Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology

Fabrication of nanominerals and nanoparticles for the development of nanodevices

7^th World Nano Conference

June 20-21, 2016 Cape Town, South Africa

Lucky Sikhwivhilu

Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, South Africa

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nanomed Nanotechnol

Abstract:

South Africa is endowed with mineral wealth. Minerals are more complex than previously thought because of the discovery that their chemical properties vary as a function of particle size when smaller, in at least one dimension, than a few nanometers, to perhaps as much as several tens of nanometers. These variations are most likely due, at least in part, to differences in surface and near-surface atomic structure, as well as crystal shape and surface topography as a function of size in this smallest of size regimes. Our approach is to accurately control the physical properties of nanostructures by fabrication at single molecule precision. This is done by taking advantage of the mineral based nanomaterial fabrication, processing, characterisation, and modelling with the objectives of generating low dimensional structures and growing soft layers by directed self assembly on patterned substrates and subsequently determining mechanical, optical and electronic properties of nanoscale interfaces.The research approach facilitates scientific breakthroughs and improvements in the physical and chemical properties of nanominerals ultimately leading to enhancement of their applications and development of new technologies. These include the development of sensors, new medical diagnoses and therapies, etc. Nanostructured materials with anisotropic morphology are particularly advantageous as they provide unique reaction sites that their â??irregularly-shapedâ?? counterparts do not possess.

Biography :

Email: Luckys@mintek.co.za