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Glossary
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For additional information on nanotechnology, visit the nanogloss.com blog, which is geared toward beginners in the nanofield and aims to explain nanotechnology more in layman's terms.
carbon nanotube: A nanotube consisting of cylindrically-arranged graphitic carbon.
CBEN: Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology. Rice University's NSEC, with research focuses in bioengineering and environmental engineering applications of nanotechnology, and environmental impacts of nanomaterials.
Smalley Institute: The Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology. Rice University’s institute devoted to developing nanoscale science and technology.
ICON: The International Council on Nanotechnology. CBEN’s organization designed to assess, communicate, and reduce the environmental and health risks of nanotechnology while maximizing its societal benefit.
nano: One one-billionth. 10-9.
nanocrystal: A nanoparticle that is crystalline.
nanofiber: A fiber that has a diameter on the nanometer length scale.
nanomaterial: A material that has engineered properties because of nanometer-scale structuring.
nanometer: One one-billionth of a meter. About the size of ten atoms. Abbreviated as “nm.”
nanoparticle: A particle that is 1-100 nm in diameter.
nanoscience: The study of phenomena on the nanometer length scale.
nanotechnology: Applications developed using materials that have at least one critical dimension on the nanometer length scale.
nanotube: A nanofiber with a cavity down the center. Often understood to mean a carbon nanotube.
nm: A nanometer.
NNI: The National Nanotechnology Initiative. A multi-agency framework for organizing and directing nanotechnology research in the United States.
NSEC: Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center. A center funded by the NSF specifically investigating the science and engineering of nanotechnology.
NSF: The National Science Foundation.
SWNT: Single-walled carbon nanotubes.
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