specific diseased cells, functioning in a
similar way to antibodies in our natural healing processes.
• Drug delivery in cancer, tumour, and other types of diseases are important for optimising the
effect of drugs while reducing toxic side effects. Several nanotechnologies, mostly based on
nanomaterials (NMs), can facilitate drug delivery to tumours.
Nanomaterials use in water purification
Water is the most essential element to every life on this Earth. A
sufficient supply of safe drinking water is one of the important
requirement for a healthy life, but waterborne diseases play a deadly
role in causing large numbers of deaths in many parts of the world.
Nanofiltration is one type of filtration that uses pressure as the driving
force. Nanofiltration membranes provide higher thrust or rejection of
multivalent ions, pesticides and heavy metals compared with
conventional treatment methods.
Currently, this technology has become the newest and most leading-
edge technology in water treatment and is now available for practical
use in homes, business or manufacturing.
Currently nanotechnology plays a vital role in water purification techniques.
Nanotechnology holds great promise in remediation, desalination, filtration,
purification and water treatment.
The main features that make nanoparticles effective for water treatment are

More surface area; Small volume;

The higher the surface area and volume, the particles become stronger,
more stable and durable.

Makes chemical and biological reactions easier.
• In water filtration, filters are made of nanomaterials that are more
useful for dye rejection in water effluent, removal of salt and ions.
The most commonly used nanomaterial is that made of graphene
oxide membrane. Graphene is an allotrope of carbon.
Graphene coated nanofilter

• Nanomaterials have begun to be widely used in environmental
remediation, which is based on using highly reactive or
absorbent nanomaterials to remove pollutants. The
characteristics of these nanomaterials enable efficient chemical
transformation or degradation of the contaminants.
• Examples of nanomaterials which have been studied for use in
environmental remediation include carbon nanotubes,
nanoscale zeolites, nanofibers, and titanium dioxide.
Groundwater remediation
Ground water remediation is the most common commercial application of
nano remediation technologies. Using nanomaterials for groundwater
remediation is an emerging approach that is promising due to the availability
and effectiveness of many nanomaterials for degrading or sequestering
contaminants.
Nanotechnology offers the potential to effectively treat contaminants in situ,
avoiding excavation or the need to pump contaminated water out of the
ground. The process begins with nanoparticles being injected into a
contaminated aquifer via an injection well. The nanoparticles are then
transported by groundwater flow to the source of contamination. Upon contact,
nanoparticles can sequester contaminants via adsorption or complexation,
immobilizing them, or they can degrade the contaminants to less harmful
compounds. Contaminant transformations are typically redox reactions.
Reactive nanoparticles can be injected into a well where
they will then be transported down gradient to the
contaminated area.
Surface water treatment
The use of various nanomaterials, including carbon

nanotubes and TiO , shows promise for treatment of
2
surface water, including for purification, disinfection, and desalination.

Target contaminants in surface waters include heavy metals, organic
contaminants, and pathogens. In this context, nanoparticles may be used
as sorbents, as reactive agents (photocatalysts or redox agents), or in
membranes used for nanofiltration.
• Titanium dioxide and nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) are the most common
constituents of nanomaterials used in
water treatment and remediation. nZVI particles have a
diameter of 100–200 nm composed of iron (Fe) with a valence of zero.
Air remediation
Some materials such as titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO),

iron (III) oxide (Fe2O3) and tungsten oxide (WO3) may serve as
photocatalysts. In relation to the environment and water
remediation, photocatalysts are able to oxidize organic air
pollutants into none toxic materials. In general, the use of TiO2 in
advanced methods of photochemical oxidation for the
remediation of air pollution is due to its low levels of toxicity,
high photoconductivity, high photostability, and that it is an easily
available and inexpensive material.
Risk of nanomaterials
• Nanoparticles react with non-target compounds.
• Bare nanoparticles tend to clump together and react rapidly with soil
or other material in ground water. For in situ remediation, this action
inhibits the particles from dispersing in the contaminated area,
reducing their effectiveness for remediation.
• Coatings for nZVI include polyelectrolyte coatings, emulsification
layers, and protective shells made from silica or carbon. Such
designs may affect the nanoparticles’ ability to react with
contaminants, their uptake by organisms, and their toxicity.
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NANOCHEMISTRY

Nanochemistry is a branch of nanoscience that deals with the chemical applications

• Nanochemistry is the science of tools, technologies, and methodologies for

Graphene coated nanoﬁlter

The use of various nanomaterials, including carbon

surface water, including for puriﬁcation, disinfection, and desalination.

Some materials such as titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO),

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