Nanocrystal
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225525889
2008-07-14T03:55:31Z
Reciproc08
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'Trademark' modified.
Fahlman, B. D. has described a '''nanocrystal''' as any nanomaterial with at least one dimension ≤ 100nm and that is singlecrystalline.<ref>Fahlman, B. D. ''Materials Chemistry''; Springer: Mount Pleasant, '''MI''', 2007; Vol. 1, pp 282-283.</ref> More properly, any material with a dimension of less than 1 micron, i.e., 1000 nanometers, should be referred to as a nanoparticle, not a nanocrystal. For example, any particle which exhibits regions of crystallinity should be termed [[nanoparticle]] or nanocluster based on dimensions. These materials are of huge technological interest since many of their [[electrical]] and [[thermodynamic]] properties show strong size dependence and can therefore be controlled through careful manufacturing processes.
Crystalline nanoparticles are also of interest because they often provide single-domain crystalline systems that can be studied to provide information that can help explain the behaviour of [[macroscopic]] samples of similar materials, without the complicating presence of [[grain boundary|grain boundaries]] and other [[crystallographic defect|defects]]. [[Semiconductor]] nanocrystals in the sub-10nm size range are often referred to as [[quantum dot]]s.
Crystalline nanoparticles made with [[zeolite]] are used as a filter to turn crude oil onto diesel fuel at an ExxonMobil oil refinery in Louisiana, a method cheaper than the conventional way.
A layer of crystalline nanoparticles is used in a new type of solar panel named SolarPly made by Nanosolar. It is cheaper than other solar panels, more flexible, and claims 12% efficiency. (Conventionally inexpensive organic solar panels convert 9% of the sun's energy into electricity.) Crystal [[tetrapod (structure)|tetrapods]] 40 [[nanometer]]s wide convert photons into electricity, but only have 3% efficiency. (Source: National Geographic June 2006)
The term NanoCrystal® is a registered trademark<ref>See for example US TM Reg. Nos. 2386089 / 2492925 and EU CTM Reg. No. 000885079</ref> of Elan Pharma International Limited (Ireland) used in relation to Elan’s proprietary milling process and nanoparticulate drug formulations.
==See also==
* [[Quantum dot]]
* [[Nanoparticle]]
* [[Nanocrystal solar cell]]
* [[Nanocrystalline silicon]]
* [[Magnetic nanoparticles]]
==References==
<references />
==External links==
* [http://www.elan.com/EDT/nanocrystal%5Ftechnology/ Elan Drug Technology]
* [http://www.vacuumschmelze.de/dynamic/en/home/researchampinnovation/materialsdesign/nanocrystallinesoftmagneticmaterials.php Nanocrystalline Soft Magnetic Materials]
[[Category:Nanomaterials]]
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