Nanotubes FAQ

As with the topic of nanotechnology, there is so much to say, that it seemed quixotic to try and embody it in a page, but here goes my attempt at an FAQ. I will add to this often, as there is a lot to be said. If what I am saying does not make sense or if you have corrections/updates, please contact me.

What is a nanometer? The prefix comes from the Greek word nanos, which means "dwarf". In standard units, the prefix "nano-" means one billionth of something. So, a nanometer is one billionth of a meter. Where does that put a nanometer with respect to other units of length? It's just the next unit prefix past "micro-". Remember, subsequent prefixes refer to a reduction of in dimension of one thousand. So, "millimeter" means one thousandth of a meter; "micrometer" is one millionth of a meter (or one thousandth of a micrometer); and "nanometer" is one billionth of a meter (or one thousandth of a millimeter). The abbreviation for nanometer is "nm".

How can I put a nanometer into perspective? It's pretty hard initially, especially since we can't see something that small with the naked eye. However, let's consider some other small things for comparison.

• Thickness of a piece of standard office paper: 100 micrometers
• Human scalp hair: the average diameter is around 60-80 micrometers
• Typical human blood cell: 6-8 micrometers
• Strand of garden spider silk: 3 micrometers

How can I see a nanoscale object? You can't see it with the naked eye, nor with standard optical microscopy.