Nanotechnology Overview

Principles

Definition

Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary research field focused on the understanding, manipulation, and control of matter at the nanoscale (typically 1 to 100 nanometers) to exploit novel size-dependent properties for the design of new materials, devices, and systems.

Ontological type

Core Methods

Device and System Applications

Key Physical Phenomena

Key developments

Key Figures

Colloidal Chemical Design era

A. Paul Alivisatos [1] is a leading figure in the Colloidal Chemical Design era whose work spans University of California, Berkeley [3] and the University of California System [4]. His key contributions in this era include the development of semiconductor nanocrystals and covalently bound self-assembled monolayers, as evidenced by papers Semiconductor Clusters, Nanocrystals, and Quantum Dots [7] and Semiconductor nanocrystals covalently bound to metal surfaces with self-assembled monolayers [8], which established a unified design paradigm linking size, surface chemistry, and optical and electronic behavior crucial for monodispersity and surface-functional tunability. Moungi G. Bawendi [2] is another pivotal figure in this era whose affiliations include Massachusetts Institute of Technology [5] and Collège de France [6]. His key contribution in this era is the synthesis and characterization of nearly monodisperse CdE (E = sulfur, selenium, tellurium) semiconductor nanocrystallites [9], which enabled precise control of nanoparticle size and optical properties, a cornerstone of colloidal chemical design.

Morphology and Dimensionality Control era

Kostya S. Novoselov [1] stands as a central figure in the Morphology and Dimensionality Control era, with affiliations at Henry Royce Institute [3] and Université Joseph Fourier [4]. Novoselov [1]'s landmark work, The rise of graphene [7], demonstrated the isolation and extraordinary properties of graphene, catalyzing morphology- and dimensionality-driven approaches in nanoscale electronics and materials science. Rodney S. Ruoff [2] is another central figure, with affiliations at Harvard University [5] and Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology [6], reflecting his broad engagement across leading institutions. Ruoff [2]'s work on Large-Area Synthesis of High-Quality and Uniform Graphene Films on Copper Foils [8] (2009) and Graphene-Based Ultracapacitors [9] (2008) advanced scalable graphene integration and energy storage, underscoring morphology- and dimensionality-driven design for devices.

Colloidal Energy Nanomaterials era

Maksym V. Kovalenko [1], affiliated with École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne [3] and University of Groningen [4], played a pivotal role in the Colloidal Energy Nanomaterials era. His key contributions in this era include advancing solution-processed nanocrystals of CsPbX3 with bright emission across a wide color gamut [7] and enabling fast anion-exchange in highly luminescent CsPbX3 nanocrystals [8], establishing tunable optical properties essential for scalable energy-related optoelectronic materials. Aron Walsh [2], affiliated with University of Cambridge [5] and University College London [6], co-authored the 2015 Nanocrystals of Cesium Lead Halide Perovskites paper [7], advancing understanding of bright, tunable nanocrystal emitters. This work underpins the era's emphasis on colloidal synthesis and surface-engineered optoelectronic function for energy materials, a trajectory exemplified by the perovskite nanocrystal study [7].