nanoskaalas

Nanoskaalas are a proposed class of nanoscale materials characterized by a modular, lattice-like architecture assembled from nanoscale building blocks. In the literature, the term is used to describe porous, highly connectable frameworks with tunable porosity, large surface area, and controllable surface chemistry. Typical nanoscale dimensions span roughly 1 to 100 nanometers, with architectures designed to allow adjustable diffusion of small molecules and ions.

Structure and properties: Nanoskaalas are described as porous networks formed by interlinked nanostructures, such as nanoscale fibers or particles, that create a repeating motif. The pore size, skeleton connectivity, and surface functionalities can be engineered to tailor mechanical strength, optical responses, and chemical interactions. Surface groups can be introduced to enable selective binding, catalysis, or bioconjugation, while overall composition determines optical properties and electronic behavior.

Synthesis: Fabrication methods emphasize bottom-up self-assembly, templated growth, or co-assembly with organic ligands. Approaches include solvent-directed assembly, electrostatic or covalent linking, and inorganic deposition techniques for rigid variants. Reproducibility, defect control, and scalable production remain central challenges during development.

Applications: Potential uses span energy storage, where high porosity enhances ion transport and capacity; catalysis, with a large active surface area and tunable active sites; chemical sensing, leveraging tailored surface chemistry for selective detection; and biomedicine, including targeted delivery, contingent on biocompatibility and safety considerations.

Status and outlook: Nanoskaalas are discussed primarily in early-stage or exploratory nanomaterials research. Ongoing work focuses on reliable synthesis, defect management, stability under operating conditions, and integration into devices and systems.

See also: nanomaterial, nanoparticle, self-assembly, porous material, metamaterial.