Abstract
These factors play roles to various degrees (but not 100%) of importance. For example, the confinement and the coherent effects are not as complete as that in an atom. Both the crystalline (bulk) states and the surface/interface states cannot be ignored in nanoscale structures. The different mixture of atomic/molecular, mesoscopic and macroscopic characters make the properties of nanostructures vary dramatically. Nanostructural materials are often in a metastable state. Their detailed atomic configuration depends sensitively on the kinetic processes in which they are fabricated. Therefore, the properties of nanostructures can be widely adjustable by changing their size, shape and processing conditions.
Highlights
The word "nano" means a billionth (10-9) part of a unit in general
Nanostructures refer to materials systems with length scale in the range of ~ 1-100 nm in at least one dimension
Electrons are confined in the nanoscale dimension(s), but are free to move in other dimension(s)
Summary
The word "nano" means a billionth (10-9) part of a unit in general. In our course, it refers to the length scale: nanometer or nm,. Nanostructures refer to materials systems with length scale in the range of ~ 1-100 nm in at least one dimension. Electrons are confined in the nanoscale dimension(s), but are free to move in other dimension(s). Quantum well: electrons are confined in one dimension (1D), free in other 2D. Quantum wires: confined in two dimensions, free in 1D (so it is called a 1D electronic system). Quantum dots: electrons are confined in all dimensions, as in clusters and nano-crystallites Certainly, we know that the properties are changed greatly when the wire is divided into individual Cu atoms (even more at the level of electrons, protons and neutrons). The coherence is often disrupted to some extent by defects in the nanostructures Both quantum coherent and de-coherent effects have to be considered, which often makes the description of electronic motion in a nanostructure more complicated than in the extreme cases. Nanoscience and nano-engineering have been an area where many breakthroughs have been and will continue to be produced
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
