What are the possible applications of Nanocrystals? Can these crystals larger then 100nm be called nano and if so what are the challenges in synthesizing the same?
this is a interesting term. similarly, we have micro crystals or macro grains. i do not think you can a nanocrystal (if it has such a term) if the size in all 3 dimensions is more than 100 nm. Nanowire or nano ribbons have a size more than 100 nm while nano sheets have sizes in 2D more than 100 nm.
I agree, the term "nano" is usually limited to sizes below 100 nm.
I recommend you to follow the work of Henry Chapman and the applications of nanocrystals with free electron sources. Very interesting for biologists!
there are several cases where the crystalline regions are nano in grains that are much larger. The size limit s arbitrary: in my pinion if you don't see any difference between your specimen and a bulk one, then you are not dealing wt ha proper "nanomaterial".
The stuff done @ FELs on nanoparticles is definitely interesting, but limited to very large and single particles. So the usefulness and the interest depends on the scope of your research (validat ea technique or use it for practical purposes). In fact, consider what modern line profile analysis in powder diffraction does (experiment you can do also on a traditional instrument) : you measure the coherent part of diffraction effects, but on a huge number of nanograins (and you can get astonishingly detailed information). Now, do you care about a single particle (that can possibly be destroyed during the experiment) or your whole specimen? It is just a matter of checking what your goal is
Thank you for the answers.. but If I am able to synthesize a nanocrytal say larger then 100nm but lesser then 200nm.. then what can be the potential applications?
The question asked in this way is way too general to give a concise answer. If the question *is* so general then follow the advice of Wilson and study the existing literature. Applications will widely vary according to the material in question, so applications could be almost anything.
As for a strict definition of "nanoparticle", that's different and varies with time. If there'd be a rush hunting for being the first guy succeeding in making a nanoparticle of material XY, stakes are high that the first guy getting a particle below one micron will call it "nano". It's always been like this, compare e.g. with the literature in ultrashort laser pulses. In the beginning, 0.9ns would be "picosecond" pulses, and 0.9ps would be femtosecond pulses and so on.
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