Nanomaterials
Nanomaterials are defined as materials composed of one or more engineered nano-components. A nano-component has at least one of its dimensions between 1nm and 100nm. These nano-components or their interactions are engineered to impart the unique properties of these materials. Examples include nanotubes, nanoparticles, nanostructured materials, and designer molecules.
The characterisation, analysis and application of nanomaterials make up one of the most exciting emerging fields of research. Much work still remains to be done so as to increase the knowledge and usability of these new materials. This has attracted both industrial and academic support, as the quality and range of nanomaterials research at NPL attests to.
NPL research on nanomaterials focuses in developing traceable methods to measure the structural properties of nanomaterials and the interactions and transport across boundaries in nanostructured materials.
For more information: nanomaterials@npl.co.uk
Nanomaterials research
- A temperature gradient across a solid generates an electrical voltage between the hot and cold ends. This phenomenon, discovered in 1821 by Seebeck has been extensively used in thermocouples for temperature measurement. While the voltage generated by metals is generally less than 50 μV/K, semiconductors and new nanostructured materials can generate several hundreds of μV/K. This technology for direct conversion of heat to electricity is called thermoelectric power generation.
- Nanoparticles are exploited commercially, in the ink industry, pharmacuticals, and in materials. The lack of traceable calibration standards of sub-50 nm nanoparticles means that the characterisation and standardisation of nanoparticles, and their toxicological impact, is critical for regulation purposes and to sustain innovation.
Nanomaterials products & services
- Class 10 and 1,000 cleanroom facilities.
- NPL is one of the leading laboratories in the development of measurement techniques for nano-scale instrumented indentation.
- Scanning probe metrology (SPM) is a powerful technique in nanomaterials. Its wide range of operating modes provides invaluable, and complementary, methods of characterisation of nano-structured materials.