Nano-Prefixed Terms

The 10th edition of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary had a definition for nanotechnology, though not the one that’s generally accepted now. Since then, a large swarm of “nano” prefixed words have entered the language. Most will never have the high honor of being officially sanctioned by Webster’s, but they are used nonetheless. As a public service this blog is now offering a collection of nano-prefixed words, complete with definitions. A start on this collection was contained as a table in the 1st chapter of The Nanotech Pioneers: Where are they taking us? A much larger collection of nano-prefixed and nanotech-related terms is contained in the incomparable Nanoshite homepage of Lachlan Cranswick.



“Nano” as in nanometer and nanoliter, has a precise meaning, one billionth. A nanometer is one billionth of a (0.000000001) meter, a nanoliter is one billionth of a liter. Nanotechnology is the art of manufacturing things at the nanoscale, defined as 1-100 nanometers. At this scale, matter can display bizarre quantum and other properties not evident in bulk material. Of course, nano does not necessarily mean 10-9. Frequently, it is meant to create an obscure link with something to the buzz surrounding nanotechnology, like the iPod Nano.



So with that in mind, I present the first installment of the nano-prefixed dictionary.



Dictionary of Nano-Prefixed Terms

nanoage
Or Nano-Age. The age of nanofabrication (see nanofabrication); the successor to the Information Age; i.e. the current era

nanoarray
An array wherein the objects thereof are spaced at nanoscale intervals; used in bioassays.

nanoassembly
The art of assembling nanoscale objects.

nanobacteria
A self-replicating particle, 20 to 200 nanometers in diameter, with a hard calcium phosphate outer shell. Implicated in the development of kidney stones.

nanobiologist
One who uses nanotechnology (see nanotechnology) as a tool in the life sciences.

nanobiotechnology
The use of fabricated nanoscale objects in biotechnology, eg quantum dots as intracellular probes.

nanobot
A nanoscale robot. Self-replicating nanobots are the villains of the grey-goo scenario first elaborated by K. Eric Drexler in Engines of Creation.

nanocapsule
A nanoscale capsule, used possibly for drug delivery.

nanocassette
Device developed by the company Nanopharma for delivery drugs which mimics natural biocarrier molecules.

nanocatalyst
A nanoscale particle with catalytic properties. Used extensively in processing petroleum.

nanocomposite
Nanomaterial made of two or more nanoscale components.

nanocosm
From the book of the same name by William Illsey Atkinson. The entire realm of nanotechnology

nanocrystalline
Nanoscale crystals. Useful to make quantum dots or to promote solubility for drug delivery.

nanocube
A cube-shaped nanoscale device that could be used to store hydrogen in fuel cells.

nanodevice
Any nanoscale device.

nanodivide
Akin to “digital divide” indicating a divison between the nanotech haves and have-nots.

nanodomain
A region of a sample that can be measured in nanometers.

nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS)
As compared to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS); three dimensional electromechanical devices at the nanoscale

nanoelectronics
Electronics that employs nanoscale devices. Similar to microelectronics.

nanoencapsulation
Putting something into a nanoscale capsule.

nanofabrication
Manufacture of a nanoscale object or device.

nanofibers
Fibers that are nanoscale in at least one dimension.

nanofilter
A filter with nanoscale pores.

nanofluidics
The art of moving fluids through nanoscale passages.

nanolayer
A thin-layer less than 100 nanometers thick.

nanoliter
One billionth of a liter.

nanolithography
Creating devices by lithography that have details that are less than 100 nanometers in diameter. Advanced lithography methods can now get down to about 20 nanometers resolution.

nanomachine
A mechanical device with nanoscale parts. Nature is full of nanomachines.

nanomagnetic particles
Nanoscale particles that display intrinsic magnetism.

nanomanipulator
A device for handling nanoscale objects. Used in conjunction with atomic force microscopes or electron microscopes.

nanomaterial
A material with grain sizes less than 100 nanometers.

nanomedicine
Medical practice that employs nanoparticles or devices.

nanometer
One billionth of a meter.

nanomicelle
An aggregate of surfactant molecules less than 100 nanometers in diameter. An emulsion is made up of micelles in solution.

nanoparticle
A particle of less than 100 nanometers

nanophase material
A material with grain sizes of less than 100 nanometers; a nanomaterial.

nanoporous
Having pores that are 100 nanometers or smaller

nanopowder
A powder composed of nanoparticles

nanoproduct
A commercial product enabled by nanotechnology

nanoreactor
A nanoscale device wherein chemical reactions take place.

nanoreplicator
A nanoscale device that replicates, or a device that replicates nanoscale objects.

nanorobotics
Relating to either a nanoscale robot, or a robot with the capacity to do work at the nanoscale.

nanoscale
The range from 1 to 100 nanometers. At this scale, matter frequently has unusual properties not evident in bulk material.

nanoscience
The science of nanoscale material and devices.

nanoscope
A device for imaging nanoscale objects, like a microscope, only more powerful. An atomic force "microscope" is more properly a nanoscope.

nanosecond
A billionth of a second.

nanoshell
A gold plated glass bead of about 100 nm with potential uses in cancer therapy. Invented by Naomi Halas.

nanostructured
Having nanoscale features

nanosystems
A system with nanoscale parts or components

nanotechnology
Technology involving objects smaller than 100 nanometers in at least one dimension and encompassing the unique properties of such nanoscale objects.

nanotool
A tool that is used in nanotechnology, eg an atomic force microscope or a nanomanipulator.

nanotube
A nanoscale object resembling a tube, eg a carbon nanotube.

nanotweezers
A pair of tweezers that can pick up nanoscale objects; such a pair of tweezers has been made from carbon nanotubes.

nanowire
A wire with a nanoscale diameter

nanoworks
A system for manufacturing nanoscale objects

nanoworld
Akin to nanocosm, the world of nanotechnology


New words will be added as necessary. Send your contributions with definitions to steven.alan.edwards@gmail.com.