ABSTRACT
Nanoscience is the analysis of phenomena and material modification at atomic, molecular, and macromolecular scales, in which the properties of chemicals and materials differ significantly from the properties at a larger-than-molecular scale (McNaught and Wilkinson, 1997; Alemán et al., 2007; ASTM E2456). Nanotechnology is further defined as the understanding and regulating matter in dimensions from 1 to 100 nm (1 nm = 1×10–9 m = 3.2808×10–9 feet = 3.9370×10–8 inches). Nanoscience and nanotechnology thus involve the capability of detecting and controlling the actions of individual atoms and molecules (Nouailhat, 2008). Moreover, nanoobjects have (1) structures with new properties that have similar properties to those of a molecule and a solid; (2) specific qualities proving useful in different applications.
