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[Home](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en)[Applications](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/applications)[Materials Science and Engineering](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/applications/materials-science-and-engineering) Nanoparticle & Microparticle Synthesis
# Nanoparticle & Microparticle Synthesis
Microparticles and nanoparticles are a unique class of materials with enormous technological potential in energy, imaging, medical, and environmental applications. Nanoparticles are defined to have at least one physical dimension less than 100 nanometers. Microparticles have a physical dimension between approximately 1 and 1000 micrometers. Despite having the same composition as the corresponding bulk material, due to size effects, these particles display exceptional optical, electrical, thermal, and magnetic characteristics. Researchers have developed methods of synthesis to further control the properties, shape, composition, and size distribution to better suit specific applications.
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Overview
Related Articles & Protocols
Support
Microparticle and nanoparticle synthesis is typically achieved by physical and chemical methods. In physical methods, particles are created by reducing the size of the source material, a so-called top-down approach to microfabrication and nanofabrication. Physical techniques include milling, gas condensation, electro-spraying, lithography, and thermal decomposition. In many chemical methods, particles are created by nucleating and growing particles from atomic or molecular precursors normally in the liquid or vapor phase of a chemical reaction, a so-called bottom-up approach. Chemical methods for synthesis of microparticles and nanoparticles include microemulsion, hydrothermal, microfluidic, chemical vapor, pyrolysis, and sol-gel processes. Chemical synthesis of nanoparticles produces nanostructures with less defects, provides access to more complex and homogeneous chemical compositions, and is easily scalable for low-cost and rapid fabrication.
Since these techniques are often labor-intensive and result in toxic byproducts, biological methods or green nanoparticle synthesis methods have emerged, such as biogenesis with microorganisms and plant extracts. These sustainable methods produce non-toxic, eco-friendly particles suitable for biomedical and environmental applications.
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## Related Articles
- [Gold Nanoparticles: Properties and Applications](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/technical-article/materials-science-and-engineering/biosensors-and-imaging/gold-nanoparticles)
Gold (Au) nanoparticles have tunable optical and electronic properties and are used in a number of applications including photovoltaics, sensors, drug delivery & catalysis.
- [Methods of Synthesizing Monodisperse Colloidal Quantum Dots](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/technical-article/materials-science-and-engineering/nanoparticle-and-microparticle-synthesis/methods-of-synthesizing-monodisperse-colloidal-quantum-dots)
Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are semiconducting crystals of only a few nanometers (ca. 2–12 nm) coated with ligand/surfactant molecules to help prevent agglomeration.
- [Mesoporous Silica Applications](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/technical-article/environmental-testing-and-industrial-hygiene/waste-water-and-process-water-testing/mesoporous-silica)
Mesoporous silica used in wastewater remediation, air cleaning, catalysis, bio-catalysis, and drug delivery.
- [Solvothermal Synthesis of Nanoparticles](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/technical-article/materials-science-and-engineering/nanoparticle-and-microparticle-synthesis/solvothermal-synthesis)
Solvothermal synthesis of nanoparticles: applications from nanocircuits and nano-optical circuits to nanomagnetics and biotech.
- [Fluorescent Nanomaterials for Bioimaging](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/technical-article/materials-science-and-engineering/biosensors-and-imaging/fluorescent-nanomaterials-bioimaging)
Professor Torelli reviews fluorescent nanomaterials, assessing brightness, photostability, and size for emerging bioimaging applications.
- [See All (38)](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/search/facet-search?focus=sitecontent&term=facet-search)
## Related Protocols
- [Preparation of Monodisperse Polymer Spheres](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/protocol/materials-science-and-engineering/nanoparticle-and-microparticle-synthesis/preparation-of-monodisperse-polymer-spheres)
Polymeric spheres serve as crystal templates. Synthesis methods yield large quantities.
- [Selenium Nanoparticles Applications](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/protocol/materials-science-and-engineering/nanoparticle-and-microparticle-synthesis/multidimensional-application-of-selenium-nanoparticles)
Selenium's roles range from essential dietary element to semiconductor in advanced applications like xerography.
- [Washing Microparticles](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/protocol/cell-culture-and-cell-culture-analysis/washing-microparticles)
Microparticles protocol for washing particles may be done via centrifugation. This procedure must be performed carefully.
- [Membrane Scaffold Proteins: Nanodisc Formation](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/protocol/materials-science-and-engineering/nanoparticle-and-microparticle-synthesis/nanodisc-protocols)
Nanodisc technology aids membrane protein solubilization, overcoming associated challenges in diverse protein classes.
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__Featured Articles__
[Gold Nanoparticles: Properties and Applications](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/technical-article/materials-science-and-engineering/biosensors-and-imaging/gold-nanoparticles)
Gold (Au) nanoparticles have tunable optical and electronic properties and are used in a number of applications including photovoltaics, sensors, drug delivery & catalysis.
[Methods of Synthesizing Monodisperse Colloidal Quantum Dots](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/technical-article/materials-science-and-engineering/nanoparticle-and-microparticle-synthesis/methods-of-synthesizing-monodisperse-colloidal-quantum-dots)
Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are semiconducting crystals of only a few nanometers (ca. 2–12 nm) coated with ligand/surfactant molecules to help prevent agglomeration.
[Mesoporous Silica Applications](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/technical-article/environmental-testing-and-industrial-hygiene/waste-water-and-process-water-testing/mesoporous-silica)
Mesoporous silica used in wastewater remediation, air cleaning, catalysis, bio-catalysis, and drug delivery.
[Solvothermal Synthesis of Nanoparticles](https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/technical-documents/technical-article/materials-science-and-engineering/nanoparticle-and-microparticle-synthesis/solvothermal-synthesis)
Solvothermal synthesis of nanoparticles: applications from nanocircuits and nano-optical circuits to nanomagnetics and biotech.
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