Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-5cf477f64f-pw477 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-04-04T11:14:28.569Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

1 - Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2014

Frank K. Ko  and
Yuqin Wan
Frank K. Ko
Affiliation:
University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Yuqin Wan
Affiliation:
University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Get access

Summary

How big is a nanometer?

By definition, a nanometer, abbreviated as nm, is a unit for length that measures one billionth of a meter. (1 nm = 10−3 μm = 10–6 mm = 10−7 cm = 10−9 m.) Our hair is visible to the naked eye. Using an optical microscope we can measure the diameter of our hair, which is in the range of 20–50 microns (μm) or 20 000–50 000 nm. Blood cells are not visible to the naked eye, but they can be seen under the microscope, revealing a diameter of about 10 microns or 10 000 nm. The diameter of hydrogen atoms is 0.1 nm. In other words 10 hydrogen atoms can be placed side-by-side in 1 nm. Figure 1.1 provides an excellent illustration of the relative scales in nature. The discovery of nanomaterials ushered us to a new era of materials. We have progressed from the microworld to the nanoworld.

What is nanotechnology?

According to the National Science Foundation in the United States nanotechnology is defined as [1]:

Research and technology development at the atomic, molecular or macromolecular levels, in the length scale of approximately 1–100 nanometer range, to provide a fundamental understanding of phenomena and materials at the nanoscale and to create and use structures, devices and systems that have novel properties and functions because of their small and/or intermediate size. The novel and differentiating properties and functions are developed at a critical length scale of matter typically under 100 nm. Nanotechnology research and development includes manipulation under control of the nanoscale structures and their integration into larger material components, systems and architectures. Within these larger scale assemblies, the control and construction of their structures and components remains at the nanometer scale.

Type
Chapter
Information
Introduction to Nanofiber Materials , pp. 1 - 12
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2014

