In the International System of Units, the prefix “nano” means one billionth, or 10-9; so a nanometer is one billionth of a meter. It’s hard to imagine how small it is, so here are some examples:
A sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick.
A strand of human DNA is 2.5 nanometers in diameter.
There are 25.4 million nanometers in an inch.
A human hair is about 80,000–100,000 nanometers wide.
A gold atom is about a third of a nanometer in diameter.
On a comparative scale, a sphere is 1 nanometer in diameter for a ping pong ball as it is for the Earth. The illustration to the right features three visual examples of nanotechnology’s size and scale, showing what small things at the nanoscale really are.
Nanoscale simulation with visible objects
Advantages of the nano scale
When particles are produced with sizes around 1–100 nanometers, the material’s properties can vary significantly from those at larger scales.
This is the size scale on which quantum effects can determine the behavior and properties of particles. One fascinating and powerful result of the quantum effects of the nanoscale is the concept of “acquirability” of properties.
That is, by varying the size of a particle, a scientist can literally fine-tune a physical property that interests you.
At the nanoscale, properties such as melting point, fluorescence, electrical conductivity, magnetic permeability, and chemical reactivity can vary as a function of particle size.
Silver at the nanoscale illustrates the unique properties that occur at the nanoscale. Nanoscale silver can appear yellow depending on the size of the grain.
Silver nanoparticles interact differently with light compared to larger silver particles due to quantum effects.
Other fields are also benefiting from an understanding of natural nanotechnology. Some scientists are exploring the use of molecular self-assembly, self-organization, and quantum mechanics to create new computing platforms.
Other researchers are using nanomaterials to develop nature-inspired systems for artificial photosynthesis to harness solar energy.
