What defines a particle as a nanoparticle?

[cRaZiRiCaN]

Is the only way to find a material's or compound's behavior at the nano scale through experiment or can we deduce its characteristics through some other way or theories?

 

[pjoonmo79]

nano scale photonic crystal optical characteristics => FDTD(finite-difference time-domain) simulation

I don't no other thing

 

[Gokul43201]

Is the only way to find a material's or compound's behavior at the nano scale through experiment or can we deduce its characteristics through some other way or theories?

The only way to determine a material's properties at ANY scale is through experimentation. Theory that is well established can make very good predictions of said properties, but such predictions need to be verified by experiment. It is the measurement of the property that is the final arbiter. This is just as true in the nanoscale as it is in the mesoscale or macroscale.

 

[mah65]

I agree with Gokul43201. Now, let me add something.

In some cases, the phenomenon and its basic rules are known. it such condition, you can "simulate" the process by means of computers. For example if you know the flexural module of carbon nanotubes, you would be able to simulate its behavior under flexural forces. as a consequence, it is not needed to exactly bend carbon nanotube in an experiment to see how it behaves.

Simulation is growing in many sciences, esp in Nanoscience (since many processes are not known and/or hard to know, scientist prefer to simulate them rather than doing experiment on them). For simulating a process you need to know a kind of programming language, such as Fortran, Matlab, Pascal or ...

Good luck

 

[Alexandrina]

If a substance is above the nanoscale (particle size above the nano range) can be considered nanomaterial based on other characteristics?

 

[mah65]

your question is not clear enough: "can be considered nanomaterial based on other characteristics?", however, I help u as much as I konw.

Based on definition, nanoparticles are those "which are 1-100 nm in size, and demonstrate properties that other ordinary particles do not show". For example, Quantum Dots are in the nanorange and show properties that are originated from their nanosize. Also, some 1-100 nanparticles do not exhibit show nano-originated properties, but many people consider them as nanoparticles!

On the other hand, some particles may be larger that 100 nm (100-1000 nm), but at the same time, show properties that are unique! Some scientist also know them as nanomaterials!

All in all, I think it may be true to consider particles in the range 1-1000 nm as nanoparticles, only on condition that they show some outstanding properties that are resulted from their nanosize, and these characteristics are not observed in micrometer particles.