Mar 21 2013
Nanoparticles research is a vast area and the key benefit of nanoparticles is that their properties vary from bulk material of the same composition. Nanoparticles can be altered by varying their shape, size, and chemical environment.
Beryllium is a Block S, Period 2 element. It is a soft metal that is brittle but strong. The morphology of beryllium nanoparticles is spherical, and their appearance is a dark grey or black powder.
Beryllium nanoparticles can be surface functionalized, with organic molecules or polymers chemically bound to the particle surface. This can be used to tune the dispersion properties of the particles in suspensions or composites. This allows beryllium nanoparticles to be supplied as a nanofluid, in which the nanoparticles are suspended in solution.
Beryllium nanoparticles are graded as very toxic and should be handled with care. They cause skin and eye irritation, and could be fatal if inhaled. They have also been tested to be carcinogenic.
Chemical Properties
The chemical properties of beryllium nanoparticles are outlined in the following table.
| Chemical Data |
| Chemical symbol |
Be |
| CAS No. |
7440-41-7 |
| Group |
2 |
| Electronic configuration |
[He] 2s2 |
Physical Properties
The physical properties of beryllium nanoparticles are given in the following table.
| Properties |
Metric |
Imperial |
| Density |
1.848 g/cm3 |
0.0667 lb/in3 |
| Molar mass |
9.01 g/mol |
- |
Thermal Properties
The thermal properties of beryllium nanoparticles are provided in the table below.
| Properties |
Metric |
Imperial |
| Melting point |
1278°C |
2332.4°F |
| Boiling point |
2970°C |
5378°F |
Applications
The primary areas of application of beryllium nanoparticles are in coatings, nanowire, nanofiber, plastics, and textiles and also in certain alloy and catalyst applications. There has also been a significant amount of research into the toxoicological effects of beryllium nanoparticles.
Future applications of beryllium nanoparticles are listed below:
- Nuclear industry
- MEMS and NEMS
- Biodiagnostics and Biosensors
- Polymers
- Textiles
- Biomarkers
- Composites and solar energy materials
- Fuel cell layers
Source: AZoNano