Nanoscience Lab 2025

Conductance

A measure of the ease with which an electric current passes through an object

Resistance

A measure of the opposition of flow of electric current in an object; the ratio of the voltage applied to the electrical current which flows through it (R = V/I)

Resistivity

A factor of resistance that takes into account the nature of the material

micro- (μ)

10^(-6)

milli- (m)

10^(-3)

nano- (n)

10^(-9)

Amino acid

Organic compounds containing an amine group and a carboxyl group; when linked together, they make up the primary sequence of proteins

Anion

Ions that are negatively charged

Buffer

An aqueous solution that is made up of a weak acid and its conjugate base, or vice versa. Its pH changes very little when a small amount of a strong acid or base is added; used to keep a stable pH

Calibration curve (standard curve)

Also known as a standard curve, this is a reference to which samples of unknown concentrations can be compared to determine the concentration

Catalysis

The ability of certain molecules or enzymes that reduces the energy of activation for a reaction

Cation

Ions that are positively charged

Circuit board

A medium used to connect electronic components to one another in a controlled manner

Colloids

A mixture consisting of molecules or particles evenly dispersed in solution

Conductivity

The degree to which a specified material conducts electricity, calculated as the ratio of the current density in the material to the electric field that causes the flow of current.

Reciprocal of the resistivity

It is the reciprocal of the resistivity

Constructive interference

A phenomenon in which two coherent waves overlap in such a way that they combine their intensities to create a larger wave.

Control experiment

An experiment in which all variable factors have been kept constant and which is used as a standard of comparison to the experimental component (variable).

Destructive interference

A phenomenon in which two incoherent waves overlap in such a way that they cancel each other out.

Detection Limit

The lowest quantity of a substance that can be distinguished from the absence of that substance (a blank value) with high confidence (generally 99%).

Diffraction

The process by which a beam of light or other system of waves is spread out as a result of passing through a narrow aperture or across an edge, typically accompanied by the interference between the wave forms produced.

Diffraction grating

An optical element that divides (disperses) light composed of many different wavelengths into light components by wavelength.

Electrode

An electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit.

Electrolyte

A medium containing ions that is electrically conducting through the movement of those ions, but not conducting electrons.

Electromagnetic radiation

A type of radiation in which the energy depends on the frequency that is composed of oscillating perpendicular magnetic and electric fields.

Electron

A subatomic particle with a negative charge and an intrinsic angular momentum (spin); exhibit properties of both particles and waves.

Energy

The property of a system that allows it to have the capacity to do work.

Energy density

The amount of energy stored in a given system or region of space per unit volume.

Energy levels

The landscape made of the discrete allowed energies for the atoms or molecules (in quantum mechanics, energy comes in discrete packets and energies of atoms or molecules can only exist at specific values).

Etching

The process of using strong acid to cut into unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design incised (imprinted) in the metal.

Free electrons

Electrons that are not attached to an atom or molecule, and can move freely.

Frequency (in terms of light)

The time required for the wave to finish one period.

Light absorption

A property of matter where light with a specific energy can interact with an electron and be promoted to an excited state.

Light emission

When electrons in an excited state drop to a lower energy state, converting that change in energy into a photon with a specific frequency (energy).

Light scattering

The process by which the paths of waves of electromagnetic radiation (including visible light) are altered when interacting with a substance.

Lithography

A planographic printmaking process in which a design is drawn onto a flat stone and affixed by means of a chemical reaction.

Molarity (M)

Moles of solute per liter of solution (mol/L); a measure of concentration of a solution.

Nanoparticle

A particle of matter that is between 1 and 100 nanometers in diameter.

Non-radiative relaxation

A process in which an electron or an atom undergoes a change in its energy state without emitting a photon.

Nonpolar molecule

A molecule that does not have any electrical charges or partial charges.

Nucleation and Growth

The process whereby nuclei (seeds) act as templates for growth; process controlled by a balance between free energy available and energy consumed in forming a new interface.

Nucleic Acid

A nucleotide is composed of a sugar group (ribose or deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base; when linked together, they make up polynucleic acids.

Organic molecule

A molecule that is primarily made of carbon atoms bonded with other elements and/or other carbon atoms (typically, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen).

Oxidation

The loss of electrons during a reaction by a molecule, atom, or ion.

Photolithography

A technique that uses light to produce small (nanoscale) patterns on a substrate.

Photomask

An opaque plate with transparent areas that allow light to shine through in a defined pattern.

Photoresist

A light-sensitive material used in several processes to form a patterned coating on a surface.

Polymer

A large number of similar monomer units linked together into a larger whole.

Radiative relaxation

A process in which an electron or an atom undergoes a change in its energy state resulting in the emitting a photon.

Reduction

The gaining of electrons during a reaction by a molecule, atom, or ion.

Self-assembly

The process of association of individual units into a highly arranged/ordered structure.

Solute

A substance dissolved in another substance.

Solution (Chemistry)

A special type of homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances.

Solvent

The substance that another substance is being dissolved in.

Spectroscopy

The study of how light interacts with matter.

Surface area to volume ratio

The ratio of an object's surface area to its volume; calculated by dividing the surface area by the volume.

Surface plasmon resonance

Resonant oscillation of electrons at the surface of a particle.

Thermal energy

The kinetic energy of vibrating and colliding atoms in a substance.

Ultraviolet (UV) light

A form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between 100-400 nm.

Visible light

A form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between 380-700 nm.

Voltage

The difference in electric potential between two points.

Wavelength

The distance between successive maximums of a wave (units of length).