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Subcommittee, N. Nanotechnology definition 2000 February 2000 [cited 2012 April 8]; available from: .
Bonner, J. T., The Scale of Nature. New York: Harper and Row, 1969.Google Scholar
Roco, M. C., National Nanotechnology Initiative – Past, Present, Future. Handbook on Nanoscience, Engineering and Technology, pp. 3.1–3.26, 2007.
Iijima, S., “Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon,” Nature, vol. 354(6348), pp. 56–58, 1991.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shea, C. M., “Future management research directions in nanotechnology: a case study,” Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, vol. 22(3), pp. 185–200, 2005.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huda, M. S., et al., “Effect of fiber surface-treatments on the properties of laminated biocomposites from poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and kenaf fibers,” Composites Science and Technology, vol. 68(2), pp. 424–432, 2008.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, Y.. Nanomanufacturing technologies: advances and opportunities, in IAMOT 2009. Orlando, Florida, USA, 2009.Google Scholar
Allcock, H., and Lampe, F., Contemporary Polymer Chemistry. Prentice Hall, 1981.Google Scholar
Fan, Y., et al., “The influence of preparation parameters on the mass production of vapor-grown carbon nanofibers,” Carbon, vol. 38(6), pp. 789–795, 2000.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hongu, T. and Philips, G., New Fibers. Woodhead Publ. Ltd., Cambridge, 1997.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reneker, D. H., and Chun, I., “Nanometre diameter fibres of polymer, produced by electrospinning,” Nanotechnology, vol. 7(3), pp. 216–223, 1996.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacDiarmid, A., et al., “Electrostatically-generated nanofibers of electronic polymers,” Synthetic Metals, vol. 119(1–3), pp. 27–30, 2001.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ko, F., et al., “Structure and properties of carbon nanotube reinforced nanocomposites,” 2002. Proceedings of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics AIAA-2002-1426:1779.
Ko, F., et al., The Dynamics of Cell–Fiber Architecture Interaction. Society for Biomaterials, 1998. Proceedings of the Annual meeting of the biomaterials Research Society, San Diego, CA.Google Scholar
Norris, I. D., et al., “Electrostatic fabrication of ultrafine conducting fibers: polyaniline/polyethylene oxide blends,” Synthetic Metals, vol. 114(2), pp. 109–114, 2000.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Doshi, J. and Reneker, D., “Electrospinning process and applications of electrospun fibers,” Journal of Electrostatics, vol. 35(2), pp. 151–160, 1995.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kim, J. and Reneker, D., “Polybenzimidazole nanofiber produced by electrospinning,” Polymer Engineering and Science, vol. 39(5), pp. 849–854, 1999.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Formhals, A., “Process and apparatus for preparing artificial threads,” US Patent, 1934.
Taylor, G., “Electrically driven jets,” Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences (1934–1990), vol. 313(1515), pp. 453–475, 1969.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buchko, C. J., et al., “Processing and microstructural characterization of porous biocompatible protein polymer thin films,” Polymer, vol. 40, pp. 7397–7407, 1999.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baumgarten, P., “Electrostatic spinning of acrylic microfibers,” Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, vol. 36(1), 1971.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Larrondo, L. and John Manley, R., “Electrostatic fiber spinning from polymer melts. I. Experimental observations on fiber formation and properties,” Journal of Polymer Science Polymer Physics Edition, vol. 19(6), pp. 909–920, 1981.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hayati, I., Bailey, A. I., and Tadros, T. F., “Mechanism of stable jet formation in electrohydrodynamic atomization,” Nature, vol. 319(6048), pp. 41–43, 1986.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hayati, I., Bailey, A., and Tadros, T., “Investigations into the mechanism of electrohydrodynamic spraying of liquids. II: Mechanism of stable jet formation and electrical forces acting on a liquid cone,” Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, vol. 117(1), pp. 222–230, 1987.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, D., “The electrohydrodynamic atomization of liquids,” IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, pp. 527–535, 1986.
“World's best in ultra-fine bicomponent microfibers,” [cited 2009 November 21]; available from: .
Deitzel, J., et al., “Generation of polymer nanofibers through electrospinning,”Army Research Lab Aberdeen Proving Ground Md, 1999.Google Scholar
Roco, M., Williams, R., and Alivisatos, P., Nanotechnology research directions: IWGN Workshop report: vision for Nanotechnology R&D in the next decade, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2000.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ko, F. K., “Nanofiber technology: bridging the gap between nano and macro world,” in Nanoengineered Nanofibrous Materials, Guceri, S., Gogotsi, Y. G., and Kuznetsov, V., Ed. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004 p. 544.Google Scholar
Gallo, E., Anwar, A., and Nabet, B., “Contact-induced properties of semiconducting nanowires and their local gating,” Nanoengineered Nanofibrous Materials, p. 313, 2004.
El-Aufy, A., Nabet, B., and Ko, F., Carbon nanotube reinforced (PEDT/PAN) nanocomposite for wearable electronics,” Polymer Preprints, vol. 44(2), pp. 134–135, 2003.Google Scholar
Otto, W. H., “Relationship of tensile strength of glass fibers to diameter,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society, vol. 38(3), pp. 122–125, 1955.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yakobson, B. and Avouris, P., “Mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes,” in Carbon Nanotubes, Dresselhaus, M., Dresselhaus, G., and Avouris, P., Ed. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer, 2001, pp. 287–327.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berry, G., Nakayasu, H., and Fox, T., “Viscosity of poly (vinyl acetate) and its concentrated solutions,” Journal of Polymer Science Polymer Physics Edition, vol. 17(11), pp. 1825–1844, 1979.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

  • Introduction
  • Frank K. Ko, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Yuqin Wan, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
  • Book: Introduction to Nanofiber Materials
  • Online publication: 05 July 2014
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139021333.002
Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

  • Introduction
  • Frank K. Ko, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Yuqin Wan, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
  • Book: Introduction to Nanofiber Materials
  • Online publication: 05 July 2014
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139021333.002
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Introduction
  • Frank K. Ko, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Yuqin Wan, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
  • Book: Introduction to Nanofiber Materials
  • Online publication: 05 July 2014
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139021333.002
Available formats
×