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Researchers have shown that common minerals (river sand, ruby and alumina) can be broken instantly by charged water microdroplets to make corresponding nanoparticles.
- Microdroplets are really tiny water droplet around 10μm in size and are known to enhance chemical reactions.
- In nature, microdroplets are generated by crashing ocean waves and atmospheric processes.
- Enhancement in process of nanoparticle formation by microdroplets may:
- Provide transformative soil formation technique by accelerating natural weathering process.
- Enable efficient nanoparticle production with broad industrial applications.
- Enhance growth of crops such as rice and wheat where mineral nanoparticles (like silica) are crucial.
Nanoparticles
- Particles with size ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers are nanoparticles.
- Their properties depend on their shape, size, surface characteristics and inner structure.
- Nanoparticles can be encountered as aerosols (solids or liquids in air), suspensions (solids in liquids) or as emulsions (liquids in liquids).
Formation of Nanoparticles
- They may be formed either naturally (erosion or weathering) or through human induced industrial and domestic activities (cooking, manufacturing, transport etc.).
- There are two approaches in their manufacturing:
- Top-down: Breaking of a large particle into nanostructures.
- Bottom-up: Assembling small atoms or molecules into nanostructures.
Applications of Nanoparticles
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