Atomic Force Microscopy for Nanoparticles

While nanoparticles are important in a diverse set of fields, they can generally be classified as one of two types: engineered or nonengineered.

Engineered nanoparticles are intentionally designed and created with physical properties tailored to meet the needs of specific applications. They can be end products in and of themselves, as in the case of quantum dots or pharmaceutical drugs, or they can be components later incorporated into separate end products, such as carbon black in rubber products. (AFM images of carbon black nanoparticles are shown in Figure 2.) Either way the particle's physical properties are extremely important to their performance and the performance of any product into which they are ultimately incorporated.

Nonengineered nanoparticles, on the other hand, are unintentionally generated nanoparticles, such as atmospheric nanoparticles created during combustion. With nonengineered nanoparticles, physical properties also play an important role as they determine whether or not ill effects will occur as a result of the presence of these particles.

Depending on the application of interest, nanoparticles may be known by a number of alternative and trade-specific names, including particulate matter, aerosols, colloids, nanocomposites, nanopowders, and nanoceramics.

Some industries with engineered nanoparticles:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Performance chemicals
• Chemical mechanical polishing
• Quantum dots
• Biodetection and labeling
• Ceramics
• Food products
• Cosmetics

Some industries with nonengineered particles:

• Environmental detection
• Environmental monitoring
• Controlled environments